Doomed of History: The Arctic

I read the news over time and I start to feel like we're missing patterns and events that are rushing us toward obstacles and conflict. Here's the progress of the Arctic Problem, up to now.

Global warming is both a problem and an opportunity. Scientists predicted that there was a 50-50 chance the arctic would be ice-free this summer.

And that means open waters and new trade routes... and people are starting to notice.
The Americans have changed their northern policy. The Canadians are quietly studying the continental shelves to bolster claims. Plus there's that whole Russian thing that needs to have an eye kept on. So we need to bolster the forces at home, sort of. (Here's a bit more on that.)

But the ice keeps shrinking.

And Canada announces an extension of the northern jurisdiction. But to make it viable, we need to get folks to move up there... but before that happens we need to improve the economy and invest in the region. And we need to identify and defend the resources in the region. Then it's all over the media: Canada is talking tough... Canada is being assertive...

And the ice keeps breaking apart.

But we start building, you guessed it: icebreakers!

Now the Americans want to have a chat about the definition of "international" and "internal" waters.

And the ice... the ice... two words: ice shelves.

And none too soon: the Northwest Passage is open, for the second time in history, and the second year in a row. By the way, want to move to Nunavut?

Anyway. Let's hope it all ends better than it did for these poor buggers: the Franklin Expedition.