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'Shoot. It. Down': Republicans call for Chinese spy balloon to be blown out of sky
Washington Examiner ^ | 2/3/2023 | Virginia Aabram

Posted on 02/03/2023 10:50:48 AM PST by Right Wing Vegan

GOP lawmakers are calling for the United States to shoot down the alleged Chinese spy balloon found floating over Montana on Wednesday.

The Pentagon said it would not shoot down the balloon, arguing it "does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground at this time," and China blamed the incursion into U.S. airspace on a civilian aircraft that had deviated off course. Montana is home to sensitive nuclear military installations.

"It was a mistake to not shoot down that Chinese spy balloon when it was over a sparsely populated area," Sen. Marco Rubio (FL), the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, tweeted. "This is not some hot air balloon, it has a large payload of sensors roughly the size of two city buses & the ability to maneuver independently."

"President Biden should stop coddling and appeasing the Chinese communists," Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) tweeted on Friday. "Bring the balloon down now and exploit its tech package, which could be an intelligence bonanza."

A defense official said Thursday the intelligence value of the destroyed balloon would be minimal and that the Defense Department doesn't want to risk hurting people on the ground.

Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT) dismissed what he called "bowing" to China's "provocation."

"Shoot. It. Down. The Chinese spy balloon is clear provocation. In Montana we do not bow. We shoot it down. Take the shot," he tweeted on Thursday.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) emphatically agreed, saying the Pentagon's argument on safety "doesn't sell."

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) told Fox News the presence of the spy balloon is "disturbing."

Why hasn't the Biden administration shot this spy balloon down?" she asked. "It's very disturbing to know that it's still up there in the air near our military installations. The time is now. Let's get this thing out of the air."

Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said the U.S. government continues to monitor the balloon closely.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Canada; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; US: Arkansas; US: Florida; US: Georgia; US: Montana; US: South Carolina
KEYWORDS: arkansas; balloongate; canada; cccp; ccp; china; florida; georgia; marcorubio; marjorietaylorgreene; montana; nancymace; patrickryder; putin; russia; russiaiscommunist; ryanzinke; southcarolina; sovietunion; spyballoon; tomcotton; virginiaaabram; virginiaabram; xi
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To: Right Wing Vegan

Since the ChiComs have their own guy in our White House and the Pentagon, it’s easy to see why this even raises a question.

Bet your bottom dollar that this would never have happened if 5 states upheld their voting laws instead of throwing them into the USPS.


21 posted on 02/03/2023 10:59:41 AM PST by Howie66 (Let's Go Brandon!!)
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To: The_Media_never_lie

EMP is the rumor.

BUTTTT it was first detected off the coast of Alaska where it could have been shot down.

So why didn’t they?

By the way the WEF was talking about a massive cyber outage at their annual circle jerk in Davos.


22 posted on 02/03/2023 10:59:44 AM PST by packagingguy
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To: nobody in particular
In my best Captain Ramius voice:

"Vasily, shoot at the balloon. One bullet only"

sheesh, one 3-round burst through the middle of that will bring it down in a controllable manner.

23 posted on 02/03/2023 10:59:46 AM PST by SGCOS (not vaccinated for covid and never will be)
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To: Right Wing Vegan

If we shoot it down, imagine all the stolen and sold US technology that would be discovered - that’s why Dementia Joe won’t order it shot down. And does anybody think this would be occurring under PDJT’s administration?


24 posted on 02/03/2023 11:00:30 AM PST by capydick (“Within the covers of the Bible are the answers for all the problems men face.)
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To: Right Wing Vegan
General Turgison and Colonel Ripper wouldn't allow this.
25 posted on 02/03/2023 11:00:46 AM PST by vetvetdoug
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To: WalkerinSC
This is what countries do to each other.

Including seize each others' spies and spy equipment without hesitation when discovered.

But that's only when a government is loyal to it's nation.

26 posted on 02/03/2023 11:00:53 AM PST by Right Wing Vegan (Pot legalization licenses every degenerate pothead piece of trash to force drug neighbors.)
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To: Right Wing Vegan

what is this? the 1800’s? I am fairly confident that the Chinese have more advanced spy tools than balloons!


27 posted on 02/03/2023 11:01:08 AM PST by TexasFreeper2009
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To: Right Wing Vegan

The comments on this thread and others show both Republicans and Democrats are retarded.


28 posted on 02/03/2023 11:01:09 AM PST by EEGator
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To: Red Badger

What better place to drop a weapon of mass destruction than a stadium full of people?

(Yes, I know the big game is in Arizona)


29 posted on 02/03/2023 11:03:26 AM PST by madison10
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To: tapatio

Several people on the various threads have suggested that we should be mindful that the Chinese might WANT us to shoot it down.


30 posted on 02/03/2023 11:03:34 AM PST by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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To: vetvetdoug

Don’t demote General Ripper…


31 posted on 02/03/2023 11:04:03 AM PST by EEGator
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To: Right Wing Vegan

This is so damn pathetic.

Would the chinese allow this? HELL NO!

We are a paper tiger.


32 posted on 02/03/2023 11:04:16 AM PST by hillarys cankles
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To: Right Wing Vegan

The brandon administration has to wait until the balloon’s mission is done, otherwise his 10% becomes 5%.


33 posted on 02/03/2023 11:04:19 AM PST by dware (Americans prefer peaceful slavery over dangerous freedom)
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To: Jamestown1630

Good point. We should drag it down, not shoot it.


34 posted on 02/03/2023 11:04:50 AM PST by madison10
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To: WalkerinSC
Heck we all do it to our allies as well as rivals. This is a big nothing that conveniently swivels rube’s heads away from real issues.

WalkerinSC
Since Sep 16, 2021

35 posted on 02/03/2023 11:05:12 AM PST by grey_whiskers ( (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.))
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; BraveMan; cardinal4; ...
Uh, yeah.

36 posted on 02/03/2023 11:05:20 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: janetjanet998
On its way to overfly Whiteman AFB, where the B2's are. Betcha.

What a cluster****.

37 posted on 02/03/2023 11:06:17 AM PST by thescourged1
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To: hillarys cankles
Bobby Levy@Real_Bobby_Levy

Our skies look like this because our generals look like this.


38 posted on 02/03/2023 11:06:20 AM PST by newfreep ("There is no race problem...just a problem race")
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To: Right Wing Vegan

That is a good and valid point. I also don’t think we have a disloyal government. We have a vacillating head of state that is in over his head. His indecisive actions lead to hot and cold responses. He was a legislator, not a leader at any point in his career. If the thing can be brought down safely, so be it. Otherwise chalk it up to missed opportunity and send some CIA blackmail pics to Xi to remind him just how deep we are there. Too much ink has already been wasted on this “story”.


39 posted on 02/03/2023 11:07:06 AM PST by WalkerinSC
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To: Paladin2

Simple solution: Put it on the No Fly List, then have the TSA pat down its junk!


40 posted on 02/03/2023 11:07:10 AM PST by immadashell (Save Innocent Lives: Ban Gun Free Zones)
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