Hans Off

When I came across this story about Canada and Denmark fighting over a tiny Arctic island, I was reminded of what Jorge Luis Borges said about the Falklands War---"two bald men fighting over a comb." Still, I find it interesting that they took the battle to Google. Perhaps in the future all wars will be flame wars.

Canada and Denmark have taken their diplomatic tussle over a lump of Arctic rocks to the Internet with competing Google ads claiming sovereignty over Hans Island.

Some Canadians have called for a boycott of Danish pastries the way Americans disdained french fries when Paris declined to join the coalition forces in Iraq.

The diplomatic debate began Monday when Denmark said it would send a letter of protest over a visit to the 1/2-square-mile Hans Island last week by Canadian Defense Minister Bill Graham.

Graham stated Canada has always owned the uninhabited chunk of land, 680 miles south of the North Pole.