New warming threat

Monday, June 30, 2008 | 2:08 a.m.

Those who believe in global warming point to the dangerous buildup of greenhouse gases that occurred during industrialization and the potentially catastrophic effects rising temperatures can have on the environment. Thanks to the chairman of the National Intelligence Council there is a new wrinkle to that argument.

Thomas Fingar, who also serves as deputy director of national intelligence for analysis, told Congress last week global warming could lead to greater instability among already shaky foreign governments and to increased terrorism threats against the United States. That is because the warming trend could produce more food and water shortages and other humanitarian disasters. The intelligence report estimated 50 million more people could go hungry by 2020.

The Bush administration, which has been too slow to embrace global warming arguments, needs to become more proactive because of this intelligence report. Given the administration’s past actions on climate change, we won’t hold our breath. But it is easy to see how hotter climates could lead to a greater chance of global turmoil.

During food and water shortages and other disasters, human beings can turn desperate. First they may attack their neighbors. Then, if enough people become desperate, their problems can spill over into neighboring countries. We have already seen that on numerous occasions in Africa. Add rogue elements to that mix and you have a recipe for terrorism.

We cannot say we have not been warned. If this country is serious about addressing terrorist threats, we must do more to respond to the root causes. Famine and water shortages are certainly among them. So are unstable governments that allow terrorism to thrive.

Although it is justifiable to raise concerns about the effects global warming can have on the environment, it would be foolhardy to ignore the geopolitical consequences. A good place to start is to have Congress and the Bush administration engage in constructive bipartisan dialogue about the intelligence report’s findings so that we can be better prepared to confront those challenges when they occur.