Posted on 02/02/2023 9:10:13 PM PST by SeekAndFind
On Thursday afternoon the Pentagon announced that a “high altitude surveillance balloon” had been located over the continental United States over the last two days, and that steps had been taken to ensure that sensitive military and government information was not at risk of being intercepted, but that the balloon was still drifting over the country. While the official didn’t state which country the Pentagon believes owns this weapon of war, a “senior official” said they’re “confident” it belongs to China.
Many excuses have been given about why the balloon hasn’t been intercepted or shot down, and now Bill Melugin of Fox News reports that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is requesting a “Gang of Eight” briefing on the issue.
NEW: House Speaker Kevin McCarthy says he is requesting a Gang of Eight briefing re: the Chinese spy balloon over the continental US. @FoxNews
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) February 3, 2023
The “Gang of Eight” are the eight members of Congress who are briefed on classified intelligence matters by the Executive Branch, specifically, the leaders of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees, and the Republican and Democrat leaders of the House and Senate. Currently, that would be McCarthy, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH), Rep. Jim Hines (D-CT), Sen. Marco Rubio, Sen. Mark Warner, Sen. Mitch McConnell, and Sen. Chuck Schumer. It’s extremely consequential that Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) is no longer eligible to receive this briefing.
In our original story we reported that a “senior official” confirmed to Fox News that the US government is confident that the spy balloon belongs to the CCP/PRC. That same senior official provided the outlet with additional information about the its location and actions taken by the military:
“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.
A separate source told Fox News that the military is considering a number of options regarding how to “deal” with the balloon, including shooting it down if it’s believed there would not be civilian casualties.
This isn’t the first time such a balloon has entered US airspace, sources said, adding that “They’re trying to fly this balloon over sensitive sites, one of which was just mentioned to collect information,” but that it’s likely not collecting “information of significant value” to the CCP.
Jesse Watters reported that the balloon first went over Alaska then into Canadian airspace before entering the United States.
Jesse Watters questions why Canada didn't alert the US about the Chinese spy balloon:
"Trudeau is probably too worried about the truckers." pic.twitter.com/2MvlVLJgYR
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) February 3, 2023
Put it in a Faraday Cage and deflate it slowly to a soft landing.
What kind of altitude is it floating along at?
Have we no Patriot missiles we can fly up to Montana?
Anything with a laser?
Oh boy. Hakeeeeeem and Chuck You.
Peachy keen.
How about a bi-plane with some guy with a shotgun in the back seat?
40k, reportedly. Above commercial air lanes.
We won’t shoot it down because it might have illegal aliens crossing our borders or it might have Joe’s most recent 10% off the top
.
Just borrow the “hook” from the Apollo Theater and grab the friggin thing and bring it down.
Oh, I can imagine. The CCP and the media are going to have to find another leaker.
Personally I'd opt for announcing that the country owning the balloon needs to announce it now or it goes down. You don't fly so much as an airliner over somebody's territory without permission.
this is where we keep are nuke silos...we could shoot the balloon down. There are missile battery’s in the area for this.
Good thing it’s not spreading toxins, right? Right?
I was asked by ATC to look for a balloon while over Canada on my flight from anchorage. No details given when I asked. Flying a 747 at 35,000’.
Im sure we have fighter jets that could shoot this piece of crap down using gun cannons. Bunch of wusses.
Ridiculous that this balloon or whatever it is hasn’t been taken down yet.
Malmstrom Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base and census-designated place in Cascade County, Montana, United States, adjacent to the city of Great Falls. It was named in honor of World War II POW Colonel Einar Axel Malmstrom. It is the home of the 341st Missile Wing of the Air Force Global Strike Command.That is the headquarters of our ICBMs.
19,000 feet +
Monkey Werx US will have the Friday SITREP at 11:00 AM Central time.
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