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While Trump casts doubt on NATO policy, B-52s make first ever bomb drops over Lapland
The Barents Observer (English) ^ | March 7 2025 | Thomas Nilsen

Posted on 03/08/2025 4:41:41 AM PST by texas booster

This is the first time bombs have been dropped by United States strategic bombers, hitting targets in Rovajärvi firing range, a short 100 km from Finland's northern border with Russia.

The huge American bomber planes were escorted into the Arctic Circle by Finnish F/A-18 Hornet fighters on March 6, the same day as Donald Trump talked with his aides in Washington D.C. about a possible dramatic NATO policy shift.

According to ABC News, Trump said about European NATO allies: "If they don't pay, I'm not going to defend them. No, I'm not going to defend them."

Meanwhile, inside the Arctic Circle, two B-52 bombers were on a so-called "training mission." Such missions have taken place several times since last year, often reported about by the Barents Observer.

However, drop of live-firing bombs is not everyday procedures.

"B-52 bombers carried out air-to-ground drops now for the first time in Finland," the Air Force confirmed Thursday evening.

A video posted on Facebook by the Finnish Air Force, filmed from cockpit of a F/A-18, shows one of the B-52 releasing a guided JDAM bomb. Shortly after, a giant blast can be seen at a designated target in the taiga-forest within the Rovanjärvi firing range.

(Excerpt) Read more at thebarentsobserver.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: finland; norway; russia; ukraine
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Located between the cities of Rovaniemi, Kemijärvi and Sodankylä in Lapland, the firing range is the largest military practice range in Western Europe. Distance to Russia's Murmansk and Karelia regions to the east is about 100 kilometers.

Finland's Armed Force had up front issued a public warning about the danger area to impacted by the bombs.

"Air-to-ground drops in Rovajärvi firing range demonstrate our capability to execute joint fire missions. The close bilateral cooperation between Finland and the United States increases Finland’s defence capability in concrete terms," said Brigadier General Aki Puustinen, Chief of Staff Air Force Command Finland.

1 posted on 03/08/2025 4:41:41 AM PST by texas booster
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To: texas booster
The guided JDAM bomb hit its target inside the Rovajärvi firing range.
Screenshot from video by the Finnish Air Force

Wow, 10,000 troops from 7 counties. The next war will not be a like the old ones.

2 posted on 03/08/2025 4:45:20 AM PST by texas booster (Join FreeRepublic's Folding@Home team (Team # 36120) Cure Alzheimer's!)
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To: texas booster

Tail markings indicate the B52’s were from Minot AFB, ND.


3 posted on 03/08/2025 4:53:35 AM PST by redfreedom (Happiness is shopping at Walmart and not hearing Spanish once!)
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To: texas booster
Wow, 10,000 troops from 7 counties. The next war will not be a like the old ones.

Me thinks you're hankering for another war.

Makes me kinda wonder. What if China or Russia dropped guided bombs on a bombing range in Tijuana or Vancouver?

Inquiring minds want to know.

WOW! As you commented.

4 posted on 03/08/2025 4:55:34 AM PST by icclearly
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To: texas booster

Eff the Finns. They hate us more than the Mexicans.


5 posted on 03/08/2025 4:56:33 AM PST by Wilderness Conservative (Nature is the ultimate conservative)
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To: texas booster

Teach those tiny reindeer a lesson ... no flying without clearance from FAA!


6 posted on 03/08/2025 5:02:31 AM PST by Redmen4ever
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To: icclearly
No, not hankering for another war. Just a comment in the early morning hours.

The Joint Viking NATO exercises just show us that there are our boys all over the world, and will continue to be, no matter what politicians say.

7 posted on 03/08/2025 5:05:48 AM PST by texas booster (Join FreeRepublic's Folding@Home team (Team # 36120) Cure Alzheimer's!)
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To: Wilderness Conservative

I don’t know where you get that.

I am in Finland once or twice a year.

Mainly Turku and Vaasa but occasionally Helsinki.

All the Finns I meet really respect the US.
More than Sweden and Norway do.

Haven’t been since the election but I doubt there is a change for the worse.


8 posted on 03/08/2025 5:07:46 AM PST by Bartholomew Roberts
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To: Bartholomew Roberts

I had some minor contact with Finns while at conferences.

I never detected any hostility. Of course, they were selling us a couple of hundred thousand dollars worth of supplies every year.

They appeared to be very competent people.


9 posted on 03/08/2025 5:21:20 AM PST by marktwain
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To: redfreedom

“Tail markings indicate the B52’s were from Minot AFB, ND.”

Why not Minot!


10 posted on 03/08/2025 5:28:06 AM PST by EQAndyBuzz (Privatize the administrative state!)
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To: Bartholomew Roberts

A huge shift in US defense strategy. What will it look like other than the China pivot? eff the WWIII mongers in NATO, but maintain our alliance with Finland and Hungary [funny they share the same linguistic roots].


11 posted on 03/08/2025 5:28:32 AM PST by AndyJackson
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To: texas booster

Thanks for link. I didn’t know about this news source.


12 posted on 03/08/2025 5:48:03 AM PST by larryjohnson (FReepersonaltrainer)
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To: texas booster
The Joint Viking NATO exercises just show us that there are our boys all over the world, and will continue to be, no matter what politicians say.

Okay. I get it. I was once one of "those boys." We're way beyond the time when they should be all over the world. After over 65 years of forever wars, lost lives, and a crumbling society at home where those boys are really needed.

The world is changing and we're well over $35 trillion in debt from sending those boys all over the planet where they are doomed and where that history has been so many failed efforts.

Yes. It's time to bring them boys and girls home to worry about our own country for a little bit.

13 posted on 03/08/2025 5:55:28 AM PST by icclearly
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To: Bartholomew Roberts

A Finn acquaintance travelling here stated quite a concern over the developments since the election and the ruskies’ potential for disruption. This practice bombing will be welcomed I’d guess


14 posted on 03/08/2025 5:56:05 AM PST by Oystir ( )
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To: marktwain

I agree.

Very loyal, reserved, professional people for the most part.

They have had a long distrust for the Russians and are proud of their WWII performance against them.

They have much more regard for the US!


15 posted on 03/08/2025 6:07:08 AM PST by Bartholomew Roberts
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To: icclearly; All

$35 trillion in debt from sending those boys all over the planet where they are doomed


Most of the debt comes from entitlement programs. Only about 13% of the budget is for defense, and only a fraction of that is for defense operations overseas.

Total USA war deaths after Vietnam, has been less than 8,000.


16 posted on 03/08/2025 6:19:57 AM PST by marktwain
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To: texas booster

“If they don’t pay, I’m not going to defend them.

__________________________

If you read recent news from Europe, they are really scrambling. Criticizing Trump, but arming themselves.
Even changing their laws to accommodate rising military spending!
It works, folks!


17 posted on 03/08/2025 7:06:52 AM PST by AZJeep (sane )
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To: texas booster

The global elites need a world war to hide their money laundering, human trafficking, and other crimes. It will happen.


18 posted on 03/08/2025 7:09:38 AM PST by CodeToad ( )
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To: texas booster

“B-52s make first ever bomb drops in Lapland.”

Those Scandinavians still hate us Sa’ami.


19 posted on 03/08/2025 7:18:48 AM PST by VanShuyten ("...that all the donkeys were dead. I know nothing as to the fate of the less valuable animals)
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To: Bartholomew Roberts

My time in Helsinki years ago was a real eye opener. Ireland was worse. We must have crossed paths with different locals.


20 posted on 03/08/2025 8:38:54 AM PST by Wilderness Conservative (Nature is the ultimate conservative)
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