Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

Coyotl

(15,262 posts)
Wed Dec 18, 2013, 12:17 PM Dec 2013

LOL. What Would Happen If We Really Went to War Against Christmas?


What Would Happen If We Really Went to War Against Christmas?
We'd probably lose.

Tim Murphy | Wed Dec. 18, 2013 | http://www.motherjones.com/media/2013/12/war-on-christmas-north-pole-invasion

You've heard about the "War on Christmas," a cynical but largely successful attempt by grown men and women to drive up cable news ratings and sell terrible books. But what about an actual war on Christmas? If President Barack Obama wanted to take down Santa Claus*, how would he do it? And would it work? A classified report obtained by Mother Jones sheds new light on the Department of Defense's plans. Take a look:

Overwhelming force: On paper, it looks possible. The United States has 16,000 military personnel in Alaska, mostly at major Air Force bases outside Anchorage and Fairbanks (home to the 354th fighter wing). A military airstrip at Barrow, the country's northernmost point, could also be used a forward operating base, as could Thule Air Base in northwest Greenland, 750 miles north of the Arctic Circle. The Navy and Air Force regularly conduct carrier group exercises in the Gulf of Alaska; so they're not exactly coming in cold.

But Santa's best defense is that the North Pole is—spoiler—really cold. The US Navy doesn't have any icebreakers, and the Coast Guard only has two, both of which are research vessels. (An amendment to the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act would have commissioned four new icebreakers, but that's still pending congressional approval.) And unlike the Russians and the Finns, the United States doesn't have any ground units specifically trained to handle polar climates.

Nor is Santa himself a pushover. Some images of the old man depict him with a Kalashnikov. Elsewhere, he's armed with a sword. Futurama's Robot Santa has some sort of laser blaster. In Scrooged, Santa is able to repel a terrorist attack with an M16A2; his elves carry M60 machine guns. Oh, and about those elves. According to NorthPole.com, "There are an unlimited number of elves because it takes a lot of help to keep the northpole maintained and the presents made every year" [sic]. Even if an expeditionary force succeeds in taking the workshop, the elves' sheer numbers make the possibility of a post-invasion insurgency likely. ..........
9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
LOL. What Would Happen If We Really Went to War Against Christmas? (Original Post) Coyotl Dec 2013 OP
does not have to be war oldandhappy Dec 2013 #1
Reindeer filets for everyone! JoePhilly Dec 2013 #2
Everyone except Santa ..... Coyotl Dec 2013 #4
lol! JoePhilly Dec 2013 #9
Would it lead to Santa's elves going off to keep the ring away from Gollum? Ken Burch Dec 2013 #3
Santa's elves would be terrorists, and Santa would on a death list. Tierra_y_Libertad Dec 2013 #5
First, Santa would be branded "non-white" Coyotl Dec 2013 #8
It would end damn quickly intaglio Dec 2013 #6
since the polar ice caps are melting dixiegrrrrl Dec 2013 #7

oldandhappy

(6,719 posts)
1. does not have to be war
Wed Dec 18, 2013, 12:22 PM
Dec 2013

We can simply stop shopping. I did several years ago. Labor Day sales are mostly same prices. January white sales are good for those towels people were fighting over at WalMart. December deals worth looking at are mostly electronics and you can do that online. The commercial Christmas is hype. No one has to participate. I love the real Christmas and participate in music and worship and friends and food! Keep the joy! Delete the pain.

intaglio

(8,170 posts)
6. It would end damn quickly
Wed Dec 18, 2013, 01:20 PM
Dec 2013

As soon as Santa did his superluminal flyby of the Pentagon. The Cherenkov radiation would be lethal

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)
7. since the polar ice caps are melting
Wed Dec 18, 2013, 01:38 PM
Dec 2013

why does the Navy need any more icebreakers?

Sounds as if poor Santa is going to be melted off the North Pole.
Homeless.
He will have beg on the streets, maybe ringing a bell or something.
Oh...wait....

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»LOL. What Would Happen I...