Canadian fighter jets temporarily fill in for U.S. air defences

[Newsjock]

Source: Canadian Press

Canadian CF-18 fighter jets helped plug a hole in U.S. air defences for almost two weeks this month after American jets were grounded as part of a crash investigation.

The request to fill in for U.S. F-15s over the Alaskan coast was considered an urgent priority for NORAD, especially in light of the return of Russian strategic bombers to Arctic patrols.

Although not unprecedented, defence officials said the now-concluded operation was one of those "extremely rare" occasions when Canada was able to contribute to the defence of its much larger neighbour.

The aircraft are now back at their home base in Bagotville, Que., and the air force was able to lift what was described as a veil of operational security.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2007/11/27/fighter-jets.html

[Zywiec]

1. "NORAD, the joint American-Canadian air defence command"

I wonder what the typical ratio of American to Canadian fighters are usually patrolling the joint NORAD area?

[bemildred]

2. Thank Goodness for our neighbors up North,

helping us fend off the slavering Russian hordes.

[Psephos]

3. Prolly has more to do with errant jetliners than Russian Bear bombers these days

just a thought...

[bemildred]

4. Thank goodness for out neighbors up North,

helping us fend off the slavering errant jetliners ...

[ixion]

10. *snicker*

:rofl: nice bit of sarcasm, that. :rofl:

[Demeter]

5. Just Keeping Those Marauding Bears or Elephants or Whatever Away!

See how well it works?

[pansypoo53219]

6. oh goody!

national defence has to be outsource. wow, we are SO gonna win the war on terrorism!

[LeftyMom]

7. Gee, it's a good thing we've got military left over to attack a third country.

Oh wait, you mean we don't even have enough for what we're doing now and watching our own asses?

Shit! :scared:

[TrogL]

8. Lemme get this straight

Canada is helping the US maintain sovereignty over Alaska.

The US is challenging Canada's sovereignity over the arctic.

Denmark and Canada are challenging each other sovereignty of some island near Greenland.

US and Canada are running flights protecting Danish sovereignty.

I am sooooooooo confused.

[dantyrant]

9. Boggles the mind doesn't it.

And the SPP summit in Montebello was guarded by American troops, with the RCMP(!)

[ixion]

11. well, the only real 'sovereignty' that exists belongs to the uber-wealthy

which is why it doesn't matter what country does what. The group of folks that calls the shots these days are from all over the world, not just the US.

[conspirator]

12. Yes, the oligarchs are multinational these days. Countries, just like elections, are an ilusion nt

[Kolesar]

13. Yes and they can shut down an entire American town when they have their "trade talks"

They practically declared martial law on a coastal island in Georgia a few years ago. But who cares???

[City Lights]

14. Does anyone remember reading/hearing about this from a US media source?

I sure don't.