Do Not Challenge A Two-Star General After He Details A Mission Critical Engagement.
First, a bit of background on the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
- NORAD is charged with the missions of aerospace warning, aerospace control, and maritime warning for North America.
- Aerospace warnings include the detection, validation, and warning of attack against North America whether by aircraft, missiles, or space vehicles.
- NORAD is bunkered within Cheyenne Mountain near Colorado Springs, Colorado, more than 2,000 feet under the mountain with sealable doors weighing 23 tons.
- NORAD, as they have done every year for sixty-eight years, commenced their annual mission to track Santa Claus, going to full operational mode at 6am EST this morning.
- The mission expense is offset by corporate donors and involves over 1,000 volunteers who via a NORAD hotline, receive over 130,000 calls from all over the globe from children wanting to know when Santa is coming to their home.
General Glen VanHerck is the Commander of NORAD, and reports directly to the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of Canada. General VanHerck recently stated in no uncertain way that one of the most important services and missions NORAD provides will continue this week. The mission: since 1955, NORAD has tracked Santa on December 24, using “all available personnel and technology” to ensure that children around the world have a chance to see where Santa is in real time.
In a recent press conference, a question posed to General VanHerck challenged the December 24th mission as a non-essential use of funds and personnel. After a long stare down, General VanHerck told the journalist that he was “out of line and to stand down or be escorted out of the press conference.” There were no more questions for General VanHerck.
Last week, at a Pentagon press conference, the media again received direct communication that NORAD would go into full operational mode to track Santa. No, there were no questions.