Following a tradition started during the height of the Cold War, the military organization responsible for securing North American airspace turned its attention on Christmas Eve to
tracking Santa Claus as he makes his way from an undisclosed North Pole location to chimneys across the world. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), based in Colorado Springs, reported Wednesday that the rosy-cheeked gift-bearer had a successful launch and was making his anticipated rounds. NORAD — motto:
"Deter. Detect. Defend." — uses radar, satellites, Santa Cams and fighter jets to keep track of the jolly elf and his reindeer-driven sleigh.