The Pentagon ate your pie.

“Of course it’s about oil, we can’t really deny that. We’ve treated the Arab world as a collection of big gas stations.” - General John Abizaid, former CENTCOM Commander (Retired), 2008

“Climate change and a lot of other economic dislocations have put a lot of people out of work. They are on the move and they have no place to go, and it means they are recruiting grounds for terrorists and extremists and potential refugee flows that will tax Europe even more. - Stephen Hadley, former National Security Advisor to President George W. Bush

Climate Change is a National Security Issue “Climate change is an urgent and growing threat to our national security, contributing to increased natural disasters, refugee flows, and conflicts over basic resources such as food and water. These impacts are already occurring, and the scope, scale, and intensity of these impacts are projected to increase over time.” http://archive.defense.gov/pubs/150724-congressional-report-on-national-implications-of-climate-change.pdf?source=govdelivery

Break the cycle of war for oil.

1. Climate change is a national security threat.

“If there is not enough water, if there is not enough land to grow your crops, then you’re going to see migrants of people fighting over land that will sustain them, and that will lead to international conflict.” - Senator Bernie Sanders

2. We can afford to fight climate change. Military spending is more than half of all federal discretionary spending (this excludes social security, medicare and some other expenses). Included in military spending is the Department of Defense (Pentagon), nuclear weapons (Department of Energy), war funding (Overseas contingency operations), and international military assistance.

The US spends more on our military than the next 7 countries combined, far outspending rivals Russia and China.

The F-35 is made my Lockheed Martin, the biggest federal contractor for many years running. In 2015, Lockheed pulled down $29 billion from the Pentagon. The budget for the F-35 was about $11 billion – enough to create more than 200,000 clean energy jobs or put more than 1.3 million children through head start. The F-35: --Over budget, overdue -- Never been used -- Engine literally caught fire in testing -- Has been questioned by McCain

3. Jobs are the key. Not sure this works – this would be to the point that contractors claim to create jobs, but that’s a poor use of public resources since we could create many more jobs in other industries for the same investment.

When military contractors claim job creation, they win.

This 2011 article in the Springfield Republican was authored by a military industry representative and a local economic development official.

What can we do about it?

No more pie for you, Pentagon. Stop new or expanded wars. Make clear the national security threats of climate change. Support alternate budgets like the People’s Budget. Preserve funding for the Office of Economic Adjustment. Convert existing facilities and workforces in pilot communities.

What can we do? Support the People’s Budget: Increases resources for the Office of Economic Adjustment Ends war spending under Overseas Contingency Operations Cuts military spending over time and audits the Pentagon Invests about $50 million per year in green jobs and transforming our energy infrastructure

What can we do?

Make your own trade-offs at nationalpriorities.org Make it local!