Buy Greenland? Take It? Why? An Old Pact Already Gives Trump a Free Hand.

President Trump has ridiculed Denmark's dog sled teams in Greenland.

He has cited mysterious Chinese and Russian ships prowling off the coast.

He seems increasingly fixated on the idea that the United States should take over this gigantic icebound island, with one official saying the president wants to buy it and another suggesting that the United States could simply take it. Just a few days ago, Mr. Trump said: "We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security."