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Great White North
Denmark, Canada in Greenland row
2005-07-25
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, July 25 (UPI) -- A decades-long border dispute between Denmark and Canada has flared up after Ottawa's Defense minister paid a secret visit to a small island north of Greenland.
The fiend!
After his visit to the island, Minister of Defense Bill Graham said Canada had always regarded it as part of Canadian territory.
You know those damm expansionist Canadians, always looking to grab more territority.
This remark has caused a stir in Copenhagen, which administers Greenland's foreign policy. "We will hand over a note to Canada in which we will express our viewpoint," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Peter Taksoe-Jensen. "Hans Island is our island."
That's how it always starts, with an exchange of notes. Next there will be strong words at the UN, then stern telegrams, before you know it Canadian and Danish man-o-war will be trading broadsides off the coast of, where the hell is it again?
Hans Island, which can only be reached during summer because of pack ice, has been claimed by Denmark and Canada since Arctic borders were drawn in 1973. The two countries have sent navy ships to the region and both have raised their flags on the 1/2-square-mile isle.
What, someone discover oil and they're just not telling us? Or is this over the lucrative ice deposits?
Despite the occasional spat over Hans Island, diplomatic relations between Denmark and Canada remain healthy.
Given the current state of the Canadian military, I'll take Denmark and the points


more here
Posted by:Steve

#16  They can't have New England but I'd consider a swap for Massachusettes. The Senators go with the state though, and we'd also insist Ben Afleck and his buddy go as well.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2005-07-25 22:50  

#15  You better side with Denmark before they start claiming New England...
Posted by: True German Ally   2005-07-25 22:33  

#14  LMAO -- that's the Danish version, right?
Posted by: Matt   2005-07-25 22:13  

#13  Hans Island is our island
I hear an almost ready to fight anthem.

This lan is yur lan!
This lan is frooozaaan!
From the north point wind gap
to the east bay icefield
From the abandon hutments
To the still fresh carcass'ssssss
This lan I'll sell to you real cheap.
Posted by: Shipman   2005-07-25 19:11  

#12  Kalaallit Nunaat

Inuit for "If you build it, he will come."


Posted by: BigEd   2005-07-25 19:09  

#11  "Keep your hands off Hans!"
Posted by: Dar   2005-07-25 16:10  

#10  Greenland is not Greenland, it is now officially known as Kalaallit Nunaat. Yet nobody respects the new name and continues to use the name Greenland which was created by the white man oppressors.

There will be no peace until Kalaallit Nunaat is free of Danish imperialism forever!
Posted by: inuit al nutbag   2005-07-25 15:52  

#9  Whoa, guys. Don't be too eager in dismissing the naval prowess of my homeland. It's rumored the 3-canoe Canadian navy includes a steel-prowed icebreaking canoe. Could be the deciding factor in a dustup with the Danes.
Posted by: Kirk   2005-07-25 15:21  

#8  My $10 is on the Danes because they deserve it and there is great potential entertainment value in it for all. They can then lease it to us and throw the Canadian anti "Deep Integration" nazi crowd into deeper spasmosis.
Posted by: MunkarKat   2005-07-25 14:32  

#7  RC - I bet Leif Ericcson would agree!
Posted by: BigEd   2005-07-25 14:07  

#6  Ya know, I'd bet good money the Danes have an older claim.
Posted by: Robert Crawford   2005-07-25 13:22  

#5  ...a small island north of Greenland.

What, are they kidding? Some dinky ice-floe way above the arctic circle they're gonna fight over?

Doesn't it really belong to the polar bears?
Posted by: mojo   2005-07-25 13:06  

#4  During the cold war the US sent a proposal to buy Greenland in order to use it as a forward warning radar site. The Danish never acknowledged the offer.

Perhaps we should submit the offer again, perhaps just offering to buy this contested Island for a radar base and then let the Canadians try to take it from us.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2005-07-25 13:03  

#3  "I'll take Denmark and the points"

ROFL!!! Steve - there's a beverage alert missing, lol!

Wotta mess...
Posted by: .com   2005-07-25 13:03  

#2  Both betting on global warming, I suppose.
Posted by: Chuck Simmins   2005-07-25 13:02  

#1  Given the state of the positions of both countries re: the fight against terrorism, and Iraq, I'll the the Danes straight up!

Bush thanks Denmark
Posted by: BigEd   2005-07-25 12:57  

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