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Panetta: Chinese Spy Balloon ‘Gathering Intelligence’ on U.S., I’d ‘Really Be Concerned’ if We Didn’t Intercept It or Shoot It down
Breitbart ^ | 02/03/2023 | Ian hatchett

Posted on 02/03/2023 6:19:54 PM PST by ChicagoConservative27

On Friday’s broadcast of CNN’s “Situation Room,” former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta stated that the Chinese spy balloon over the U.S. is “gathering intelligence” and that the U.S. either needs to intercept it or shoot it down if that’s the last alternative and that simply letting the balloon go out to sea is not an option.

Panetta said, “I think the United States has to take control of this balloon. There are two things that are of great concern here: One is that it’s been determined to be a surveillance balloon, which means that it’s gathering intelligence. That’s the purpose of surveillance. So, that’s what the Chinese are using it for. And secondly, it’s maneuverable, which means that the Chinese basically control the direction of that balloon. It’s invaded our airspace. It’s obviously invaded our sovereignty. I think it’s very important for the United States to take control of this balloon, either to intercept it or to shoot it down.”

(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: balloon; bidenforeignpolicy; chinaballoon; chinaspyballoon; chinese; chineseballoon; panetta; spy; surveillance
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Blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while
1 posted on 02/03/2023 6:19:54 PM PST by ChicagoConservative27
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To: ChicagoConservative27

How is a ballon gathering more than a satellite?


2 posted on 02/03/2023 6:21:35 PM PST by 2banana (Common ground with islamic terrorists-they want to die for allah and we want to arrange the meeting)
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To: ChicagoConservative27

The balloon is trans[isting] and the totally gay Thoroughly Modern Millie approves.


3 posted on 02/03/2023 6:22:18 PM PST by Paladin2
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Absolutely disgraceful that this thing hasn’t been brought down already. The Biden administration is PATHETIC.


4 posted on 02/03/2023 6:22:20 PM PST by MAGA2017
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To: 2banana

From a satellite they can take a picture of a license plate. The same equipment on a balloon at lower altitude can take a close up picture of an ant.


5 posted on 02/03/2023 6:25:34 PM PST by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)
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To: 2banana

Same way you see more of the game from the 50 yard line than up in the nosebleed seats

Plus, if they’re sniffing radio frequencies, the signal weakens with the square of the distance, so at 60,000 ft they can pick up stuff that would be lost in the noise at satellite altitude.


6 posted on 02/03/2023 6:26:17 PM PST by bigbob
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To: ChicagoConservative27

This is a national disgrace. I heard a general say the balloon poses no threat. How in the hell do they know that? Just the fact it is gathering intelligence about our nuclear deterrence is a threat. Period.

We do not need fighter jets or fighter pilots. They no longer have no role to play in defending the USA. Stop buying these expensive fighters and training the military pilots. NOW !


7 posted on 02/03/2023 6:28:04 PM PST by Gnome1949
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To: MAGA2017

Consider the reason why:

If Biden has known about this thing for days and did nothing, if it’s shot down now there’s a chance it would not be recovered by the military, and if whatever the truth about is would make Biden and Co. look irresponsible. No shock to think they are more concerned about how it makes them look than they are about the treat it poses.


8 posted on 02/03/2023 6:29:36 PM PST by bigbob
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To: bigbob

60,000 feet up. Too hard to ‘capture?’ Just askin’.


9 posted on 02/03/2023 6:30:47 PM PST by DIRTYSECRET
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To: MAGA2017

Apparently one came down over Billings. Not shot down, just came down..


10 posted on 02/03/2023 6:31:52 PM PST by MarMema (Orange Putin Bad)
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To: Gnome1949

What if it is dispersing something? Lots of reasons it could pose a threat.

Time will tell I suppose.


11 posted on 02/03/2023 6:33:17 PM PST by MarMema (Orange Putin Bad)
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To: ChicagoConservative27

That balloon is less than 2 hours from flying over Savannah Georgia and going over the ocean. If they cleared the ships from that area then they have no excuse for not shooting it down.

Here is the balloon on flightradar: https://www.flightradar24.com/HBAL617/2f098365


12 posted on 02/03/2023 6:33:24 PM PST by Doctor Congo
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To: Gnome1949

Someone in the veggie’s administration and the woke generals are getting big million dollar payoffs from the communist POS! Betrayals all around us!


13 posted on 02/03/2023 6:33:32 PM PST by RoseofTexas
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Lyin’ Piñata rises from his crypt.


14 posted on 02/03/2023 6:34:31 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (The worst thing about censorship is ████ █ ██████ ███████ ███ ██████ ██ ████████. FJB.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Someone needs to ask Biden how he knows this is not an EMP weapon. I think 60k ft. over St. Louis would just about do it.


15 posted on 02/03/2023 6:37:39 PM PST by Wally_Kalbacken
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To: Doctor Congo

Just looked at the flight radar … wow. I’d be worried if I lived in Savannah. The balloon seems to be heading straight to it.


16 posted on 02/03/2023 6:38:58 PM PST by livius
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To: 2banana
How is a ballon gathering more than a satellite?

The balloon is about 12 miles up. A satellite is up about 100 miles.

17 posted on 02/03/2023 6:48:36 PM PST by FreeReign
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To: MarMema

Yeah, like the next version of covid


18 posted on 02/03/2023 6:49:23 PM PST by rdl6989 ( )
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To: ChicagoConservative27

‘It’ seems to have become ‘them’.

A balloon in Canada.

This balloon somewhere over TN or IL.

Another over South America.

Sum Ting Up.


19 posted on 02/03/2023 6:51:40 PM PST by TomGuy
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To: ChicagoConservative27

NENA | 99 Luftballons [1983]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fpu5a0Bl8eY


20 posted on 02/03/2023 6:52:08 PM PST by Texan4Life
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