Pentagon announces it is tracking suspected Chinese high altitude spy balloon over the US (Update from Pentagon leak)

JacksBratt · Feb 6, 2023

Nithavela said:
Throw a hissy fit and shoot it down when it's safe.

In their case, safe might mean that there's no chance it falls on the house of an oligarch or member of the military.

I'm Pretty sure that when it was in Canada.. it was over vast wilderness. Montana... same...

I doubt the Canadian government was worried about it landing on anything civilian... Justin doesn't care. He would probably fine the people for having litter in their backyard and triple their "carbon tax", and take their guns... for the good of "people kind".

Desk trauma · Feb 6, 2023

JacksBratt said:
I'm sure that they could have go a couple of "good ole boys" to take it out for a couple of beers and a basket of chicken wings and fries.

How?

RocksInMyHead · Feb 6, 2023

JacksBratt said:
"But Trump" alert... insert flashing lights and sirens here...

Pretty sure Marco Rubio started that one by claiming that this never would have been allowed under Trump.

Aryeh Jay · Feb 6, 2023

Desk trauma said:
How?

What, you don't have a radar guided surface to air missile system at your house?

RocksInMyHead · Feb 6, 2023

JacksBratt said:
I'm sure that they could of go a couple of "good ole boys" to take it out for a couple of beers and a basket of chicken wings and fries.

None of the "good ol' boys" I know own vehicles and/or weapons that could shoot down a balloon 12 miles up.

wing2000 · Feb 6, 2023

JacksBratt said:
Even still... it's a big middle finger to the US and Canada military and internal security, to let a communist country float a sophisticated electronic device over the land... and feel worried letting the public know and shooting it down.

...more so than the Chinese spy satellites that fly regularly over the United States?

wing2000 · Feb 6, 2023

...meanwhile, China has owned up to another 'off-course' balloon over Colombia:

Ms Mao told reporters the second balloon had "deviated greatly" from its intended route, citing the aircraft's "limited manoeuvrability" and the weather conditions.
"The unmanned airship in question that came from China is of a civilian nature and used for flight tests," she added.

"China is a responsible country and has always strictly abided by international law in order to inform and properly deal with all parties concerned, without posing any threat to any country."

At the weekend, Colombia's air force said an object with "characteristics similar to those of a balloon" had been detected on 3 February in the country's airspace at above 55,000ft.
Colombia said it had followed the object until it left the airspace, adding that it did not represent a threat to national security.

Second balloon over Latin America is ours - China

A Chinese spokeswoman says the aircraft is for civilian use, but "deviated" from its intended route.

www.bbc.com

Aldebaran · Feb 6, 2023

wing2000 said:
...more so than the Chinese spy satellites that fly regularly over the United States?

If those are so great, then they didn't need to attach one to a balloon to fly closer to the surface while attached to a balloon while hovering over our military installations.

SimplyMe · Feb 6, 2023

JacksBratt said:
Even still... it's a big middle finger to the US and Canada military and internal security, to let a communist country float a sophisticated electronic device over the land... and feel worried letting the public know and shooting it down.

It's always interesting to play the game in opposite mode. What would China, Russia, Iran, North Korea or even Israel do if someone floated such a device over their air space?

You realize we've (the US) has been doing it for decades, over half a century? Apparently we did have a similar balloon program, at one time, but it was scrapped in favor of other programs. We've had the U2, the SR-71, allegedly there is an SR-71 replacement out there that is still classified, not to mention spy satellites, and more recently, drones. There are also the planes and ships, loaded with electronic "spy" equipment," that don't overfly a foreign power but fly close to the border -- but their electronic packages allow them to spy from that position.

Like the US, they have tended to "ignore" them, at least officially -- unless they manage to shoot one down (Russia with the U2, North Korea with the Pueblo, Iran with a drone) when it becomes big news that they captured US spy equipment (and possibly military who were operating it).

essentialsaltes · Feb 6, 2023

Pentagon says it had ‘an awareness gap’ that led to failure to detect 3 Chinese balloons under Trump

“Every day as a NORAD commander, it’s my responsibility to detect threats to North America. I will tell you that we did not detect those threats,” Gen. Glen VanHerck, commander of US Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command said when asked about the three other balloons.

“And that’s a domain awareness gap that we have to figure out, but I don’t want to go into further detail.”

VanHerck added that the intelligence community after the fact was able to gather intelligence “from additional means that made us aware of those balloons that were previously approaching North America or transited North America.”

RDKirk · Feb 6, 2023

SimplyMe said:
You realize we've (the US) has been doing it for decades, over half a century? Apparently we did have a similar balloon program, at one time, but it was scrapped in favor of other programs. We've had the U2, the SR-71, allegedly there is an SR-71 replacement out there that is still classified, not to mention spy satellites, and more recently, drones. There are also the planes and ships, loaded with electronic "spy" equipment," that don't overfly a foreign power but fly close to the border -- but their electronic packages allow them to spy from that position.

Like the US, they have tended to "ignore" them, at least officially -- unless they manage to shoot one down (Russia with the U2, North Korea with the Pueblo, Iran with a drone) when it becomes big news that they captured US spy equipment (and possibly military who were operating it).

Yes, 70 years ago we did have a reconnaissance baloon program over the USSR. It was a dismal failure, however. At the time we didn't have a clue where important facilities were, and the USSR was a very big country. The balloons were hostage to wind patterns, and most of them simply crashed in the USSR.

After the USSR shot down a U-2 over their landmass, President Eisenhower promised never to fly an unauthorized reconnaissance aircraft over the USSR again.

That was right after we had brought back our first satellite imagery of the USSR.

wing2000 · Feb 6, 2023

Aldebaran said:
If those are so great, then they didn't need to attach one to a balloon to fly closer to the surface while attached to a balloon while hovering over our military installations.

Maybe some day we will find out eh?

JacksBratt · Feb 6, 2023

wing2000 said:
...more so than the Chinese spy satellites that fly regularly over the United States?

I believe that all the power group countries have satellites flying around that take far more accurate pictures.

However, there is a difference in someone across the lake with a telescope, looking at you on the beach.. and..... someone parking their boat ten feet from the shore and pulling out a 35 mm digital camera with a zoom lens...

It's "I'm here... I'm in your face... what'cha gunna do bout it"?

They came into our backyards, tramped all over the rose bushes... and stood back to see what we would do.

Canada... did nothing.. all hush hush... don't tell anyone. Cause.... Justin " admires and envies China for their dictatorship" (Yep, his own narcissistic words)

The US would have done the same until someone saw it and, thanks to social media.. it went viral.

Then, the military went "Oh crap, they know... we should shoot it down"
Biden said "No, (insert your reason why here)"
Then they waited until it was over the ocean so their excuse of "we can't let it fall on anyone" didn't work anymore.

Now, China is really mad... Seriously?

This is the attitude of a bully.

Canada and the US are being pushed around, dared and bullied by China.... It's like a bad 80's movie...

Still the best reality TV right now.

JacksBratt · Feb 6, 2023

SimplyMe said:
You realize we've (the US) has been doing it for decades, over half a century? Apparently we did have a similar balloon program, at one time, but it was scrapped in favor of other programs. We've had the U2, the SR-71, allegedly there is an SR-71 replacement out there that is still classified, not to mention spy satellites, and more recently, drones. There are also the planes and ships, loaded with electronic "spy" equipment," that don't overfly a foreign power but fly close to the border -- but their electronic packages allow them to spy from that position.

Like the US, they have tended to "ignore" them, at least officially -- unless they manage to shoot one down (Russia with the U2, North Korea with the Pueblo, Iran with a drone) when it becomes big news that they captured US spy equipment (and possibly military who were operating it).

I'm glad for the information... But, I still think that if the US sent a balloon like this, over China:

1/ It would never be known to us minions
2/ It would have been taken out one mile into the country
3/ China would have been on the phone to the pentagon asking what they think they are trying to prove.
4/ There would be staunch words of warning if it was to happen again.

It's the whole... "in your face" thing.. China... wouldn't stand for it.

They are a nation of honor... they severely dishonored us.

RDKirk · Feb 6, 2023

wing2000 said:
Maybe some day we will find out eh?

TBH, other nations don't really need tremendously good overhead photography of the US. Commercial overhead coverage is pretty good, and they can supplement that almost everywhere in the US by people with handheld cameras and telephoto lenses.

What they could have gotten from a balloon drifting across the country was correctly estimated as irrelevant. OPSEC rules would dictate that any sensitive activities were covered up or shut down as they tracked the balloon drifting toward them.

More important is long-term surveillance--watching the seasonal operations flow--and that can't be done by a balloon.

JacksBratt · Feb 6, 2023

essentialsaltes said:
Pentagon says it had ‘an awareness gap’ that led to failure to detect 3 Chinese balloons under Trump

“Every day as a NORAD commander, it’s my responsibility to detect threats to North America. I will tell you that we did not detect those threats,” Gen. Glen VanHerck, commander of US Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command said when asked about the three other balloons.

“And that’s a domain awareness gap that we have to figure out, but I don’t want to go into further detail.”

VanHerck added that the intelligence community after the fact was able to gather intelligence “from additional means that made us aware of those balloons that were previously approaching North America or transited North America.”

Well, that's reassuring.... They can't spot a balloon..

Isn't that kinda like a goalie that can't stop a beach ball?

wing2000 · Feb 6, 2023

JacksBratt said:
believe that all the power group countries have satellites flying around that take far more accurate pictures.

However, there is a difference in someone across the lake with a telescope, looking at you on the beach.. and..... someone parking their boat ten feet from the shore and pulling out a 35 mm digital camera with a zoom lens...

From an intel perspective, I question what the Chinese could have gathered from 65,000 feet vs a satellite. I recall one report noted the balloon could potentially intercept communications....however, the US military already takes communication security seriously...and would have taken even more steps as the balloon approached military installations.

But maybe your point speaks more to the Chinese intent....

JacksBratt said:
It's "I'm here... I'm in your face... what'cha gunna do bout it"?

IMO, I suspect whomever is running this balloon recon program in China....screwed up resulting in the US canceling a visit by the US Sec of State. That's an embarrassing blow for the Chinese leaders.

JacksBratt · Feb 6, 2023

wing2000 said:
From an intel perspective, I question what the Chinese could have gathered from 65,000 feet vs a satellite. I recall one report noted the balloon could potentially intercept communications....however, the US military already takes communication security seriously...and would have taken even more steps as the balloon approached military installations.

But maybe your point speaks more to the Chinese intent....

IMO, I suspect whomever is running this balloon recon program in China....screwed up resulting in the US canceling a visit by the US Sec of State. That's an embarrassing blow for the Chinese leaders.

I believe it is an event that goes down a rabbit hole that we are not ever going to fully understand.

I know, for me, it reinforces the weakness of our government leaders.. If it wasn't already apparent that they both love China.. this puts a gold star on it.

I am mostly ashamed of our leader. But, Justin Trudeau is so brainwashed that he loves doing the work of the WEF, George Soros and the Aga Kahn.
He is so hated by his people that, after losing seats in the last election, he had to join forces with the next minority party in order to stop another election.

I hope we can get rid of him before he does some real damage that the country never recovers from.

Tuur · Feb 6, 2023

wing2000 said:
...one wonders where was the "concern" by Rubio and Cruz then?

To be concerned you have to know it happened.

Tuur · Feb 6, 2023

wing2000 said:
...more so than the Chinese spy satellites that fly regularly over the United States?

This gets into an issue I remember from childhood, but not a definite resolution:: How far up does a nation's air space go? High enough to orbit seems to be the equivalent of International Waters on the seas. Unless a satellite is in a geosynchronous orbit, It's going to pass over all sorts of nations. I'm assuming that all nations hide the goodies when a suspected spy satellite orbits over.

A spy balloon is far lower. It's one thing to park a spy ship out in international waters, quite another to sail it into port. Supposedly they can be harder to detect. Supposedly.

We hope the site problems here are now solved, however, if you still have any issues, please start a ticket in Contact Us

Pentagon announces it is tracking suspected Chinese high altitude spy balloon over the US (Update from Pentagon leak)

Searching for Truth

[redacted]

God is innocent; Noah built on a floodplain!

Stuck on a ship.

God is innocent; Noah built on a floodplain!

E pluribus unum

E pluribus unum

NCC-1701-A

Senior Veteran

Fact-Based Lifeform

Pentagon says it had ‘an awareness gap’ that led to failure to detect 3 Chinese balloons under Trump​

Alien, Pilgrim, and Sojourner

E pluribus unum

Searching for Truth

Searching for Truth

Alien, Pilgrim, and Sojourner

Searching for Truth

Pentagon says it had ‘an awareness gap’ that led to failure to detect 3 Chinese balloons under Trump​

E pluribus unum

Searching for Truth

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Similar threads

Pentagon says it had ‘an awareness gap’ that led to failure to detect 3 Chinese balloons under Trump

Pentagon says it had ‘an awareness gap’ that led to failure to detect 3 Chinese balloons under Trump