WW III: Is This The Beginning Of The End?

Are we now witnessing the beginnings of WW III? It’s not going to be a war between Islamic fundamentalists and the rest of the world. Nor a clash of civilizations. West Asia is not going to be the flash point either.

The principal players would be Russia, CIS Republics, China ranged against the USA, Canada, UK, Australia and a few sundry western countries.

So what are the indications?

Now Russia has laid claim to the North Pole - and all its gas, oil, and diamonds.

Experts estimate the ridge has ten billion tons of gas and oil deposits and significant sources of diamonds, gold, tin, manganese, nickel, lead and platinum.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is making an astonishing bid to grab a vast chunk of the Arctic - so he can tap its vast potential oil, gas and mineral wealth. His scientists claim an underwater ridge near the North Pole is really part of Russia's continental shelf.

The U.S. and Canada have expressed shock.

A UN convention says none can claim jurisdiction over the Arctic seabed because the geological structure does not match the surrounding continental shelves. But Russian scientists have returned from a six-week mission on a nuclear ice-breaker to claim that the 1,220-mile long underwater Lomonosov Ridge is geologically linked to the Siberian continental platform - and similar in structure.
Daily Mail

According to a British diplomat, Russia was planning to secure its grip on oil and gas supplies "for decades to come". (The region is currently administered by the International Seabed Authority but this is now being challenged by Moscow).

“The only way for Russia to assert it’s sovereignty in the Arctic is to establish a strong economic and naval presence in the region,” says Dmitry Evstafiev of the Russian think tank. He further said that this alone can force the Western nations to accept its claim to the region.

Washington is doing its utmost to block the Russian bid as it impinges directly on US national interests. Experts too doubt western nations will allow Russia to win its claim of the Arctic shelf, no matter how solid the scientific evidence.

Canada, which has laid claim to the North Pole nearly 50 years ago, has recently allocated $7 billion to build a fleet of fast attack craft and patrol ships to reinforce its claim on the Arctic.

Pre-emptive Moves By Russian Forces

> Russia launches its first 4th generation nuclear submarine since the Soviet collapse to upgrade its undersea nuclear strike force, as part of Russia’s Northern Fleet.

> Three more nuclear subs of the same class will be inducted a couple of years later.

> National Arctic Council set up to coordinate the activities in the region.

> Two of the largest shipping companies merged creating one of the world’s largest shippers, to transport the oil and gas it plans to produce from the Arctic shelf.

> President Vladimir Putin ordered the suspension of participation in the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE) due to “extraordinary" circumstances. This means that Russia would be able to build up forces near its borders and would stop on-site inspections by NATO countries and information exchanges on forces and movements.

> Russia has begun deploying advanced anti-missile systems in Belarus, near NATO’s Eastern borders. The first batch of four S-300PS mobile surface-to-air missiles batteries consisting of 24 missile launchers arrived in Belarus recently. The S-300PS is an all altitude air defense system capable of shooting down aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles.

> Belarus, Russia's closest ally in the former Soviet Union and Russia are setting up a joint defence command.

> Relations between the UK and Russia are heading downhill due to expulsion of four Russian diplomats by the former. Expect Russia to pay back in kind. After further rounds of expulsions, it could consider recalling the British ambassador from Russia. This could be followed by the breaking off of all official diplomatic ties.

And the game is all about controlling the world's depleting energy resources. It's just a one point agenda for security and world domination.

That’s Chapter 1. The second would probably be played out in the near future. And there are only 3 chapters with an epilogue! Checkmate! Game over!












[edit on 17-7-2007 by mikesingh]

Fantastic post!
It's the war for the North Pole. It's pretty scary seeing Russia
building all this defense. Which it only means nothing good can
come out of it.
The West better start building something bigger and crazier
or else Russia will win this war and win the lifetime supply
of oil.

the current claim was begun back in 1997,
the claim was laughed off the table,

but according to treaty...Russia has/had a 10 year window to appeal (their laughed at) claim that was dismissed back in the '90s.

this ain't nothin new, the claim of the 1,500 mile formation as part of their contenental shelf is a non-starter...Canada has similar claims


all those military upgrades & armed forces build ups have no connection to the claims of territories in the neutral North Pole zone...
those military growths were geo-political & strategic policies, completely
independent of the North Pole issues & the resources that Russia desires to exploit

nice try, give it a 9.999 score (almost perfect!)




~
In another thread i was asking for someone to post a map showing the areas being claimed...
about a week later you come up with the Independents' graphic...
thanks for the image,
i knew that one would have to show up eventually

[edit on 17-7-2007 by St Udio]

Greenland has also made claims to this area. Does anyone know who it REALLY belongs to?

To do that, we first have to establish what exactly “Lomonosov” and “Murmanks” mean.

Does it sound Finnish, or English for that matter?

Why those areas were named that?

President Vladimir Putin has long promised to restore Russian greatness and build an "energy empire." But until now, his empire-building had been confined to taking control of corporations operating on his turf, buying into businesses abroad, and blackmailing former Soviet Republics who dared vote against Moscow-backed candidates, moved to join NATO or acted in otherwise uppity ways. But Putin's imperial ambitions have recently added an element of classic 19th century-style territorial expansion.
www.time.com...

And now in a lightning move, he has checkmated the West by sending his mini submarines to plant Russia's flags under the pole, part of his grand design to annex it, an area, which Time /CNN says is twice the size of France with Belgium and Switzerland thrown in — except all of it under water.

But the bottom line is, he's first off the block. And caught the West with their pants down! As I mentioned earlier, Chapter two is about to commence, which will be played out in the near future. And there are only 3 chapters with an epilogue! Checkmate! Game over!

Have fun whilst the going is good. It may not last long!

Cheers!

And now get a load of this...

On the morning of January 7 this year, the rotor blades of a Russian Mi-8 helicopter shattered the divine silence at the opposite end of the Earth, disgorging a group of top Russian dignitaries led by none other than FSB (the former KGB) Director Nikolai Patrushev, to proudly rais the Russian flag over the South Pole. At the time, it might have looked like a stunt. But back in 2004, Patrushev landed at the North Pole in much the same fashion. Stay tuned.
www.time.com...

Stay tuned? That news was published on 12th Jul!

Date: 2nd August 07.
Location: North Pole.

Two mini-subs Mir-1 and Mir-2 descending to 4,300 meters, collected water and sediment samples from the sea bed. This symbolism will surely bolster Russian claims on the area. They have now successfully completed Phase 1 of the Grand Strategy by claiming the North Pole!


Photograph: Courtesy Reuters/Guardian Unlimited.

Cheers! That's another step closer....to WWIII !!

More...

[edit on 3-8-2007 by mikesingh]

If the U.S. and Russia were to go to the mat over this, it would sooner or later go nuclear. Therefore, I think someone is inevitably going to blink here and back down. The stakes are too high.

Thx for keeping us updated, great post.

Originally posted by iskander
To do that, we first have to establish what exactly “Lomonosov” and “Murmanks” mean.

Does it sound Finnish, or English for that matter?

Why those areas were named that?

Neither of the names are not Finnish or English, Murmansk is the name of the Russian port the expeditions originated. It has been a Russian city as long as it has existed.

Lomonosov is a Russian Name, the ridgeline is named after Mikhail Lomonosov, (1711-1765), a polymath and writer of Imperial Russia.


Ps. Greenland has no claims to northpole, Denmark has as Greenland belongs to Denmark

Of the "arctic" countries Finland and Sweden have no claims to the region.

[edit on 3-8-2007 by northwolf]

It is an open secret Putin will run Gazprom, the largest energy company in the world when he leaves his current Office.

it is also possible that alexy Miller, the current head of Gazprom may run for Putins office when he leaves...

An interesting turnabout, they have been covering each others backside the last 10 years.

Neither of the names are not Finnish or English, Murmansk is the name of the Russian port the expeditions originated. It has been a Russian city as long as it has existed.

Lomonosov is a Russian Name, the ridgeline is named after Mikhail Lomonosov, (1711-1765), a polymath and writer of Imperial Russia.

So Russians are claiming two arctic territories which are named after a Russian city and a Russian writer?

That makes me think that Russians discovered them in the first place, since usually newly discovered territories are named by their discoverers.

You know what I don't understand about all of this? There is no land at the north pole. Sure, there is plenty of ice, but no land. Wouldn't this qualify it as International waters? Is this the first time a country has laid claim to a part of the sea bed?

Beginning of the end? it could be. It could also mean a new beginning
for us as a human civilization. We could kill off so many humans, and
then realize how dumb we were to start wars. New wars could mean
new technology, but it could also mean a nuclear holocaust for almost
every single person on Earth. We will just have to wait and see what
the outcome will be.

Well, what's Santa's take on all this invading of his territory?
He gonna start chimney bombing people?

There is no oil at the North Pole. I find it mentioned in one sentence in Pravda, The Guardian, and Time sadly. I have searched a few geology journal index's, and I have seen no evidence of said oil. I even read an article about the results of Bedrock Cores from 89 degrees on Lomonsov Ridge... NO OIL. The world is not ending. If anything, Russia wants in on expanded seasonal shipping routes due to global warming. So does Canada, America, and everyone else. It's economics. An international law allows Russia to claim more land. They need scientific evidence. They send mini subs to try and get it, and plant a flag to show off. Now they might own water that may show an economic potential in future shipping fees. Don't you think this would be a bigger deal if THAT MUCH OIL was down there? I know that in Canada it would be. Yeah, it's territory that can make money. It makes no where near enough money to end the world.

[edit on 3-8-2007 by WuTang]

Originally posted by Implosion
You know what I don't understand about all of this? There is no land at the north pole.

Who’s bothered about there being only ice at the North Pole? It’s what’s underneath. Oil would be drilled from under the ocean floor, just like those massive oil rigs one sees in the North Sea. Experts estimate the ridge and the surrounding ocean floor has ten billion tons of gas and oil deposits and significant sources of diamonds, gold, tin, manganese, nickel, lead and platinum.

Sure, there is plenty of ice, but no land. Wouldn't this qualify it as International waters?

That’s the rub. Check this out…..

President Putin contends that his scientists claim an underwater ridge near the North Pole is really part of Russia's continental shelf and that the 1,220-mile long underwater Lomonosov Ridge is geologically linked to the Siberian continental platform - and similar in structure. www.dailymail.co.uk...

And Canada claims this too. It has laid claim to the North Pole nearly 50 years ago, and has recently allocated $7 billion to build a fleet of fast attack craft and patrol ships to reinforce its claim on the Arctic.

It’s the race for oil, precious metals and minerals in the untouched virgin North Pole. And Russia seems way ahead! They’ve come very well prepared. See the opening post.

Cheers!

Update: 04 Aug 07

After North Pole, Russia Heads For The Mediterranean!

MOSCOW: An increasingly assertive Russia has declared the Mediterranean a zone of its strategic interests and vowed to set up a permanent naval presence in the region.

“The operational reach of the [Russian Black Sea] fleet covers the Black Sea and the Mediterranean up to the Atlantic Ocean in the region where Europe, Asia and Africa converge,” Russia’s Navy Commander Admiral Vladimir Masorin said.

“This entire zone of operation can by right be described as an area of Russia’s strategic interests.” He stressed the need for Russia to re-establish permanent naval presence in the Mediterranean “to advance its foreign policy priorities”.

www.hindu.com...

Map of Russian Military facilities dominating the Mediterranean

What's next? Beware the coming Ides of March!



[edit on 4-8-2007 by mikesingh]

Seems to me that the USA's ongoing invasion and apparent takeover of the Middle East would be a much more likely spark to ignite WWIII than any ruskie north pole grabass. If there is oil under the NP, who can blame Russia for taking a look at it considering what's going on in their back yard?

Update: 11 Aug 07

Canada Commences Building Of Arctic Army Bases

Things have started hotting up. Chapter two has now started panning out.

Canada will build two new military facilities in the Arctic in a move to assert sovereignty over the contested region. Prime Minister said Canada will install a new army training centre and a deepwater port.

He made the announcement in Resolute Bay, Nunavut - about 595 kilometers south of the North Pole - just a week after Russia symbolically staked a claim to the North Pole by sending submarines.
www.ndtv.com...

The PM had also mentioned that these installations will reinforce Canada's claim to the waters and natural resources of the Northwest Passage. Needless to say, it's going to be an interesting albeit alarming battle of wits. Let's see who blinks first!



[edit on 10-8-2007 by mikesingh]