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
“So we would be spying on their spying gadgets?”
Why wouldn’t we. All part of counterintelligence.
Given all the accumulated failures by The Pentagram, I wouldn’t trust anything they have to say about the balloon.
What time is the EMP burst scheduled for? I need to microwave a large roast and can’t have it interrupted.
I heard this isn’t the first time either. Just the first time we’ve been told about it. So what happened to those other balloons?
That is a great question…
Of course we could have a couple of F35’s shot it down. It should have been kakked when it hit the Aleutian islands.
“high altitude surveillance balloon”
What’s keeping in place or controlling it’s direction Moe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwhPPIFHJCg
I started it a few seconds before he starts talking about the balloon.
I bet Biden was thinking “They said they would send my 10% in secret way...”
It has been drifting between 40kft and 50kft. All current USAF and USN fighters have service ceilings above 50kft. All current USAF and USN fighters have an integral 20mm Vulcan cannon.
Jus’ sayin’ ...
DOD should have shot it down over Alaska then.
I’m with you. Hell we had a 52k ceiling fighter in 1949. The F2H Banshee!
Liberals claim the Chinese spy balloon was just a bunch of hot air.
Brain dead, corrupt pussies running our country.
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