Danish commando's book undermines security?

A Danish commando's account of the front lines in Afghanistan has landed not only himself in hot water, but forced the country's defence chief to resign.

Army bosses said if the book fell into the wrong hands it would endanger national security. Apparently the book reveals Danish Special Forces tactics, techniques and procedures. The government is suing the soldier and claims he breached military confidentiality.

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Michelle has Moxie

Michelle Obama arrived in Denmark before 5 a.m. CST and was greeted by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and his wife, Maggie. Two hours later, Oprah landed. President Obama is supposed to visit Denmark on Friday.

President Obama will make a presentation in Copenhagen on Friday. He will be the first time a U.S. president who has appeared before the International Olympic Committee to lobby for an Olympics. The Chicago Olympics should spur economic recovery in the Mid West

graphic courtesy nonnie9999--http://mikk2.wordpress.com/

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Nordic military alliance to challenge Russia in Arctic

10 February, 2009, 04:19

Four Scandinavian countries together with Iceland could form a Nordic military alliance to protect their interests in Arctic, says a report presented by Norway at a special meeting of the countries’ foreign ministers.

The report presented by a veteran Norwegian politician Thorvald Stoltenberg proposes co-operation not limited to a joint military force, but also includes potential joint efforts in international security, air surveillance, air patrols, maritime monitoring and medical services. The report also calls for an independent polar orbit satellite system by 2020.

The interesting fact about the Scandinavian Defence Union, which could unite Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland, is that it was supposed to be born immediately after WWII. The Scandinavian four were positive the union was absolutely essential to guard against possible future common threats from the Soviet Union, for example. But the birth of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation superseded these plans.

Norway, Sweden and Iceland, is that it was supposed to be born immediately after WWII. The Scandinavian four were positive the union was absolutely essential to guard against possible future common threats from the Soviet Union, for example. But the birth of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation superseded these plans.

Today, Denmark and Norway (which were occupied by Nazi Germany during WWll, thus having learnt a bitter lesson) together with Iceland are already members of the NATO alliance. Finland bravely fought both Soviet Union and Nazi Germany in sequence during the WWII. Sweden miraculously managed to escape the horrors of war by remaining neutral during WW2. 

Now Stoltenberg has proposed pooling efforts and resources in all possible military areas, as well as civil co-operation to ensure the effective maritime monitoring of the North Atlantic as well as contiguous areas of the Arctic Ocean and Barents Sea (the so-called “Barents Watch”). The report also mentions the necessity of a “Baltic Watch”.

A mutual declaration of solidarity in key areas of joint foreign policy and a common disaster response unit are planned to deal with any disastrous events.

For Russia formation of the Nordic Alliance could possibly mean that it will be able to speak directly to the Arctic countries. Russia would be able to by-pass NATO, that for 60 years now wholly controlled by the US. However, this is only if the US does not enter the new organisation, because, strangely enough, it has Arctic territories too.

Rightardia comment:  The US is not a Scandinavian country and would be unlikely to be a member with full status in a Nordic military alliance. Denmark is giving Greenland independence and it is also possible some of the Baltic states, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, might also want to join such an alliance. Of interest, many scholars believe many of the ancient Russians called 'the Rus' were of Scandinavian origin. 

This could explain those fine looking lady broadcasters on Russia Today and the excellent rumor that Sarah Palin has the hots for the Presidnet of Russia, Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev. Palin has claimed that you can see Russia from Alaska because she has been looking for Presidnet Medvedev.

source: http://russiatoday.com/Politics/2009-02-10/Nordic_military_alliance_to_challenge_Russia_in_Arctic.html

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Is the US the greatest country in the world?

One index that will put the US in it its place is the Human Development Index (HDI). 

This is a list of countries by Human Development Index as included in a United Nations Development Program's Human Development Statistical Update released on December 18, 2008, compiled on the basis of data from 2006. It covers 177 U.N. member countries (out of 192), along with: Hong Kong (SAR of China) and PA-governed territories. Fifteen U.N. member countries are not included due to lack of data.

The average HDI of regions of the World and groups of countries are also included for comparison. The Human Development Index (HDI) is a comparative measure of life expectancy, literacy, education and standards of living for countries worldwide. It is a standard means of measuring well-being, especially child welfare. It is used to distinguish whether the country is a developed, a developing or an under-developed country, and also to measure the impact of economic policies on quality of life. The index was developed in 1990 by Pakistani economist Mahbub ul Haq and Indian economist Amartya Sen.

Countries fall into three broad categories based on their HDI: high, medium and low human development.

Where does the US fit in internationally? We are 15th and treading water. Iceland is number one and Canada is number 3. Denmark is number 13 and considered to be the have the happiest citizens in the world.

1	Iceland	0.968	▲ +0.001
2	Norway	0.968	▲ +0.001
3	Canada	0.967	▲ +0.002
4	Australia	0.965	▲ +0.002
5	Ireland	0.960	▲ +0.002
6	Netherlands	0.958	▲ +0.002
7	Sweden	0.958	▲ +0.001
8	Japan	0.956	▲ +0.003
9	Luxembourg	0.956	▲ +0.002
10	Switzerland	0.955	▲ +0.002
11	France	0.955	▲ +0.002
12	Finland	0.954	▲ +0.004
13	Denmark	0.952	▲ +0.003
14	Austria	0.951	▲ +0.003
15	United States	0.950	▬

The next time a right winger tells you the US is the greatest country in the world,  tell him or her about the HDI. There is room for improvement. We're good, but we can be better!

source:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Human_Development_Index

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Greenland to become 51st state of the United States?

22.06.2009 Source: Pravda.Ru

Greenland, the world’s biggest island, made an important step towards its independence on June 21. The island, which is presumably populated by the Inuit, has been a part of Denmark for over 300 years. The Parliament of Denmark passed the law to expand Greenland’s autonomy at the end of May.

The law asserted the results of the referendum which took place in Greenland last year. About 75 percent of the island’s 63,000-strong population supported the idea of the self-administration on the island.

The new status, which the island will obtain, will give the Greenlanders a right to manage the natural resources of the island. The local authorities will also be able to solve the issues of the judicial and the law-enforcement systems and to partially control Greenland’s foreign politics.

The authorities were previously in charge of the island’s health care, school education and the social servicing of the population. Most Greenlanders are presumably employed in the fish-processing industry.

However, it is too early to speak about Greenland’s independence. Oil is the corner stone of the issue: there are billions of barrels of oil near the island’s coast. Permafrost used to be the major obstacle for the development of the oil industry in Greenland. However, ice continues to melt in the region because of the global warming phenomenon, which open Greenland for world’s oil giants.

The agreement about the expanded autonomy says that the first 14 million dollars of oil sales revenues will be transferred to the budget of the island. All other revenues will have to be shared 50-50 with Denmark. In addition, Denmark will continue investing $600 million a year in the local economy which makes up 30 percent of Greenland’s GDP. This subsidy will stop when Greenland is able to extract oil in the sum of $1.5 billion.

Many in Denmark believe that the Greenlanders are not ready for their independence. There is a high level of social problems such as alcoholism and suicide. The majority of Greenland’s qualified specialists come from Denmark. The gap between them and the local culture of hunters and fishers is large.

There is another reason which puts Greenland’s independence into question. The island could quickly become the 51st state of the United State if it acquires sovereignty. The White House has been showing interest in the island since the 19th century.

Greenland plays a very important role for the US administration to control seaways in Northern Atlantic. The USA acknowledged Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland in 1917. However, the United States did not intend to forget about the biggest island in the world. The US military was deployed there during WWII. The airbase of strategic bombers, the network of radars and other objects of the US missile defense system still play a key role in the region.

The US military presence is not something that the local population welcomes with open arms. However, the United States pays a very good rent, which makes up to 20 percent of Greenland’s budget. The Americans are ready to use their army bases in Greenland to access the oil-rich shelf of the island. Therefore, it would be extremely good for the United States to get rid of its regional competitor which is Denmark.

Denmark does not intend to refuse such a big piece of the pie despite its friendly terms with Washington at NATO. Copenhagen decided to expand Greenland’s autonomy to relieve itself of excessive spending. Denmark has invested millions in the island and received little in return for 300 years.

Denmark has already tried to explore the shelf of Greenland. The nation sent a polar mission to the Lomonosov Ridge to prove that the ridge was the continuation of the shelf of Greenland, but not Russia. Therefore, the expanded autonomy of the island is only a tactical step. The struggle for the Arctic resources is just getting started.

source: english.pravda.ru/world/americas/22-06-2009/107827-greenland-0 

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