Can you gather enough people to conquer Nunavut?

[Timsup2nothin]

Odds are, they wouldn't even now they were "conquered", so you can just as well declare yourself Tim the First, Emperor of Nunavut from where you are now

True. However, the advantages of a vast empty lawless land could not be overstated. I'd definitely want to go there.

 

[Borachio]

What happens if you plant your flag...

....and all the air beneath the surface (remember there's nothing but air beneath the surface) escapes?

Leaving you with a damp piece of rubber in your hand and nowhere to stand?

Would that count as conquering it?

Because if so, I'm in.

 

[red_elk]

So, I guess initially it would require a few companies of trained and properly equipped troopers to secure airports and seaports and then bring in supplies and reinforcements.
If there will be power vacuum, the province will be immediately seized by neighboring large powers, in this case, USA.
Russia also has technical possibility to do it, but Russia is civilized country and would never invade its neighbors.

 

[warpus]

True. However, the advantages of a vast empty lawless land could not be overstated. I'd definitely want to go there.

Following in the steps of Gengis Khan, huh.. However, he knew how to properly conquer a people, and you just know how to plant flags

 

[Timsup2nothin]

Following in the steps of Gengis Khan, huh.. However, he knew how to properly conquer a people, and you just know how to plant flags

I also know how to build an economic engine that would be as big or bigger than anything currently in the province, as near as I can make out. Effectively, I could buy the throne. I see no need for mass executions, Genghis style.

@Red Elk...what makes you think the US, or Russia, would want this chunk of tundra? They both have plenty of useless tundra already.

 

[red_elk]

@Red Elk...what makes you think the US, or Russia, would want this chunk of tundra? They both have plenty of useless tundra already.

Arctic has enormous reserves of fossil fuels.
Don't know about USA and Canada, but Russia is actively developing its Arctic infrastructure last years, including military.
Of course it has been largely neglected since Soviet period, so there is a lot to develop.

Edit:
We've got Santa-Claus spetsnaz now!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4421072/Russia-unveils-new-Arctic-military-base.html

 

[Takhisis]

Vast mineral wealth with few pesky humans to stand in the way - a natural habitat to breed robotic revenge!

And the new nation shall be know as Zero-One.

True. However, the advantages of a vast empty lawless land could not be overstated. I'd definitely want to go there.

The French did conquer half of Africa, now that I think of it.

 

[Cutlass]

I also know how to build an economic engine that would be as big or bigger than anything currently in the province, as near as I can make out. Effectively, I could buy the throne. I see no need for mass executions, Genghis style.

If you know how to do that, you could get rich without having to take over anything.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

If you know how to do that, you could get rich without having to take over anything.

The attraction of this scenario for me was the lawless land, not the conquest.

 

[Cutlass]

The attraction of this scenario for me was the lawless land, not the conquest.

Becoming richer than god has no attraction to you?

 

[Timsup2nothin]

Becoming richer than god has no attraction to you?

Not really. I'm basically comfort oriented. But the main point is that economic engines that can be built in a lawless land can be more challenging to build elsewhere, and carry offsetting risks that I'm not necessarily interested in facing.

 

[Takhisis]

Lawless land? Wouldn't you, in effect, become the law?

 

[Timsup2nothin]

Lawless land? Wouldn't you, in effect, become the law?

That would be fine. I would probably just leave it at "every man for yourself" though. With 35,000 people scattered across a vast expanse of tundra pretending that anything else would be enforceable seems a bit grandiose.

 

[Takhisis]

You could then become the sheriff of those thereparts and do some law-givin'. After all, if you get a few more dogs like your current one you could have your own sled.

I still have half a mind to support Perfection, though.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

You could then become the sheriff of those thereparts and do some law-givin'. After all, if you get a few more dogs like your current one you could have your own sled.

I still have half a mind to support Perfection, though.

Current one? I currently have three.

 

[shadowplay]

I keep thinking of Jack Nicholson in the end of The Shining while reading this thread.

 

[The_J]

I'll ask 2 of my German friends to go on a trip there, think per international rules that amount of Germans at once will at least count as an invasion.

 

[red_elk]

Reminds me of this joke:

 

[Disgustipated]

This thread reminds me of an article I read a few days ago about floating communities and floating cities. The first thought that came to my mind is what will they do when pirates or someone comes to take it over? I suppose you could form some defense agreement with the nearest country, and have a security force on board, both would be expensive. The article specifically mentioned (in a joking kind of way) forming your own country if you don't like the U.S., which means the U.S. wouldn't automatically come to your defense. You'd be on your own out there.

As for Nanavut, it's difficult to properly answer the question since we don't know for what strategic purpose we are conquering Nanavut. Do we want just a place to live? As a post above states, you could set up shop there easily enough, and it's unlikely anyone would oppose you or challenge you. Do you want to conquer just a small useful part of the region or the entire thing? As mentioned, the terrain makes conquering the whole thing unnecessary because the land is useless for any civilized country or force. It's like asking what kind of military you need to conquer the moon. I still say my 1000 man force I mentioned above could kill every person (that they can find) in Nanavut. No one has proved me wrong. Just because they can't survive the winter is besides the point. The OP wasn't asking that. The inhabitants can be killed off during the warmer months. But then you are left with a useless piece of land. Hell, one attack helicopter bought off the black market could do the job. Provided you can supply the fuel and munitions.

 

[aelf]

Obviously, the answer is that you would have Nunavut.

Spoiler :

It's a pun.