An Environmental Avatar

James Cameron, the award-winning creator and director of Avatar, was on the set of Morning Joe this morning extolling the virtues of his film's influence on world environmental policies and practices.  He's currently in the process of fighting a dam project in Brazil.  Seems Brazil wants to join the modern world by supplying its growing population and emerging industry with abundant, non-fossilized, clean hydroelectric power.  But thanks to experts in the field of environmental energy and engineering, like Mr. Cameron, a large dam in Brazil could upset the delicate balance of Mother Nature and further inflame global warming.

Pat Buchanan, Morning Joe's conservative relief man and resident foil for liberal guests, questioned Cameron on why the people of Brazil shouldn't benefit from the same kind of cheap energy that helps fuel superpowers like the U.S. and China.  Indeed, we were told that since the western expansion of the U.S. and the massive displacement of Chinese to build their Three Gorges Dam, we have learned that wind and solar generated power are far superior, even if they do cost a little more to produce.  When Buchanan again intervened to question Cameron on the fraudulent science of global warming, as exposed by the East Anglia Climate Research Unit emails, Sam Stein of the Huffington Post, after a limp attempt to defend enviro geek science himself, redirected the attention back to Cameron with "you can comment better."  In other words, since you Mr. Cameron are an artist and a film director of Academy Award fame, disarm this conservative neanderthal with your vast experience and overwhelming knowledge of all things Al Gore.  As John Stossel says, "Give me a break!"

Mr. Cameron called for ending our addiction-like dependence on foreign oil.  I agree we should.  But not at the expense of ignoring our own proven reserves of oil and natural gas, clean coal technologies or nuclear power.  There is also a growing misconception being proffered by the left that if we end our dependence on foreign oil, the need for American soldiers fighting in the Middle East will evaporate.  Wrong.  While I  would agree that much of the money we pay Middle Eastern nations for our energy needs is being used against us in evil and deadly ways, we should reject the notion that without their oil there would be nothing to defend or fight against.  Unless Israel intervenes, because we won't, Iran will soon have a nuclear weapon.  This alone will require our presence and capabilities to fend off aggressive and hostile nation-states looking to expand their own nuclear programs or defend themselves from Iran.  While one day it may no longer be necessary to defend oil fields in foreign countries for our own consumption, the plight of freedom and democracy will forever endure.  Despite Mr. Obama's temporary injunction against it.