I agree with the assessment, but I posted it to make people aware of just how little reality influences the Arctic. I think one take away is how little impediment there is to Russian and Communist Chinese domination. The U.S. and Canada now have few military resources which would be effective in the region.
I remember in the about 1970 the ice receeded enough that an oil tanker was built with a reinforced bow to travel the Northwest Passage. Then the ice built up again and it went to the breakers.
Why do we need big new ice breakers for the Coast Guard then?
http://www.npr.org/2015/09/01/436673714/obama-asks-congress-to-fund-new-coast-guard-icebreakers