All the news that's fit to read

For a short time yesterday, the Ministry of Truth had the following story published to their web site:

Unexpected Visitor - Oct 24, 2007

Years ago, it was common for the Russians to test defense response by flying near North American air space. Now, people in Labrador are talking about a case this year. 5 Wing Goose Bay union representative Howard Bishop told VOCM Night Line with Linda Swain on August 17th a Russian plane was flying in Labrador airspace without permission. Bishop says by the time the F18s arrived on the scene, the Russian craft was over Goose Bay. Bishop says all this is just another reason government should implement the rapid action battalion at 5 Wing. Happy Valley-Goose Bay Mayor Leo Abbass told VOCM Night Line with Linda Swain had also heard of an incident, but slightly different than that of the union official. Abbass does say the F18s remained in Goose Bay for several days after the incident. He says there are currently 6 of the fighter planes from Baggotville at the base.

By around lunch time, however, the story had been spiked. And why? The follow-up report to the "Baggotville" [sic] story offers a clue:

DND Says F-18s to Likely Leave Goose Bay Soon
October 25, 2007

The Department of National Defence says the F-18 jets that have been at CFB Goose Bay are only there because of repairs underway at their home base of CFB Bagotville, and they will likely soon be returning there. There had been suggestions they were positioned at Goose Bay to be scrambled as Russian aircraft tested North American air space. NORAD spokesperson Captain Steve Neta says the Goose Bay temporary relocation had nothing to do with defence concerns. Neta says the F-18s have not been conducting surveillance on Russian activity. The Canadians have merely been training, the same as they would be doing in Bagotville. Meantime, Transportation Minister John Hickey says the base is a strategic site and should have military assets on a permanent basis.

A military official is outright denying a report that a Russian surveillance aircraft, refusing to identify itself, flew into Canadian airspace on August 17th. 5 Wing Goose Bay union representative Howard Bishop told VOCM Night Line this week planes were scrambled from Bagotville to deal with that. NORAD spokesperson Captain Steve Neta denies the story. He says at no time did an aircraft without permission, violate Canadian air space. The Russian Air Force has stepped up activity since President Vladimir Putin's government boosted military funding and revived training exercises. But Neta says there has been no indication of increased bomber flights off Canada's east coast. Neta says the Russians have a right to conduct military exercises, and have done so in international air space, in a very professional way.

This episode might teach VOCM's newsroom a lesson about the very real hazards of relying on open-line show callers for purportedly fact-driven stories (as opposed to the more-legitimate, if still lazy journalism, of the "MHA-calls-for-review-of-ambulance-situation" or "Hilldale-resident-spots-albino-moose" stories that often stem from VOCM callers.)

Yes, it might.

But it probably won't.