In 2009, NORAD launched fighter aircraft on 14 occasions in response to unannounced flights of Russian Tu-95 Bear and Tu-160 Blackjack bombers that were in international airspace, but were close enough to US and Canadian airspace to warrant a closer look, Air Force Gen. Gene Renuart, NORAD boss, told the Senate Armed Services Committee Thursday in written testimony. He said they "were not considered threats," but it is NORAD's practice to dispatch fighters to identify any unknown aircraft in such scenarios. In response to a Senator's question during the hearing, Renuart said there have also been "a couple of instances"...