One would think the Pentagon, with its 23,000 military and civilian staffers, would have enough on its hands with U.S. airstrikes against militants in Syria, actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, on alert for ISIS threats at home and abroad, possible strikes against Iran if nuclear discussions falter, the dispatch of 3,000 U.S. combat troops to west Africa in connection with the Ebola epidemic plus awaiting further action there following President Barack Obama’s executive order last Thursday allowing the Pentagon to call up reserve troops for that area, notes Grumpy Editor.
Also, with growing global instability, Russia and China are building up military forces while the U.S. is reducing military ranks and the number of active ships and aircraft.
So what poses the immediate threat of great concern to the Pentagon? Climate change.
The Pentagon last week released “2014 Climate Change Adaptation Roadmap.”
With release of the report, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel warned rising global temperatures, increasing sea levels and intensifying weather events will challenge global stability, that could lead to food and water shortages, pandemic disease and disputes over refugees and resources.
Along with this, the Pentagon, gearing up for the impact of climate change, was conducting a survey to assess the vulnerability of more than 7,000 military bases and other facilities.
All this as if there never has been great changes in weather --- hot/cold periods along with wet/dry seasons over the years at home and abroad. That’s the weather on Earth. It’s natural.
Speaking out against the Pentagon report, Sen. James M. Inhofe of Oklahoma, ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee said, “It is disappointing, but not surprising, that the president and his administration would focus on climate change when there are other, legitimate threats in the world.”
In connection with the Pentagon’s “climate war, ” A Wall Street Journal editorial said, “The principal threats being multiplied here are hype and hysteria.”
Meanwhile, there’s more Ebola work for the troops.
At the request of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Pentagon on Sunday announced it is forming a 30-person rapid-response team --- including five doctors and 20 critical-care nurses --- to provide quick medical support to U.S. healthcare workers in connection with the Ebola virus.
IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE…
With appointment of an Ebola czar accomplished, President Barack Obama was off to the golf course at Fort Belvoir, Va. Saturday, back on the campaign trail Sunday in Maryland and returned to fundraising today in Chicago…The Pentagon came up with a name (sending some folks to dictionaries) in connection with the fight against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria: Operation Inherent Resolve…While print and broadcast outlets were closely following hurricanes aimed at Bermuda and Hawaii, most media missed a Sierra storm that hit the Lake Tahoe-Reno area with winds gusting to 85 miles per hour toppling trees, downing power lines, leaving 1,000 homes without power for several hours…Missing staff box. Rather strange for a weekly magazine, nowhere in Sunday’s Parade was there an indication of editorial or advertising staffers and contacts. Perhaps it had something to do with the recent sale of the 73-year-old publication that saw most of its 85 New York office staffers cut as the magazine was acquired by Athlon Media Group and moved to Nashville…Budget cuts at CNN Worldwide scrapped CNN’s Crossfire and HLN’s Jane Velez-Mitchell’s nightly show, part of 300 jobs axed by the cable operation, plus about 130 buyouts.
They are blushing at Indiana University's Media School in Bloomington, Ind.
A new bronze sculpture of Ernie Pyle, famed World War II correspondent who died in 1945 from a Japanese sniper’s bullet, has "correspondent" misspelled as "corespondent” on an arm patch. The word was noticed just prior to Friday’s unveiling outside the media school’s building.
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