Russian bombers cause Norwegian and British fighter jets to scramble

Originally posted at Right Truth.

British fighter jets and Norwegian F-16 fighters scrambled twice Thursday to monitor a flight of eight Russia Tu-95 bombers that neared the Nordic country's territory. Putin has been feeling his oats lately, and Peace and Freedom II asks, "Permanent President Putin? -- The question is whether he plans to scrap the constitution and become president for life or rule from behind the scenes and return to office later."

The British Ministry of Defense separately confirmed that British jets were also involved, but did not give immediate details.

Lt. Col. John Inge Oeglaend, of the Norwegian Joint Headquarters, said the bombers, all Tu-95s, neared but did not enter Norwegian airspace in the far north.

"They followed a normal route in international airspace," he said by telephone from the western Norway port of Stavanger. He said they flew near Norway's northern tip over the Barents Sea, then over the North Atlantic and back.

Oeglaend said two Norwegian fighters were sent up both times that the Russian aircraft approached Norway, in keeping with normal practice.

Norway, a member of the NATO alliance, and Russia shared land and ocean borders in the Arctic, including the vast Barents Sea.

According to Oeglaend, this is the third time Norwegian fighters have scrambled since mid-July to monitor a rising number of Russia military air exercises. (Fox News)

This is not the first time Russian bombers have tread dear another nation's borders. They flew near Guam recently, near Alaska, and I believe there have also been other incidents.