By James Fritz
The U.S. has a even bigger problem than the Russian invasion of the Ukraine and that is the Russian invasion of the Arctic Basin. A few years ago they planted the Russian flag in the center of the basin on the floor of the Arctic Ocean. The Arctic Basin is believed to contain one third or undiscovered oil and gas worth $35 trillion at 60 dollars per barrel. Recently Russia announced they will be developing a super port on the coast of Siberia at a cost of $110 billion to export oil and gas. In addition they are building three towns for the 400,000 employees that will be needed to operate the port, 1,000 kilometers of large diameter pipe lines. and 1,500 kilometers of rail lines.They are building 10 nuclear-powered icebreakers for the project. The Russian Northern Fleet patrols the ice free water off the coast of Siberia in the summer. The Chinese are planning to use the Northern Route to ship goods to Europe within 10 years. The U.S. policy of doing nothing and keeping the Arctic undeveloped only gives the Arctic Basin to the Russians and Chinese.
The U.S. needs rapid all-weather access to the Northern Alaska coast and that means a rail line. In case of a oil spill or disaster of some kind only the rail road can move a large tonnage of people and material in any weather. We must connect the Canadian rail line with the Alaskan rail line and run a spur line to the Northern Coast of Alaska. We need a couple of Coast Guard stations and ports on the Northern coast of Alaska and a Coast Guard patrol in the summer to keep tract of what the Russians are doing and to have a claim on the Arctic Basin.
The Alaska State Legislature needs to pass a resolution petitioning Congress to:
Connect the Canadian Rail System with the Alaskan Rail System. It should be a two track connection. We need to run a rail line to the Northern Coast of Alaska. We need two ports on the Northern coast with Coast Guard stations and two new icebreakers assigned to each port. Both ports need a airport that can land military transports and year around living facilities for a number of people. Only a rail line can move large numbers of people and material in any weather condition. There will be oil spills and shipping accidents and we must be ready for any emergency. Personally I would like to keep the Arctic undeveloped but that is not a option. Our senators need to introduce a bill in Congress containing the resolution passed by the Alaskan Legislature. The project must be done on a emergency basis. We built the Alcan Highway in WWll in 18 months. We can not wait 10 years for a rail line to the Arctic Coast. We need the ports and rail line now. What Putin did in the Ukraine is only the beginning of his quest for power and territory.
I don’t understand. We were willing to go to war when Russia placed bases in Cuba but we are willing to give the Russians the Arctic Basin?
• James Fritz is a retired engineer and a former Alaskan resident. Columns, My Turns and Letters to the Editor represent the view of the author, not the view of the Juneau Empire. Have something to say? Here’s how to submit a My Turn or letter.
