Alaska and Russia

[George_Bonanza]

Steve Douchey and Cindy McCain are absolutely moronic. Not only does a large body of water (the Bering Strait) separate Alaska from Russia, but most of the population of Russia lives at the western extreme. Eastern Russia is Siberia, and just snow and wolves and forest. This kind of stupidity needs to be mocked without mercy.

[davepc]

1. Who handles things lake fisheries disputes? The state wouldn't have much of a hand in that

would it?

I'd imagine that would all be the dept of the interior and whatnot working with the state department.

[Lucinda]

2. Wouldn't some of that be covered by treaties in state?

[davepc]

7. I have no idea. But the Alaskan and Russian fishing grounds in the Bering sea are side by side

per wiki

Commercial fishing is big business in the Bering Sea, which is relied upon by the largest seafood companies in the world to produce fish and shellfish. On the U.S. side, commercial fisheries catch approximately $1 billion worth of seafood annually, while Russian Bering Sea fisheries are worth approximately $600 million annually.

When a Russian fishing boat fishes US grounds, who stops it? the Coast Guard? The Alaskan National Guard? The Navy?

and, more importantly, how much impact does the Governor of Alaska have in dealing with the Russians.


I'm just using this as one example, I'm sure you could substitute Canada/logging/mining and get to the same place.

[Lucinda]

8. Maybe a mix of state and federal jurisdictions? Alaska is certainly in a

unique position. Gonna dig some more and see what's out there...

[Arctic Dave]

9. The Coast Guard would take care of fishing infringement

the state would have nothing to do with it.

[Lucinda]

3. They are apparently 2.5 miles apart at the closest point

http://www.gov.state.ak.us/trade/2003/tad/russia/facts.htm

"At their closest Alaska and Russia are 2.5 miles apart – the distance between Little Diomede Island, Alaska, and Big Diomede Island, Russia. The two islands straddle the U.S.-Russian maritime border in the middle of the Bering Strait. In mid-winter, when the Bering Strait freezes, it is possible to walk between the two islands – from American to Russia..."

[Quixote1818]

4. Do they forget that Canada actually borders Alaska?????

Why does a part of Russia with no population count so much and a two thousand mile border with Canada means nothing? Why does Canada not count?

[Hamlette]

6. because we don't hate Canada....yet

you have to show she's gone toe to toe with our enemies, and won. Or some such shit.

I don't remember any incidents with Russia in that neighborhood in the last 20 months.

Are they saying she dealt with foreign policy issues with Russia when she was PTA president?

(BTW, the SIL was PTA prez here. You do not have to be smart to hold that post.)

[Mrs. Overall]

5. But I thought Pally Pal and Pooty Poot were so close they toss fish back and forth

in good humored fun!