As if Americas troubles in the Middle East arent enough :(

http://www.cariweb.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000137;p=0

Heres some more info

Canada's next prime minister used his first news conference Thursday to tell the United States to mind its own business when it comes to territorial rights in the Arctic North.

Testing the notion that he would kowtow to the Bush administration, Stephen Harper, whose Conservative Party won general elections on Monday, said he would stand by a campaign pledge to increase Canada's military presence in the Arctic and put three military icebreakers in the frigid waters of the Northwest Passage.

U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins had criticized the plan Wednesday, describing the Arctic passage as "neutral waters."

"There's no reason to create a problem that doesn't exist," Wilkins said during a panel discussion at the University of Western Ontario, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. "We don't recognize Canada's claims to those waters. Most other countries do not recognize their claim."

No reporter brought up the U.S. ambassador's views Thursday, but Harper said he wanted to comment on them.

"The United States defends its sovereignty; the Canadian government will defend our sovereignty," Harper said. "It is the Canadian people that we get our mandate from, not the ambassador of the United States."

Harper's surprising salvo was likely intended as a message to those in the Bush administration who might be cheering the election of a Conservative government and view Harper as a pushover when it comes to prickly U.S.-Canadian relations.

Arctic sovereignty has been a sensitive subject for decades, with U.S. Navy submarines and ships entering northern waters without asking permission. Ottawa has generally turned a blind eye to the United States' sending ships through the area. Canadian media reported last month that a U.S. nuclear submarine traveled secretly through Canadian Arctic waters in November on its way to the North Pole.

The Northwest Passage runs from the Atlantic through the Arctic to the Pacific.

Global warming is melting the passage — which is only navigable during a slim window in the summer — and exposing unexplored fishing stocks and an attractive shipping route. Commercial ships can shave off some 2,480 miles from the trip from Europe to Asia compared with the current routes through the Panama Canal.

Harper said during a campaign speech in December he would dramatically increase Canada's military presence in the Arctic North. He intends to construct and deploy three new armed icebreaking ships and construct a $1.7 billion deep-water port and an underwater network of "listening posts."

"The single most important duty of the federal government is to protect and defend our national sovereignty," Harper said in the December speech. "There are new and disturbing reports of American nuclear submarines passing though Canadian waters without obtaining the permission of, or even notifying, the Canadian government."

Harper has not said whether he would order military action if the ships or port detected an unauthorized submarine in Arctic waters.

Harper, meanwhile, said he had a friendly conversation with President Bush on Wednesday but had not fixed a date for their first meeting. He said he had also received calls from other major allies, including Mexican President Vicente Fox, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Australian Prime Minister John Howard.

http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=140833&D=2006-01-26&HC=3

screw canada - all they can do is cry. Like the US gives 2 shits about what canada thinks about anything.

screw canada - all they can do is cry. Like the US gives 2 shits about what canada thinks about anything.
====================================

That pretty well sums up my opinion, also.

Lets be honest here,the Bush administration dosnt give a shit about anyone,including the 50 states that surround it..

Thats a very sad fact im afraid :(

Poor Canada... A strange country, somehow always thought of as a vasal state of the US.

All the time that the area to the north of Canada was basically covered with ice and frozen solid most of the year, making it impenetrable Canada didn't give two shits about it. Now that the sea ice is beginning to melt, opening new fishing grounds and sea routes for at least part of the year Canada suddenly becomes protective of the area.

Screw Canada. The area is international, not Canadian. Canada has so lets its military deteriorate that there isn't much they can do other than whine. They have a total of three submarines, two of which are in need of much repair and they don't have the capability to move troops where needed. During the tsunami DART, the Canadian rapid response team couldn't get the people and supplies needed in the area there because they had no transport planes capable of moving them. They had to wait until they could rent planes from eastern Europe.

Canada has acted as the younger, somewhat bratty brother of the United States for so many decades that it has lost most of its cache' as a real country. It is basically a whiney appendage of the United States. Most of its people live in close proximity to the border, it doesn't provide for its own self defense, instead relying on big brother, Uncle Sam to protect it and its people, and generally acts as a reluctant fifty first state.

Oh, well, what can you expect of a country that has a leaf as its national symbol and calls its money the looney.

I've noticed that one subject of discussion that seems to make even the most intelligent poster write some of the most ridiculous things, is Canada.

For example:

1. Screw them, all they do is cry. (2 posters)
2. They are a "strange" country...
3. Canada shouldn't take advantage of new resources and trade routes that open up because they weren't interested in them when they were inaccessible.
4. Screw Canada again.
5. The area in question is "international"...
6. The implication that Canada has no right to make any claims because they're militarily weak.
7. Canadians act "bratty" and their country has nearly lost its "cache'"....
8. They aren't a real country, just an "appendage" of the US.
9. The fact that most of Canada's population lives in proximity to the US border somehow abrogates their soveriegnity.
10. Their national symbol isn't cool, and their money has a funny name.

These are the reasons given why we should treat our closest neighbor, and staunchest ally with disrespect and arrogance.

Lighten up, Vile. Gee, don't have a hissy fit.

Canada and the United States have a love/hate relationship. Of course we will defend them since they are incapable of defending themselves but we will still mock them for being the nancy boys they are.

Sheila: Times have changed
Our kids are getting worse
They won't obey their parents
They just want to fart and curse!
Sharon: Should we blame the government?
Liane: Or blame society?
Dads: Or should we blame the images on TV?
Sheila: No, blame Canada
Everyone: Blame Canada
Sheila: With all their beady little eyes
And flapping heads so full of lies
Everyone: Blame Canada
Blame Canada
Sheila: We need to form a full assault
Everyone: It's Canada's fault!
Sharon: Don't blame me
For my son Stan
He saw the damn cartoon
And now he's off to join the Klan!
Liane: And my boy Eric once
Had my picture on his shelf
But now when I see him he tells me to fuck myself!
Sheila: Well, blame Canada
Everyone: Blame Canada
Sheila: It seems that everything's gone wrong
Since Canada came along
Everyone: Blame Canada
Blame Canada
Copy Guy: They're not even a real country anyway
Ms. McCormick: My son could've been a doctor or a lawyer rich and true,
Instead he burned up like a piggy on the barbecue
Everyone: Should we blame the matches?
Should we blame the fire?
Or the doctors who allowed him to expire?
Sheila: heck no!
Everyone: Blame Canada
Blame Canada
Sheila: With all their hockey hullabaloo
Liane: And that bitch Anne Murray too
Everyone: Blame Canada
Shame on Canada
For...
The smut we must stop
The trash we must bash
The Laughter and fun
Must all be undone
Before someone thinks of blaming uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuus!!!!

SABAZZ!

Here we go with the military threats AGAIN.I aint fussed on Canada,too many polar bears,and Canadians,but thats besides the point.If these disputed waters are in international areas,then they shouldnt belong to Canada or the US,they should be left to the eskimos and seals,who have lived there since the year dot.As for military might,I have to admit,I dont think their into that in a big way,they should be more like Ireland,30,000 fulltime regulars,but they at least do a meaningful job,flying round the world 'keeping peace'

You guys are the reason Americans are the most hated people in the world.
Don't want Mexicans illegally crossing your borders, but screw Canada or any other countries border.

Oddly.I dont think they are,their Governments Foreign Policys for decades are now coming back to haunt them,and unfortunatly her enemies take it out on her population,and then America hits back,and so the cycle continues..

There seems to be a blatant arrogance about Americans in general. I have been reading these forums for over a year and see the “redneck” in a lot of posts here.
The american government has followed a screw them all policy since forever, and this seems to be reflected in the american consciousness.

Well Im not sure about that,not being American,so I cant comment,but maybe someone American will..

You guys are the reason Americans are the most hated people in the world.
Don't want Mexicans illegally crossing your borders, but screw Canada or any other countries border.

It is not a case of screw Canada's border. It is a case of much of the world not recognizing Canadian sovreignty over the area. Much of the world considers that area international. Canada can call it anything it wants but that doesn't make it so. Canada had no interest in the area until the ice started melting and then it suddenly became an integral part of Canada.

"Canada had no interest in the area until the ice started melting and then it suddenly became an integral part of Canada."

It has been an integral part of Canada as long as I can remember, the "world"
has only taken interest as of late. Opportunistic governments, rather than the international community are the ones declaring Canada's non-ownership of this part of Canada.
Lets call a spade a spade, it's in america's interest to try and minimize Canada's sovereignty.

American,
no one is claiming Canada's non-ownership of a part of Canada. Most of the islands in the Arctic Waters belong to Canada and are part of what could be termed internal Canada. Some of the islands belong to Denmark because they are much closer to Greenland than to Canada.

It is not the islands that are being contested but the open water between them. It is generally accepted that a country's sovreignty extends for twelve miles out from land. In the Arctic Waters there is often almost one hundred miles of water between the various islands. Under international law this is international water and does not belong to Canada.

It is not the islands that are being contested but the open water between them. It is generally accepted that a country's sovreignty extends for twelve miles out from land. In the Arctic Waters there is often almost one hundred miles of water between the various islands. Under international law this is international water and does not belong to Canada.

Interesting subject. Google being the wonderful thing that it is, I came across this very relevant and helpful site.

http://www.oceancommission.gov/documents/full_color_rpt/03a_primer.pdf

It would seem that Canada does have the right under International Law to claim these waters as an Exclusive Economic Zone. This would prevent other countries from harvesting any resources without permission from the Canadians, but would not preclude transit through the area.

Good find... I remembered something about the 200 mile, but could not locate any info.
May not preclude travel but notification to Canada may be the polite thing to do?

Does this mean invasion plans will be put on hold I wonder..

For every site that says Canada has exclusive right to the waters there is another site, just as valid, saying it doesn't.

Thats probally true,but I would suggest the US has no say in the matter atoll..

The Canadian and Danish government are holding talks about a disputed island, Hans Island. Whoever claims ownership over it will hold a great deal of the northwestern passage... The dispute, before it turned diplomatic, was a bit of farce... us sending patrolships to plant flags, the canadians saying directly that they were doing military excercises in the artic to "flex their military muscle" against us. Anyway, it's not yet resolved, but the canadians seem very determined!

If its between Canada and Denmark,whats the USs Stake.

"For every site that says Canada has exclusive right to the waters there is another site, just as valid, saying it doesn't"

Point us to one please?

Hans Island...first I'd like to know how Denmark has a relationship to this island?

Yea,Denmarks smaller than Ireland,and thats saying something.

Hans Island...first I'd like to know how Denmark has a relationship to this island?
For those forgetful of their geography, Greenland is a territory of Denmark. Answer that question on your own now.

Yea I know it is,I meant to ask last time,does anybody,can anybody live there,is it habitable.

"For those forgetful of their geography, Greenland is a territory of Denmark. Answer that question on your own now"

I didn't ask for a geography lesson, well aware of its location...next to Ellesmere Island!...A territory of Canada

Not really habitable from what I know of it, just happens to sit smack dab in the middle of the border.

Also it is not located on the Northwest Passage.

Yea I know it is,I meant to ask last time,does anybody,can anybody live there,is it habitable.
A small number scratch a living off frozen rocks to my knowledge. Pop of Greenland*: 56,000.

Hans Island has no permanant residents, very small under 2 square kilometers.

For every site that says Canada has exclusive right to the waters there is another site, just as valid, saying it doesn't.

My site has a .gov at the end of it...beat that! :P

Must say,the most alarming bit is 'the ice melting'.