[bitt]

https://billingsgazette.com/news/local/balloon-spotted-over-billings-being-investigated-as-chinese-spy-satellite/article_f3ba383e-a348-11ed-810b-93023cfc3fb6.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

The silvery orb spotted over Billings that shut down air traffic and brought fighter jets, AWACS and air tankers to the area on Wednesday afternoon is suspected to be a Chinese spy balloon, according to a source who spoke to NBC News.

“The United States government has detected and is tracking a high-altitude surveillance balloon that is over the continental United States right now,” Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told NBC News. “We continue to track and monitor it closely.”

“Once the balloon was detected, the U.S. government acted immediately to protect against the collection of sensitive information,” Ryder said.

Word of something unusual in the skies over Billings first spread Wednesday afternoon when a "ground stop" was placed on regional airports, including Billings. No flights, including commercial air traffic, could land or depart in a 50-mile radius that included the Billings airport.

[numberonepal]

Be like Mike.

[OldWarBaby]

Why the bleep is this thing allowed to stay in the air? No flight plan? No altitude restriction? How do we know it doesn’t have a weapon or any other kind of dirty stuff? It’s flying/coasting the same currents that the WW II Japanese balloon bombs flew. If it’s transmitting it must come down!

[Oratam]

The silvery orb spotted over Billings that shut down air traffic and brought fighter jets, AWACS and air tankers to the area on Wednesday afternoon is suspected to be a Chinese spy balloon, according to a source who spoke to NBC News.

[foldspace]

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[Steven W.]

Chinese spy balloon will NOT be shot down by U.S., Pentagon says | LiveNOW from FOX
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cM2oMldnsvc

[10% for the Big Guy]

[infool7]

Sky Event?

7

[bitt]

https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/4128143/posts?page=1

House GOP launches probe into John Kerry’s secret negotiations with China
nypost ^ | 2/2/2023 | victor nava

[Oratam]

The mention of "sky event" made me think of an expression or variations thereof that I've heard: "the balloon went up."

In the context I've heard it, I took it to mean "then I understood" or "then I figured it out." So, I looked it up:

The term "once the balloon has gone up" derives from the First World War.

Whenever enemy activity was expected, observations balloons would be released to monitor the enemy troop movements. As a result, the raising of these balloons, which were visible to all, soon became a sign of pending enemy action.

Someone on this thread (sorry for not remembering who) posited that the Chinese don't need a spy balloon as they have satellites (and plenty of traitors on their payroll) so this cold war artifact is unnecessary.

I find it interesting that Brandon wanted it shot down but the generals refused. Who is really commander-in-chief?

The balloon has indeed gone up. I think it may be our "sky event."