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taries is thus supposed to have the double

environmental component of preventive

goal of reducing environmental crises, there-

defense: prevent problems from causing con-

by preventing conflict, and promoting

flict (but be ready to intervene if conflict does

democracy, trust, and understanding, again

occur). Anything that is a potential cause of

in the interest of stability.

conflict, be it intrastate, regional, or interna-

The environmental component of preven-

tional, is therefore considered a threat to

tive defense's first pillar--warnings of potential

security and must be tackled. President

crises--is also revealing. Although Goodman

Clinton summed it up when he declared that

placed emphasis on the role of the intelligence

"if we fail to address these threats today, we

community in predicting conflicts that have

will suffer the consequences in all our tomor-

rows."3 4 Such an attitude, of course, has

environmental factors, it is clear that DoD, as

the agency that would be expected to provide

potential consequences of its own, which are

solutions, is also concerned. If intelligence does

discussed below.

provide indications of environmentally

The Well-Being Approach to

induced conflict, what will happen? Goodman

Environmental Security

cites deforestation in Haiti as that country's

"most severe environmental concern, one that

The well-being approach to environmen-

world relief agencies have explicitly tied to the

tal security is even less well defined than the

country's refugee crisis which brought in

conflict approach. Essentially, any environ-

American troops." She goes on to say, "An envi-

mental problem that in any way reduces the

ronmental crisis similar to Haiti's thus may

quality of life in America or affects the health

have significant regional or even international

of American citizens can be considered a

effects, which, in combination with other fac-

threat to national security. This approach

tors, could compel U.S. military involvement."30

also allows any environmental policy and any

environmental program, in the United States

Organizations such as the National Defense

or overseas, to be considered in the national

University have gone so far as to identify alleged

interest. Such a dilution of the concept of

flashpoints around the globe where environ-

security has profound effects on the way that

mental conflict could break out and affect U.S.

national security interests.31 NATO, with U.S.

policy is elaborated and implemented, and it

takes no account of tradeoffs between values.

participation, has conducted a series of studies

Organizations

on environmental conflict and its effects on

national and international security.3 2It is there-

such as the

New Goals, Confused Goals

Environmental security takes many forms.

fore evident that DoD examines such scenarios,

National Defense

It includes carrying out defense activities in

and the intelligence community scans for them,

University have

compliance with environmental standards,

with a view to intervening militarily if preven-

preparing for environmentally induced conflict

tive defense fails and conflicts do arise.

gone so far as to

overseas, cooperating with foreign militaries to

Clearly, other factors--social, economic,

identify alleged

tackle environmental issues, and developing

and political--come into play, too. Deutch

flashpoints

policies and signing agreements on environ-

said as much when he stated, "Adding [the]

mental issues such as climate change, air pollu-

environmental dimension to traditional

around the globe

tion, and toxic waste disposal. Each is a differ-

political, economic and military analysis

where environ-

ent issue, but there are some similarities. All are

enhances our ability to alert policy makers to

deemed to require immediate action. Such is

potential instability, conflict, or human dis-

mental conflict

the imperative of invoking "security," and thus

aster and to identify situations which may

could break out

draw in American involvement."33

its rhetorical value, as a motivating tool. All

and affect U.S.

environmental security activities include some

Nonetheless, the prevailing attitude is

activity overseas as well as in the domestic

that environmental problems need to be

national security

sphere--to prevent conflict, to mitigate conflict,

taken care of, regardless of other potential

interests.

and to reduce threats to American life and liv-

causes of conflict. This is the essence of the

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