The top brass of the Canadian military publicly stated that Russian Air Force officials notified NORAD of the bomber's flight before the aircraft left the base. It's also public knowledge that Russia had resumed these long range patrols. This is not the first time Canadian Forces had rendezvoused with a Russian bomber over the Arctic, in resent years. It's interesting that this incident was not disclosed by the government until days after it had occurred; U.S. president Obama had left by that point. The News broke just as our leadership was trying to force a controversial economic spending program through the parliament. Though our current Prime Minister (Stephen Harper) is from the Conservative Party of Canada, I would agree he is hardly a neocon. But perhaps he has learned something about using 'scare tactics' to achieve political ends from George W. Bush. I don't think it worked, however. In the end, our leaders looked more foolish then noble and statesmen like. It was quite embarrassing.