Our friend Steve Borrel (NGP Photo) observes that: "The article below underscores the desire of Japan to obtain mineral resources from Alaska and other destinations that do not require travel through the areas shown in this article."   We would add that other Asian allies of the U.S. could also find their interest in Alaska -- and the Canadian west coast energy and minerals markets -- more inviting.   Offsetting this potential, growing interest, however, is increased competition from other natural resource areas, lower current demand for commodities, as well as Japan's [...]