Russia dispatches naval force to reopen Arctic base

[7962]

Source: Yahoo

Moscow (AFP) - Russia on Saturday sent six ships carrying personnel and equipment to a Soviet-era military base in the Arctic that it is reopening to bolster its presence in the region, Russian news agencies reported.

Moscow is ramping up its military presence in the pristine but energy-rich region as other countries such as Canada and Norway are also staking claims to access its resources.

President Vladimir Putin last year ordered the military to return to a base on the far-Northern New Siberian Islands that was abandoned in 1993.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/russia-dispatches-naval-force-reopen-arctic-112019010.html

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Let the Putin fluffers explain why Russia would be better to exploit the Arctic than the US. I'm SURE they'll be more environmentally friendly!
And I thought Russia had no expansionist ideas after Crimea.......

[ReRe]

1. "Vice"...

... had something about this area on their show back in early spring this year. I think maybe a group from the Netherlands (?) and somewhere else, like in war games, or maybe even a Russian watch. Hell, I can't remember what they were doing. These groups were on land though, not naval.

[AngryAmish]

2. WE MUST REOPEN ICE STAION ZERO!!#!

[bemildred]

3. Look at a map.

Russia owns 1/2 of the Arctic coastline, it's going to hard to deny them access to it. Canada comes next and then a few small players like the USA (with Alaska), Norway, Iceland, Finland, Denmark, and the British (sort of).

[cosmicone]

8. The U-S-A U-S-A crowd is sometimes geography challenged. n/t

[Xolodno]

18. Putin is a homophobe...

...so to some here, by preponderance...we must hate not just him, but Russia and everything Russian.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. The New Siberian Islands are very close to the mainland

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Siberian_Islands

under 50km away. I think this is a fair enough move by them.

[cosmicone]

9. +1

We cannot complain about Russia being in the Arctic when we are in Antarctica and with absolutely zero rights to be there other than we are a tough bully.

[PersonNumber503602]

11. It's fair enough for Russia to do it, but that means it's fair enough when

the US, Canada or other similar country does the same. I know there's been plenty of criticism directed toward western countries doing similar things. So I suppose if you're someone who critical of those countries, then it only makes sense to be critical of Russia (or any other country) too, and vise-versa if you're indifferent or support such activities in the arctic.

[cosmicone]

21. No one has criticized the US or Canada

for building a base on their own territory. Russia is building a base on its own territory. Just because they have a massive geographical advantage in the Arctic is no reason to hate.

We have bases in Alaska on our own land -- so what is the big deal?

[JayhawkSD]

5. Let me see if I have this right

Russia is reopening an existing base in its own territory, while the US has over 700 military bases in at least 26 foreign countries, and we are commenting on Russia's imperialism.

There is probably a planet somewhere in the universe where that is logical, but Earth is not that planet.

[ballyhoo]

23. With respect to Russia and Putin, this place went from

the ridiculous to the sublime a long time ago. If Putin stepped on a baby spider, there would be a warrant for his arrest out here.

[Sunlei]

6. Thats where the best fishing will be as global warming progresses.

Canadas NW passage constantly ice free for major shipping.

what I wish, in my dreams is a major transportation (public and shipping) waterway opened from, The gulf-Mississippi river- one of the great lakes to Canadas NW passage.

The dead/dying gulf sure could use a flushing/infusion of arctic waters. And we could create a salmon migration/breeding run along the Mississippi

most of the USA is landlocked far away from the Arctic. The USA turns to dry, dry desert.

[Iliyah]

7. The artics are melting and the oceans are raising.

And Pres Putin will be president of Russia until he dies. Russia will also drilling there are well. I think the earth is getting weary of it's body being battered by mankind.

[DavidDvorkin]

10. There are ethnic Russian polar bears up there!

[marym625]

12. But what ethnicity?

And isn't all that matters is they're white?

[DavidDvorkin]

13. White Russian.

[marym625]

14. As long as it's made with Stoli

[DavidDvorkin]

15. After the 2nd or thrid or footh

it no longer maters.

[marym625]

16. Very true!

I shlatute you!

[Xolodno]

17. Stoli is a good second choice....

....But Russian Standard is always my go to. Plus, I prefer Moscow Mule's...even before they became fashionable.

[marym625]

19. Cheers!

Never heard of it but I will try it

[Lurks Often]

20. That's certainly going to suck to be assigned to that base

[Kaleva]

24. Those sailors are probably not happy campers.

[KG]

22. Ice Station Zebra?