Judas

Anyone watching/hearing/reading this?

I find it quite amussing and interesting as the flames start to get hotter between the all the nations staking a claim at the furthest northern point...


Heres the Facts:

The north pole is not a landmass above sea lvl (thereforce the only land anyone can stake a claim on will be seabed which is several meters below even the ice), The ice drifts, it's not stationary at all.

No nation can claim more then 200 miles beyond thier own coastline into an ocean (including ice)

The Closest Nation to the true north pole is actually canada @ 450miles from coastline to true north. Where as the followup being greenland/denmark being 550 and russia being over 650miles. Alaska falling into the last place however for distance.

The most average actualy ICE area that any one nation has the most of is Canada (makes sense being closest).... but it still means nothing.

Canada however has made several claims to the north. Even documented and unchallanged claims in which it was taken for granted that Canada "somewhat hailed" the north pole.


Please discuss

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OmegaRED

The North Pole belongs to us (Canada) and it's always been that way. Now, suddenly, Russia and others think they can stake their claim? Times like these are when we need America to use its muscle to back us up. Surely they don't want the Russians having the North Pole either.

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Judas

IMO, while i do beleive that considering that unchallanged claims canada has made before about the north pole, reguardless of the the ICE not being considered landmass, the passages within the last several decades have always been labeled as "canadian" in origin.

However as it's been pointed out in several other threads since DH went live on dicussions similare to nations sizes and landmasses, while canada claims the north pole, other countries may not recognize it... while this may be true, i think it's also true that why the hell wasn't it challanged when we made the claims previously.

If anyone recalls and feels like doing research, canada was also the first to plant a flag not only above, but below the ice. I really don't think someone taking a sub and placeing a flat on the seabed should void those previous claims.

IMO as it stands now, i think everything should be considered International waters, like it techically is atm. However, I do beleive, that Canada has a much MUCH better chance of claiming the north pole then russia by a long stretch, not only that, but russia is further off then greenland/denmark.

Ya know what really happened? Someone made a suggestion for natural resources and when technology came about that could actually make it viable. Then all the shit breaks loose and everyone wants a peice of it even when canada had moved in years in advance although slowly, without the idea about $$$. So really where does this all stand?

Well imo, IF the north becomes available for sovernity, i'd hate to see the russians get it before either canada or greenland. Seriously, they just basically popped outa nowhere and wanted the natural resources.

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OmegaRED

The maps don't lie...it's ours!

I'd like to see the Russians try and take the Arctic from us. We'll resist...it'll be a frozen version of Fallujah.

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Maddogg6

Claiming land was never about 'rights' but was about the muscle to enforce your claims.... My guess is no one feels its worth flexing any muscle over yet - that is, until the oil rigging equipment starts heading for that area.

Yeah.. wtf is up with that - theres a ton of oil in that region - Bush is in that business.... hmmm *ponders* - Bush must be rich enough from Iraq.. ?? - thats GOT to be it... maybe the next president will make that area a terrorist haven or something.

Until a military base can be built on it - how the hell would we enforce any claims made by anyone. Which is prolly why CA isnt doing anything about it - whats the point? Or - maybe it is smarter to wait until some assets are in place that can be confiscated from trespassing.

thunderclap

From the map it looks like it should be Greenlands.

OmegaRED

America would never let Russia claim the North Pole because they spent years developing NORAD, to just let Russia build airfields in the arctic would be a huge threat.

Even Drudge Report has this headline today:
PUTIN: RUSSIA TO RESTORE SOVIET-ERA LONG-RANGE BOMBER FLIGHTS ON PERMANENT BASIS...

Don't think Bush or anyone else in office would want those bombers flying out of the Arctic

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Judas

IMO, i really don't like the idea of "relying" on american military.... that just completely defeats the purpose and may as well just hand over any chance of claiming it as Canada to the Americans...

ATM, Canada is already boosting the rangers and military presense closest to the north from 4k to nearly 5000. ATM, we've already got the strongest presents closest there, and have had for YEARS.

But i must also state another fact.

No nation can roll in any military to this area, the United Nations made this very clear several years ago.

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Maddogg6

I doubt the US really cares about 'claims' made - but yeah - bombers buzzing in and out of there would likely get more US military attention.... but until then, it looks like a political 'tit for tat' reaction to the US wanting to put up a missile shield in Poland - Russia made clear they would take as an offensive action against them.