U.S. Icebreaker To Map Arctic Sea Floor, But ’No Flag-Dropping’ Planned

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

SEATTLE (AP) - A U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker is headed to the Arctic to map the sea floor off Alaska as Canada, Russia and Denmark assert their claims in the polar region, which has potential oil and gas reserves.

The lead scientist on the expedition scoffs at the political implications.

"We’re basically just doing science," said Larry Mayer, director of the Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping at the University of New Hampshire. "There’s no flag-dropping on this trip," he said in an interview from Durham, N.H.

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Russian media assert that the Healy’s mission signals that the United States, along with Canada, is actively joining the competition for resources in the Arctic. Melting ice could open water for drilling or create the long-sought Northwest Passage for shipping. A Russian submarine dropped that country’s flag Aug. 2 on the floor of the Arctic Ocean under the North Pole.


Read more: http://www.chroniclejournal.com/CP_stories.php?id=58900

[truthisfreedom]

1. Perhaps a little flag-removal is planned?

I'm just sayin'.