Chinese balloon shot down

[The African Emirates]

HEH, I guess a lil late then never. A competent prez/military leader would have had it shot down before it reached the continental mainland.

mfw after shooting down a spy balloon my subordinates tell me it "had American citizens on it", was a "hot-air balloon" and that I now "have their blood on my hands".

Can't I just stop the commies in peace for God's sake?

[Cannot think of a name]

HEH, I guess a lil late then never. A competent prez/military leader would have had it shot down before it reached the continental mainland.

Hacky right wing commentary having let it pass to where it can be safely destroyed: Biden/America is weak, should have shot it down immediately.

If it had been shot down immediately: Biden/America is weak, terrified of balloon.

[Fortisbellator]

Yes, the US was right for taking down a spy device, why wouldn't they be?

The US shoots first and thinks last. Or should I say does everything controversial first and thinks last.

[Cannot think of a name]

Yes, the US was right for taking down a spy device, why wouldn't they be?

The US shoots first and thinks last. Or should I say does everything controversial first and thinks last.

If we 'shot first' this would have ended yesterday.

[Senkaku]

Well, when was the last time we had an actual Chinese weather balloon drift into our airspace?

"Instances of this kind of balloon activity have been observed previously over the past several years."

So whether it's a weather balloon or a spy balloon (since the statement is hardly that descriptive), I think the question has to be-- why is the Pentagon disclosing so much information about it now? They could've just let it be another mass UFO sighting and wait for it to die down, it's not like it would be the first unexplained object to have civilians film it or point telescopes at it.

Have previous balloons been shot down without us knowing? Have they been allowed to pass through US airspace unmolested, without DoD ever alerting the public? Does DoD actually think all of "this kind of balloon activity" are surveillance aircraft, or is that weasel-wording to justify seizing on a harmless weather balloon, of a type they've previously identified and considered to be so harmless as to not bother informing the public, to create an international incident? Between this statement and the second balloon having been spotted, I'm inclined to think they probably are spy devices, but the fact that they've apparently been covering up "instances of this kind of activity" for "the past several years" doesn't really make me want to trust whatever findings they publish about the downed balloon that may prove it to have non-meteorological equipment.

The simplest explanation, regardless of the nature of its payload, is still that DoD saw a chance to use a random insignificant incident to fuck State over and claw some influence in Cabinet away, and that most of this story is a nothingburger. Honestly, the most significant part to me seems to be the extent to which the Pentagon is permitted to conduct its own totally independent media operations, with seemingly no civilian oversight. Why would it take years to inform the public that we're being spied on by objects intruding in our airspace?

[Senkaku]

"Instances of this kind of balloon activity have been observed previously over the past several years."

So whether it's a weather balloon or a spy balloon (since the statement is hardly that descriptive), I think the question has to be-- why is the Pentagon disclosing so much information about it now? They could've just let it be another mass UFO sighting and wait for it to die down, it's not like it would be the first unexplained object to have civilians film it or point telescopes at it.

Have previous balloons been shot down without us knowing? Have they been allowed to pass through US airspace unmolested, without DoD ever alerting the public? Does DoD actually think all of "this kind of balloon activity" are surveillance aircraft, or is that weasel-wording to justify seizing on a harmless weather balloon, of a type they've previously identified and considered to be so harmless as to not bother informing the public, to create an international incident? Between this statement and the second balloon having been spotted, I'm inclined to think they probably are spy devices, but the fact that they've apparently been covering up "instances of this kind of activity" for "the past several years" doesn't really make me want to trust whatever findings they publish about the downed balloon that may prove it to have non-meteorological equipment.

The simplest explanation, regardless of the nature of its payload, is still that DoD saw a chance to use a random insignificant incident to fuck State over and claw some influence in Cabinet away, and that most of this story is a nothingburger. Honestly, the most significant part to me seems to be the extent to which the Pentagon is permitted to conduct its own totally independent media operations, with seemingly no civilian oversight. Why would it take years to inform the public that we're being spied on by objects intruding in our airspace?

That reads to me that they've detected other spy balloons before. Spy balloons repeatedly appearing in our airspace doesn't seem like much of a nothingburger to me.

They weren't worried about it then, they didn't inform the public about it then-- what's so special about this moment that the Pentagon deigns to inform us of what's going on in our own airspace? What's special is that State was taking point on a big diplomatic summit intended to stabilize this period of rising tension between the two powers; obviously hawks at DoD and their political pets/masters (depending on who) wanted to rain on their parade. What better way than by disclosing all this information to the public now, and letting the media do the heavy lifting of forcing the administration to postpone the summit and lodge protests that will gum up future diplomatic efforts? Their hands are clean, the "doves" (which atp just means anyone still willing to negotiate on or talk about anything, it seems) look like fools, and anti-China sentiment in the public continues to rise. If they keep this sort of politicking up, they'll get the war they want so badly sooner rather than later. They fulfill the goals of bureaucratic empire-building and of their imperialist ideology of Sinophobia with one stroke.

[Senkaku]

They weren't worried about it then, they didn't inform the public about it then-- what's so special about this moment that the Pentagon deigns to inform us of what's going on in our own airspace? What's special is that State was taking point on a big diplomatic summit intended to stabilize this period of rising tension between the two powers; obviously hawks at DoD and their political pets/masters (depending on who) wanted to rain on their parade. What better way than by disclosing all this information to the public now, and letting the media do the heavy lifting of forcing the administration to postpone the summit and lodge protests that will gum up future diplomatic efforts?

Yeah, I think you're reading this more from a conspiracy perspective.

It's hardly a conspiracy to suggest that rival bureaucratic organizations with fundamentally different outlooks might sometimes clash and try to undermine each other. Clashes between natsec people and State have been a cliché since at least the Carter administration.

Whether the Pentagon is exploiting it or not, the Chinese violating our airspace with impunity while conducting espionage seems to be a massive violation of our sovereignty. They've spent years now conducting corporate espionage, hacking into our companies and gathering personal information on American citizens, and stealing our technology.

Which is all very bad, and one hopes our counterintelligence efforts have improved-- I'm not, and never have been, questioning whether we were within our rights to take the balloon down. I'm questioning the timing of the disclosure that we've been being ballooned for "the past several years." I don't know how to make that more clear to you, but since you insist on reading everything anyone here writes in the worst possible faith, I don't think I'm going to continue trying after this.

And anyway, the cancelation of one meeting with Blinken isn't going to lead to war.

The point is not that this one meeting will lead to war; the point is that there is clearly a locus of power within the national security state that's seeking to undermine diplomatic efforts with China and to stir up anti-Chinese sentiment in the public, and which is willing to sabotage civilian political leaders to do it. The cancelation of one meeting won't lead to war by itself, but represents part of the chain of incidents which eventually will (if left unchecked).

So, as far as I'm concerned, fuck China.

And fortunately for the hawks, the American public is already primed for this sort of sentiment.

[Rusozak]

They weren't worried about it then, they didn't inform the public about it then-- what's so special about this moment that the Pentagon deigns to inform us of what's going on in our own airspace? What's special is that State was taking point on a big diplomatic summit intended to stabilize this period of rising tension between the two powers; obviously hawks at DoD and their political pets/masters (depending on who) wanted to rain on their parade. What better way than by disclosing all this information to the public now, and letting the media do the heavy lifting of forcing the administration to postpone the summit and lodge protests that will gum up future diplomatic efforts?

Yeah, I think you're reading this more from a conspiracy perspective.

Whether the Pentagon is exploiting it or not, the Chinese violating our airspace with impunity while conducting espionage seems to be a massive violation of our sovereignty. They've spent years now conducting corporate espionage, hacking into our companies and gathering personal information on American citizens, and stealing our technology.

And anyway, the cancelation of one meeting with Blinken isn't going to lead to war. So, as far as I'm concerned, fuck China.

The polarization within this country has automatically turned it into a political no-win scenario. I guarantee if it was immediately shot down, Biden would have been criticized as a reckless warmonger who endangered Americans and "attacked rural America" with Chinese balloon debris.

And maybe, just maybe, The Chinese were counting on this. Interference in our elections by foreign actors is a known issue. For all we know, part of the purpose of these balloons is to present these no-win scenarios to undermine Biden. They want another GOP puppet in 2024.

[Christian Confederation]

Guess Area 52 is going to be an off shore platform.

[Greater Miami Shores 3]

The decision was not made by Biden. It was from the Department. Despite the fact that he may have approved it.

I second your post.

[Greater Miami Shores 3]

I definitely think it should have been shot down earlier, perhaps over flyover country. But every Faux News commentator or domestic terrorist with a political office and an (R) after their name calling for Biden's blood makes me only want to support Biden even harder.

Thank you for sharing your opinions with me and all of US. I know how we think on the issues, so I do speak for me, for them and for us, GMS Crazy Cuban Alberto, with Pride and Honor, with Pic Provided. lol, We want the balloon shot down as fast as possible, we don't trust China. I think it does not and did not have a virus of any kind, because that would be a declaration of war of China against the USA and the USA against China. GMS, Republicans, Republican Politicians, President Trump, President Ronald Reagan and Governor Ron DeSantis are not R Terrorists of any kind, we are Proud US American Patriot Citizens of the USA, with Pride and Honor. Just ask me and ask US? Criticizing Democrats and Biden Politically, makes Me GMS and us want to support them criticizing Democrats and Biden ever Harder, it works both ways in reverse, in Politics, everything works both ways in reverse, this is a Fact. I know to your credit you have not called us Fascist Nazis, but many of them have called us Fascist Nazis, even evil Fascist Nazis, which we are not, they should just ask me and ask US? Repeated for emphasis: Thank you for sharing your opinions with me and all of US. I know how we think on the issues, so I do speak for me, for them and for us, GMS Crazy Cuban Alberto, with Pride and Honor, with Pic Provided.

[Great American United States]

So, as far as I'm concerned, fuck China.

This line, and the rest of your post, sum up my opinion.

While we’re at it, any social media platform that China is observed to have driven its tendrils into should be banned. And if that means all of them, so be it.

[Greater Miami Shores 3]

So, as far as I'm concerned, fuck China.

This line, and the rest of your post, sum up my opinion.

While we’re at it, any social media platform that China is observed to have driven its tendrils into should be banned. And if that means all of them, so be it.

I GMS with Pic Provided, don't cuss, but I strongly support your China Balloon statements.

[El Lazaro]

This line, and the rest of your post, sum up my opinion.

While we’re at it, any social media platform that China is observed to have driven its tendrils into should be banned. And if that means all of them, so be it.

I GMS with Pic Provided, don't cuss, but I strongly support your China Balloon statements.

How much money would you have to be paid to cuss?

[Greater Miami Shores 3]

I GMS with Pic Provided, don't cuss, but I strongly support your China Balloon statements.

How much money would you have to be paid to cuss?

GMS the Dude with Pride and Honor, with the Pic Provided on my nation's Flag, RMBs, TGs, and Posts, stating Make Cuba Great Again. Since you asked and only since you asked, $ 0, because I GMS Alberto don't Cuss, with Pride and Honor.

[El Lazaro]

How much money would you have to be paid to cuss?

GMS the Dude with Pride and Honor, with the Pic Provided on my nation's Flag, RMBs, TGs, and Posts, stating Make Cuba Great Again. Since you asked and only since you asked, $ 0, because I GMS Alberto don't Cuss, with Pride and Honor.

What if not cussing meant 1000 balloons would fly over the US without being shot down?

[Soveiniesberg]

Was the balloon a really shitty show-of-force?

[El Lazaro]

Was the balloon a really shitty show-of-force?

Afaik no, there was no fecal matter involved. Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong.

[Greater Miami Shores 3]

GMS the Dude with Pride and Honor, with the Pic Provided on my nation's Flag, RMBs, TGs, and Posts, stating Make Cuba Great Again. Since you asked and only since you asked, $ 0, because I GMS Alberto don't Cuss, with Pride and Honor.

What if not cussing meant 1000 balloons would fly over the US without being shot down?

Your scenario is not politically realistic for China, Russia, Cuba or any nation, shoot down the China Spy balloon or the China laughing at us balloon as fast as possible, supported by Republican President Trump of the USA of America, GMS and All Republican Patriots of the USA, with Pride and Honor. Pic Provided.

[Perikuresu]

this entire balloon situation was just meme material at best

[El Lazaro]

What if not cussing meant 1000 balloons would fly over the US without being shot down?

Your scenario is not politically realistic for China, Russia, Cuba or any nation, shoot down the China Spy balloon or the China laughing at us balloon as fast as possible, supported by Republican President Trump of the USA of America, GMS and Republican Patriots of the USA, with Pride and Honor. Pic Provided.

This is a hypothetical. I’m asking how you’d respond if it was true.

[Greater Miami Shores 3]

this entire balloon situation was just meme material at best

and China is laughing politically at us for our reactions to it, even as they strongly complain against us and might retaliate against us for shooting the balloon down, but they are still laughing at us, LoL . I use the word Pics which is what they are, I hate the word Memes, it sounds ugly too me.

GMS Alberto the Dude with Pic Provided and with Pride and Honor on all my views, posts and Facts.

[Great American United States]

this entire balloon situation was just meme material at best

and China is laughing politically at us for our reactions to it, even as they strongly complain against us and might retaliate against us for shooting the balloon down, but they are still laughing at us, LoL . I use the word Pics which is what they are, I hate the word Memes, it sounds ugly too me.

GMS Alberto the Dude with Pic Provided and with Pride and Honor on all my views, posts and Facts.

Why are they laughing?

[El Lazaro]

and China is laughing politically at us for our reactions to it, even as they strongly complain against us and might retaliate against us for shooting the balloon down, but they are still laughing at us, LoL . I use the word Pics which is what they are, I hate the word Memes, it sounds ugly too me.

GMS Alberto the Dude with Pic Provided and with Pride and Honor on all my views, posts and Facts.

Why are they laughing?

I think it is mostly likely because they found something funny.

[Greater Miami Shores 3]

and China is laughing politically at us for our reactions to it, even as they strongly complain against us and might retaliate against us for shooting the balloon down, but they are still laughing at us, LoL . I use the word Pics which is what they are, I hate the word Memes, it sounds ugly too me.

GMS Alberto the Dude with Pic Provided and with Pride and Honor on all my views, posts and Facts.

Why are they laughing?

I mean, in their view, they are making fools of us, by our reactions to it. Remember there is the argument that it passed at a time when Secretary of State Blinken was to depart for China to improve US China diplomatic relations and in there view, making fools of us, by our reactions to it, even without secretary of State Blinken's visit to China.