We're Not Going To Take It Any More

This is serious stuff. And here we thought that the five contestants for Arctic supremacy had decided to settle their differences of opinion diplomatically and civilly. That, in any event, is what the odd news release led us to expect. But then, there's something about Russia; never wanting to agree to let things settle down. While on the one hand, innocently attesting to friendship, no intent of adversarial actions, they keep dropping these little Arctic bombshells.

From overflights into Canadian airspace and giggling when Canadian planes scramble to meet the challenge, to planting titanium Russian flags at the bottom of the ocean, to salivating over the prospect of mining the deep for the substantial treasures lying there, including vast deposits of minerals and oil and gas.

Recent Russian missile tests, along with the announcement of a celebratory paratrooper North Pole drop as an anniversary project has invoked - provoked - a strenuous (strident?) Canadian response.

"We're always going to meet any challenge to that territorial sovereignty", Defence Minister Peter MacKay announced stiffly. "And I can assure you any country that is approaching Canadian airspace, approaching Canadian territory, will be met by Canadians." So there. Coming soon to an Arctic floe near you is Nanook 09 on the High Arctic. Watch for it.

Canada is planning a simulated security emergency, in rescue of a downed unmanned aerial vehicle. No, not in response to the Russian North Pole drop, but just ... because. Because of our territorial integrity, and we've got to use it. Or lose it. This will be, in the words of Canada's Defence Minister: "An effort, in practical terms, to co-ordinate what we're doing to prepare for the inevitable".

Arctic ship traffic, and the potential for future (heaven forfend) terror attacks, or environmental emergencies. Having nothing - truly - whatever to do with the diplomatic challenges faced by Canada, Russia, the U.S. Norway and Denmark, in marking out territorial lines and seabed boundary disputes.

Just business as usual.