Best Defense
Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Rights of passage

The Canadians are worried that when the diminishment of the polar ice cap causes the Northwest Passage to open fully, ships will transit it beyond their sovereignty, and feel free to pollute the pristine Arctic and do other bad things. Bottom line: global warming is becoming a national security issue. PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images

589566_090113_Polar_Bear_1.13_resized2.jpg
589566_090113_Polar_Bear_1.13_resized2.jpg

The Canadians are worried that when the diminishment of the polar ice cap causes the Northwest Passage to open fully, ships will transit it beyond their sovereignty, and feel free to pollute the pristine Arctic and do other bad things.

Bottom line: global warming is becoming a national security issue.

PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at ricksblogcomment@gmail.com. Twitter: @tomricks1

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