Absolutly. The Artic belongs to Canada. That is a message to the US, Russia and Europe.
stokes
Forum Elite
Posts: 1651
Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 9:55 am
Not all of the Artic but the portion that is within our borders certainly belongs to us, and until such a time as the Northwest Passage can be transitted without the need of assistance it damn well belongs to us also!!!!
bootlegga
CKA Uber
Posts: 23084
Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 9:57 am
$1:
Canada is an Arctic nation and an Arctic power, Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon told European leaders in Tromso, Norway, at the end of April.
An arctic nation yes, a power, nope.
ridenrain
CKA Uber
Posts: 22594
Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 10:43 am
We only have 2 real opions. We pretend it's a park and hope the rest of the world respects that or we open it up to well regulated industry and have people live there.
bootlegga
CKA Uber
Posts: 23084
Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 1:47 pm
Either way, we need a military that can operate up there 365 days a year, not just when the weather is nice. And that means in the air, the water and on the land.
The Rangers are a good first step. Now let's get some real ships and planes up there on a regular basis.
ridenrain
CKA Uber
Posts: 22594
Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 1:55 pm
I say we open it up to drilling, mining or whatever, and have normal people living and working up there all the time, not just soldiers.
Pseudonym
CKA Elite
Posts: 3329
Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 2:24 pm
Has the US made any claims to the Arctic? I haven't heard anything through my limited media outlets.
N_Fiddledog
CKA Uber
Posts: 26145
Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 2:29 pm
I do know the Yanks keep on saying the Northwest Passage is an international waterway, and I believe they keep getting caught using it as such. Also right along the border - is that the Beaufort? There's a dispute on how much of that is whose.
Pseudonym
CKA Elite
Posts: 3329
Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 2:33 pm
Well feel free to pick a fight with Russia. I'll vote to back you up. Just don't get in a fight with Israel for the icy north.
Wait, I think I figured out a real two-state solution!
Thanos
CKA Uber
Posts: 33561
Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 2:45 pm
Northern tip of Ellesmere Island as new Palestinian homeland?
Pseudonym
CKA Elite
Posts: 3329
Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 2:52 pm
With what the Israelis have done with Israel/Palestine/Canaan/the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea, I was thinking we could set them on turning the place into a profitable, popular winter resort, but your idea is good too.
EyeBrock
CKA Uber
Posts: 15681
Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 4:37 pm
Well, really it's about time we had a airmobile and arctic ready battalion based up there 365. It would also be nice if those CF18's stopped protecting the St Lawrence and actually were based somewhere near a threat. I know Khandahar is too hot for them but an nice bit of northern Canada should be something they can handle.
Wada
CKA Elite
Posts: 3355
Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 4:58 pm
My guess is the Russians are much more interested in developing their north than they are in trying to take ours and try and develop it with constant harassment from Canada, the US and etc.
EyeBrock
CKA Uber
Posts: 15681
Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 5:52 pm
No, those jolly Russians have no designs on our Arctic. That's why they said they would maybe go to war in the next 10 years about it comrade Wada.
CKA Uber 
Forum Elite 
![[B-o]](./images/smilies/drinkup.gif "Drink up")
