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Ottawa Citizen Canwest News Service November 16, 2009 U.S. submarine's trip to Arctic should sound alarms for Canada: expert By David Pugliese -There are safety protocols in place under NATO that provide for the exchange of information on allied submarine movements.... In the past, U.S. Arctic submarine exercises have included firing unarmed torpedoes to test their performance in frigid waters. The U.S. navy did not release details on what, if any, weapons tests were performed by the Texas. The Arctic is increasingly being seen as a potential flashpoint as receding polar ice allows easier access to the region. -Both MacKay and Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon have taken a hard line in regard to excursions by the Russians into the Arctic. -Some U.S. media outlets referred to the voyage of the Texas as historic, since it became the first of the new Virginia-class submarines not only to operate in the region, but also to surface through the ice. The recent surfacing of a U.S. submarine near the North Pole and an increase in military activity in the Arctic this year should send a warning to the Canadian government that other nations are serious about boosting their presence in the resource-rich region, says a specialist on Canada's northern security. The U.S. navy recently confirmed that the USS Texas and its 134-member crew completed an Arctic mission, with some U.S. media outlets noting the nuclear-powered submarine broke through the ice near the North Pole and stayed on the surface for 24 hours. [T]he Texas is the third U.S. submarine to visit the region so far this year.... It is unclear exactly what route the USS Texas took during its voyage, whether it transited through Canadian waters or whether Canada was told in advance about the visit. .... Officials with Defence Minister Peter MacKay declined to comment and referred requests for information to Foreign Affairs. The Foreign Affairs Department declined to say whether the U.S. submarine operated in Canadian waters and, if it had, whether Canada granted permission. Foreign Affairs spokesman Alain Cacchione said information about submarine operations is considered secret. He noted in an e-mail that Canada permits shipping through its Arctic waters, provided vessels respect Canadian controls ``related to safety, security, the environment and Inuit interests.'' There are safety protocols in place under NATO that provide for the exchange of information on allied submarine movements, Cacchione added. In the past, U.S. Arctic submarine exercises have included firing unarmed torpedoes to test their performance in frigid waters. The U.S. navy did not release details on what, if any, weapons tests were performed by the Texas. The Arctic is increasingly being seen as a potential flashpoint as receding polar ice allows easier access to the region. In September, the Danish Defence Intelligence Agency released a report warning that increases in shipping and the exploitation of oil and gas reserves in the Arctic could spark military and diplomatic conflicts. Both MacKay and Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon have taken a hard line in regard to excursions by the Russians into the Arctic. Earlier this year, MacKay accused the Russians of sending military aircraft too close to Canadian northern airspace. He vowed that Canadian Forces CF-18 fighter aircraft would intercept Russian aircraft each and every time they came near the country. In March, Cannon said Canada ``will not be bullied'' by a Russian plan to create a new security force for the Arctic. .... The Harper government has announced over the past several years the creation of a military training centre in the Arctic, economic aid to the region, as well as the construction of a new port, an icebreaker and a fleet of Arctic patrol ships. Work is underway on the various projects but in many cases it will take years before they are ready. Some U.S. media outlets referred to the voyage of the Texas as historic, since it became the first of the new Virginia-class submarines not only to operate in the region, but also to surface through the ice. =========================== Stop NATO http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato Blog site: http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/ To subscribe, send an e-mail to: [email protected] or [email protected] Daily digest option available. ============================== --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST --^---------------------------------------------------------------- This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bNM5nn.YXJjaGl2 Or send an email to: [email protected] For Topica's complete suite of email marketing solutions visit: http://www.topica.com/?p=TEXFOOTER --^----------------------------------------------------------------
