Obama Giving Oil-Rich Alaskan Islands to Russia

[Conservative]

Obama’s giveaway: Oil-rich islands to Russia

Please read. Discuss.

he's not giving them away. He's declining to reclaim them. They were given to Russia in 1990, under Bush, not by Obama.
Alaska tea partier Joe Miller blasts Obama for letting Russia keep oil-rich islands | Alaska Dispatch

Miller concedes that past presidents have also balked at the chance to reclaim the islands lying off Russia's coasts. The deal was struck in 1990 under the first George Bush. His son, G.W., and Bill Clinton are culpable, too.

The idea that the U.S. can reclaim the islands is an old one in Alaska. The State Department has apparently said the U.S. has no legal claim to the islands.

 

[rdean]

Obama’s giveaway: Oil-rich islands to Russia

Please read. Discuss.

You can believe everything a site says that has this picture on their front page:

Discuss.

 

[Peach]

Then how can we give them to Russia?

Perhaps because the OP-ED in the OP is making things up? Nothing is being "given" to Russia.

All of the islands in question have been always been controlled by Russia, and administered by Russia. The US has NEVER made an official claim to them.

"The 8 American Alaskan Islands

The eight American Alaskan islands include five in the Arctic Ocean and three in the Bering Sea.

Wrangell Island: At 3,000 square miles, it is by far the largest of the five (equal to Rhode Island and Delaware together). It has been in U.S. possession since 1881.

Bennett, Jeannette, and Henrietta Islands: Known together as the DeLong Islands, those who discovered them in 1881 received Congressional medals.

Herald Island: It was taken over by the U.S. in the late 1800s when the British abandoned it.

Copper Island, Sea Lion Rock, and Sea Otter Rock: These islands in the Bering Sea were acquired by treaty in 1867 from Russia"

MaBelle: here is the history of WRANGELL ISLAND.

Wrangel Island (Russian: о́стров Вра́нгеля, ostrov Vrangelya) is an island in the Arctic Ocean, between the Chukchi Sea and East Siberian Sea. Wrangel Island lies astride the 180° meridian. The International Date Line is displaced eastwards at this latitude to avoid the island as well as the Chukchi Peninsula on the Russian mainland. The closest land to Wrangel Island is tiny and rocky Herald Island located 60 km (37 mi) to the east.[1]
Nearly all of Wrangel Island, and Herald Island, are a federally protected nature sanctuary administered by Russia's Ministry of Natural Resources. The island, and their surrounding waters, were classified as a "Zapovednik" (a "strict nature reserve") in 1976 and, as such, receive the highest level of protection and excludes practically all human activity other than for scientific purposes. The Chukotka Regional government extended the marine protected area out to 24 nautical miles in 1999. As of 2003, there were four rangers who reside on the island year-round. In addition a core of about 12 scientists conduct research during the summer months.
Wrangel Island is about 125 km (78 mi) wide and 7,600 km2 (2,900 sq mi) in area. It consists of a southern coastal plain that is as wide as 15 km (9.3 mi); a central belt of low-relief mountains; and a northern coastal plain that is as wide as 25 km (16 mi). The east-west trending central mountain belt, the Tsentral'nye Mountain Range, is as much as 40 km (25 mi) wide and 145 km (90 mi) long from coast to coast. Typically, the mountains are a little over 500 m (1,600 ft) above mean sea level. The highest mountain on this island is Sovetskaya Mountain with an elevation of 1,096 m (3,596 ft) above mean sea level. The east-west trending mountain range terminates at sea cliffs at either end of the island.[1]
Wrangel Island belongs administratively to the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug of the Russian Federation. This rocky island has a weather station and, formerly, two Chukchi fishing settlements on the southern side of the island (Ushakovskoye[1] and Zvyozdny on the shore of Somnitelnaya Bay[2]).
Contents [hide]
1 Geology
2 Fauna and flora
3 Climate
4 Waters On and Around Wrangel
5 History
5.1 Prehistory
5.2 Outside discovery
5.3 British, American, and Russian expeditions
5.4 Stefansson expeditions
5.5 Soviet rule
5.6 Establishment of Federal Nature Reserve
5.7 Post-Soviet era
6 Tourism on Wrangel
7 In literature
8 See also
9 References
10 External links
*************************************************
In US possession? Hardly.

 

[freedombecki]

Obama’s giveaway: Oil-rich islands to Russia

Please read. Discuss.

he's not giving them away. He's declining to reclaim them. They were given to Russia in 1990, under Bush, not by Obama.
Alaska tea partier Joe Miller blasts Obama for letting Russia keep oil-rich islands | Alaska Dispatch

Miller concedes that past presidents have also balked at the chance to reclaim the islands lying off Russia's coasts. The deal was struck in 1990 under the first George Bush. His son, G.W., and Bill Clinton are culpable, too.

The idea that the U.S. can reclaim the islands is an old one in Alaska. The State Department has apparently said the U.S. has no legal claim to the islands.

Russia did not sign the treaty. There is no treaty. It takes two parties in agreement for that to take place.

 

[theDoctorisIn]

What about the purchase in 1867?

It didn't include the islands in question.

Yes, note the word MAINLAND.
*****************************************
While Alaska attracted little interest at the time, the population of nearby British Columbia started to increase rapidly a few years after hostilities ended, with a large gold rush there prompting the creation of a crown colony on the mainland. The Russians therefore started to believe that in any future conflict with Britain, their hard-to-defend region might become a prime target, and would be easily captured. Therefore the Tsar Alexander II decided to sell the territory. Perhaps in hopes of starting a bidding war, both the British and the Americans were approached, however the British expressed little interest in buying Alaska. The Russians in 1859 offered to sell the territory to the United States, hoping that its presence in the region would offset the plans of Russia’s greatest regional rival, Great Britain. However, no deal was brokered due to the American Civil War.[1]

I can't see how you think that proves your point.

 

[zzzz]

To set the record straight is it nice to know where these islands are located. As you can see they are not part of the Island chain we fought over in WWII.

 

[freedombecki]

Obama’s giveaway: Oil-rich islands to Russia

Please read. Discuss.

You can believe everything a site says that has this picture on their front page:

Discuss.

I went to the link again, and to the website. That picture is not there now,

 

[Conservative]

I'll have you know America sent 34,000 troops to the Aleutian Islands to retake them from the Axis in 1943's WWII. It's only the second time in United States History a foreign enemy has taken our land away from us, the first being in the War of 1812.

The Obama BADministration is NOT WELCOME TO GIVE AWAY any part of the State of Alaska, we the people paid for it in our troops blood.

The Senate ratified the U.S.-U.S.S.R. Maritime Boundary Treaty in 1991, which was then signed by President George Bush. The Alaska House and Senate were never consulted during the treaty's negotiations, however, and recently have teamed up with the governor to send a strong message of protest to President Bill Clinton, without apparent effect, however.
*************************************************
GHWB gave them away.

No he didn't. The Russians refused to sign the treaty.

In the June 1, 1990 Agreement, James Baker takes the “honor” to say that once the Agreement is in force, both governments will consider the boundary as in effect as of June 15, 1990. Russia did not sign. The Agreement has not taken effect.

Factions in Alaska wants the 1990 Agreement, that is a non-agreement, struck down or modified.

Monkey in the Middle: Alaskan Islands Belong to Russia?

You didn't mention that fact. The treaty didn't happen ever because it takes two to tango in international agreements.

USSR

The Russia – United States maritime boundary de facto follows the June 1, 1990 USA/USSR Maritime Boundary Agreement [1] (since Russia declared itself to be the successor of the Soviet Union),[2] but it has yet to be approved by the Russian parliament. The United States Senate gave its advice and consent to ratification as early as on September 16, 1991 and has no intentions to reopen the issue.[2] In its turn, the US–USSR agreement is the confirmation of the earlier United States – Russia Convention of March 18 (O.S.)/March 30 (N.S.), 1867.[1] This sea border is also known as the Baker-Shevardnadze line or Baker-Shevardnadze agreement, after the officials who signed the deal, the Soviet foreign minister Eduard Shevardnadze and the US Secretary of State James Baker.[3]

The Russia – United States Maritime Boundary agreement is considered confirmation of the earlier Baker-Shevardnadze agreement, which WAS signed by both countries.

Same boundary line.

 

[freedombecki]

To set the record straight is it nice to know where these islands are located. As you can see they are not part of the Island chain we fought over in WWII.

I don't think the islands they're referring to have anything to do with the link I provided. It's creating a loser situation without reading the facts first.

 

[Peach]

The Democrats here want to pin the treaty that was never signed by Russia on GHWB.

The treaty has to be signed by both parties to be valid.

The Aleutian Islands were sold to the United States in 1867, and Obama wants to give them back for free to continue his war on the Oil companies and his bitter enemies he hates some more, and his friends want to help him so he can wear the emperor's clothes.

The islands in question have never been considered part of the US.

They were not included in the purchase of Alaska.

You can continue to pretend that they were, but that won't make it true.

The deal was for the Aleutian Islands before they knew what techtonic plates were. Give it up. The Russians just expropriated all the oil reserves in the Arctic Circle less than 4 years ago. You don't just up and give away something for nothing to be exploited for its oil. Obama sure as hell made sure we'd not be drilling in ANWR, now he's given the Gulf oil drilling over to Russia, taking away drilling privileges from Americans.

He's an anti-American manchurian candidate, and he should never have been inserted into the President's chair, where he has exceeded Peter's principle to a zenith never having been met before on this planet.

Bush I signed the treaty; how about Bush I TAKING back his signature?

 

[Conservative]

Obama’s giveaway: Oil-rich islands to Russia

Please read. Discuss.

You can believe everything a site says that has this picture on their front page:

Discuss.

I went to the link again, and to the website. That picture is not there now,

scroll down under FEATURED. I just saw it.

 

[freedombecki]

The Senate ratified the U.S.-U.S.S.R. Maritime Boundary Treaty in 1991, which was then signed by President George Bush. The Alaska House and Senate were never consulted during the treaty's negotiations, however, and recently have teamed up with the governor to send a strong message of protest to President Bill Clinton, without apparent effect, however.
*************************************************
GHWB gave them away.

No he didn't. The Russians refused to sign the treaty.

You didn't mention that fact. The treaty didn't happen ever because it takes two to tango in international agreements.

USSR

The Russia – United States maritime boundary de facto follows the June 1, 1990 USA/USSR Maritime Boundary Agreement [1] (since Russia declared itself to be the successor of the Soviet Union),[2] but it has yet to be approved by the Russian parliament. The United States Senate gave its advice and consent to ratification as early as on September 16, 1991 and has no intentions to reopen the issue.[2] In its turn, the US–USSR agreement is the confirmation of the earlier United States – Russia Convention of March 18 (O.S.)/March 30 (N.S.), 1867.[1] This sea border is also known as the Baker-Shevardnadze line or Baker-Shevardnadze agreement, after the officials who signed the deal, the Soviet foreign minister Eduard Shevardnadze and the US Secretary of State James Baker.[3]

The Russia – United States Maritime Boundary agreement is considered confirmation of the earlier Baker-Shevardnadze agreement, which WAS signed by both countries.

Same boundary line.

I'm not sure the islands mentioned in the opening statement even go there, I kinda got sucked into an irrelevant argument.

 

[theDoctorisIn]

Then how can we give them to Russia?

Perhaps because the OP-ED in the OP is making things up? Nothing is being "given" to Russia.

All of the islands in question have been always been controlled by Russia, and administered by Russia. The US has NEVER made an official claim to them.

"The 8 American Alaskan Islands

The eight American Alaskan islands include five in the Arctic Ocean and three in the Bering Sea.

Wrangell Island: At 3,000 square miles, it is by far the largest of the five (equal to Rhode Island and Delaware together). It has been in U.S. possession since 1881.

It has never been a US possession. Russia has claimed it, and administered it, since 1911.
Wrangel Island - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bennett, Jeannette, and Henrietta Islands: Known together as the DeLong Islands, those who discovered them in 1881 received Congressional medals.

Also, according to the State Department, never claimed by the US.
De Long Islands - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Herald Island: It was taken over by the U.S. in the late 1800s when the British abandoned it.

Also, never claimed by the US.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herald_Island_(Arctic)

Copper Island, Sea Lion Rock, and Sea Otter Rock: These islands in the Bering Sea were acquired by treaty in 1867 from Russia"

No, they weren't. Copper Island (otherwise known as Medny Island) has always been controlled by Russia as well.
Medny Island - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Soggy in NOLA]

Obama’s giveaway: Oil-rich islands to Russia

Please read. Discuss.

Please beck..

World News Daily?

What would you prefer... ThinkProgress? Huff 'n Puff? MediaMatters?

 

[Peach]

To set the record straight is it nice to know where these islands are located. As you can see they are not part of the Island chain we fought over in WWII.

And not part of the Aleutian chain.

 

[theDoctorisIn]

To set the record straight is it nice to know where these islands are located. As you can see they are not part of the Island chain we fought over in WWII.

I don't think the islands they're referring to have anything to do with the link I provided. It's creating a loser situation without reading the facts first.

That map is from one of your links.

 

[freedombecki]

To those who are making claims about this issue, here is what the article actually says:

The State Department has undertaken the giveaway in the guise of a maritime boundary agreement between Alaska and Siberia. Astoundingly, our federal government itself drew the line to put these seven Alaskan islands on the Russian side. But as an executive agreement, it could be reversed with the stroke of a pen by President Obama or Secretary Clinton.


The agreement was negotiated in total secrecy. The state of Alaska was not allowed to participate in the negotiations, nor was the public given any opportunity for comment. This is despite the fact the Alaska Legislature has passed resolutions of opposition – but the State Department doesn’t seem to care.

Claims made here that the Alaskans don't mind aren't exactly true. And the maps you are perusing were made available to participating websites who always cooperate with the left.

 

[Peach]

The Democrats here want to pin the treaty that was never signed by Russia on GHWB.

The treaty has to be signed by both parties to be valid.

The Aleutian Islands were sold to the United States in 1867, and Obama wants to give them back for free to continue his war on the Oil companies and his bitter enemies he hates some more, and his friends want to help him so he can wear the emperor's clothes.

The islands in question have never been considered part of the US.

They were not included in the purchase of Alaska.

You can continue to pretend that they were, but that won't make it true.

"Considered" and then why are we giving them back? Legally...If the treaty was never signed by both parties, it's not a valid treaty. The purchase took place in 1867.

The US abides by treaties WE sign or renounces them quickly. 22 years is long time after the fact. Note neither GHWB, Bush I or Bush the lesser is given any blame for not "keeping" these Russian Islands, just Obama.

 

[theDoctorisIn]

To those who are making claims about this issue, here is what the article actually says:

The State Department has undertaken the giveaway in the guise of a maritime boundary agreement between Alaska and Siberia. Astoundingly, our federal government itself drew the line to put these seven Alaskan islands on the Russian side. But as an executive agreement, it could be reversed with the stroke of a pen by President Obama or Secretary Clinton.


The agreement was negotiated in total secrecy. The state of Alaska was not allowed to participate in the negotiations, nor was the public given any opportunity for comment. This is despite the fact the Alaska Legislature has passed resolutions of opposition – but the State Department doesn’t seem to care.

Claims made here that the Alaskans don't mind aren't exactly true. And the maps you are perusing were made available to participating websites who always cooperate with the left.

I know what the article says. That doesn't make it true, though.

 

[MeBelle]

Perhaps because the OP-ED in the OP is making things up? Nothing is being "given" to Russia.

All of the islands in question have been always been controlled by Russia, and administered by Russia. The US has NEVER made an official claim to them.

"The 8 American Alaskan Islands

The eight American Alaskan islands include five in the Arctic Ocean and three in the Bering Sea.

Wrangell Island: At 3,000 square miles, it is by far the largest of the five (equal to Rhode Island and Delaware together). It has been in U.S. possession since 1881.

Bennett, Jeannette, and Henrietta Islands: Known together as the DeLong Islands, those who discovered them in 1881 received Congressional medals.

Herald Island: It was taken over by the U.S. in the late 1800s when the British abandoned it.

Copper Island, Sea Lion Rock, and Sea Otter Rock: These islands in the Bering Sea were acquired by treaty in 1867 from Russia"

MaBelle: here is the history of WRANGELL ISLAND.
<snip>
In US possession? Hardly.

Before lecturing me about Wrangell Island, it is probably most prudent to get the correct island.
Let me help you out with that:

Wrangell Island - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Wrangell Island is in the Alexander Archipelago in the Alaska Panhandle of southeastern Alaska. It is 48 km (30 mi) long and 8–23 km (3–14 miles) wide. It has a land area of 544.03 km2 (210.05 sq mi), making it the 29th largest island in the United States. Wrangell is separated from the mainland by the narrow Blake Channel"

This is what you were quoting from:
Wrangel Island - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia