Earth Day is always a great spectacle where Hollywood stars, climate change activists, and political elites jet around the world in private airplanes and get chauffeured in comfortable SUVs on their way to lecture us peasants on how we need to change our lives to save the planet from the big bad climate change.
We usually hear requests to bathe less, eliminate cow flatulence, and abandon our gas-guzzling vehicles in favor of the oh-so financially accessible electric vehicle.
We heard from our fearless leader on a trip to Washington this Earth Day, and he has an idea for the ages: he wants the war machines of the U.S. military to be “green” too!
“We’re going to start the process where every vehicle in the United States military, every vehicle, is going to be climate-friendly – every vehicle – I mean it.”
Eat your heart out, Leonardi DiCaprio: we’re getting “green” howitzers!
President Biden: "I'm going to start the process where every vehicle in the United States military is going to be climate-friendly. We'll spend billions of dollars to do it and it's going to matter. This crisis is a genuine opportunity to do things we wanted to do." pic.twitter.com/yBUPPIbT9E
— The Hill (@thehill) April 24, 2022
Biden’s ‘Green’ Military Machines
The President didn’t articulate precisely what that means. Are all up-armored vehicles and HUMVEEs going to transition to electric? Will EV charging stations be built in war zones to protect Mother Earth while we fight future wars?
How much cobalt will six-year-old Congolese kids have to mine to power the batteries for a 60-ton Abrams tank?
Good morning Patriots. Xi is having another good laugh at our expense. Especially since a lot the "green" stuff Biden will buy will be made-in-china.
"We’re going to spend billions to make all military vehicles climate friendly". Joe Biden pic.twitter.com/FrPIkl9ItN— DEATH (Official X Chief DEI Enforcer) (@RoundWorldDeath) April 25, 2022
Of the $773 billion requested for the Department of Defense, $3 billion is for climate resilience at military bases. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated in regards to the DoD’s funding requests:
“…we have devoted more than $3 billion to address the effects of climate change, bolster our installation resiliency and adaptation to climate challenges.”
Secretary Austin also wrote in the forward of the Department of Defense Climate Adaption Plan:
“Executive Order 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, made it administration policy that climate considerations will be an essential element of United States foreign policy and national security.”
Misplaced Military Priorities
The military’s priorities and views of what constitutes viable threats to our national security have been the topic of much debate. Besides coming up with a Climate Adaptation Plan, our military leaders have also focused on other areas, including advocating for $34 million to improve the Department’s capability to deter, detect, and address concerning behaviors and extremism in the ranks.
Additionally, a focus on talent management initiatives to enhance racial and gender diversity at critical points in the military career life cycle.
Read More: The Military’s New ‘Equity’ Plan
This last initiative came under fire when General Milley was grilled on his support of a West Point seminar titled Understanding Whiteness and White Rage. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff isn’t the only one concerned with ‘whiteness.’
Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael Gilday recommends his sailors read How to be an Anti Racist by Ibram X. Kendi. Kendi’s book asserts that it is impossible to be not racist. There are only racists and anti-racists. It seems like a healthy perspective to be pushing on our sailors who are meant to work together as one cohesive team.
The Ruse of Climate Concern
It’s hard to believe in the legitimacy of this administration’s desire to combat climate change. In August 2021, the President signed an executive order setting a target for zero-emission vehicles to account for half of all automobiles sold in the USA by 2030. Unfortunately, he signed that EO without the largest manufacturer of EVs in attendance.
Yeah, seems odd that Tesla wasn’t invited
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 5, 2021
When pressed on if the reason Elon Musk wasn’t invited to the event was due to Tesla not being unionized and that the leaders from the United Auto Workers were in attendance, Press Secretary Jen Psaki replied;
“I’ll let you draw your own conclusion.”
Elon Musk has also been critical of the Biden administration’s push for Build Back Better. A $12,500 tax credit would be granted to anyone who purchases an electric vehicle from manufacturers with a unionized workforce.
If “temporary” provisions in the Build Back Better Act become permanent, US national debt will increase by 24%! https://t.co/kKdpc45JoB
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 8, 2021
So when it comes to civilian vehicles, the administration wants you to have an electric vehicle, provided you do it on their terms.
President Biden once said to a group of service members:
“…when I first was elected vice president with President Obama, the military sat us down to let us know what the greatest threats facing America were – the greatest physical threats, and this is not a joke. You know what the Joint Chiefs told us the greatest threat facing America was? Global warming.”
The fact he has to specifically mention that what he is saying isn’t a joke makes it a joke. Only a joke that isn’t funny. Just like this joke told by our Vice President Kamala Harris to another group of service members at the Naval Academy;
“Just ask any Marine today, would she rather carry 20 pounds of batteries or a rolled-up solar panel, and I am positive she will tell you a solar panel – and so would he!”
I’ve known a fair share of Marines in my time, and other service members for that matter. I’ve never known them to be overly concerned with 20 pounds of batteries or if their equipment is environmentally friendly when they are in the heat of battle.
Besides the fact that the President and Vice President contribute to the climate issue with their taxpayer-funded transportation, President Biden is specifically known for his interest in classic automobiles. At the Earth Day event, he admitted:
“I’m an automobile buff. I have a ’68 Corvette that does nothing but pollute the air. But I don’t drive it very much.”
Well, if the President of the United States has curbed his desire to drive his souped-up Corvette, I can find it in me to scrounge up the cash for an EV and ditch my paid-off gas vehicles. This is a joke, in case you weren’t following.
No Laughing Matter
It’s hard to know what the American people should be most worried about. Is it climate change? Is it the military going ‘woke’? Is it where the administration keeps finding these sorry excuses for speechwriters?
Case in point the President’s closing remarks on Earth Day:
“You know that we know that we carry in heart and mind the image of the ideal place, the right place, the one true home,”
“This ain’t your father’s Republican Party. Not a joke…anyway, but all kidding aside, this is a MAGA party now…these guys are a different breed of cat.”
It’s good that they at least let us know when he’s joking and when he’s not. I look forward to being branded #MAGAcat or maybe #conservativekitty… I’m sure they’ll think of something catchy.
Say, how long will it take to charge an F-35, anyway?
Biden wants the military completely green…
He said the same thing in Dec 21 https://t.co/0Ve13mN2Qo pic.twitter.com/g0xQTQsJtU— Jim Thompson (@JimmySportToons) April 22, 2022