
<p>When President Trump first mentioned making Greenland part of the United States, the Washington political establishment and the left-leaning new media reported it as just another hair-brained idea from an unstable incoming President. ; More grist for the never-Trump resistance mill. ; BUT &#8230; it is a much more serious proposal than the knee-jerk anti-Trumpers allow.</p>



<p>Greenland – situated between North America and Europe has enormous strategic value in the competition between the Western democracies and the coalition of authoritarian states. It is also a land of enormous untapped natural resources – oil, gas, precious metals and an estimated 1.5 million tons of the essential rare earth.</p>



<p>Gaining Greenland as a state or a protectorate, like Puerto Rico or Guam, would be extremely beneficial to the United States. ; Unlike Puerto Rico, which requires millions of dollars in aide and welfare, Greenland would make an enormous positive economic contribution. ; It is the largest island in the world, with small population (56,000 people – about the population of Kokomo, Indiana or Paducah, Kentucky.)</p>



<p>Greenland is officially an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.  ;The relationship began when Vikings first settled on the icy island in ancient times. ; It officially became a Danish colony in the 18<sup>th</sup> Century. ; Greenland gained home rule in 1979 – and gained further autonomy with the Self-Government Act of 2009. ; The Act also gave the people of Greenland the right to declare total independence by referendum – and it is possible, and perhaps likely, that such a referendum will be passed this year.</p>



<p>At this point, the nature of Greenland and its place in the world is in flux. It can remain part of the Danish kingdom or declare independence. It could also associate itself with the United States.</p>



<p>Trump’s proposal to make Greenland part of the United States is neither original nor foolish. ; It is also within the realm of possibility. ; We purchased the huge Louisiana Territory from the French. ; We purchased Alaska from Russia (and now Putin wants it back &#8230; seriously). ; If the legend is true, we even purchased Manhattan – the capital of left-wing ideology &#8212; from the natives</p>



<p>When Trump first proposed to make Greenland part of the United States, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that “Greenland was not for sale.” ; The never-Trump clan declared that as a rebuff of Trump – intimating that the very idea is loony and ridiculous. ; They were misinforming the public.</p>



<p>The reason Denmark would not “sell” the island is because the policy in Copenhagen is to allow the people of Greenland to make their own decisions. ; That was the second part of Frederiksen’s response that was omitted &#8230; censored &#8230; from the left-wing reports. ;</p>



<p>In a recent NATO meeting in Helsinki, Frederiksen indicated that the Danish government would welcome closer ties to the United States and is looking forward to discussions with the incoming Trump administration regarding the future of Greenland.</p>



<p>Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute B. Egede has also expressed a desire to have a closer working relationship with the United States. ; Representatives of Greenland are said to already be talking to the Trump team.</p>



<p>Both Frederiksen and Egede have indicated that Greenland’s independence and any future relationship with other nations will depend on the wishes of the people of Greenland. ; That is where it all gets verrrry interesting. ;</p>



<p>In a recent poll released on January 12 by Patriot Polling, 57 percent of respondents approve of Greenland becoming part of the U.S.  ;Just over one-third, 37 percent, disapprove. ;</p>



<p>If Greenland is declared to be an independent nation by referendum – the chances of which are better than 50/50 – the ice covered island could enter into an agreement with the United States to become a strategic ally, a protectorate and even the 51<sup>st</sup> state &#8212; should Congress agree. ; Perhaps the greatest challenge is how to fit another star on the flag.</p>



<p>It would appear that the island of Greenland is drifting toward the United States – and least politically. ; Looks like Trump is getting the last laugh.</p>



<p>So, there ‘tis.</p>



<p></p>

Taking on Greenland is not a nutty idea
