The Burden: Fossil Fuel, The Military, and National Security

The Burden: Fossil Fuel, The Military, and National Security is a thought-provoking documentary that delves into the often overlooked nexus between American national security, the U.S. military, and the tremendous reliance on fossil fuels. The film demonstrates how this dependence undermines the military operations and the national security of the country.

Stirringly directed by Roger Sorkin and first released in a limited screening in 2015, The Burden features candid interviews with various high-ranking military officials who opine on the intricate issue of the military's fossil fuel dependency. These figures do not present their views from an environmental standpoint but from a purely tactical and strategic perspective. The film casts a spotlight on those who believe that this dependence on such resources places American soldiers in harm's way and compromises the preparedness of the country to confront potential threats or challenges to its security.

At its heart, The Burden sheds light on the connection between the military’s reliance on oil and the risks that the personnel faces in ensuring its access and availability. The film paints a vivid picture, often in heart-wrenching detail, of the cost to American lives, the substantial expense incurred during military operations, and the strategic vulnerabilities it creates. Staggering financial statistics pertaining to military fuel supply logistics provide a sobering insight into the extent of this issue.

The movie does a remarkable job of exploring the intensifying dialogue and efforts about alternative energy sources and the future of energy consumption. It delves not just into the environmental significance or the general economic potential, but it provides a new perspective, viewing it from the angle of military strategic advantage.

Some of the influential figures featured in the documentary, such as ex-CIA director James Woolsey and former President George W. Bush, elaborate on how dependency on fossil fuels from unstable regions increases strategic complications. The military witnesses and veterans share personal experiences and the reality of these complications on the ground.

These stakeholders discuss how renewable energy can diminish these risks by offering a more predictable and secure energy supply. The Burden also highlights the military's own ventures into energy innovation through its numerous projects that demonstrate that eliminating said risk is not only an abstract possibility but a feasible reality.

However, the film is not all cautionary tales and grim forecasts. It navigates through this heavy issue by interspersing uplifting and hopeful stories of veterans who have taken matters into their own hands by starting renewable energy businesses, fostering innovation, and promoting the use of cleaner energy sources. Their progress and conversations about their evolution serve as a testament to the potential and success of the military's shift away from fossil fuel reliance.

One of the core messages of The Burden is the necessity for a paradigm shift, not just within the military but across the country, to reevaluate its energy strategies. It advocates the development and usage of clean, renewable energy sources, thereby reducing the country’s reliance on fossil fuels, which comes with a myriad of threats to national security and the safety of its military personnel.

The documentary does a remarkable job in presenting the human face behind these challenges with compelling personal narratives and firsthand accounts. Its footage from war zones like Iraq is chilling, showing potently how fuel convoys are vulnerable targets and add unnecessary risk to military missions.

The Burden: Fossil Fuel, The Military, and National Security offers a powerful and immersive look into a largely underexamined facet of the American military complex. It works tirelessly to generate constructive conversation and change the narrative around America's energy needs. With a sobering yet hopeful tone, The Burden challenges audiences to reconsider the real costs and consequences of our energy choices.

Its in-depth analysis and unique vantage point make it an important documentary for audiences, especially those interested in military strategy, national security, or environmental sustainability. It's not just a call for revolutionizing the energy industry, but a plea to protect the lives of those who risk theirs to maintain the nation's security.