Peter F

According to UN convention on the Law of the Sea, wich seems to be the acceptable standard (more or less) the are considered territorial water is 12nm, as BC2004 has said. UNCLOS The Parry Channel, If google earth is any good, exceeds 24nm in with for the most part, except for a short part near the west of the Eastern Exit near King Williams land [??], So the channel would constitute insternational waters if that was all there is to it. Part III article 30something of UNCLOS however describes how an archipeligo, if there are no other national claims within the boundry of that archipelago, can be considered territorial waters in its entirety . Another article also states that other nations have the right of Innocent Passage within such an archipeligo unless there is another route that passes outside of the archipelego. Even with global warming I doubt a Polar route would be a viable thing. USCG vessels transiting from Alaska to Norfolk certainly qualify as innocent passage. Canada claims the US government must seek our permission for passage to occur wich is contrary to innocent passage rights. Naturally the US informs but does not seek permission to use the passage - as is thier right in the circumstances. Canada acquieses, of course, since they haven't got a legal leg to stand on. But it makes for good political hay. and probably garners more than a few anti-american votes.

Preposterous, yes, but we're Canadians and the mythology of Canada is everything between the meridians right up to the pole belongs to us. Wish I could explain it. I suspect it has more to do with Nationalism than any rational reason. It's a Canadian Holy Cow, like water. There is no basis in reality of claiming an Ocean like that...other than continental shelf claims and 200nm economic zones etc. But then, nobody in Canada is really complaining about our soveriegnty of the Arctic Ocean. The real stinker is that the USofA does not recognize the NWP (wich probably means the Parry Channel) as Canadian internal waters. Why that is I guess is the USofA also has it's Holy Cows. Freedom of the Sea's being one of them. Now what Canadian gunboats are going to do up there I know not. Shoot USCG cutters? I doubt it. But if the passage does become viable then some sort of SAR/pollution response ability would be a very sensible thing. For insurance rates if nothing else. The whole thing is a sham create-a-crisis. Will Canada deny transit to American or anyone else's vessels? No. Will the USofA claim something in the Archipelago? No. They only want right of transit wich, under the UN Law of the Sea (signed by Canada, signed but not ratified by the US), Canada has no right to deny. So America is only doing what Canada has to allow. The whole thing is silly beyond belief.

I think you're spot-on there. None of it makes any rational sense. It appears to be more of a non-issue to get tough on the 'mericuns...and perhaps the perfidious Danes maybe...

So what is Canada supposed to be doing that brings us into conflict with the Americans? Is Canada's position that the NWP is not freely navigable waterway...to foreigners? If not - then whats the problem?

Just doing some route measurements on google-earth. Helgoland - Shanghai NWP ~9,500 miles Helgoland - Shanghai NEP ~8,500 miles Helgoland - Shanghai Polar ~8,200 miles Helgoland - Shanghai Panama ~15,900 miles New York - Shanghai NWP ~9,900 miles New York - Shanghai NEP ~11,600miles New York - Shanghai Panama ~12,400 miles 'Polar' means the arctic is Ice Free and ships can sail right over the pole no problem. If the NWP is becoming freer of ice would not the NEP also become freer of ice? If so then European shipping will be using the NEP to get to the East. I also explored the Nares strait route (Hans Island) and could discern no reason whatsoever for anyone to take that route over a polar route or NWP route.

de Ramzay and Townsend?

I would agee with that. jbg's statement also falls within the same parameter of propaganda for its own purpose.

I doubt more spoiled ballots would solve the problem.

"the Haditha Marines are Vindicated!" Funny kind of vindication. Even the lawyers defending the charged marines do not dispute that thier clients killed non-combatants. The Defense rests on the claim that the Marines were following thier training. Everyone in a designated target building is considered a combatant. The are to kill them all, not wound them or capture them - but kill everyone in the targeted building (thus the dead check). In effect the defense rests upon the claim that thier client was just following orders. ...and it's not torture unless organ failure occurs... This is what the United States has been reduced to. I hope and pray the CAF never stoops to this level of madness.

Helluva position to volountarily get into isn't it?. But Hey! Its a good thing!

If that's true then the Marines fell for it hook line and sinker. The killings still took place and it wasn't al Queda killing the civilians as even the charged/no longer charged Marines have testified. This is all entirely self-inflicted stupidity in light of the claim that Marine Intelligence Knew it was a set-up.

Zero? I think its Zero.

Well, Gee, I suggest you guys elect someone that will put immigration to a referendum...or is that beyond your abilities?

Damn politicians elected into office considered no need to have one

Neither do I. Damn politicians elected into office considered no need to have one. Damn democratic ideals...

You most certainly have the right to choose these things. Unfortunatly, you refuse to recognize that you are not the only one with the right. I have the right to choose the very things you reject (massive immigration). Thus democracy and voting...

You're right! They're all beneath contempt.

You have obviously missed the point, wich is this: Any politician that would attempt to communicate with me through bogus happy-wishes-for-whatever-holiday-he-thinks-applies, is obviously currying favour and is beneath contempt. You may enjoy recieving the bullshit well-wishes and good on ya. I see it as fakery.

When my last name incites some politico to send me a 'Happy Robbie Burns Day' message I will know that politician will have just lost my potential vote.

If there is money to be made somebody will be there to make it. Be they sociopaths or bleeding hearts.

Actually you can retire whenever you like. No matter what the immigration levels are and no matter what labour shortages do or do not exist.

My God! How dare he be prepared to fail! There should be a law...

The Western interests will be at Karzai's table but they won't be going with Karzai to see the Taliban.

But Karzai is a believer

and the negotiating begins..