CIA shuts down climate research program days after Obama links climate change to national security. Mixed message?

2015-05-22T06:28:08-04:00

The Central Intelligence Agency is shutting down a research program that offered classified data to scientists to examine the link between climate change and global security threats.

A CIA spokesman confirmed that the agency had ended its MEDEA program, a 1990s-era intelligence program restarted in 2010 under President Obama. The collaboration gave scientists access to intelligence assets like satellite data to study climate change and inform on how its impacts could inflame conflicts.

The announcement comes just days after President Obama said climate change was a "serious threat to global security" in a commencement address to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Climate change, Obama said, "will impact how our military defends our country. So we need to act, and we need to act now."

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/cia-shuts-down-climate-research-program/ar-BBk6lK9

CIA Shuts Down Climate Research Program

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made May 22 at 2015 6:47 AM

2015-05-22T06:47:06-04:00

This just sounds weird. The data collecting sounds legit but linking it to national security - sketchy. But then again its Obama.

Response by COL Charles Williams made May 22 at 2015 7:31 AM

2015-05-22T07:31:58-04:00

It does. It also begs the question why does the CIA care about climate change? GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad

Response by MSgt Manuel Diaz made May 22 at 2015 8:44 AM

2015-05-22T08:44:13-04:00

Well when facts are contradictory to government policy, trust the government.
Ask any native American

Response by SrA Daniel Hunter made May 22 at 2015 9:17 AM

2015-05-22T09:17:58-04:00

Perhaps it was showing data that did not support the hypothesis and the new policy position. You don't need icebreakers if you have no ice.

http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/us-icebreaker-fleet-is-falling-behind-needed-for-strategic-arctic/

U.S. icebreaker fleet is falling behind; needed for strategic Arctic

The U.S. Congress should appropriate money to build new icebreakers.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2015 12:27 PM

2015-05-24T12:27:04-04:00

I am offended by the jerkwads who have no real understanding of the various processes and who also confuse the topics like pollution and mankind's roles. And God forbid you disagree with them because they do not want to hear it!

Response by SPC David S. made May 24 at 2015 1:50 PM

2015-05-24T13:50:21-04:00

Geoengineering has long been a CIA initiative to weaponise the weather. In fact Operation Popeye increased rainfall by an estimated 30% over parts of Vietnam in an attempt to reduce the movement of soldiers and resources into South Vietnam via cloud seeding the CIA also seeded clouds over Cuba ‘to make it rain and ruin the sugar harvest'.

The MEDEA program was shut down a while back but was restarted by weather man Al Gore. I think the program mainly looked at environmental impacts on crops and other resources that could effect our national security.

Also when the CIA says its shutting down a program it could mean they are shutting down the program or they are "shutting down the program" wink wink.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2015 3:26 PM

2015-05-24T15:26:22-04:00

When I see NWS types and other Meteorologists who are lazy, I chafe. Why? Because lives are at stake and our forecasts can save lives. It was Air Forecast Weather Forecasters who blazed a trail to produce severe storms forecasting and I trust Air Force Weather people over Penn State grads any day.

Seeing the obvious and working one's way outward. It is an artform and a look at their forecast discussions gives an insight into their competence.

Response by MAJ James Woods made May 24 at 2015 4:30 PM

2015-05-24T16:30:29-04:00

Allowing scientists access to government satellites to support research...nothing wrong with that. Environmental impacts on countries that could destabilize them? That's rational at the strategic level.

Response by SSG Trevor S. made May 25 at 2015 12:52 AM

2015-05-25T00:52:38-04:00

Just so I'm up to date, is it:
1. The Coming Ice Age
2. Hole in the OZONE Layer
3. Acid Rain
4. Global Warming
5. Rising Ocean Levels
6.Climate Change
or something else this year?

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made May 30 at 2015 11:31 PM

2015-05-30T23:31:55-04:00

Seems like the CIA was just following orders: They acted, as directed. Ha!

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Jul 17 at 2015 10:12 AM

2015-07-17T10:12:16-04:00

Warning from a global team of scientists: Climate change is as threatening as nuclear war ...

http://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/warning-from-a-global-team-of-scientists-climate-change-is-as-threatening-as-nuclear-war/ar-AAcVQcw

Warning from a global team of scientists: Climate change is as threatening as nuclear war

Gone are the days when talk of global destruction conjured images of nuclear bombs and mushroom clouds.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2015 2:45 AM

2015-11-10T02:45:41-05:00

http://wattsupwiththat.com/

This is ongoing, a place where real scientific debate occurs. Not by a President with an agenda. One that really has no basis in reality.

Watts Up With That?

The world's most viewed site on global warming and climate change

Response by SrA Art Siatkowsky made Nov 10 at 2015 2:56 AM

2015-11-10T02:56:05-05:00

Maybe because climate change is not really what Obama is concerned about and maybe he is trying to use the threat of climate change for some other purpose? Read up on the carbon tax legislation our pres is all excited about. Then ask yourself what could make a country like China suddenly care about climate change? I am sure it wasn't their warm humanitarianism. Nah there is something fishy about Obama and China and the carbon tax....especially when we have NASA showing what many already knew....climate change is too complicated to predict and All Gore got it wrong again....

https://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/antarctic-sea-ice-reaches-new-record-maximum

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jan 11 at 2016 7:03 PM

2016-01-11T19:03:56-05:00

Thanks for providing me an oxymoron GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad on this lazy Monday evening. Only humans would have the hubris to believe that our behavior could actually make significant impact on the climate of this planet.
Your response about a "global team of scientists" who believe that climate change is as threatening as nuclear war was also wonderful to see within a week of the report that a nuclear explosion may have taken place in the hermit kingdom last week.
The koolaid seems to be freely available if people actually believe that global climate change which has been forecast since the 1970s - first with predictions of a global ice age and now a global heat whatever. Nuclear warfare was best depicted in the end of Dr Strangelove - if that happens the world would be forever changed in a short time unlike the painfully slow processs of global climate change. :-)
Thanks for tagging me SSgt Private RallyPoint Member

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Feb 11 at 2016 2:00 PM

2016-02-11T14:00:23-05:00

Do recall that the Soviets also played with the same data and had ideas about weather delivered weapons. So we both know that what one agency says and does are very different. I more curious about Home Land take on this. :)

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Feb 12 at 2016 4:29 PM

2016-02-12T16:29:35-05:00

Try applying Magicians sly of hand rule.