[Say_No_2_Tyranny]

You are incorrect on point 2. These islands were claimed by officers of the US Navy on the Jeannette Expedition in 1881. My ancestor perished on that expedition, so I want to make sure the facts are correct. Page 21 of “In The Lena Delta” by George Wallace Melville describes claiming Henrietta Island for the US. http://books.google.com/books?id=O20SAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false (see page 21). See also the official Navy records here: http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/ev-1880s/jean-c.htm

This is official Navy history, but apparently the State Dept. decided to rewrite history in 2003 and disavowed this historical claim, likely to gain favor with Russia. The brave men of the USS Jeannette discovered and claimed these islands for the U.S. which is a historical fact. It’s disgusting that their memory and extreme sacrifice would be lessened by the very country they proudly served.

[Cheburashka]

A “claim” made by an mere officer does not commit the U.S. to ownership of anything. Such ownership decisions are made way above their pay grade. Ownership claims have never been by the U.S. government. The Russians have made ownership claims, and enforced them on the islands themselves.

[Sacajaweau]

And France planted flags, constructed forts and recited their te deum along the Ohio....but the still don't own an inch of the USA....

So we have a paper claiming the moon, right?? It's not how this stuff works.