Russia lays claim to the North Pole - and all its gas, oil, and diamonds

Daily Mail ^ | June 28, 2007 | Daily Mail

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has made an astonishing bid to grab a vast chunk of the Arctic, giving himself claim to its vast potential oil, gas and mineral wealth.

His audacious argument that an underwater Russian ridge is linked to the North Pole is likely to lead to an international outcry.

Some commentators have already observed it is further evidence of growing Russian assertiveness under its authoritarian president.

The Russian media trumpeted the findings of a Moscow scientific mission to the region which boasts "sensational" geological discoveries enabling the Kremlin to make the territorial claim.

Populist newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda - a cheerleader for Putin - printed a map of the North Pole showing a "new addition" to Russia, a triangle five times the size of Britain with twice as much oil as Saudi Arabia.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Pooty-Put trying to annex the North Pole!

[Mikey_1962]

Putty Tat lays claim to a floating Ice Shelf, not that’s leadership. What a Jackass.

[Mikey_1962]

Putty Tat lays claim to a floating Ice Shelf, now that’s leadership. What a Jackass.

[Mikey_1962]

Pooty Tat lays claim to a floating Ice Shelf, now that’s leadership. What a Jackass.

[Philistone]

Hmm... war between Russia and Canada?

Which side to take. Decisions, decisions...

[flowerplough]

This in the Dail Mail sounds a bit like an Onion satire, hayna?

[RexBeach]

And George Bush once said he could see into this guy’s soul.

To claim a large chunk of the North Pole because an underwater ridge is a riot!

[BlazingArizona]

Is he claiming ownership of the toy factory too? Doesn’t Putin realize that Claus Industries is now Chang-Claus State Enterprise? He’s now about to face war with China.

[thackney]

This is not new. On 20 December 2001, the Russian Federation made a submission through the Secretary-General to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, pursuant to article 76, paragraph 8, of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

[Billthedrill]

I don’t think the Spetznaz want to go toe-to-toe with Santa’s elves. Mean little buggers.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Yeah, I knew that Russia had tried this once before, but this time, I think Putin is really going to try and twist some arms to make it happen. I hope that Bush and the U.S. Navy pushes back...

Law of the Sea, huh?

[rlmorel]

Little did they know that 2007 was actually the beginning of the great 2017 Resource War.

[thackney]

I knew that Russia had tried this once before

I think it would be more accurate to say they have been trying this for many years. It is just getting picked up in the media again.

[RightWhale]

Yes, the rumblings have begun. It might or might not be Peak Oil but it looks the same. Pres Bush could partially reverse his stunning defeat in the Senate today by repealing the 1967 UN Outer Space Treaty and opening the Land Office for recording claims and entry to anything anybody can reach inside or beyond the Solar System. Restore the Frontier!

[LIConFem]

This reminds me of when Zirinovski wanted to take back Alaska.

[MARTIAL MONK]

Homestead Siberia.

[JSDude1]

He just wants to keep his delusional fantasy of St. Nick and Polar Bears for his vacation home!

[RightWhale]

He still does.

[RightWhale]

Already in American Siberia. Major difference is Asian Siberia has private property.

[MARTIAL MONK]

Treat ‘em like Sooners.