Pentagon tracking suspected Chinese spy balloon over the US

Korab said:
The suggestion that trump was going to start a war with China for political gain is total nonsense. You seem not to an issue with the military being de facto in control of this nation instead of the elected CiC when it’s someone whose politics you don’t like. I wonder if you would feel the same way about the current CIC being deemed not fit (what s stretch) and bypassed by the military?
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I am speculating on what may have happened before based on what I know so far. Like a historian might. This whole balloon thing is quite interesting.

I don’t think you will find a post of mine where I am making a value judgement on any potus from either party or our military and this balloon Issue.. So you must be a mind reader as to how I feel or what I think..

What is your theory or are you still stuck on shame and embarrassment?

I do not believe our military is that incompetent to not spot a very large slow moving bright white object slowly floating over US territory.

I also do not believe that the former potus or MTG are lying when they say they don’t know a thing about it.

Fascinating very topical issue
 
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Small Team Bacsi said:
I am speculating on what may have happened before based on what I know so far. Like a historian might. This whole balloon thing is quite interesting.

I don’t think you will find a post of mine where I am making a value judgement on any potus from either party or our military and this balloon Issue.. So you must be a mind reader as to how I feel or what I think..

What is your theory or are you still stuck on shame and embarrassment?

I do not believe our military is that incompetent to not spot a very large slow moving bright white object slowly floating over US territory.

I also do not believe that the former potus or MTG are lying when they say they don’t know a thing about it.

Fascinating very topical issue
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Lol. Like a historian. Here’s another theory - the administration is lying about previous flights to provide cover for the blowback it received from the public for doing nothing for a week. I’m curious how the military could not detect the alleged previous flights as they occurred, but now knows exactly when and where they occurred.

I don’t know exactly what happened, but all these stories from the current administration stink to high heaven. And if we have learned anything from the past decade, it’s that the party line out of Washington can’t be trusted.

Sure, you’re being apolitical about this, but have constantly pushed trump, and now MTG, into this. Why those two instead of the multiple administration figures who say the same thing? MTG wasn’t even elected until 2020.

So which do you think happened? Whether it’s incompetence, usurpation of power, or lies, the electorate loses.
 
Both parties are trying to politicize this flight and previous balloon flights. My guess is that the professionals in the military don't consider these balloons to be much of a security threat. It's has only become an issue now because this balloon was so visible. Certainly nothing compared to Chinese operatives stealing the complete plans for the F-35 and other fiascos.

We have A LOT more to worry about vis-a-vis the Chinese than balloon flights. For example, how to deter China from invading Taiwan - - and - - what will be our plan if they do. Is Taiwan really worth WWIII? Of course not, so let's prevent that from happening.
 
UHBlackhawk said:
www.reuters.com

U.S. briefed 40 nations on China spy balloon incident, diplomats and official say

China has said it was a weather balloon that had blown off course into U.S. airspace and accused the United States of over-reacting.
www.reuters.com www.reuters.com
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Now, tell me one more time who's embarrassed:

In the briefings in Beijing, the United States presented information to demonstrate that the balloon, which entered U.S. airspace in the last days of January and flew over U.S. military sites, was not a weather research balloon as Beijing said but an airship that was used for espionage, said diplomats in Beijing who attended the discussions.

Washington said the balloon was controlled by the Chinese military, the People's Liberation Army.

The diplomats at the Beijing briefing said they were told that the solar panels on the balloon meant that it needed more power than a weather balloon, and that its flight path did not conform with natural wind patterns. U.S. officials have said the balloon was equipped with rudders and propellers.

"Based on the U.S. briefing, our own understanding about such balloons and the fact that China has so far refused to name the company or entity that owns this balloon, we find it hard to believe it is a civilian weather balloon," said a Beijing-based Asian defense diplomat.
 
NJROTC-CC said:
Both parties are trying to politicize this flight and previous balloon flights. My guess is that the professionals in the military don't consider these balloons to be much of a security threat. It's has only become an issue now because this balloon was so visible. Certainly nothing compared to Chinese operatives stealing the complete plans for the F-35 and other fiascos.

We have A LOT more to worry about vis-a-vis the Chinese than balloon flights. For example, how to deter China from invading Taiwan - - and - - what will be our plan if they do. Is Taiwan really worth WWIII? Of course not, so let's prevent that from happening.
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You may be very correct.

But do not discard how important often seemingly unimportant events become as far as war. And it’s often about domestic politics and pressures and bluffing and posturing not so much the facts on the ground.

The Tonkin gulf issue , which led to a decades long war, was not about a NVNavy attacking our Naval ships which if true was a major provacation , it was about some US sailor thinking our ships were under attack.

7 long years after we were still fighting.
 

Leadership

www.norad.mil

Not sure this has been posted or not. But the actual on the record briefing by General VanHerck who is in charge of NORAD.

5 times and counting.

3 times under Trump 2 times under Biden ( another balloon working it’s way north presently )
 
Small Team Bacsi said:

Leadership

www.norad.mil

Not sure this has been posted or not. But the actual on the record briefing by General VanHerck who is in charge of NORAD.

5 times and counting.

3 times under Trump 2 times under Biden ( another balloon working it’s way north presently )
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From the sounds of it, no one was aware that the Chinese were using balloons to spy on the US until the intell community found out and passed it on some time after the inauguration. Makes it a little more disconcerting that this was going on and we initially had no idea due to a “detection” gap.
 
UHBlackhawk said:
From the sounds of it, no one was aware that the Chinese were using balloons to spy on the US until the intell community found out and passed it on some time after the inauguration. Makes it a little more disconcerting that this was going on and we initially had no idea due to a “detection” gap.
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I’d never claim on a SA forum that a 4 star general was lying in his public statements but his statement may be one of protection or cover in the interest of national security and to protect those who were not informed at the time..

Its much more likely IMO that our technology was good enough to spot these bright white very large slow moving balloons, the kind civilians and cnn can spot, that moved very slowly.

but the military did not think this info was worth passing on to,potus who was busy in his re-election campaign at the time.

I believe the military knew at the time. That makes more sense than some kind of retroactive technology. I believe the Biden officials were told as soon as they took office. Or even before.

And I believe this is why the former potus and MTG knew nothing about these balloons.

This is not original with me a GOP Rep on the AF committee has already publicly stated he thinks this is what

Those who serve Principals like an admiral or a,potus often have to decide what info get pushed forward for the Principal to deal with and what info they keep in house. For national security reasons I think they kept this one to themselves.

then told the new admin asap.
 
www.nytimes.com

U.S. Shoots Down High-Altitude Object Over Alaska (Published 2023)

The incident comes less than a week after a U.S. fighter jet brought down a Chinese spy balloon over the Atlantic during a diplomatic crisis.
www.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com

I am not sure how big the 3 balloons that arrived during the previous admin were.

I am not sure how big the one was that “crashed” off Hawaii.

But the one shot down the other daybwas so big as to carry a load as big as 3 buses.

This one shot down over Alaska just now was as big as a small car. This is a new one. Or new something.
 
I think overall, discussing this topic on this forum isn't totally out of bounds in terms of helping candidates. After all, if they decide to apply, and then accept an appointment, and commission, they could very well be in those aircraft, launching those missiles. They could be on the bridge of the ship they launch off of. I know it is discussed with my son and fellow MIDN, and has come up in conversations with an officer mentor of his.

I can only think that this is more of a message. We can do this, and do it repeatedly. If this is occupying our time and airwaves, what other things are going on that we could miss? The classic diversion tactic. It's also scary that we could be baited into something we don't want to bite. I really hope cooler/smarter heads prevail here.

It is very important to me that we react appropriately and protect our airspace, without elevating this to something no sane human on this planet wants, WWIII.

I do think this might increase our willingness to stay ready to defend our homeland, it's been water cooler conversation everywhere and that means the general population might be paying attention. Doesn't mean they understand the nuances, not sure anyone can considering we don't know the source of the other 2, but I would be happy if more people paid attention to real-life events both CONUS and OCONUS, and less time on social media. Might help if they read a book every now and then.
 
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