Canada To Increase Military Presence In The Arctic Despite U.S. Objections

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

TORONTO – Canada announced plans Monday to increase its Arctic military presence in an effort to assert sovereignty over the Northwest Passage – a potentially oil-rich region the United States claims is international territory.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said six to eight patrol ships will guard what he says are Canadian waters. A deep water port will also be built in a region the U.S. Geological Survey estimates has as much as 25 percent of the world's undiscovered oil and gas.

“Canada has a choice when it comes to defending our sovereignty over the Arctic. We either use it or lose it. And make no mistake, this government intends to use it,” Harper said. “It is no exaggeration to say that the need to assert our sovereignty and protect our territorial integrity in the North on our terms have never been more urgent.”

U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins has criticized Harper's promise to defend the Arctic, claiming the Northwest Passage as “neutral waters.” But Wilkins declined to comment on Monday, said U.S. Embassy spokesman James Foster.

“It's an international channel for passage,” Foster said of the disputed waterway.



Read more: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20070709-1430-canada-arcticsovereignty.html

[Taverner]

1. Wow! We managed to set the stage for a war with Canada for fucks sake!!

[Purveyor]

6. How long before lil shrub issues a "Bring it on" declaration, I wonder... eom

[Occulus]

25. I thought that

Then I thought, "Oh, that's ridiculous."

Then I asked, "Why is it ridiculous?"

Then I read your post.

:scared:

edit: the hidden punchline was: I wasn't the only one who thought that.

[JeffR]

2. Canada must be disarmed

and if it turns out there are no WMDs, the people of Canada must be delivered from their leaders.

Fellow Americans, since I already live among the crazy iceheads up here, I can tell you this: wait until hockey season to attack. It's a slam-dunk.

[liberaltrucker]

4. Mixed sports metaphors?

I like it!

:hi:

[Spazito]

8. ROFL!

Too true! And if you come wearing touques, we will assume you are just like the MacKenzie brothers and offer you a beer, eh!

[Nevernose]

17. I read that as "slam-drunk"

Which, according to the extensive knowledge of Canada I have gleaned from Bob and Doug McKenzie skits I have seen over the years, is an entirely accurate portrayal of Canadians.

[Occulus]

26. If all the US teams played a checking game all season,

would they justify it by claiming the other teams were skating with WMDs?

Suicide skaters! AAAHHH!

:silly:

[SammyWinstonJack]

31. ...

:spray: :rofl:

[liberaltrucker]

3. CAN-A-DA, CAN-A-DA!!!!

:woohoo:

:applause:

:toast:

[muntrv]

5. Chimpy: "Canada hates us because of our freedoms. We must bring democracy

to our 51st state, er neighbors, to the north."

[fujiyama]

7. THat's cute

The US criticizing another country about "international territory".

Yeah, I guess Iraq was also just "international territory" as well...

[roamer65]

9. ...and now for a rousing chorus of...

BLAME CANADA!!!

:sarcasm: :rofl:

* is such a failure. It's Canadian territory, so * and his cronies should just shut the fuck up.

[thecrow]

10. Waitasec.... aren't we gonna annex Mexico and Canada

so we can defend us all from the terra-ists??
And build big highways from Mexico City to Toronto?
Didn't Fox, Bush** and Harper agree to this?

http://thenewamerican.com

Geez, these Canadians take defending their country too *seriesly*....we're only trying to help...!
I'm *series*!~~~

[Vidar]

11. The last time we tried to invade Canada, Washington burned.

Hope we are equally fortunate this time.

[Purveyor]

15. Hear, hear....!!! eom

[Nevernose]

18. Yes, but Mexico was the most economically stable, militarily powerful nation

...in the entire Hemisphere. Things change.

I will NEVER bow down before the Staliinist maple leaf!

[Mendocino]

12. So if these waters are international, then could say the...

..Iranians or Russians send a ship through unimpeded?

[kitty1]

13. Should my country get ready for some shock and awe!...

Actually Paris Hilton gave us enough of that for awhile here.
I'm sure we cand handle any little arctic land discrepancies over a nice plate of Arctic char and Chardonnay. :)

[Captain Angry]

14. They're doing this so they can have more access to ice hockey.

This will be their version of the Texas National Guard. They'll send guys who are never going to see action up there with the best equipment available. Hell, Reebok could set up their hockey proving grounds.

SARCASM!

I love Canada, and only poke fun. Hell, when (if?) my brother gets out of the Army this fall, I may be up there hiding his ass in the storage area at a Tim Horton's.

[CK_John]

16. They better get up there fast. Russia also claimed the Arctic ice shelf last week. n/t

[Nevernose]

19. Let's bomb the hell out of those stinking Canadians!

How DARE they try and steal our oil which is in their backyard!

I'm tired of those commies trying to lord it over us. Aren't you? Aren't you tired of hearing about the low crime rates, the clean air and water, and the free health care to poor people? Aren't you tired of them constantly bragging about the low cost of living, the high quality of life, and their greater life expectancies? And what's with their obsession with geese, ducks, and other waterfowl? And cleaning up after themselves and their environment?

Bastards!

And now we find that they're militarizing the North Pole? What's next for those aggresive Canucks? The SOUTH pole? It's only a matter of time before they take North Dakota and Minnesota, people. MINNESOTA. Think about it. And worry.

I know I am.

[IndianaGreen]

24. A Canadian source called "Curved Ball" said Canada has WMDs

Judith Miller is reporting that Saddam sent his WMD to Canada.

[BikeWriter]

29. That's right, make a parking lot out of it!

:sarcasm:

[ncabot22]

20. I'm just happy Harper seems to be asserting Canadian independence

Harper and his ilk usually bow to whatever the US wants..nice to know he is, for the time being, asserting Canada's dominion over its northern coast.

[tuvor]

27. He's gotta do something to turn his poll numbers around.

[NonRepuke]

21. Protect the area from Russa.

With Russia claiming the area as their own for oil and then announcing the Russia-China oil pipeline, I'm glad that someone is putting their foot down.

[petronius]

22. "As global warming melts the passage..."

Well then, we made most of it - of course it belongs to us. Silly Canucks...

[chknltl]

23. Oh my God...has Kyle's Mom, issued a press release yet?

:popcorn:

[BikeWriter]

28. Regime change time! They have WMDs!

[Hand]

30. We've got badder stuff than that...

Have some poutine--have lots of poutine... :evilgrin:

[TrogL]

33. Believe it or not, it tastes worse than it looks

and it's on the menu at most fast-food places.

[SayWhatYo]

32. I'm surprised the US would criticize this.

This could be a trick... Let me explain, imagine if the US didn't say anything about it, or if the US supported it. Then instead of the "go Canada go Canada go go go"... There would be more of a "oh look, little Canadian Bush is militarizing Canada"

heh, just a thought... Should do everyone a favor and stop trying to think?