Annals of Russian Imperialism
Filed under: Russia
If you thought that the country which already occupies more of the earth's surface than any other, even though it doesn't have a world-leading population size (in fact, it's shrinking dramatically), wouldn't be all that interested in grabbing even more territory, think again.
Russia, which already stretches across eleven time zones (nearly three times more than the continental U.S., one of the largest countries in the world) is now attempting to colonize the Arctic. Shown above is Artur Chilingarov, a member of the Russian government, who is leading the quest. It's scheduled to include a visit to the North Pole underwater, where a Russian flag will be dropped inside a capsule in a symbolic claim of ownership over the entire sea floor beneath the polar ice cap, which Russia feels it can claim as a natural part of its own continental shelf. Watch out, Iceland! Be careful, Canada! You may be next. As the Associated Press reports: "The Russians are not the only ones eyeing the Arctic seabed. Denmark hopes to prove the Lomonosov Ridge is an extension of the Danish territory of Greenland, not Russia. And Canada plans to spend $7 billion to build and operate up to eight Arctic patrol ships in a bid to help protect its sovereignty." It's a Soviet act, pure and simple. Nothing has changed in Russia except the faces.
If any other country were doing this, Russia would be screaming to high heaven about the need for "international cooperation" and "consultation" and "multipolarism." But these concerns, it's clear, don't apply to Russia -- just as even a vague conception of ethics, morality or simple logical consistency had no place in Soviet society. A feeble Kremlin doesn't dare to reach out its bony claw towards actual populated areas just yet, so it's practicing on the frozen wasteland. Isn't that special?
del.icio.us | 
digg | 
technorati | 
stumble upon | 
furl | 
reddit