One of the biggest decisions isn't about militarily protecting the Arctic. It is not about that. It is about potential environmental, social, and economic disaster in the Arctic. To avoid that, you have to work closely with the local communities. You have to protect the Arctic from tourism, so that it's done in an appropriate way. You have to protect it from industry, so that it's done in an appropriate way, and you have to protect it from bad government policy.
On May 11th, 2009. See this statement in context.