Last Christmas, Reuters suddenly started worrying about Santa’s safety, fretting that America’s planned East Coast missile defense system might shoot him down. We weren’t worried then, and we’re not worried this year either, considering that Santa will be flanked by fighter jets as NORAD tracks his journey around the world.
As the Washington Times reports:
The North American Aerospace Defense Command again will track Santa Claus’ progress on Christmas Eve, but this year the jolly old elf’s sleigh will be escorted by two U.S. fighter jets.
“The aircraft are not armed,” said NORAD spokesman Navy Cmdr. Bill Lewis, adding that “we are using satellite systems, radars, fighter jets” to ensure St. Nick’s safe passage around the world.
NORAD, which has tracked Santa’s flight since 1955, also will use a new interactive website — noradsanta.org — to display his path this year.
Not only are the two aircraft not armed; they also [spoiler warning] don’t exist. Still, the fighter jets some have up in arms, while others are glad to see the military presented in a positive way. Roll your eyes or nod along as warranted:
Is this video of fighter jets escorting Santa upsetting to you? Story: http://t.co/CJCVRvpUhJ pic.twitter.com/U76YGGyWXh
— Denver7 News (@DenverChannel) December 17, 2013
Right, for the first time since I can remember, we won't be using NORAD to track Santa, since @NoradSanta added fighter jets.
— asta (@asta) December 23, 2013
#ThingsPajamaBoysMotherSays It's icky that NORAD has jets flying by Santa. Teaches kids to love the military!
— Darth Deplorable ⚡️ (@jameslfregosi) December 19, 2013
@jaketapper that is the worst thing I have seen today, and I read Twitchy and Truth Revolt.
— Rebecca Schoenkopf, Wonkette Editrix, King Of You (@commiegirl1) December 23, 2013
Whoa!
https://twitter.com/luvGodncountry/status/413372308015681536
@McnabbTeddy When I was young and fancied myself an author, wrote a story about Norad jets shooting Santa down – sadly, been done already!
— (((Fifthcolumnblue))) ?️ (@Fifthcolumnblue) December 19, 2013
Also seriously, military jets accompanying Santa on the NORAD tracker? What the heck is happening? Leave childhoods alone. They're short.
— Yasmine El-Sabawi (@yasmineelsabawi) December 17, 2013
https://twitter.com/Chuck_Rohrbach/status/413289938713866240
I wonder if kids can look up the NORAD video at school? Or are fighter jets prohibited by anti-gun zero-tolerance policies? #TheFive
— Rounds (@RoundsR) December 17, 2013
I really like this idea. NORAD announces fighter jet escort for Santa this year | Local News – Home http://t.co/UNeeOkRICI
— Dean Vitale (@Avitalneed) December 24, 2013
So now Santa needs a fighter jet escort. WTF? Not cool, NORAD. Not. Cool.
— Frances J Karon (@francesjkaron) December 23, 2013
So this is a thing. FYI haters, little kids think jet fighters are COOL AS HELL! http://t.co/PJlsqTEGD0 #SANTA
— PrimeBane the Monkey King™ (@PrimeBane) December 17, 2013
As daughter of CF-104 pilot I'd say SC is in good hands. 2 much? “NORAD forced 2 defend fighter jet escort for Santa http://t.co/SUtYL5Ysas”
— Robin Stickley (@RStickleyGlobal) December 17, 2013
Very happy NORAD has fighter jets escorting Santa. It is well known that Muslim terrorist would love to take out Santa.
— Mark Hohn (@mhohn) December 17, 2013
Fighter jets escorting Santa? Seriously #NORAD, we've been watching Santa tracker for years now. Do we have to end a tradition?
— Jonathan Sprung (@rightsprung) December 17, 2013
https://twitter.com/celestemc/status/415461994875998209
https://twitter.com/darbsauce/status/412968977095069696
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