I hope they are practicing for what happens if there is an oil spill in the arctic.  You know that some country is going to start sending oil tankers that route at some point, so that possibility will be on the table.  And I am not just suggesting taking oil from the North Slope either.  Oil might come from Europe and go over the top towards China, for example.  Tankers like that going through could have an accident which we might not be prepared for.

That brings up another issue.  Are we all really prepared for so many other countries having an interest in the area, and trying to swagger about?  Up till now that was a nice frozen buffer between the U.S., Russia, and Canada.  Now that whole place will be increasing international issues each and every day.