Vet Group Draws Terrorism, IEDS, Ahmadinejad Into Energy Debate (VIDEO)

A progressive veterans group is making a provocative push to get comprehensive energy reform passed, launching a new ad that ties oil consumption to Iranian-backed attacks against U.S. troops.

In a spot set to air in eight key states, the group, VoteVets.org (with assistance from the energy independence group Operation Free) splices footage of highly developed improvised explosive devices being used against U.S. soldiers alongside Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Narrated by Iraq War veteran Christopher Miller, who earned a Purple Heart as the result of an IED explosion six years ago, the ad makes the case that passing energy legislation is a national security imperative.

"That's the type of IED that earned me a purple heart in Iraq six years ago," Miller says, as footage of a U.S. convoy being blown off a dirt road runs in the backdrop.

"This is what our troops are up against today: EFPs [Explosively Formed Projectile] specially designed to pierce American military armor. It is a devastating weapon and it was created in oil-rich Iran. They are ending up in the hands of our enemies. And every time oil goes up a dollar, Iran gets another $1.5 billion to use against us."

"Connection between oil and the enemy couldn't be clearer," Miller adds. "We need to break that connection by breaking our addiction. And we can by passing a clean energy climate plan. It would cut our dependence on foreign oil in half."

"Some in Congress say it is a tough vote. Not as tough as what our troops are up against."

The campaign is exceptionally tough stuff -- especially in the context of the ongoing energy debates, where the ads tend to focus more on promoting bipartisan unity (like Al Gore's efforts) than on using war imagery and Ahmadinejad references (which seems more simpatico with Liz Cheney's group).

But VoteVets' goal is to focus attention to the argument that energy dependence is a pending (if not already occurring) national security crisis. And, in that regard, the spot should be considered a blunt instrument for making the argument - elevating veterans and drawing terrorism into the heart of the energy debate.

The spot will air in the following states: Alaska, Indiana, Maine, Montana, Missouri, North Dakota, Virginia, and West Virginia, all of which house critical Senate votes.

Comments

[kattyM]

05:48 PM on 03/09/2010

And Iran is getting all the blames to drum up a new war with Iran.

Get real, pull in all the resources form ME and put them in energy independence industries.

We can not occupy countries and blame them for wanting us out.

[James Sklar]

04:18 PM on 03/05/2010

Just another reason why I feel proud driving my '84 MB TD on biodiesel. The fuel is 100% recycled oil, and 100% petroleum free.

[earth-wealth]

09:48 PM on 03/04/2010

This link may help to learn who calls the shots in our lives today.
http://counterpunch.com/weir02262010.html

[MidwestHeart]

06:00 PM on 03/04/2010

That people profess support for 'the troops' and then drive gas guzzlers is just one of many examples of how out of touch with the realities of our lives many people are. Where does our garbage go? What will future generations do with the garbage we casually toss? Eating foods that are highly processed and meats from disgusting feed lots, no thought of the lives or the animals or that their well-being might affect the eater. That we are wastefully using oil that will probably never be replenished, destroying ecosystems forever. My theory is that people are out of touch with their own bodies and beings and that this lack of connection to self leads to this thoughtlessness. Just a theory from many years as a bodyworker.

[MidwestHeart]

05:44 PM on 03/04/2010

Finally a statement about our use of oil that REALLY 'Supports the Troops'--as if being against a war that kills and maims young men (mostly men), takes them away from their families is being *against* them. I wonder if the people who really need to see this public service message will see it if it does not air on the network that shall not be named.

[grind88]

03:40 PM on 03/04/2010

The crazy GOp wingnuts should be very concerned right now. Clean energy or the death of our soldiers. If they behave as expected they will choose the death of soldiers. They are not interested in any of there ideology. Thay care about being in power and they care about making money. Pure and simple. The only ones who still have an ideology are the conservative voters. Unfortunately they are being svrapped by the GOP and the ideology is now entirely owned by corporate america and whatever suites them Silly tea-baggers, silly conservatives, silly independents. You still havent figured it out. And silly democrats: Obama is making deals left and right, selling out your rights. The mass media is even lying to you. Everyone is behind enemy lines and i am not kidding. Talk about a country being swollowed up by special interests. Sure, they are not hitting you over the head like in iran, but they are squeesing your rights in pretty mush the same way.WHY: Beacuse cash rules all aroiund this Motherficker. And politics and money go hand in hand in america. Not in capitalism in general, just in america.....

[StuffMoreStuff]

12:14 PM on 03/04/2010

I 100% agree. Perhaps also if we can end this dependence we can stop having a hypocritical foreign policy. That'd be the day...

Also I should note the entire dept of energy should be fired. As its very creation in '77, following the oil embargo, was to 'end our dependence on foreign oil'. There are few more embarrassingly blatant examples of abject failure. Some 33yrs later, we're actually MORE dependent on foreign oil than in 1977. Stop rewarding failure. 16,000 employees and 24.1 billion and growing...and absolutely JACK FRIGGIN SHEET to show for it!

[Eric4969]

12:13 PM on 03/04/2010

Because Corporate America OWNS America. If your making Billions would you want to change? It's we the Poeple RIGHT LOL NO we're to Lazy and spoiled here in USA and for some just Dumb as a tak. Point being what are you DRIVING a V-8 Gas gusler and probably a Foreign car to boot. So bye American wont work and our Goverment is broken and we're our Lazy. WHY CANT WE GET CHANGE IN AMERICA LOL

[axollot]

12:21 PM on 03/04/2010

As long as corporations have corporate person-hood it *IS* "We the people, business as usual" in the US.
From MIC to HRC - ending corporate person hood would fix a whole lot of America's problems. Remember the SCOTUS just gave corporations even MORE power, unlimited funding of US elections.

[earth-wealth]

01:33 PM on 03/04/2010

We can make more casinos. That is perfect for people who wish to sit on their butt and eat, drink, smoke all day, everyday.

[DevonTexas]

11:57 AM on 03/04/2010

Oh jeeze! That ad is the equivalent of an IED to Congress! It places a human value on the need to get as far from oil as we can get!

[axollot]

11:44 AM on 03/04/2010

Long over due - finally something that talks to those that would bury their heads in the sand re: carbon emissions to the other equally alarming threat oil puts on our national security - in a language they can understand. (hopefully)

Are they calling him a fa.ke ve.ter.an yet?

[daninmadison]

09:38 AM on 03/04/2010

It's about time.

Not one drop of American blood should have been spilled in Iraq.
Look at some of the oil producing countries...
- Iran wants nuclear and has repeatedly denied the Holocaust ever happened.
- Venezuela, Chavez wants to see America on it's knees
- Russia, while the relationship has warmed significantly, there is still resentment among older generations.
- Saudi Arabia. It's a kingdom, not a democracy. History has taught us that supporting Kingdom's eventually results in American bloodshed.

Turn America into an energy independent country (wind, solar, nuclear, natural gas, offshore drilling).
There is no reason our number one import should be energy related. Use our greatest resource (American ingenuity) to make us independent once again.

It will create hundreds of thousands of permanent jobs at home.
It will eliminate the need for our sons and daughters to be sent to a foreign land to protect our oil interests.
This is about investing in our children's future.

[Matt Osborne]

08:46 AM on 03/04/2010

Eight and a half years after 9/11, someone is finally linking oil dependency and terrorism in a visceral way on television.

[PatCcj]

11:40 AM on 03/04/2010

Many of us have linked it from the beginning, including many in the military. Finally the facts are getting some major tv time, especially powerful because it is from the soldier's point of view. Too many people have been oblivious to the sacrifices they've been making for the past 9 years. If you drive a truck or an SUV (that you don't really NEED), you are NOT supporting the soldiers.

[axollot]

11:49 AM on 03/04/2010

Aww c'mon those SUVS have the yellow ribbon magnets on them tho! (sarcasm for the satire challenged...)

[Matt Osborne]

12:03 PM on 03/04/2010

"If you ride alone, you ride with Osama!"

[AnonieMoose]

08:18 AM on 03/04/2010

What a great ad by a great group to get the right wing on board with climate and energy bills. Brilliant.

[kattyM]

05:46 PM on 03/09/2010

And Iran is getting all the blames to drum up a new war with Iran.

Get real, pull in all the resources form ME and put them in energy independence industries.

We can not occupy countries and blame them for wanting us out.

[smiththomas]

08:01 AM on 03/04/2010

There other reasons besides energy producing the hostility . Also, everyone would like to get off fossil fuels. So devote more of the budget toward developent. Do not let the goverment take money and spend it in the general budget ( Like soc security) using cap and trade. Also you cannot cause utility bills to escalate to a derrimental degree.

[mikegriffith]

07:24 AM on 03/04/2010

Very odd. These guys talk about the danger of being dependent on foreign energy sources, yet most of them oppose ANWR drilling, oppose utilizing our enormous natural gas resources, oppose more offshore drilling, and oppose nuclear power.

Yes, let's develop alternative energy sources, but for heaven's sake let's also expand our use of traditional energy sources until the alternative ones can replace them. We could cut our dependence on foreign oil down to almost nothing in 5-10 years if we'd do more offshore drilling, drill in ANWR, use more natural gas, and build more nuclear power plants.

[FightingTheRight]

07:31 AM on 03/04/2010

Drilling done by "International Companies", who sell on the open market to the highest bidder.

[norkas]

08:14 AM on 03/04/2010

For some in America getting off of oil is a dirty word. Some post here as if they have ties to the oil industry but they have none. They get sick at the thought and are aggressive and often abusive if anyone mentions solar , wind and any other alternatives.

I believe Democratic leadership is doing a horrible job leading the way to a cleaner future using what is available now. There are examples in Europe such as Spin and other Countries that are so far ahead of America concerning alternative energy use with allot less reliance on oil.

Our Democratic leadership is ignorant or corrupt and my opinion is corrupt because the Imbeciles can just google what progress is being made and had been made using present day technology and they can see what has already taken place and the million of jobs that would be created.

[PatCcj]

09:48 AM on 03/04/2010

Our leadership is in the pockets of big oil, we've gone so long having almost unlimited access to it that they're now entrenched. Any move to alternative energy is going to be met with obstruction. They automatically claim it isn't feasible, those solutions won't work, can't produce enough. Yet the EU is well on its way to doing it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy_in_the_European_Union
The chart on the page says it all. For Spain, Austria, Germany, France not controlling oil fields has been a problem in the past, but will prove to be a blessing for them in the future.