From The Seattle Times:
Washington, Alaska senators pave way for 4 new icebreakers
The four U.S. senators from Washington and Alaska are seeking to authorize construction of as many as four new heavy-duty icebreakers, vastly expanding the Coast Guard's beleaguered Seattle-based icebreaker fleet.
But with a price tag of $850 million or more per vessel, the odds of Congress going along seem about as good as a snowball's chance in the warming polar climate.
The amendment to the 2014 Defense Authorization Act would allow the Navy to immediately sign multiyear contracts to procure the icebreakers and related systems. The Navy then would transfer the vessels to the Coast Guard, which operates and maintains the current fleet of three icebreakers, one of which is inactive.
That language was inserted by Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., who has long pushed to expand the nation's capabilities to deal with commercial and scientific exploration opening in the melting Arctic regions.
The polar north is increasingly becoming a battle ground among China, Russia and other nations eager to tap its deep reserves of oil and gas. That changing geopolitical reality prompted the Pentagon last week to issue its first Arctic Strategy to protect American national interests.
It is funny to see the naked bias in the Times' writing. The Earth is getting warmer, this ice is melting but we need a bunch of new icebreakers. No mention of the 17 year period of lower temperatures, the quiet sun and the failure of all the long-range climate models to hind-cast successfully. I think the best explanation of melting icecaps is this one from Tiny Tim from his 1968 album: "God Bless Tiny Tim"
