The Pentagon prepares for weather wars

[MillCreek]

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/military/climate-change-real-pentagon-sure-thinks-so-n101701

I wonder if I will see weather-related conflicts in my lifetime.  If so, I suspect it will most likely be fighting over water.

[roo_ster]

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/military/climate-change-real-pentagon-sure-thinks-so-n101701

I wonder if I will see weather-related conflicts in my lifetime.  If so, I suspect it will most likely be fighting over water.

These folks are just the same sort of political suck-ups who think NASA needs to implement Muslim outreach programs.  There are always within the DoD those who see their road to advancement paved with political suckuppage rather than performance in operational units. 

"It would be a shame -- as great a tragedy as this was -- it would be a shame if our diversity became a casualty as well."
----Gen. George "Brown Nose" Casey Jr.

[Balog]

People have been killing each other over water for as long as there have been people. But it's undoubtedly the fault of the evil Western culture and their Gaia raping industrialization.

[MillCreek]

http://thearkingroup.com/highlights/water-wars-the-brahmaputra-river-and-sino-indian-relations-mark-christopher-u-s-naval-war-college-case-study-2013-2/

Last year, I read the paper at the link above and found it thought-provoking.  There are similar water choke-points across national boundaries in other parts of the world, including the Middle East. 

[Scout26]

Water is no different from any other resource. 


"They have it, we want it, let's go get it."

[SADShooter]

Water is no different from any other resource. 


"They have it, we want it, let's go get it."

Broadly agreed, with the tiny quibble that, along with oxygen, it's a life-requirement for which there is no substitute, making it even more critical.

[roo_ster]

I don;t see us devolving into Arrakis-like sand dune-age. 

http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Hydraulic_despotism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_empire

[RoadKingLarry]

Broadly agreed, with the tiny quibble that, along with oxygen, it's a life-requirement for which there is no substitute, making it even more critical.

TANSTAAFL

[birdman]

Broadly agreed, with the tiny quibble that, along with oxygen, it's a life-requirement for which there is no substitute, making it even more critical.

Kinda.
The issue is one of fresh water.
We have all the seawater we want.  The difference between that and fresh water is energy.
Same with oxygen.  The earths crust is silicates, the difference between that and free oxygen is energy.
In other words, both are substitutable with other resources, provided you have the energy.  Which this administration seems to want to deny us.

[Balog]

Kinda.
The issue is one of fresh water.
We have all the seawater we want.  The difference between that and fresh water is energy.
Same with oxygen.  The earths crust is silicates, the difference between that and free oxygen is energy.
In other words, both are substitutable with other resources, provided you have the energy.  Which this administration seems to want to deny us.

If things got bad and we had a non-coward/communist president who was willing to tell the EpA to get fcked, how quickly could desalinization and nuc plants be spun up? Couple years?

[birdman]

If things got bad and we had a non-coward/communist president who was willing to tell the EpA to get fcked, how quickly could desalinization and nuc plants be spun up? Couple years?

3-5 years.  Minimum.