[Newsbot]

Title: NORAD-Russian Joint Air Drill, Bomber Incursions and Canada's F-35 Jet
Topic: Military
Written By: NAUWATCH
Date: Tuesday, August 24 at 15:01
By Dana Gabriel
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the Russian Federation Air Force conducted a cooperative air defense exercise from August 8-11 that focused on combating terrorism.

Vigilant Eagle was hailed as a milestone exercise between the Cold War era rivals. It included Russian, U.S., along with Canadian Air Force personnel operating from command centers inside Russia and the United States directing fighter jets, as well as civilian air traffic controllers. It took several years to stage the drill which centered around, “an international air terrorism scenario exercised over the Pacific Ocean consisting of forces from the U.S. and Russia responding to the simulated hijacking of a B-757 en route to the Far East.”
read more

[RickW]

They are conducting these "exercises" with an eye on China. This "terrorist" thing is just smoke.

[NAUWATCH]

Tories using fear to sell fighter jet deal, opposition charges

The Harper government is trying to frighten Canadians into backing its plan to spend more than $9 billion on new fighter jets, opposition MPs charged Wednesday after the Prime Minister's Office revealed that two Russian bombers had approached Canadian airspace within the previous 24 hours.

Liberals and New Democrats said Canadians deserve a serious discussion about why the expensive F-35 jets are needed and they should not have to put up with fearmongering.

"We're not in the middle of a Cold War, we don't expect the Russians to attack Canada. This is all foolishness," New Democrat Jack Harris, the party's defence critic, told reporters.

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/ ... z0xqrpbSGk

[GreenTiger]

Perhaps they are keeping an eye toward China. It is a growing concern to all of us.

[RickW]

And Harper insists on making mountains out of molehills. Latest "Russian incursion" incident was deemed "normal operating procedure" by NORAD - yet Harper bragged at Canadian forces vigilance and response.

Sure do "need" those 60 odd fighters for $16 billion (but not until 2017 when they will likely require immediate upgrades - sort of like the Liberals with those British submarines)!

I don't suppose it would occur to the government to use the $16 billion as seed money for a "Made in Canada" aircraft manufacturing industry. I mean, we had one in the '50s, until - oh yes - a Conservative government cancelled it...........