Posted on 08/01/2007 8:39:00 PM PDT by NOOBIE
MOSCOW, Russia (AP) -- An expedition aimed at strengthening Russia's claim to much of the oil and gas wealth beneath the Arctic Ocean reached the North Pole on Wednesday, and preparations immediately began for two mini-submarines to drop a capsule containing a Russian flag to the sea floor.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
/GASP!
> “Maybe the U.S. will have something to say, but look at how Western Europe let Russia seize Eastern Europe as a spoil of war after WWII.”
Churchill was in favor of pushing on thru to Moscow, IIRC and overthrowing Stalin.
Credit where credit is due: America allowed the Soviets to take East Berlin, and Eastern Europe was the territorial price of their continued participation in WW-II.
The Cold War was the result.
Seems to me that a guy named Peary planted the first flag at the North Pole. By the standards of old-fashioned European imperialism (which seems to be what the Russkis are falling back on), we own the Arctic regions, particularly those that are closer to Alaska than to Russia. On the other hand, since our enviro-nuts will never let us drill in the Arctic anyway, someone should get some use out of the oil.
Once the Soviets had militarily overrun the region, it wasn't as if there was anything we could do about it, short of WWIII.
> Churchill’s earlier plan, which the U.S. didn’t agree to, was to invade Greece rather than Italy, and establish a front between the Soviets and Germany, so as to stake a western claim to eastern Europe.
Sounds to me like Churchill had an eminently sensible plan.
> Once the Soviets had militarily overrun the region, it wasn’t as if there was anything we could do about it, short of WWIII.
That territory will one day need to be fought and won yet, I fear. Except this time the Enemy will be wearing turbans, and the Good Guys will not necessarily be in top fighting form.
Vlad’s got stones. Gotta say that.
Very very wrong on this one you are, sir. We had the atomic bomb and Russia did not. President Roosevelt was a fool or worse. The United States could have dictated any damn thing they wanted without firing a shot.
The lack of resolve by Roosevelt and Truman is what caused the Cold War with hot wars such as Vietnam. Roosevelt was a fool and Truman was even worse. For almost 4 years he had control of the only atomic arsenal in the world. He failed to secure freedom for Eastern Europe and China which he could have done with ease. He squandered his power to do good.
Now if you're suggesting Truman could have threatened his way across Europe with it later on, well, I guess we'll never really know. I doubt it could've been done "with ease." Doesn't much matter now anyway.
Seems to me that a guy named Peary planted the first flag at the North Pole.
http://www.ussnautilus.org/history.html
Seems the US has got the top and the bottom of the N. Pole...:^)
So it must be ours!
Correct, we should have said to the Russians that due to unforeseeable circumstances we now realize we can kick you butt with atomic weapons, we have changed our mind.
snicker nyuck nyuck
Someday, that flag will fly over the Kremlin again.
Thats too bad, but hey we have a nice variety of folks here. It makes for one spicy meatball. Did you correct them?
You Said: “We need that oil, more than they do...”
And just how do you propose we get it out, we can’t even get the oil we have in ANWR thanks to those idiots in congress.
All the really classy explorers wore one.
the new gang members on the block.
Creating conflict with the West is what Russia does (minus the 1990’s). The vast oil & gas wealth created has allowed them to rebuild & modernize their military very quickly.
They feel a hot war in the Middle East and Asia coming soon and will surely participate when we are stretched beyond measure. They could easily claim at that point we have invaded their territory in the Artic where they have economic resources and use it as an execuse to do something evil. In this global environment, justification is required to maintain allies if you are going to use your military. They are still a few years away from being a true conventional threat to Europe or the USA but we should do what we did in the 80’s and build a ton more nukes. Bush asked Congress for just that a month or so ago and was shot down.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.