The flight of two Russian TU-95 Bear bombers near the Canadian border last month on the eve of President Obama’s visit to Canada clearly irked the Canadian government. “I am not going to stand here and accuse the Russians of having deliberately done this during the Presidential visit, but it was a strong coincidence,” said Canadian Defense Minister Peter MacKay Feb. 27, reports USA Today. According to a NORAD release, the two Bears approached Canada’s Northwest Territories on Feb. 18, causing the command to scramble two Canadian Forces CF-18s from Alberta and two USAF F-15s from Alaska to identify the bombers visually. NORAD said the Russian aircraft remained in international airspace at all times and never entered sovereign Canadian or American airspace. All of the NORAD fighters returned to base without incident. MacKay said the CF-18 pilots “sent a strong signal” that the Russians should back off.
Austin Confirmed to be 1st Black Defense Secretary
Jan. 22, 2021
The Senate on Jan. 21 confirmed Lloyd Austin to become the nation’s first Black Defense Secretary, one day after approving a waiver allowing him to lead the Pentagon just about five years after retiring from Active Duty. Austin, who retired in 2016 as the four-star commander of U.S. Central Command…