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Sound Environment versus Peace:

true that civilian agencies such as the EPA are

A Tradeoff?

involved in the execution of environmental

The second danger of this redefinition of

security policy. However, granting the agency

security is that it cannot achieve what it sets out

the status of executor of national security

to do. Despite the assumptions of its propo-

policy is one step toward militarization of its

nents, can environmental security efforts actu-

activities, particularly as it works closely with

ally achieve security? The problem here is in

DoD, and sets a dangerous precedent. The

finding a reasonable definition of "security"

involvement of DoD in civilian affairs, on the

itself. Unfortunately, that is not an easy task. A

other hand, does not bode well for openness

huge academic debate on the subject has raged

and civil liberties.

for several decades and remains unresolved; one

author has even described security as an essen-

Effects on Society

tially contested concept.41 However, if we for the

The effects of military interference in the

moment equate security with peace--and even

domestic sphere were amply demonstrated

the most ardent champions of redefining secu-

on May 20, 1997, when an 18-year-old boy

rity recognize peace as a crucial component of

from Redmond, Texas, was shot dead by four

the concept4 2--then proponents of efforts to

Marines conducting an anti-drug surveil-

The propensity

lance mission on the U.S.-Mexican border.4 3

achieve environmental security should ponder

for conflict is

whether such efforts might perversely threaten

Military officials were also involved in the

security (peace) itself. There are two ways in

fatal siege at Waco in 1993, and increasing

enhanced by

which that perverse result could come about.

militarization of law enforcement is evident

efforts to cajole

throughout the United States.44 Unfortu-

First, concentration on issues such as the envi-

other countries to

ronment could distract the military from more

nately, the lessons of those events have not

orthodox security activities, with detrimental

been widely understood. On October 7, 1999,

abide by environ-

effects on the maintenance of peace. Second,

DoD announced the formation of a task

mental standards

and more probable, the execution of environ-

force, under the new U.S. Joint Forces

mental security policy could lead to tensions

Command, dedicated to assisting civilian

and by U.S. inter-

and even conflict with other countries.

officials with counterterrorism efforts. DoD

vention in their

The latter scenario is not hard to imagine.

also assigned the task of tackling so-called

domestic affairs.

While intelligence analysts busy themselves

cyberterrorism in America to the U.S. Space

Command.4 5 Although many DoD environ-

predicting the next environmentally induced

conflict overseas, U.S. military planners are

mental programs are currently implemented

preparing for the deployment of troops to

overseas, the logical extension of a policy that

intervene in such an event. The propensity

posits all environmental degradation as a

for conflict is further enhanced by efforts to

threat to national security is that the military

cajole other countries to abide by environ-

will become involved in the domestic sphere.

mental standards and by U.S. intervention in

Even overseas, DoD's activities have

their domestic affairs. In both cases, the logi-

important implications for civil-military rela-

cal consequence is war, when diplomatic

tions and civil liberties. Environmental initia-

means fail or sufficient resentment is felt in

tives carried out in Africa under the Security

the country subject to intervention.

Assistance Program may be dangerous

because they use the local military as the pri-

mary agent of conservation. Simon Dalby

New Directions:

has pointed out the problems of "super park

The Price of Security

wardens" in developing countries: a tendency

toward coercive practices, histories of politi-

cal repression of and violence against those

Not the least of the dangers entailed by

whom the "wardens" claim to protect, and

the expansion of the concept of security is

enforcement of conservation areas such as

militarization of environmental policy. It is

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