4 flying objects have been shot down over North America: “Spy balloons and UFOs up to no good” (1 Viewer)

[Phil Elliott]

We should put The Cone of Silence under it.

 

[flapgreen]

We should have shot it down a long time ago. Every minute we don't is just another moment we look weak. The time to take it out is when it is over low populated areas.

The only thing I could think of that they are worried about (and not to get all here) is what could the balloon be carrying. What about a virus or some disease? I mean it sounds like the basis for some Mission Impossible movie, but anything is possible. If we want to believe this is just one that got away from them, you know other groups that mean America harm are watching and gauging our reaction to it. Weather balloons are extremely cheap to buy--think like $159.00. Now one that cheap has half the altitude capability of the Chinese one, but you can readily bigger ones on-line.

That's the issue. We ARE weak.

 

[Faust]

Canadian pilots were warned of ‘untethered balloon’ amid China surveillance concerns

 

[Faust]

All Your Questions About the Chinese Balloon Floating Over Kansas City Answered

 

[Faust]

China balloon: Could it have been blown off course as Beijing claims?

 

[The General]

We should have shot it down a long time ago. Every minute we don't is just another moment we look weak. The time to take it out is when it is over low populated areas.

The only thing I could think of that they are worried about (and not to get all here) is what could the balloon be carrying. What about a virus or some disease? I mean it sounds like the basis for some Mission Impossible movie, but anything is possible. If we want to believe this is just one that got away from them, you know other groups that mean America harm are watching and gauging our reaction to it. Weather balloons are extremely cheap to buy--think like $159.00. Now one that cheap has half the altitude capability of the Chinese one, but you can readily bigger ones on-line.

That's the issue. We ARE weak.

How does this make us look weak? The Chinese messed up and a ballon floated over us that people can see. They look like chumps.

 

[Faust]

COBRA47 tracking the balloon right now?

 

[Faust]

China’s Spy Balloon Over Montana Is Part Of A Larger, More Troubling Pattern

 

[jamny]

If nothing else, they are tracking the US reaction to this.

 

[Courtjester]

If nothing else, they are tracking the US reaction to this.

Reading Faust's article, the Pentagon admitting this isn't the first time this has happened, sort of eliminates the idea that this is just a mistake on China's part.

 

[Wildcat]

We saw it this morning as we were waiting for the school bus around 7:30am CST. My son noticed it in the SE sky. We live in SE Nebraska. He asked if it was a star. I thought it was strange so used my Sky Tonight phone app and pointed in the direction. It didn’t locate any stars of note that would be that large and bright. It was daylight out too. Discovered later today that it was likely the balloon. It was probably over Missouri or Kansas at the time

 

[flapgreen]

We should have shot it down a long time ago. Every minute we don't is just another moment we look weak. The time to take it out is when it is over low populated areas.

The only thing I could think of that they are worried about (and not to get all here) is what could the balloon be carrying. What about a virus or some disease? I mean it sounds like the basis for some Mission Impossible movie, but anything is possible. If we want to believe this is just one that got away from them, you know other groups that mean America harm are watching and gauging our reaction to it. Weather balloons are extremely cheap to buy--think like $159.00. Now one that cheap has half the altitude capability of the Chinese one, but you can readily bigger ones on-line.

That's the issue. We ARE weak.

How does this make us look weak? The Chinese messed up and a ballon floated over us that people can see. They look chumps.

I know you're one of the government/administration worshippers around here. I am not and I do not give any party or administration the credit that some of you guys do. They are all corrupt. China has great influence over both parties and the administration. No amount of evidence can open your eyes to that, if they haven't been already.

 

[The General]

We should have shot it down a long time ago. Every minute we don't is just another moment we look weak. The time to take it out is when it is over low populated areas.

The only thing I could think of that they are worried about (and not to get all here) is what could the balloon be carrying. What about a virus or some disease? I mean it sounds like the basis for some Mission Impossible movie, but anything is possible. If we want to believe this is just one that got away from them, you know other groups that mean America harm are watching and gauging our reaction to it. Weather balloons are extremely cheap to buy--think like $159.00. Now one that cheap has half the altitude capability of the Chinese one, but you can readily bigger ones on-line.

That's the issue. We ARE weak.

How does this make us look weak? The Chinese messed up and a ballon floated over us that people can see. They look chumps.

I know you're one of the government/administration worshippers around here. I am not and I do not give any party or administration the credit that some of you guys do. They are all corrupt. China has great influence over both parties and the administration. No amount of evidence can open your eyes to that, if they haven't been already.

Your commentary aside. How does this make us look weak? We spy on them they spy on us this makes them look like amateurs. People can see this from their backyards.

Do you think this is new thing from China?

 

[Phil Elliott]

China balloon: Could it have been blown off course as Beijing claims?

Has changed direction a couple times?

 

[Courtjester]

So another one is inbound?

We should have shot it down a long time ago. Every minute we don't is just another moment we look weak. The time to take it out is when it is over low populated areas.

The only thing I could think of that they are worried about (and not to get all here) is what could the balloon be carrying. What about a virus or some disease? I mean it sounds like the basis for some Mission Impossible movie, but anything is possible. If we want to believe this is just one that got away from them, you know other groups that mean America harm are watching and gauging our reaction to it. Weather balloons are extremely cheap to buy--think like $159.00. Now one that cheap has half the altitude capability of the Chinese one, but you can readily bigger ones on-line.

That's the issue. We ARE weak.

How does this make us look weak? The Chinese messed up and a ballon floated over us that people can see. They look chumps.

I know you're one of the government/administration worshippers around here. I am not and I do not give any party or administration the credit that some of you guys do. They are all corrupt. China has great influence over both parties and the administration. No amount of evidence can open your eyes to that, if they haven't been already.

Your commentary aside. How does this make us look weak? We spy on them they spy on us this makes them look like amateurs. People can see this from their backyards.

Do you think this is new thing from China?

I will take a stab at this and try and not get this thing locked for being political. The part that makes us look weak is the Pentagon has confirmed this is not the first time this has happened. One time is an oopsie, several times is a pattern. Unless, we have some kind of response other than "it's okay, just keep flying them over our country," then they will keep doing this. Do you think China is embarrassed by this? They are probably sitting there laughing their asses off about how they can keep getting away with this.

I am not advocating starting a war or imposing sanctions. Just simply shoot the thing down and say don't do it again, Crisis averted and message sent. There simply isn't a reason to continue to let this thing float around above US cities. I agree completely with the poster up-thread that said we have no idea what conversations are being had behind the scenes. I think that is true. However, as I suggested earlier, our inaction may (and I say may) embolden others to use this technique to inflict harm on this country.

 

[Faust]

Why would China use a spy balloon when it has satellites?

 

[jamny]

We should have shot it down a long time ago. Every minute we don't is just another moment we look weak. The time to take it out is when it is over low populated areas.

The only thing I could think of that they are worried about (and not to get all here) is what could the balloon be carrying. What about a virus or some disease? I mean it sounds like the basis for some Mission Impossible movie, but anything is possible. If we want to believe this is just one that got away from them, you know other groups that mean America harm are watching and gauging our reaction to it. Weather balloons are extremely cheap to buy--think like $159.00. Now one that cheap has half the altitude capability of the Chinese one, but you can readily bigger ones on-line.

That's the issue. We ARE weak.

How does this make us look weak? The Chinese messed up and a ballon floated over us that people can see. They look chumps.

I know you're one of the government/administration worshippers around here. I am not and I do not give any party or administration the credit that some of you guys do. They are all corrupt. China has great influence over both parties and the administration. No amount of evidence can open your eyes to that, if they haven't been already.

Your commentary aside. How does this make us look weak? We spy on them they spy on us this makes them look like amateurs. People can see this from their backyards.

Do you think this is new thing from China?

The US, seemingly powerless to stop a freakin' balloon from flying through our country's airspace, seems to look weak to me.

 

[The General]

So another one is inbound?

We should have shot it down a long time ago. Every minute we don't is just another moment we look weak. The time to take it out is when it is over low populated areas.

The only thing I could think of that they are worried about (and not to get all here) is what could the balloon be carrying. What about a virus or some disease? I mean it sounds like the basis for some Mission Impossible movie, but anything is possible. If we want to believe this is just one that got away from them, you know other groups that mean America harm are watching and gauging our reaction to it. Weather balloons are extremely cheap to buy--think like $159.00. Now one that cheap has half the altitude capability of the Chinese one, but you can readily bigger ones on-line.

That's the issue. We ARE weak.

How does this make us look weak? The Chinese messed up and a ballon floated over us that people can see. They look chumps.

I know you're one of the government/administration worshippers around here. I am not and I do not give any party or administration the credit that some of you guys do. They are all corrupt. China has great influence over both parties and the administration. No amount of evidence can open your eyes to that, if they haven't been already.

Your commentary aside. How does this make us look weak? We spy on them they spy on us this makes them look like amateurs. People can see this from their backyards.

Do you think this is new thing from China?

I will take a stab at this and try and not get this thing locked for being political. The part that makes us look weak is the Pentagon has confirmed this is not the first time this has happened. One time is an oopsie, several times is a pattern. Unless, we have some kind of response other than "it's okay, just keep flying them over our country," then they will keep doing this. Do you think China is embarrassed by this? They are probably sitting there laughing their asses off about how they can keep getting away with this.

I am not advocating starting a war or imposing sanctions. Just simply shoot the thing down and say don't do it again, Crisis averted and message sent. There simply isn't a reason to continue to let this thing float around above US cities. I agree completely with the poster up-thread that said we have no idea what conversations are being had behind the scenes. I think that is true. However, as I suggested earlier, our inaction may (and I say may) embolden others to use this technique to inflict harm on this country.

So my take on this is this makes China look like some 3rd world country, complete embarrassment on them.

We control the entire situation at this point and the less we say the better.

 

[The General]

We should have shot it down a long time ago. Every minute we don't is just another moment we look weak. The time to take it out is when it is over low populated areas.

The only thing I could think of that they are worried about (and not to get all here) is what could the balloon be carrying. What about a virus or some disease? I mean it sounds like the basis for some Mission Impossible movie, but anything is possible. If we want to believe this is just one that got away from them, you know other groups that mean America harm are watching and gauging our reaction to it. Weather balloons are extremely cheap to buy--think like $159.00. Now one that cheap has half the altitude capability of the Chinese one, but you can readily bigger ones on-line.

That's the issue. We ARE weak.

How does this make us look weak? The Chinese messed up and a ballon floated over us that people can see. They look chumps.

I know you're one of the government/administration worshippers around here. I am not and I do not give any party or administration the credit that some of you guys do. They are all corrupt. China has great influence over both parties and the administration. No amount of evidence can open your eyes to that, if they haven't been already.

Your commentary aside. How does this make us look weak? We spy on them they spy on us this makes them look like amateurs. People can see this from their backyards.

Do you think this is new thing from China?

The US, seemingly powerless to stop a freakin' balloon from flying through our country's airspace, seems to look weak to me.

This was a mistake by China, do we agree there?

 

[jamny]

So another one is inbound?

We should have shot it down a long time ago. Every minute we don't is just another moment we look weak. The time to take it out is when it is over low populated areas.

The only thing I could think of that they are worried about (and not to get all here) is what could the balloon be carrying. What about a virus or some disease? I mean it sounds like the basis for some Mission Impossible movie, but anything is possible. If we want to believe this is just one that got away from them, you know other groups that mean America harm are watching and gauging our reaction to it. Weather balloons are extremely cheap to buy--think like $159.00. Now one that cheap has half the altitude capability of the Chinese one, but you can readily bigger ones on-line.

That's the issue. We ARE weak.

How does this make us look weak? The Chinese messed up and a ballon floated over us that people can see. They look chumps.

I know you're one of the government/administration worshippers around here. I am not and I do not give any party or administration the credit that some of you guys do. They are all corrupt. China has great influence over both parties and the administration. No amount of evidence can open your eyes to that, if they haven't been already.

Your commentary aside. How does this make us look weak? We spy on them they spy on us this makes them look like amateurs. People can see this from their backyards.

Do you think this is new thing from China?

I will take a stab at this and try and not get this thing locked for being political. The part that makes us look weak is the Pentagon has confirmed this is not the first time this has happened. One time is an oopsie, several times is a pattern. Unless, we have some kind of response other than "it's okay, just keep flying them over our country," then they will keep doing this. Do you think China is embarrassed by this? They are probably sitting there laughing their asses off about how they can keep getting away with this.

I am not advocating starting a war or imposing sanctions. Just simply shoot the thing down and say don't do it again, Crisis averted and message sent. There simply isn't a reason to continue to let this thing float around above US cities. I agree completely with the poster up-thread that said we have no idea what conversations are being had behind the scenes. I think that is true. However, as I suggested earlier, our inaction may (and I say may) embolden others to use this technique to inflict harm on this country.

So my take on this is this makes China look like some 3rd world country, complete embarrassment on them.

We control the entire situation at this point and the less we say the better.

Or this was purposely done to see our reaction and not an embarrassment at all.

 

[jamny]

We should have shot it down a long time ago. Every minute we don't is just another moment we look weak. The time to take it out is when it is over low populated areas.

The only thing I could think of that they are worried about (and not to get all here) is what could the balloon be carrying. What about a virus or some disease? I mean it sounds like the basis for some Mission Impossible movie, but anything is possible. If we want to believe this is just one that got away from them, you know other groups that mean America harm are watching and gauging our reaction to it. Weather balloons are extremely cheap to buy--think like $159.00. Now one that cheap has half the altitude capability of the Chinese one, but you can readily bigger ones on-line.

That's the issue. We ARE weak.

How does this make us look weak? The Chinese messed up and a ballon floated over us that people can see. They look chumps.

I know you're one of the government/administration worshippers around here. I am not and I do not give any party or administration the credit that some of you guys do. They are all corrupt. China has great influence over both parties and the administration. No amount of evidence can open your eyes to that, if they haven't been already.

Your commentary aside. How does this make us look weak? We spy on them they spy on us this makes them look like amateurs. People can see this from their backyards.

Do you think this is new thing from China?

The US, seemingly powerless to stop a freakin' balloon from flying through our country's airspace, seems to look weak to me.

This was a mistake by China, do we agree there?

No. How are you so sure of that? Because they said so?

 

[fatness]

A lot of people calling for shooting it down over Montana would be calling for reparations to ranchers if it was shot down there and dented some cows.

 

[The General]

So another one is inbound?

We should have shot it down a long time ago. Every minute we don't is just another moment we look weak. The time to take it out is when it is over low populated areas.

The only thing I could think of that they are worried about (and not to get all here) is what could the balloon be carrying. What about a virus or some disease? I mean it sounds like the basis for some Mission Impossible movie, but anything is possible. If we want to believe this is just one that got away from them, you know other groups that mean America harm are watching and gauging our reaction to it. Weather balloons are extremely cheap to buy--think like $159.00. Now one that cheap has half the altitude capability of the Chinese one, but you can readily bigger ones on-line.

That's the issue. We ARE weak.

How does this make us look weak? The Chinese messed up and a ballon floated over us that people can see. They look chumps.

I know you're one of the government/administration worshippers around here. I am not and I do not give any party or administration the credit that some of you guys do. They are all corrupt. China has great influence over both parties and the administration. No amount of evidence can open your eyes to that, if they haven't been already.

Your commentary aside. How does this make us look weak? We spy on them they spy on us this makes them look like amateurs. People can see this from their backyards.

Do you think this is new thing from China?

I will take a stab at this and try and not get this thing locked for being political. The part that makes us look weak is the Pentagon has confirmed this is not the first time this has happened. One time is an oopsie, several times is a pattern. Unless, we have some kind of response other than "it's okay, just keep flying them over our country," then they will keep doing this. Do you think China is embarrassed by this? They are probably sitting there laughing their asses off about how they can keep getting away with this.

I am not advocating starting a war or imposing sanctions. Just simply shoot the thing down and say don't do it again, Crisis averted and message sent. There simply isn't a reason to continue to let this thing float around above US cities. I agree completely with the poster up-thread that said we have no idea what conversations are being had behind the scenes. I think that is true. However, as I suggested earlier, our inaction may (and I say may) embolden others to use this technique to inflict harm on this country.

So my take on this is this makes China look like some 3rd world country, complete embarrassment on them.

We control the entire situation at this point and the less we say the better.

Or this was purposely done to see our reaction and not an embarrassment at all.

China purposefully floated a balloon into Montana to see what we would do.

 

[Juxtatarot]

I’m reminded of how much I don’t miss the political forum.

 

[jamny]

So another one is inbound?

We should have shot it down a long time ago. Every minute we don't is just another moment we look weak. The time to take it out is when it is over low populated areas.

The only thing I could think of that they are worried about (and not to get all here) is what could the balloon be carrying. What about a virus or some disease? I mean it sounds like the basis for some Mission Impossible movie, but anything is possible. If we want to believe this is just one that got away from them, you know other groups that mean America harm are watching and gauging our reaction to it. Weather balloons are extremely cheap to buy--think like $159.00. Now one that cheap has half the altitude capability of the Chinese one, but you can readily bigger ones on-line.

That's the issue. We ARE weak.

How does this make us look weak? The Chinese messed up and a ballon floated over us that people can see. They look chumps.

I know you're one of the government/administration worshippers around here. I am not and I do not give any party or administration the credit that some of you guys do. They are all corrupt. China has great influence over both parties and the administration. No amount of evidence can open your eyes to that, if they haven't been already.

Your commentary aside. How does this make us look weak? We spy on them they spy on us this makes them look like amateurs. People can see this from their backyards.

Do you think this is new thing from China?

I will take a stab at this and try and not get this thing locked for being political. The part that makes us look weak is the Pentagon has confirmed this is not the first time this has happened. One time is an oopsie, several times is a pattern. Unless, we have some kind of response other than "it's okay, just keep flying them over our country," then they will keep doing this. Do you think China is embarrassed by this? They are probably sitting there laughing their asses off about how they can keep getting away with this.

I am not advocating starting a war or imposing sanctions. Just simply shoot the thing down and say don't do it again, Crisis averted and message sent. There simply isn't a reason to continue to let this thing float around above US cities. I agree completely with the poster up-thread that said we have no idea what conversations are being had behind the scenes. I think that is true. However, as I suggested earlier, our inaction may (and I say may) embolden others to use this technique to inflict harm on this country.

So my take on this is this makes China look like some 3rd world country, complete embarrassment on them.

We control the entire situation at this point and the less we say the better.

Or this was purposely done to see our reaction and not an embarrassment at all.

China purposefully floated a balloon into Montana to see what we would do.

I'm not saying they definitely did but I'm also not willing to say it's definitely a mistake like you seem to accept.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Can't we just get Batman to take care of it?

 

[jamny]

"But it can't see anything a satellite can't already see"

You know this for a fact?

 

[the moops]

The US, seemingly powerless to stop a freakin' balloon from flying through our country's airspace, seems to look weak to me.

You have the worst takes my man. My god

 

[The Big Donkey]

seems like a test. not sure what the PRC is looking for here. let's fly a balloon over their country.

 

[jamny]

The US, seemingly powerless to stop a freakin' balloon from flying through our country's airspace, seems to look weak to me.

You have the worst takes my man. My god

Right back atcha!

 

[Courtjester]

We should have shot it down a long time ago. Every minute we don't is just another moment we look weak. The time to take it out is when it is over low populated areas.

The only thing I could think of that they are worried about (and not to get all here) is what could the balloon be carrying. What about a virus or some disease? I mean it sounds like the basis for some Mission Impossible movie, but anything is possible. If we want to believe this is just one that got away from them, you know other groups that mean America harm are watching and gauging our reaction to it. Weather balloons are extremely cheap to buy--think like $159.00. Now one that cheap has half the altitude capability of the Chinese one, but you can readily bigger ones on-line.

That's the issue. We ARE weak.

How does this make us look weak? The Chinese messed up and a ballon floated over us that people can see. They look chumps.

I know you're one of the government/administration worshippers around here. I am not and I do not give any party or administration the credit that some of you guys do. They are all corrupt. China has great influence over both parties and the administration. No amount of evidence can open your eyes to that, if they haven't been already.

Your commentary aside. How does this make us look weak? We spy on them they spy on us this makes them look like amateurs. People can see this from their backyards.

Do you think this is new thing from China?

The US, seemingly powerless to stop a freakin' balloon from flying through our country's airspace, seems to look weak to me.

This was a mistake by China, do we agree there?

No, here is where we disagree. One time is a mistake, but the Pentagon said this is not the first time this has happened. In fact, it has happened multiple times.

I mean, we play games with our enemies all the time, where we take our jets right up to the line of disputed territories. The Chinese and Russians both do the same thing all the time. However, this is something OVER our country gathering information. This is blatant. I don't know how anyone can say this is okay and we should just let it go--keeping in mind it has happened several times before and that obviously was our response then. When do we say enough--12 times? 15 times? When do you begin to say we should do something?

 

[The General]

We should have shot it down a long time ago. Every minute we don't is just another moment we look weak. The time to take it out is when it is over low populated areas.

The only thing I could think of that they are worried about (and not to get all here) is what could the balloon be carrying. What about a virus or some disease? I mean it sounds like the basis for some Mission Impossible movie, but anything is possible. If we want to believe this is just one that got away from them, you know other groups that mean America harm are watching and gauging our reaction to it. Weather balloons are extremely cheap to buy--think like $159.00. Now one that cheap has half the altitude capability of the Chinese one, but you can readily bigger ones on-line.

That's the issue. We ARE weak.

How does this make us look weak? The Chinese messed up and a ballon floated over us that people can see. They look chumps.

I know you're one of the government/administration worshippers around here. I am not and I do not give any party or administration the credit that some of you guys do. They are all corrupt. China has great influence over both parties and the administration. No amount of evidence can open your eyes to that, if they haven't been already.

Your commentary aside. How does this make us look weak? We spy on them they spy on us this makes them look like amateurs. People can see this from their backyards.

Do you think this is new thing from China?

The US, seemingly powerless to stop a freakin' balloon from flying through our country's airspace, seems to look weak to me.

This was a mistake by China, do we agree there?

No, here is where we disagree. One time is a mistake, but the Pentagon said this is not the first time this has happened. In fact, it has happened multiple times.

I mean, we play games with our enemies all the time, where we take our jets right up to the line of disputed territories. The Chinese and Russians both do the same thing all the time. However, this is something OVER our country gathering information. This is blatant. I don't know how anyone can say this is okay and we should just let it go--keeping in mind it has happened several times before and that obviously was our response then. When do we say enough--12 times? 15 times? When do you begin to say we should do something?

Why were they not shot down before?

 

[Courtjester]

I’m reminded of how much I don’t miss the political forum.

Why this has been probably the most active thread we have had on here recently? Let's be honest, the FFA has been a snooze fest recently,

 

[Courtjester]

We should have shot it down a long time ago. Every minute we don't is just another moment we look weak. The time to take it out is when it is over low populated areas.

The only thing I could think of that they are worried about (and not to get all here) is what could the balloon be carrying. What about a virus or some disease? I mean it sounds like the basis for some Mission Impossible movie, but anything is possible. If we want to believe this is just one that got away from them, you know other groups that mean America harm are watching and gauging our reaction to it. Weather balloons are extremely cheap to buy--think like $159.00. Now one that cheap has half the altitude capability of the Chinese one, but you can readily bigger ones on-line.

That's the issue. We ARE weak.

How does this make us look weak? The Chinese messed up and a ballon floated over us that people can see. They look chumps.

I know you're one of the government/administration worshippers around here. I am not and I do not give any party or administration the credit that some of you guys do. They are all corrupt. China has great influence over both parties and the administration. No amount of evidence can open your eyes to that, if they haven't been already.

Your commentary aside. How does this make us look weak? We spy on them they spy on us this makes them look like amateurs. People can see this from their backyards.

Do you think this is new thing from China?

The US, seemingly powerless to stop a freakin' balloon from flying through our country's airspace, seems to look weak to me.

This was a mistake by China, do we agree there?

No, here is where we disagree. One time is a mistake, but the Pentagon said this is not the first time this has happened. In fact, it has happened multiple times.

I mean, we play games with our enemies all the time, where we take our jets right up to the line of disputed territories. The Chinese and Russians both do the same thing all the time. However, this is something OVER our country gathering information. This is blatant. I don't know how anyone can say this is okay and we should just let it go--keeping in mind it has happened several times before and that obviously was our response then. When do we say enough--12 times? 15 times? When do you begin to say we should do something?

Why were they not shot down before?

Because we give them a pass and believed it was an honest mistake.

 

[Phil Elliott]

Another one reported over Latin America.
Latin America balloon?

 

[UOFI_316]

Sorry if this was mentioned on page 1, but are we sure this isn't just Balloon Boy Part 2?

 

[The General]

We should have shot it down a long time ago. Every minute we don't is just another moment we look weak. The time to take it out is when it is over low populated areas.

The only thing I could think of that they are worried about (and not to get all here) is what could the balloon be carrying. What about a virus or some disease? I mean it sounds like the basis for some Mission Impossible movie, but anything is possible. If we want to believe this is just one that got away from them, you know other groups that mean America harm are watching and gauging our reaction to it. Weather balloons are extremely cheap to buy--think like $159.00. Now one that cheap has half the altitude capability of the Chinese one, but you can readily bigger ones on-line.

That's the issue. We ARE weak.

How does this make us look weak? The Chinese messed up and a ballon floated over us that people can see. They look chumps.

I know you're one of the government/administration worshippers around here. I am not and I do not give any party or administration the credit that some of you guys do. They are all corrupt. China has great influence over both parties and the administration. No amount of evidence can open your eyes to that, if they haven't been already.

Your commentary aside. How does this make us look weak? We spy on them they spy on us this makes them look like amateurs. People can see this from their backyards.

Do you think this is new thing from China?

The US, seemingly powerless to stop a freakin' balloon from flying through our country's airspace, seems to look weak to me.

This was a mistake by China, do we agree there?

No, here is where we disagree. One time is a mistake, but the Pentagon said this is not the first time this has happened. In fact, it has happened multiple times.

I mean, we play games with our enemies all the time, where we take our jets right up to the line of disputed territories. The Chinese and Russians both do the same thing all the time. However, this is something OVER our country gathering information. This is blatant. I don't know how anyone can say this is okay and we should just let it go--keeping in mind it has happened several times before and that obviously was our response then. When do we say enough--12 times? 15 times? When do you begin to say we should do something?

Why were they not shot down before?

Because we give them a pass and believed it was an honest mistake.

I wouldn’t believe a word the Chinese government says TBH but I understand there is a little dance that needs to be done here in the public eye.

I typically trust our government folks who do this for a living to handle this to consider all the options, present options, and choose a path.

From just the smell test a balloon floating that people are seeing while grilling in their backyards seems like a total **** up on the Chinese.

 

[Runkle]

Don't they have Google Maps in China?

 

[bcat01]

Could the balloon carry a nuke?

 

[the moops]

If this was a Russian balloon, it would be on the ground already.

How's that moops?

Because of shoddy technology?

 

[Don't Toews Me]

Bloomberg - Are you a robot?

Pay wall so I cannot post the full article, but I'll post a few excerpts:

Still, officials believe that the Chinese balloons are able to photograph facilities from different angles than satellites, providing a unique advantage. The one spotted this week was lingering over Idaho and Montana, home to sensitive US nuclear missile silos and research facilities.

The balloons can also be deployed unexpectedly – so that the US has less time to hide assets they are hoping to be kept secret – and often have infrared sensors that provide different information than satellites.

The makers of US spy balloons say their devices have the ability to not only capture images but intercept communications, as well as extend cellular service and the range of drones and other military assets. Experts say they expect the Chinese have similar capabilities.

“It could work in a variety of ways,” said Greg Falco, an aerospace expert at John Hopkins University. “They may have developed a broad spectrum receiver to intercept a variety of bands and were trying to capture side lobes of some comms coming off of a target.”

The balloon spotted this week over Montana was not the first time the US has detected Chinese balloons over their territory – with previous incursions occurring during the Trump Administration.

One top national security official from the administration of former President Donald Trump said none of the Chinese spy balloons were near sensitive sites or had payloads as large as this one appears to carry.

Unlike past cases, this balloon is now lingering over the US mainland, and continuing to move eastward. The balloon initially left US airspace on Monday, only to be detected again Tuesday over northern Idaho. President Joe Biden was briefed that day, and requested his military commanders draw up options to respond.
A senior Canadian official said they and their American counterparts became aware of the balloon as far back as last weekend when it was over Alaska. It was tracked the whole way across Canada before it entered the continental US.

 

[ChiefD]

All Your Questions About the Chinese Balloon Floating Over Kansas City Answered

Just went out and threw a shovel at it.

Sitting in my big oak at the moment. One more beer and I’ll clear it out.

 

[Don't Toews Me]

https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/03/politics/us-monitoring-chinese-balloon/index.html#:~:text=But%20so%20far%2C%20officials%20have,orbit%2C%20which%20China%20already%20uses.

“Why not shoot it down? We have to do the risk-reward here,” a senior defense official said on Thursday. “So the first question is, does it pose a threat, a physical kinetic threat, to individuals in the United States in the US homeland? Our assessment is it does not. Does it pose a threat to civilian aviation? Our assessment is it does not. Does it pose a significantly enhanced threat on the intelligence side? Our best assessment right now is that it does not. So given that profile, we assess the risk of downing it, even if the probability is low in a sparsely populated area of the debris falling and hurting someone or damaging property, that it wasn’t worth it.”

A US official added on Friday to CNN: “This isn’t like ‘Top Gun’ where it just explodes and doesn’t go anywhere. It’s large and it’s metal, it would put hundreds of Americans at risk.”

President Joe Biden was briefed on the balloon’s movements and requested options from his military advisers. And while there was consideration to down the balloon while it was over Montana, the advice was to ultimately not to. The Biden administration acted “immediately” to protect against the collection of sensitive intelligence, an official said on Thursday.

 

[rockaction]

"China is a responsible country and we always act in accordance with international law. We have no intention to violate the territory or airspace of any sovereign country," Mao had said

 

[jamny]

Still, officials believe that the Chinese balloons are able to photograph facilities from different angles than satellites, providing a unique advantage. The one spotted this week was lingering over Idaho and Montana, home to sensitive US nuclear missile silos and research facilities.

That can't be! Dinsy from the internet said there was no benefit from a balloon.

 

[Nathan R. Jessep]

From everything I've been able to gather from a conglomerate of sources, spy balloons are not new, and not even unexpected from any country. We do recon on other countries too. This seems almost like China WANTED us to notice this. As someone upthread mentioned it's near one of our nuclear weapons sites. That is likely not a coincidence, IMHO.

Also of note, the "payload" (whatever crap the balloon is carrying" is reportedly the size of 2-3 school busses, so just shooting it down, at the altitude it's at, could have serious shrapnel implications to people/animals below.

 

[rockaction]

I've been reading the links Faust has provided. Let's try to not get this shut down. It should be easy to agree that the PRC has reckless, dangerous, and abhorrent leadership. Its record on basic human rights is an abomination.

Why fight amongst ourselves? Fight them the best way we can, which is to earn the trust of the billion people in their country not beholden to the current leadership or any other communist leadership entity so that they might be overthrown in due time.

 

[TheWalkmen]

Can’t we just get our own balloons up there and like pull it down with some bungee cords or something?

 

[Nathan R. Jessep]

Can’t we just get our own balloons up there and like pull it down with some bungee cords or something?

My working theory is that if we know that it's there we can feed it whatever information we want. Sort of a guessing game as to what they might be fishing for. Being as it's location may be a giveaway, maybe we give them some stinky bait misinformation.

 

[HellToupee]

This seems almost like China WANTED us to notice this. As someone upthread mentioned it's near one of our nuclear weapons sites. That is likely not a coincidence, IMHO.

This seems like we wanted US to notice this for some reason