Treading on thin ice

I have a problem with this sentiment...

"Indeed, some say that the idea of a northern Cold War has arisen simply because some leaders, notably Mr. Harper, have insisted in describing it that way."

Yet, if we do nothing then then what could have been ours in the Arctic will slip through our fingers and into the hands of a nation doing EXACTLY what the naysayers are saying we should NOT do. And lest anyone forget, as distasteful as it is to some Canadians particularly since we are loathe to see ourselves with guns in hand defending ourselves. It is still OUR responsibility to secure what is in OUR nation's best interests as well as secure the future of Canadians yet to come. We shouldn't back down from this challenge merely because it involves (to some Canadians) a "distasteful" amount of force and sheer will to accompish.

I think any Canadian who feels discomforted with what's happening and is SURE that the majority of Canadians feel as they do is probably in for a suprise. This ain't Trudeu's Canada anymore, those days of self loathing and contempt (especially for non-eastern issues) are over.

What blind idiocy!!!

The author of the article would piss away the birthright of every Canadian and hand over control of the Arctic to whomever can muster enough bluster to take it while being secure that some ridiculous and nebulous point of principle is somehow made.

I'm sure the Russians will be happy to let Canada win a point in a debate while they take your oil.

God, some people are so stinking stupid it just amazes me.

Yea, I wasn't exactly fond of it myself. seems like the author has the impression that we seek to claim the whole ocean to ourselves. while I do think we are in the right claiming a substantial portion of it, including that that which is 350 nm north of Alaska (we are closer, sorry to say). I also feel we should work with Russia to split the claim over Lomonosov ridge, with ours slightly extending into their latitudes over the north pole. Face it, we are closer and both continents use the ridge as a pivot for their movement. best find that pivot and use it as the focal point.

hell, If we can forge an agreement with the Russians on the border and how far along Lomonosov ridge each of our territory extends, we could mutually support each other with regards to such claims in the future when contested against other territories. I think the Russians would be willing to show such diplomacy, after all, they want access to our goods and our market do they not?

Exaactly! I agree with that sort of thinking. Of working with the Russians while building up a solid defence in the region. I can work with the Russians provided I have the armed forces near me to back up my words should I need to.

I laugh when I read articles like this and it seems to me that there are too many of these idiots left to pander their ideas around. I know it's a free society but can't those kind of journalists see the folly in their words?

Honestlyy Russians are freindly folks. It's just that their conditions lead them to what we would consider law-breaking. They call it normal.

anyways, they are chess players, and excellent stratagists. the reason they went all the way to the north pole is that they expect to be countered. once the pivot is found under the seabed, there is no way to negotiate beyond that point as far as law goes. however, it opens up the possibility to get trade offs around the pivot in other points of the arctic.

Fact is, aside from a tiny piece of the pie that the US controls, we are the two biggest folks up there, both in land mass and population. Using this leverage to get the most we can is in the best interest of both our countries.