Aug 2 04:18 PM US/Eastern
Washington on Thursday said Russia’s move to plant its flag on the seabed under the North Pole has no bearing on claims for rights to the mineral-rich subaquatic territory.
“I’m not sure of whether they’ve put a metal flag, a rubber flag or a bed sheet on the ocean floor,” said State Department spokesman Tom Casey, in response to news that Russia had deposited a banner of rust-proof titanium as a symbol of Moscow’s claim over a vast expanse of the Arctic floor.
“Either way, it doesn’t have any legal standing or effect on this claim,” he said.
The spokesman added: “It certainly to us doesn’t represent any kind of substantive claim, and I certainly haven’t heard anyone else make the argument that it does.”
The US reaction came after six Russian explorers successfully made the descent to the ocean floor in two Mir mini-submarines to plant the flag.
Billed as the first successful expedition to reach the ocean floor under the North Pole, the explorers hope to establish that a section of seabed as an extension of Russia’s landmass.
But that claim has been greeted with derision in much of the world, including in Washington.
Casey noted that Russia’s claim is based on its role as a signatory to the Law of the Sea Treaty, and observed that the United State has not signed that agreement.
Even so, he said, even under that accord, “I don’t think that … whether they went and spray-painted a flag of Russia on those particular ridges is going to make one iota of difference,” Casey said.
Copyright AFP 2007
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=070802201835.is0314di&show_article=1
Royal Dutch Shell conspired directly with Hitler, financed the Nazi Party, was anti-Semitic and sold out its own Dutch Jewish employees to the Nazis. Shell had a close relationship with the Nazis during and after the reign of Sir Henri Deterding, an ardent Nazi, and the founder and decades long leader of the Royal Dutch Shell Group. His burial ceremony, which had all the trappings of a state funeral, was held at his private estate in Mecklenburg, Germany. The spectacle (photographs below) included a funeral procession led by a horse drawn funeral hearse with senior Nazis officials and senior Royal Dutch Shell directors in attendance, Nazi salutes at the graveside, swastika banners on display and wreaths and personal tributes from Adolf Hitler and Reichsmarschall, Hermann Goring. Deterding was an honored associate and supporter of Hitler and a personal friend of Goring.
Deterding was the guest of Hitler during a four day summit meeting at Berchtesgaden. Sir Henri and Hitler both had ambitions on Russian oil fields. Only an honored personal guest would be rewarded with a private four day meeting at Hitler’s mountain top retreat.
IN JULY 2007, MR BILL CAMPBELL (ABOVE, A RETIRED GROUP AUDITOR OF SHELL INTERNATIONAL SENT AN EMAIL TO EVERY UK MP AND MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS: 
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A head-cut image of Alfred Donovan (now deceased) appears courtesy of The Wall Street Journal.
