Mattis: 'Climate change' is a national security threat

[Wingnut]

we probably have several plans on how to invade Canada. Every possible threat has to be taken into account.

An rightly so.
Everything I see and hear about these Canadians makes me wanna puke!
It's time we put the "America" back in North America!
These Canadians suffer from a serious inferiority complex. That's why they built the The Canadian National Tower.  It was the tallest freestanding structure in the world from 1975–2010.

[Silver Pines]

I went over and read this.  Apparently it is based on answers given to senators prior to his confirmation hearing.  I'm not sure how much this reflects his total thinking on climate change.  I hope this is a bit slanted because I think he's a pretty sharp dude and I'm not gonna reduce him to idiot status based on this story.

@Emjay

If you care to research him, you'll find that he's had this stance for a long time.

[Idaho_Cowboy]

The military has contingency plans for everything, we probably have several plans on how to invade Canada. Every possible threat has to be taken into account.

And apparently some impossible ones eh?

[Silver Pines]

Thanks for actually looking into this. 

"This is yet another pro-left source trying to create an issue where none exists."

Nothing could be more true and it happens every single day.  What I don't understand is why people on this forum leap on this kind of thing like vultures on a carcass ... immediately believe the worst and pronounce it Trump's fault (by inference).

Could someone 'splain that to me.

@Emjay

Yeah, I can.

From what I knew at the time Trump appointed Mattis, I thought he was a great pick.  IMO he's less so now.  And yes, as far as I'm concerned, anybody who's running around saying that the entire government needs to be marshaled to fight climate change is an idiot.  Any leftist spouting such nonsense would be called out as just that, and I don't see how it's any different when someone on the right does it.  The whole concept is idiotic.

If he thinks the government can affect climate change, why wouldn't he think people caused it in the first place?  Again, there's no basis for assuming he thinks otherwise...except that we want it to be true.

It's disappointing.  I thought the man had sense.  But since this is his POV, it's not my business nor my inclination to defend him.

[Emjay]

@Emjay

Yeah, I can.

From what I knew at the time Trump appointed Mattis, I thought he was a great pick.  IMO he's less so now.  And yes, as far as I'm concerned, anybody who's running around saying that the entire government needs to be marshaled to fight climate change is an idiot.  Any leftist spouting such nonsense would be called out as just that, and I don't see how it's any different when someone on the right does it.  The whole concept is idiotic.

If he thinks the government can affect climate change, why wouldn't he think people caused it in the first place?  Again, there's no basis for assuming he thinks otherwise...except that we want it to be true.

It's disappointing.  I thought the man had sense.  But since this is his POV, it's not my business nor my inclination to defend him.

I think you are jumping to conclusions based on flimsy evidence.  He was talking about observable events that might affect military operations.

I see no evidence whatever that he believes in man made global warming.  Or climate change.  I believe in climate change.  It's why we're not shivering in overcoats in Texas in an ice age.

[Emjay]

If someone says they think it's gonna rain, are you gonna accuse them of global wetting?

[Emjay]

@Emjay

Yeah, I can.

From what I knew at the time Trump appointed Mattis, I thought he was a great pick.  IMO he's less so now.  And yes, as far as I'm concerned, anybody who's running around saying that the entire government needs to be marshaled to fight climate change is an idiot.  Any leftist spouting such nonsense would be called out as just that, and I don't see how it's any different when someone on the right does it.  The whole concept is idiotic.

If he thinks the government can affect climate change, why wouldn't he think people caused it in the first place?  Again, there's no basis for assuming he thinks otherwise...except that we want it to be true.

It's disappointing.  I thought the man had sense.  But since this is his POV, it's not my business nor my inclination to defend him.

Excuse me, but I am not buying your former love for Mattis claim.  If you really liked and had confidence in the man, why would you immediately fall for this rather lame hit piece on Mattis.

You keep saying that you know more about him now but I don't see it.

I believe he was talking about weather, not climate.

[Vulcan]

He’s in good company.  Susan Rice, Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, Hussein Obama and 77% of mindless followers of the dimRAT party believe the same thing. 

[Silver Pines]

@Emjay

Excuse me, but I am not buying your former love for Mattis claim.  If you really liked and had confidence in the man, why would you immediately fall for this rather lame hit piece on Mattis.

You don't have to buy it.  I don't really care.  But let's get it straight, I said nothing about "love."  I said I thought he was a great pick for SecDef.  I didn't know about this at the time.

When I saw this article, I did some research before posting it.  Yes, it's a longstanding view of his and generally known by those acquainted with him.  But you want to believe it's a fake news hit piece, so go right ahead.

You keep saying that you know more about him now but I don't see it.

*Shrug*  Okay.

I believe he was talking about weather, not climate.

Despite the fact that he calls it climate change?   All right then.

[txradioguy]

The military has contingency plans for everything, we probably have several plans on how to invade Canada. Every possible threat has to be taken into account.

Man made global warming is a Leftist hoax. There are better and more important things that can and should be done with the defense budget and my fellow soldiers than preparing for a myth.

[txradioguy]

Amazing how that happens. Mattis says he believes in Climate Change and suddenly "Conservatives" are buying into it.

 

[Emjay]

Amazing how that happens. Mattis says he believes in Climate Change and suddenly "Conservatives" are buying into it.

 

Well, everyone believes in climate change.  It happens over millions of years.  I live on an island that will probably fall back into the sea one day.  Hopefully not tomorrow.

Mattis needs to clear up his position on this.

[txradioguy]

Mattis needs to clear up his position on this.

Agreed.  Especially in light of the last administrations desire to use the military to fight poverty, injustice and global warming...to the point where IIRC they had it down in a policy paper.

[Cripplecreek]

Amazing how that happens. Mattis says he believes in Climate Change and suddenly "Conservatives" are buying into it.

 

When one joins the cult all reason and rational thought must be purged. Only then can the pure of heart understand that The Leader is the sole wellspring of all that is good in the world and all wrong is the fault of dark forces that will some day be defeated by The Leader.

[Rivergirl]

If Mattis believes that climate change is a national security issue, what does he plan to do about it?
Ban microwaves?