Article Entry
20 Jan 2010
Comments:1
GEOINT and Climate Change: Arctic Growing Security Risk to U.S.?
Added by USGIF Category: Daily Intelligence Brief, General
Earlier this month, the CIA received extensive press coverage for sharing satellite imagery with climate scientists. As a result of this news, there has been a minor debate to how much of a threat the Arctic is to the U.S. Fox News commentators scoffed at the CIA, accusing it of “spying on icebergs instead of terrorists” and therefore failing to “keep Americans safe.” But CIA Director Leon Panetta, retired military generals and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton all disagree with this assessment. Here’s what Panetta had to say: “With the melting of the ice, with sea lanes opening that were never there before … with five countries ringing the Arctic … With Russia saying that they are going to have an expedition next year to plant their flag on the North Pole. With Canada saying, ‘No, you’d better not.’ This is an area that we have to pay real attention to.” What do you all think? Does the Arctic region pose a threat to our nation?
Tags: Arctic Security Threat to U.S., Central Intelligence Agency, CIA and Climate Change, GEOINT, GEOINT and climate change, geospatial intelligence, Panetta, United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation
I’m not sure framing the situation in terms of a threat is the best approach. It could be an opportunity for the U.S. economy in a big way.
Canada, Norway, Denmark, UK and Iceland are NATO members. Probably the wider issue is safe passage through the Arctic while respecting the rights of all the nations involved. China is preparing to travel through the Russian passages.
Essentially, one travels around South America, through the Panama Canal or the third option – the Arctic. Strategically those are the considerations.