9/11 Senate Hearing: No Mention of Radical Islam, Climate Change Is Major Threat

“Climate change poses an existential threat” to America and Earth, declared Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. He linked “climate change” to 9/11 in his opening remarks, calling on DHS to prioritize halting the ostensible phenomenon:

Climate change poses and existential threat not only to the United States but our entire planet. The Department of Homeland Security is our first line of defense against these and other challenges. As these threats to our homeland change, so must the efforts to protect our national security. With nearly two decades of lessons learned, the time has come for a clear-eyed assessment of what has worked and what needs to be improved. As we reflect on what the department has accomplished to date, we must consider whether the size and capacity of DHS can keep pace with the constantly evolving threats. In order to build a more sustainable department and defend ourselves from global threats, we must look to the future. It is not enough to understand the effect of the moment. We must also make sure DHS is prepared to anticipate those threats arising in out future. This is a difficult conversation, but one we must have to ensure we never again face a catastrophic event like September 11.

Peters also singled out “white supremacist violence” as a national security threat, with Chertoff similarly warning of “white supremacists.” “A rise in violence driven by racism, religious discrimination, and other hateful ideologies has altered our perception of domestic terrorism,” said Peters.

Napolitano similarly framed “climate change” and “global warming” as national security threats to be prioritized by federal government policy, linking the two to illegal immigration and “radicalization”:

It is also time for Congress and DHS to recognize climate change as a generational threat to the homeland that must be addressed in a meaningful way. The uptick is extreme weather events on land and offshore clearly impact the missions of FEMA and the U.S. Coast Guard, from rescue and reconnaissance to disaster preparation, response, and recovery, our changing climate requires DHS to approach those missions differently. Climate evolution also implicates our border and immigration system, thereby directly affecting USCIS, CBP, and ICE. Extreme weather is destroying crop yields in Central and South America, devastating economies, and driving out jobs and gainful employment opportunities. Wth lost jobs and lost wages, the aperture towards radicalization widens, as does the draw of northward migration. There are many factors that lead to migration to the United States, but the downstream effects of climate change are certainly among them. If we as a nation fail to address climate change in a holistic and global way as a threat to the homeland, we will ignore one of the nation’s — and the world’s — greatest security risk.

---

Trump reveals Iran made ‘significant proposal’ after ultimatum, but ‘not good enough’

---

Watch: Savannah Guthrie Returns to ‘Today’ Show, Pays Tribute to Missing Mother with Outfit

---

American woman missing after husband says she fell overboard, swept to sea during Bahamas boat trip: police

---

Power Company Faces Legal Fight For Making Too Much Energy

---

Newsom’s California rail project now expected to cost $126B, official admits, with still no tracks laid

---

Israel hits South Pars natural gas field as Trump deadline looms

---

Children of Illegal Aliens Linked to Attempted Bombing at U.S. Air Force Base

---

Martinez: Why President Trump’s War On Fraud Exposes National Scandal

---

Ceasefire proposal could reopen key oil route amid US-Iran tensions and more top headlines

---

Behind ‘No Kings’ St. Paul protest: $250K production machine equal to a Def Leppard concert

---

Lindsey Graham turns ire toward rivals at home amid Iran and DHS shutdown fallout

---

Iranian intelligence chief and militia commander among those killed in Israeli strikes

---

President Trump makes endorsement in California gubernatorial race: ‘He will be a GREAT Governor’

---

GOP races to pass ICE, Border Patrol funding bill as priorities pile up, divisions emerge

---

Why the Strait of Hormuz matters as Trump issues fresh ultimatum to Iran

---

See also  Erika Kirk and Karoline Leavitt talk free thinking and faith at TPUSA college tour kickoff

“The U.S. border with Mexico,” stated Napolitano, is not “a threat to the homeland.” She added, “What we do not need and what does not make sense is a wall from one end of the border to the other.”

Napolitano concluded, “Show me a ten-foot wall, and I will show you an 11-foot ladder. … The debate about a costly and needless border wall should come to an end. It distracts us from the overall mission of DHS. It is a red herring. I urge this committee to consider putting an end to discussions on a border wall.”

“Gun safety, gun safety, and gun safety,” said Johnson, listing his top three national security priorities. He maintained the Obama administration’s refusal to use the term “Islamic terrorism,” instead referring to “violent extremism.”

“I support anything — consistent with the Second Amendment — that has bipartisan support, [and] that makes it more difficult for a deranged violent person to get his hands on a gun, specifically an assault weapon,” added Johnson.

Napolitano concurred, “I think that universal background checks is a good step towards greater security for the country, but it is a first step.”

Story cited here.

Share this article:

Facebook

Twitter