Russia Is Feeling Its Oats

We sense we've written this story before. Three times in just over a month, in fact...

The Associated Press and military sources report two more nuclear-capable Russian Tupolev Tu-95 long-range bombers were intercepted, after entering NATO airspace near the UK and Finland last Friday... the latest in a series of "Bear" sightings around the world.

In the latest incident -- like the others, suspected to be a not-so-subtle show-of-force by the newly resurgent Russian air force -- Norwegian and British fighters escorted the "Bears" until they changed course. Britain's defense ministry declined to identify exactly where the incursion took place.

Finnish military officials say they anticipate occasional breaches, since international airspace is very tightly defined along the southern Finnish coast.

Though Bear sightings have become more pronounced over North American airspace in recent weeks, they've been a fact of life overseas for some time. In 2006, Russia apologized for about a dozen previous violations of Finnish airspace during the previous two years.

The AP reports similar complaints against the Russian flights have come from Estonia and other Baltic states. In October 2005, a Russian fighter jet crashed in Lithuania.

FMI: www.nato.int