Intelligence chief OK's global warming study ($48Bil in Intel budget to study global warming)

Boston.com ^ | 5-15-2007 | Mark Mazzetti

[FreedomNeocon]

Stepping into the middle of a partisan debate on Capitol Hill, the nation's top intelligence official has endorsed a comprehensive study by spy agencies about the impact of global warming on national security.

In a letter written last week to the House Intelligence Committee, Michael McConnell, director of national intelligence, said it was "entirely appropriate" that the intelligence community prepare an assessment of the "geopolitical and security implications of global climate change."

The question of whether the country's spy agencies, already burdened by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as the global hunt for members of Al Qaeda, ought to investigate the security implications of global warming has been debated in Congress for several weeks.

A provision requiring a national intelligence estimate on climate change was in the 2008 intelligence authorization bill that the House passed Friday. The amount of the authorization is classified but it is believed to be about $48 billion, which would be the largest intelligence authorization ever considered by Congress.

Republicans tried to defeat the provision on the national intelligence estimate, saying that intelligence resources were too precious to be used to study the impact of climate change. "Let other federal agencies, as more than a dozen already do, cover the 'bugs and bunnies.' But let our spies be spies," Peter Hoekstra, the ranking Republican, wrote Thursday.

The proposed national intelligence estimate would examine political, social, economic, and agricultural risks. In his letter to the House Intelligence Committee, McConnell said that intelligence analysts would not do primary scientific research about climate change, but would instead rely on analyses by other government agencies.

Last month, a report written by several retired generals and admirals concluded that climate changes posed a "serious threat to US national security," and could further weaken unstable governments in developing countries.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

It will keep several hundred government employees busy for a while.

[KarlInOhio]

Intelligence chief OK's global warming study ($48Bil in Intel budget to study global warming)

A provision requiring a national intelligence estimate on climate change was in the 2008 intelligence authorization bill that the House passed Friday. The amount of the authorization is classified but it is believed to be about $48 billion,

The $48 billion is the entire intelligence bill, not just the global warming section.

[Old Professer]

This GW thing could turn out to be the most expensive snipe-hunt ever conducted.

[subterfuge]

“Yes, I am a top intelligence officer and although I have no training or understanding of climatology, I endorse measures that would require billions of dollars of the U.S. taxpayer’s money, most of which will be at MY disposal.”

[Frwy]

First, this assumes there is such a thing as global warming. Second, $48 billion is a lot to study something that doesn’t exist. Looks like just another bogus “study” by way of raping yours and my money. It IS OUR MONEY YOU KNOW.

[TSchmereL]

“Entirely appropriate” is Newspeak. It means it is actually inappropriate but politically correct.

[modhom]

But intelligence officials have already recognized the importance of studying how crises caused by climate change, such as famine and rising sea levels, could affect the security of the United States.

Oh, well, hey... rising sea levels -- what do they think -- will we be attacked by giant sea monsters?? I don't even see how they are trying to link the two together. Is literally everything a security threat that must be smothered in money? If Mars' polar caps melt is that somehow a security threat too? What about the missing bees? Better raise that level to orange if we don't find em soon! Jet stream shifting overnight? We need to study the threat!!

[sportutegrl]

what would you rather do?

'study' global warming, or

infiltrate Al Quaeda

[pissant]

F****g idiot.

[lilylangtree]

WWWWhhhaaatttt??? $48 billion for another boondoggle. Now just who’s personal offshore account will this taxpayer monies end up in?

[Cementjungle]

I think we should fund Congress to study new ways to clean public toilets.

[Steve_Seattle]

"Our tax dollars at non-work."

I calculated that if they hire 2,000 workers for 10 years, pay them all $150,000/year in salary and benefits, build them a $1 billion office building, spend $1 billion on fixed assets (office equipment, etc.), and give them a non-salary operating budget of $300,000,000 a year, the total cost would be $8 billion. But my generous proposal is $40 billion short of what they're asking for. Where would all that money go?

[TChris]

Oh fer cryin' out loud!

Once again, El Rushbo is vindicated. All money belongs to the government. They magnanimously allow you to have some of it.

If Washington wants to spend their money sending our intelligence officers to research a popular junk science hoax while in the midst of war, why shouldn't they?

[Steve_Seattle]

"The $48 billion is the entire intelligence bill, not just the global warming section."

If so, the story is very misleading. But (see my previous post) I couldn't imagine how they could spend anywhere near $48 billion on this.

[JustDoItAlways]

Here is my analysis.

“When Antarctica and Greenland melt, we will send over advisors to study the new situation.

Until that occurs, we will continue to accept the record authorizations and we will continue to study the impact of global warming.”

[Not unusual: all US departments are responding to the democrats with that answer. After all, record authorizations are at stake.]

[tgambill]

Now, this is the purpose of the hoax, called Global Warming....Not much more can be said.

[meyer]

The freakin' government can't even keep the illegals out of our country, but they want to waste 48 billion on this?!?

How about we just defund the intelligence agency and refund the taxpayers instead. At least the money would go to those that actually earned it in the first place.

[mysterio]

Sounds like they have too much money to play around with.

[newcthem]

Intelligence chief?................. Surely you jest?????