My letter to the NY Times re: New icebreakers to the Arctic for what purpose?

Re: Obama Calls for More Coast Guard Icebreakers to Gain Foothold in Arctic

Dear Sirs:

President Obama's call for Congress to fund new icebreakers for the Arctic is troubling. Whereas, most nations of the world see the receding icecap as an opportunity to gain cheaper access to previously inaccessible natural resources and/or a shorter path to markets, President Obama worries about endangering the environment. In other words, most of nations want to build a better world for mankind, whereas President Obama wants to prevent anyone from doing so. A true statesman would see that the real threat to the Arctic comes from the lack of an international agreement over who may claim what resources. The Austrian economists have long had the answer. Property rights attach to those who "mix their labor" with the previously unused resource. It does not matter to the people of the world whether an American, a Russian, or an international consortium obtains title to resources that they secure as long as these resources are brought to market.