Charity begins at home: Why not Alaska?

The recent negotiations of our President's efforts in ending the conflict involving Russia and Ukraine appears to be sidetracked by the dispute over the US receiving mineral rights to Ukraine’s rich resources. Currently the issue appears to be our President’s demand for possession of Ukraine’s minerals as well as financial consideration in the hundreds of billions of dollars. Why the administration has chosen mineral rights as a bargaining issue for a final settlement is incredulous.

President Trump and his administration are aware the state of Alaska has commercial deposits of virtually all the mineral resources, most of which are on Federal land consisting of 356 million acres. Over the last several years our development has been held up by issues including access across Federal Land, and environmental objections. The permitting process and the delays have caused some major corporations to leave our state. In the last few years two major companies exploring oil, BP and Shell, have left our state.

It’s time to look in our own backyard and develop what we need in an expeditious manner, rather than use it as a bargaining tool in the Ukraine/ Russia conflict.

Frank Murkowski is a former Alaska governor and United State Senator.