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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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To: Doctor Congo

Flitghtradar24.com says it’s NOT a Chinese ballon. It’s showing a U.S registration# N257... unless the govt. is trying to do a cover up....NOTHING surprises me these jackazzes in charge these days.
It could be carrying biologicals or some other really nasty crap. It would be great to snag it somehow and bring it gently down....for analysis.


21 posted on 02/03/2023 6:58:25 PM PST by lgjhn23 ("On the 8th day, Satan created the progressive liberal to destroy all the good that God created...")
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To: Wally_Kalbacken

A possible EMP crossed my mind, too.


22 posted on 02/03/2023 7:21:39 PM PST by laplata (They want each crisis to take the greatest toll possible.)
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To: laplata

News max suggested a dry run for EMP.


23 posted on 02/03/2023 7:23:10 PM PST by MarMema (Orange Putin Bad)
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To: ChicagoConservative27

RE: I’d ‘Really Be Concerned’ if We Didn’t Intercept It or Shoot It down

If you’re interested in knowing about the intelligence data gathered, better not blow it to smithereens. Just puncture holes in the balloon to let it drift downwards and safeguard the equipment.


24 posted on 02/03/2023 7:23:17 PM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: Gnome1949

But we are going to go to war with Russia and Chins with our hands tied behind our backs, right?

20 yrs ago this thing would have been eliminated the minute it crossed into our air.


25 posted on 02/03/2023 7:25:47 PM PST by MarMema (Orange Putin Bad)
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To: ChicagoConservative27

They would have shot it down if we failed to hack it. It’s been hacked thoroughly


26 posted on 02/03/2023 7:39:32 PM PST by Broker (Truth & Transparency & Equal Justice)
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To: 2banana

Travels slower


27 posted on 02/03/2023 7:55:14 PM PST by hollywood12345
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To: Openurmind

Not only that Op. they can take pictures from different angles.

They can also send down signals to pick up all sorts of stuff.

Trump is sure having a hell of a week hey? He is really raising holy hell over this one.


28 posted on 02/03/2023 8:09:59 PM PST by crz
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To: Doctor Congo

That page has a remark that says:

AIRCRAFT TYPE(BALL)
Sorry, this is not a Chinese balloon


29 posted on 02/03/2023 8:39:02 PM PST by Alas Babylon! (Gov't declaring misinformation is tyranny: “Who determines what false information is?” )
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To: MarMema

Remember when actor James Woods actually saw Muhammad Atta and some of the 9/11 terrorists do a dry run on a NY jet bound to LA in July/ August of 2001?

He was so spooked by what they were doing and saying he afterwards called the FBI and they told him, “Yeah, it’s probably nuthin! And uhm, don’t be so Islamophobic.”


30 posted on 02/03/2023 8:43:50 PM PST by Alas Babylon! (Gov't declaring misinformation is tyranny: “Who determines what false information is?” )
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To: Alas Babylon!

I missed that.

We were still a much stronger country in those days.


31 posted on 02/03/2023 8:51:26 PM PST by MarMema (Orange Putin Bad)
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To: 2banana

satellites cannot take air samples. Countries use balloons to sample air flowing from nuke sites in Eastern Europe and Iran to see what kind of isotopes are present and in what concentrations, for example. And at lower altitudes, you can also get better sideviews, if you are carrying cameras.


32 posted on 02/03/2023 8:51:33 PM PST by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge)
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To: piasa

“Countries use balloons to sample air flowing from nuke sites in Eastern Europe and Iran to see what kind of isotopes are present and in what concentrations, for example.”

Gathering data for Russia?


33 posted on 02/03/2023 8:53:02 PM PST by MarMema (Orange Putin Bad)
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Shoot the balloon full of holes and it will slowly descend to the ground. What is so hard about that?


34 posted on 02/03/2023 8:57:42 PM PST by Revel
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To: ChicagoConservative27

The balloon would be a poor vehicle for spying as it lacks precise control and moves slowly…giving ample time to cover those thing we want keep from the Chinese. However, a balloon loitering over Americas heartland, would be an ideal platform for dispersing bio weapons. Was Biden’s reluctance to shoot this thing down even over sparsely populated areas over concerns about releasing bio weapons? Could the Chinese be blackmailing Biden…do as we say or we release the bio weapons? Biden knowingly allowing a foreign power to violate our airspace with impunity should be ample reports immediate impeachment.


35 posted on 02/03/2023 9:44:04 PM PST by The Great RJ
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Sorry, Joe’s gone home for the weekend, the US is closed. We will open on Monday.


36 posted on 02/03/2023 10:27:43 PM PST by krogers58
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Panetta’s view from an overstuffed chair by the fireplace in his home makes him tougher than when he was supposed to be a working bureaucrat in office.


37 posted on 02/03/2023 10:44:42 PM PST by frank ballenger (You have summoned up a thundercloud. You're gonna hear from me. Anthem by Leonard Cohen)
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To: Openurmind
"The same equipment on a balloon at lower altitude can take a close up picture of an ant.

They might need something that refined to see what's inside biden's head.
38 posted on 02/04/2023 1:38:42 AM PST by clearcarbon (Fraudulent elections have consequences.)
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To: crz

“Trump is sure having a hell of a week hey? He is really raising holy hell over this one.”

:)


39 posted on 02/04/2023 4:44:16 AM 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: MarMema

James Woods Reported Suspicious Passengers to FBI
ABC News September 19, 2001

https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=102372


40 posted on 02/04/2023 6:01:41 AM PST by Alas Babylon! (Gov't declaring misinformation is tyranny: “Who determines what false information is?” )
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