They’re touring New Mexico in an RV to share some important ‘road rules’ in a different kind of military operation. Military veterans have been criss-crossing Western states and sharing a message about the relationship between America’s national security and our energy policy.

The “Operation Free” tour this week is wrapping up a swing through New Mexico, where Matt Victoriano, a former Marine who served in Iraq and now serves in the Army National Guard, has been speaking out alongside other vets about what he sees as a vital need to reduce dependence on foreign energy sources.

“Most of us over in Iraq at some point were guarding oil or gasoline supply convoys or oil refineries, instead of taking out the people that need to be taken out: You know, we’re wasting assets.”

Victoriano says it makes more sense to keep our energy dollars at home rather than sending them abroad. He says studies have shown that America has the potential to produce all of its own energy through cleaner means, and the Department of Defense is already undertaking several “green” projects across the country. He says he hopes to see a comprehensive climate and energy bill come out of Washington soon.

Victoriano also points to the new Quadrennial Defense Review, just released by the Department of Defense Monday, which lists climate change as a factor in national security.

“And it recognizes that through our own use of carbon-based energy, we’re helping to cause climate change in the forms of droughts, floods, hurricanes or more powerful hurricanes, that are destabilizing regions throughout the world and creating breeding grounds for terrorists.”

The “Operation Free” tour stops tonight at 6 p.m. at the VFW in Roswell before heading on to Gallup Wednesday.

Listen to the New Mexico News Connection podcast by Eric Mack.