US government monitoring suspected Chinese spy balloon over northern states

[AProudLefty]

The United States government is monitoring a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that has been moving over northern states over the past several days.

Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said during a briefing on Thursday afternoon that the U.S. government has detected a high altitude surveillance balloon over the continental United States.

"The United States government has detected and is tracking a high-altitude surveillance balloon that is over the continental United States right now. The U.S. government to include Norad, continues to track and monitor it closely. The balloon is currently traveling at an altitude well above commercial air traffic and does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground. Instances of this kind of balloon activity have been observed previously over the past several years. Once the balloon was detected, the US government acted immediately to protect against the collection of sensitive information," Ryder said.
A senior defense official said that the U.S. government is "confident" that the surveillance balloon belongs to the People's Republic of China.

The defense official said that the balloon was recently over Montana, and said that officials were considering bringing the plane down with military assets, but decided against doing so because of the risks associated.

"You did see reports yesterday of a ground stop at Billings Airport and the mobilization of a number of assets, including F-22. The context for that was that we put some things on station in the event that a decision was made to bring this down while it was over Montana. So we wanted to make sure we were coordinating with civil authorities to empty out the airspace around that potential area. But even with those protective measures taken, it was the judgment of our military commanders that we didn't drive the risk down low enough. So we didn't take the shot," the official said.


https://www.justplainpolitics.com/forum.php
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We need to shoot it down and recover the electronics.

[AProudLefty]

The United States government is monitoring a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that has been moving over northern states over the past several days.

Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said during a briefing on Thursday afternoon that the U.S. government has detected a high altitude surveillance balloon over the continental United States.

"The United States government has detected and is tracking a high-altitude surveillance balloon that is over the continental United States right now. The U.S. government to include Norad, continues to track and monitor it closely. The balloon is currently traveling at an altitude well above commercial air traffic and does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground. Instances of this kind of balloon activity have been observed previously over the past several years. Once the balloon was detected, the US government acted immediately to protect against the collection of sensitive information," Ryder said.
A senior defense official said that the U.S. government is "confident" that the surveillance balloon belongs to the People's Republic of China.

The defense official said that the balloon was recently over Montana, and said that officials were considering bringing the plane down with military assets, but decided against doing so because of the risks associated.

"You did see reports yesterday of a ground stop at Billings Airport and the mobilization of a number of assets, including F-22. The context for that was that we put some things on station in the event that a decision was made to bring this down while it was over Montana. So we wanted to make sure we were coordinating with civil authorities to empty out the airspace around that potential area. But even with those protective measures taken, it was the judgment of our military commanders that we didn't drive the risk down low enough. So we didn't take the shot," the official said.


https://www.justplainpolitics.com/forum.php
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We need to shoot it down and recover the electronics.

[Lionfish]

Maybe a couple of blasts from Brandon's shotgun.

[Lionfish]

dup

[Stone]

It is a round white balloon.

Yep. Know idea why they wont shoot it down. Its a frikkin balloon,..how much damage can it do? Things fall out of the sky every day that have far more potential for causing damage.

[Stone]

What is this buncha Charlie Chan bullshit cobbled together chopsticks tied to a balloon?! Hopefully some little kid with a sling shot takes it down!

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[Lionfish]

Correct. If Trump were in office that thing would have been shredded and sent back to the Chicoms via FedEx.

[Stone]

I think its high time a bunch of unfortunate things begin happening in china.

[Stone]

PERFECT. A balloon head sitting back watching a Chinese balloon like an idiot....

[Stone]

No reason not to shoot it down,....none. Unless they think the Chinese are dropping biological's from the air in balloons. And if they are,........fry those little bastards right after we shoot down the balloon.

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After Chinese balloon enters US airspace, Biden secretary of state postpones trip to China

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/chi...nes-trip-china

[Lionfish]

After Chinese balloon enters US airspace, Biden secretary of state postpones trip to China

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/chi...nes-trip-china

Perhaps that is why the Chinese sent the balloon in the first place.

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