# Trump now wants to use military force to take the Panama Canal and Greenland **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [January 7, 2025, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691 "2025-01-07T20:27:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 24
**Author:** ![Mikkel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikkel/32/13151_2.png) [@Mikkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikkel)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2025, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/461 "2025-04-11T12:54:36Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > But that’s what Greenland already looks like. We have the only troops there Not quite, there is the Joint Arctic Command. > **[Joint Arctic Command](https://www.forsvaret.dk/en/organisation/joint-arctic-command/)** > > The mission of the Joint Arctic Command is to protect the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark in the Arctic Region. Other key tasks are Maritime Pollution Prevention, fishery inspection, Search and Rescue, hydrographical surveys and support to... It isn’t much. Seven patrol ships, some helicopters and of course the Sirius Dogsled Patrol (with snow mobiles too). There are more than Pitufiks 200 radar specialists and support personel. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2025, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/462 "2025-04-11T13:12:00Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > But doing that would both cause big hurt to Denmark’s economy and break humanitarian norms, so it’s probably a non-starter. Which is why Denmark would likely opt for just adding a massive export tax. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2025, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/463 "2025-04-11T14:01:00Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > What would a military conquest of Greenland even look like? Since Greenland’s towns are isolated, U.S. forces can pick them off individually after taking over Air Greenland and the main ferry company. Greenland is then ready for the U.S. Army’s soldiers specializing in military government. Perhaps they already have a bit of training in how to switch over local currency systems. Greenlandic leaders, like mayors and bank managers, would have hard decisions to make as to whether to risk CECOT by resigning, or to stay on duty trying to minimize the pain for Greenlanders. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2025, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/464 "2025-04-11T14:14:38Z")
> Head of US military base in Greenland fired after JD Vance visit … for not being supportive enough of Vance’s bullshit. That should improve morale at the base, just like morale is undoubtedly improving throughout the federal civil service. 🙄 I imagine the problem is that base members probably feel a kinship with Greenlanders, whereas Vance and Trump want to declare war on them. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2025, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/465 "2025-04-11T16:35:46Z")
In principle, it’s not a good thing for a military commander to publicly defy the position of civilian leadership (although that’s a bit stretched in the person of the Vice President, who neither has any constitutional executive function nor is in the chain of command). But there is no principle in the Trump Administration’s actions, and I applaud the colonel for doing what the thought was best for the health of her command and, essentially, falling on her sword to do it. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2025, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/466 "2025-04-11T18:54:10Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > What would a military conquest of Greenland even look like? Bunch of guys in camo with guns having beers in a bar. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2025, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/467 "2025-04-11T19:17:44Z")
> [@SunUp](#): > > In principle, it’s not a good thing for a military commander to publicly defy the position of civilian leadership (although that’s a bit stretched in the person of the Vice President, who neither has any constitutional executive function nor is in the chain of command). Per the Uniform Code of Military Justice: > Any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Territory, Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2025, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/468 "2025-04-11T21:09:15Z")
Re last post, I do not see where the [reported email](https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/04/10/space-force-commander-greenland-sent-out-email-breaking-vance-after-his-visit.html) has contemptuous words: > [@](#): > > "I do not presume to understand current politics, but what I do know is the concerns of the U.S. administration discussed by Vice President Vance on Friday are not reflective of Pituffik Space Base, ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2025, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/469 "2025-04-11T21:17:35Z")
I’m given to understand that Donald Trump often acts by threatening legal action virtually without regard to the merits of the case. My cite? I read it some place. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2025, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/470 "2025-04-11T21:19:01Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Re last post, I do not see where the [reported email](https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/04/10/space-force-commander-greenland-sent-out-email-breaking-vance-after-his-visit.html) has contemptuous words: I agree. However, saying that the Vice President’s ‘concerns’ are ‘not reflective [of we Boots on the Ground]’ can be construed as being critical to the President’s policies and, by extension, to him. And we all know that _any_ criticism is seen by Himself as contempt. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2025, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/471 "2025-04-11T22:38:32Z")
Apparently “contempt” means “not immediately having your head bounce up and down like a bobblehead doll.” ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2025, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/472 "2025-04-11T22:40:45Z")
The entire Greenland thing reminds me of a great scene from the pilot episode of “West Wing:” > [@](#): > > **Toby Ziegler** : You think the United States is under attack from 1,200 Cubans in rowboats? > **Sam Seaborn** : I’m not saying I don’t like our chances. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2025, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/473 "2025-04-12T02:31:09Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > What would a military conquest of Greenland even look like? Every major town being flattened overnight in a massive amount of overkill, and any survivors being deported because they are now “illegals”. ---
**Author:** ![Mikkel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikkel/32/13151_2.png) [@Mikkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikkel)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2025, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/474 "2025-04-12T09:02:58Z")
My guess would be going for infrastructure and the Danish military bases. If every helicopter pad and airstrip is occupied, every radiostation is silenced and the internet is down, the mission is started well. It would be incredibly stupid, but Trump… ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2025, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/475 "2025-04-12T12:36:35Z")
> [@Mikkel](#): > > My guess would be going for infrastructure and the Danish military bases. Danish military bases? In Denmark? I wasn’t aware of any in Greenland. Wikipedia says Denmark has seven patrol ships that are often around Greenland, or the Faroe Islands, but they would not be assigned suicidal defend-Greenland-to-the-last-Dane missions. There are some Danes at the U.S. military base in Greenland. They could be arrested, but it might not be needed. Greenland is vulnerable because the towns are not linked by roads. There cannot be a front. Airports can be captured sequentially. Danish military planners may be looking into whether there is a viable defense plan against the U.S., but I doubt they will find one. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2025, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/476 "2025-04-12T13:16:11Z")
Short of pointing and laughing and/or simply not acknowledging the invaders’ presence (which may not be wise) ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2025, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/477 "2025-04-12T14:35:03Z")
They’d need nuclear weapons, which they don’t have. Yet another argument for every nation that can to get its own nuclear arsenal in self defense. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2025, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/478 "2025-04-12T15:21:14Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Every major town being flattened overnight in a massive amount of overkill, and any survivors being deported because they are now “illegals”. Nope, wrong. That would not happen; simply look at recent US military operations. They’d just take Nuuk, and maybe one or two of the other biggest airfields, and that’s it. They now occupy Greenland. Some little fishing village is irrelevant, and would not be bothered to be occupied, just as the US didn’t bother to occupy every little town in Iraq. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2025, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/479 "2025-04-12T16:25:53Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Greenland is vulnerable because the towns are not linked by roads. There cannot be a front. Airports can be captured sequentially. Danish military planners may be looking into whether there is a viable defense plan against the U.S., but I doubt they will find one. Given that, perhaps the best move that Greenland could do would be to drive trucks onto their runways once they get wind of the U.S. military being given the go-signal, to force the U.S. to use helicopters or Ospreys for the intial takeovers rather than just flying transport planes in and unloading troops from them directly. HIde the keys somewhere just to piss off the initial assault wave and throw as close to a wrench in their logistics plan as possible. Closest option to defiance that doesn’t involve loss of life. Beyond that, I got nothin’. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2025, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/480 "2025-04-12T20:49:48Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > And we all know that _any_ criticism is seen by Himself as contempt And it’s worth noting that they didn’t court martial the officer. Heaven forbid she should get a chance to defend herself. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691.md?page=23) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691.md?page=25)