Russia Criticized For Planting Arctic Flag

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 8-3-2007

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

The countries with the strongest argument to the North Pole are Canada and Denmark.

And since Greenland is very autonomous (a few, radical Greenlanders are pushing for independence), then it could become Canada and Greenland.

Russia is further away than Norway, only beating out the United States for proximity to the North Pole.

Though Russia could be closer than Norway (it looks iffy).

[I got the rope]

I hope Russia sucks every last drop of oil out of that place.

[SkyPilot]

If Canada or Denmark really want to tell the Russians to bugger off, they are going to have to flex military muscle.

Sadly, neither nation spends anything close to what it needs to on defense.

The Russians, on the other hand, are going back in the direction spending on defense to Cold War levels.

Moreover, much of the new Russian military hardware is nothing to be laughed at. It is top grade. No wonder nations all of the world are buying it.

Other nations better wake up. Russia is awash in money from energy sales. They have alliances with Iran, and most Middle Eastern nations.

They have a better navy now than the Canadians have.

[spanalot]

Target drones - unless they self destruct before we get to them.

[Prokopton]

They have a better navy now than the Canadians have.

Canada has a navy?

[Ratblaster]

I sure wouldn’t want to be in Pootie Poot’s shoes when Santa gets back from vacation.

[Malsua]

We accept your flag on the seafloor of the Arctic. You accept our ownership of the moon. In 100 years(ok maybe 1000), the H3 on the moon will power everything. I’ll be decomposed by then but I’d rather give my great, great, great x3 children the moon than the arctic. Not that I discount the hydrocarbons to be had...there are plenty. The H3 on the moon has more energy than the entire earth.

[Thunder90]

I see that the CCCP is waking up from a 20 year slumber...

[Thunder90]

By 2009, Russia will have the second most powerful navy on Earth, and the Chinese will have the third.

[Wildbill22]

So by 2009 it will take more than only one of our carrier battle groups to take out their whole navy?
Oh my...

[Fishing-guy]

Who are these people making the complaint, and what are they going to do about it?

[FreedomNeocon]

US REJECTS
CANADA REJECTS
ROTFL!!!

"I'm not sure of whether they've put a metal flag, a rubber flag or a bed sheet on the ocean floor," said State Department spokesman Tom Casey.

"I don't think that ... whether they went and spray-painted a flag of Russia on those particular ridges is going to make one iota of difference," Casey said.

"Look, this isn't the 15th century. You can't go around the world and plant flags and say, 'We're claiming this territory'," Foreign Minister Peter MacKay told broadcaster CTV.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Ping.

[Zack Attack]

I just wondered...does it count as planting a flag everytime a ship from some nation sinks also? That could create some interesting debates over territories. LOL.

[RusIvan]

Target drones - unless they self destruct before we get to them.==

Heh heh:))) “Do NOT boast when you go to battle - boast when you go AFTER the battle” the ancient russian proverb:)).

[Ben Ficklin]

Here is the GeoTimes article that accompanies the above pic and gives some geologic info on the ridge.

There are some links there. Have a look at the SCICEX link which shows USN's unclassified technical cruises into the arctic.

The US began extensive mapping of the shelf in the early 80s and has claims beyond the 200 mi. EEZ along 60% of her coast, most notably in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska where the shelf extends 600 mi into the Arctic and Bering Sea. The US's Alaska claims overlap Russia's claims.

[spanalot]

There is clearly no dry land for anyone to claim. There are claims to waters x distance from the coast but as usual, Russia is on drugs.

[Stallone]

I suggest planting Russia’s flag down Putin’s throat.

I know, I know, Bush would object to his soulmate being treated with such disdain.

[Czar]

"The US's Alaska claims overlap Russia's claims."

Perhaps we should ratify LOST and hope the UN and that international court will rule against Russia.

Feel like taking a chance on that one, Ben?