Canada plans Arctic bases and expanded patrol force to keep the Russians away

http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/international/ticker/detail/Canada_plans_Arctic_bases_and_expanded_patrol_force.html?siteSect=143&sid=8096763&cKey=1186796274000&ty=ti

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Reuters) - Canada pressed its Arctic sovereignty claim on Friday, announcing plans for a port, a training facility and to modernize the part-time paramilitary force that now patrols the area.

The announcement that had been promised by the Conservative government in the 2006 election, comes a week after Russia staked its claim to a large chunk of the resource-rich Arctic region by planting a flag beneath the ice of the North Pole.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Canada will build a C$100 million (47 million pound) deep-water port at Nanisivik near the eastern entrance of the Northwest Passage, which will allow it to refuel its military patrol ships.

Ottawa said last month it would spend C$3.1 billion to buy at least six new patrol ships for the area.

Our little version of Chimpy.

The purpose of the expansion (Canadian Surge?) isn't about the Russians and their flag planting at the North Pole seafloor, it's about shipping routes that the US in particular wants to maintain as international waters.

All of it--Russians, Denmark, Canada, are opportunistic, knee-jerk responses to obvious signs of global warming's acceleration.

But trying to do something about it by cutting back on carbon emissions is just not going to happen, is it, Stevie? Can't say no to those nice tar sands folks who bankrolled your campaign ....

More ships and more guns won't keep that sea ice from disappearing.