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Russian strategic bomber chased by Canada before Obama visit
OTTAWA -- On the eve of Barack Obama's visit to Ottawa, a Russian strategic bomber approached Canada's Arctic air space and had to be turned away by Canadian warplanes, Defence Minister Peter MacKay said Friday at a news conference on Parliament Hill. In Saskatoon, Stephen Harper had some tough words for the Russians, who confirmed a heavy bomber carried out an air patrol near Canada earlier this month within 24 hours of the U.S. president's trip. "I have expressed at various times the deep concern our government has with increasingly aggressive Russian actions around the globe and Russian intrusions into our airspace," the prime minister said at a news conference. "This government has responded every time the Russians have done that. We will continue to respond, we will defend our airspace" With Obama poised to leave American soil for the first time as president on Feb. 19, the joint Canada-U.S. aerospace command, Norad, detected the Russian jet. "There was a flight on February 18," Vladimir Drik, an aide to the Russian chief of staff, was quoted as saying by the RIA Novosti news agency. "The Tupolev-160 (bomber) fulfilled all its air patrol tasks, it was a planned flight." But he added that the crew acted solely within the limits of international air agreements and did not violate Canadian airspace. Two of Canada's CF-18 fighter jets were scrambled to intercept the bomber, Mr. MacKay confirmed. At the time, Canada's was preparing to host the world's most popular politician on what would be his first international trip after weeks of preparation that included some of the tightest security ever. Indeed, the airspace over Canada's capital was temporarily closed to all planes but Obama's own Air Force One, which arrived and then departed after the seven-hour visit. Mr. MacKay said he did not want to accuse the Russians of making mischief while Canada's security focus was further south. "It was a strong coincidence, which we met," Mr. MacKay said. In Saskatoon, Harper said Canada will continue to fulfill its obligations to defend North America's continental airspace. "We will respond every time the Russians make any kind of intrusion on the sovereignty of Canada's Arctic," he said. "That's our obligation and that's what we'll do." The incident was disclosed Friday morning at a joint news conference on Parliament Hill with Mr. MacKay, Gen. Walt Natynczyk, the chief of the defence staff and U.S. Gen. Gene Renuart, the commander of Norad. Friday morning, Gen. Natynczyk told reporters that the incursions started about one and a half to two years ago "when we had not seen anything for decades." He declined to say how often they occur or where exactly this particular incident took place. "It's sporadic. That's the best way I can describe it," he said. But 20 times Russia has been caught violating Canadian airspace. He lauded the professionalism of the Canadian pilots. "The last incursion again was textbook," he said. "We have very professional people." In 2007, Russia planted its flag on the seabed below the North Pole and resumed flights of strategic bomber jets over the Arctic Ocean, a practice that stopped after the fall of the Soviet Union. The Harper Conservatives have since unveiled an Arctic strategy to assert Canadian sovereignty, and spur economic and social development in the Far North. Relations between Russia and the West have been strained since last August when Russian forces marched into Georgia following the Georgian army's occupation of the breakaway province of South Ossetia. Weeks after that, Mr. MacKay travelled to Iqaluit to reinforce his Conservative government's new sovereignty policy, where he put Russia on notice that Canada intended to be vigilant about foreign incursions in the region. "We're obviously very concerned about much of what Russia has been doing lately," Mr. MacKay said last August. "When we see a Russian bear approaching Canadian air space, we meet them with an F-18," added Mr. MacKay, referring to Arctic patrol flights by Russian bombers. "We remind them that this is Canadian air space, that this is Canadian sovereign air space, and they turn back. And we are going to continue to do that, to demonstrate that we are watching closely their activities here." Gen. Renuart is on a scheduled visit to Ottawa and was to address a major symposium later Friday at the annual meeting of the Conference of Defence Associations Institute. Norad is the jewel of Canada-U.S. military relations, and it celebrated its first half century in existence last year. Norad was conceived in the Cold War to serve as an early warning system against a nuclear missile attack from the then Soviet Union. Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, and following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks it remains a major tool in the defence of North America. A Canadian officer permanently holds the No. 2 position at Norad headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo. On the morning of 9/11, it was a Canadian general who was on duty and who ordered the closure of North American airspace, and who dispatched Canadian and American warplanes into the continent's skies moments after New York and Washington were attacked by hijacked commercial airliners. With a file from James Woods, Reuters and AFP Open Season has been declared on those who speak out Russia is sending a message to the world: We will do whatever we want when we want and nobody will stop us. We are once again a world player and will not take a back-seat to any country....those days are over. In the last 15 years over 150 journalists have been murdered for being critical against the Government, including world famous. Anna Politkovskaya. Leaving Russia does not secure safety from the Government' Alexander Litvinenko died from being poisoned with the radioactive material plutonium. Litvinenko was a former KGB agent that became an outspoken critic of the Kremlin leading to suspicions that his murder was politically motivated. Litvinenko was exiled from Russia and was residing in England at the time of his death. Yesterday, Britain's Crown Prosecution Service said there was enough evidence to charge Andrei Lugovoi, an ex-KGB agent, with the murder of Mr Litvinenko. Russia refuses to extradiate Russian citizens for any crimes. The world had better start paying attention to Russia and what their motives really are. On Feb 20, 2009 Russia fired on a Chinese cargo ship, sinking it and drowning eight sailors. Russia says they were smugglers. The Chinese Government demanded an investigation. The Government of China has been Russia strongest ally on mostly all issues. What else is Russia planning? {font:Times New Roman}{size:3}{size}{font}
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