http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-na-intel26-2008jun26,0,5875448.story

The U.S. intelligence agencies have compiled a report on climate change and its possible future affect around the world. The report concludes that climate change may threaten U.S. security because of humanitarian crises such as illegal immigration and ethnic violence from politically weaker countries.

According to the report, the effects of global warming are likely to be most severe in sub- Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Central and Southeast Asia. Its authors warn that less rainfall and more volatile weather could cut agricultural output in some regions of Africa by as much as 50%.

Democrats and environmental activists praised the assessment, calling it formal acknowledgment by a key part of the government that the threat of rising temperatures is real.

But the report was also criticized, particularly by skeptics of global warming and people who oppose using U.S. intelligence resources to track something as amorphous as the environment

The report also concluded that U.S. infrastructure is weak and is not prepared to deal with climate change.

Los Angeles Times: June 26, 2008

Submitted by M. Lamarre