Pentagon downplays report on climate change that it commissioned

[Barrett808]

Pentagon downplays report on climate change that it commissioned
WASHINGTON (AFP) Feb 24, 2004

The US Defense Department downplayed a report on climate change that it had commissioned, saying it was speculative and shrugging off its call to make the issue a top political priority.

"The Schwartz and Randall study reflects the limits of scientific models and information when it comes to predicting the effects of abrupt global warming," said Andrew Marshall, an influential Pentagon adviser who ordered the study carried out.

"Although there is significant scientific evidence on this issue, much of what this study predicts is still speculation," he argued.

According to Britain's The Observer, US military officials censored an alarming report because the issue of global warming could wind up thrust into the US presidential campaign ahead of the November vote.

(more)

http://www.spacedaily.com/2004/040224205552.uxgha476.html

[truthisfreedom]

1. downplay, retract, reject, blast... this administration is always trying

to minimize the impact of something. whether it's global warming or the economy or the impact of tax breaks for the ultra-rich or education or job loss, they are constantly backpedaling and calling their own reports some kind of exaggeration.

bullsh*t. not every single report that comes out of government can be wrong.

[Thor_MN]

8. You forgot "Defend" they are ALWAYS defending their positions

How many headlines start "Today, the Bush Administration defended it's....." If you are always having to defend your opinion, wouldn't you get the idea that you might be wrong?

[headlouse]

2. Actually I kinda felt this report was rather over dramatic

While I'm totally on board with the fact that the climate is changing rapidly and that water and oil shortages are on the horizon, this report seemed a bit melodramatic.

Plus I'm not gonna suddenly start to believe what the pentagon has to say just because I sort of agree with what it has to say this time. The Pentagon lies and hides the truth constantly why should this time be any different? It seems to me like it's primarily a scare tactic to drum up even more money -- the world is doomed, the only thing that can save us is more guns!

[JohnOneillsMemory]

3. Overdramatic. Like the collapse of the Twin Towers was on 9/10/01.n/t

[reprobate]

4. I suggest you google "north atlantic conveyor". It'll give you chills.

The north atlantic conveyor is the ocean current circulation that pulls warm water up from the equator, warms northern europe. As it gives up it's heat it cools and sinks, moving south to the equator, where it repeats the cycle.

In effect it's what keeps north america and western europe in a temperate climate. The problem today is that as the climate warms the glaciers of canada, newfoundland, iceland and greenland are melting at a rate that's never before been seen. As all this fresh water enters the north atlantic it is changing the salinity of the ocean water. It becomes less dense and therefore won't sink like the salt water does. If it doesn't sink, the conveyor stops, and north america and western europe get really chilly.

This happened on a minor scale in the 13th century. Many, many died.

Believe it or don't. But buy some warm clothes.

[headlouse]

5. I've read about the abrupt new ice age possibility...

...and I believe that it's possible. However the dismalness of the doomsday scenerio cast by the pentagon paper casts it into doubt for me -- especially the massive war aspect and need for more guns and a more hardline border lockdown. It sounds too much like a dystopian shill trying for an even larger military budget and hell if I'm gonna take anything that comes out of the pentagon as truth.

[reprobate]

6. dystopian shill trying for an even larger military budget .

You'll get no arguement from me on that point. I was only pointing out that the environmental changes will bring true catastrophy to most of the world, and it's up to us to do something about it.

Now, whether it is possible to do anything about it with the massive influence of corporations involved with oil and its production and distribution is quite another question.

Wouldn't it be ironic if we all know what was going to happen and just sailed merrily into the worst human disaster of all time anyway? That's shakespearean.

[headlouse]

9. its a tragedy!

labeling the entire crony-capitalist-petro-military-industrial system an ironic tragedy seems rather fitting to me :P

[kysrsoze]

10. Yeah, between that an Peak Oil, things are getting REALLY scary

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

7. FWIW, link to report:

http://cryptome.org/dod-climate.zip (900k PDF file)