Chinese Spy Balloon Did Not Gather Data Over US: Pentagon

Channel News Asia ^ | 30 Jun 2023

[nickcarraway]

The Chinese spy balloon shot down by a US fighter jet over the Atlantic in February did not collect intelligence as it flew across the United States, the Pentagon said on Thursday (Jun 29).

"It's been our assessment now that it did not collect while it was transiting the United States or overflying the United States," said Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder.

Ryder said the US "took steps to mitigate" intelligence collection by the balloon. "Certainly the efforts we made contributed" to that, Ryder said, without further explanation.

[entropy12]

Right! An Biden did not fart all day Friday.

[KarlInOhio]

The only way that was true was if the US damaged the payload without destroying the balloon. For example if they lasered the cameras and microwaved the electronics. I doubt the Chinese made something that could be disabled that easily, especially considering its flight path appeared to make multiple passes circling interesting areas so it wasn't electrically dead.

It would be far more likely that the Chinese transmitted everything back home and wiped the memory before it was brought down. See, no pictures of our missile bases on the flash card. It must be safe.

[Robert DeLong]

It’s a shame we have so many doubts about our own government, after the Covid attack by our own government who worked in in collusion with the Chinese Communist Party, who also played a role in the election thefts of 2020 & 2022, where the political party we support also played a role.

[wardamneagle]

As if the ChiComs dont have spy satellites.

[Trumpisourlastchance]

Oh.

[Rdct29]

What about the tens of thousands of Chinese agents Joe Biden allowed to sneak across our borders? I'm sure that they are all law abiding citizens who are here to make America great again. How many are here waiting to wreak havoc when China attacks Taiwan? I'm sure the FIB is watching then when they aren't trying to put jan 6 patriots in prison for life. We can sleep well at night knowing Biden and Wray are protecting the homeland.🤪

[lizma2]

“Why should we believe any B$ that comes out of DC?”

This week I asked the Gen Z-ers I worked with about the World Economic Forum. NONE of them had ever heard about it, even the conservative ones!

I started paying attention to politics in middle school when I discovered Wlliam F. Buckley.

America has a very high percentage of clueless citizens.

Ain’t gonna ebd well

[spintreebob]

A lie on its face. The biggest intelligence was the observation of the reaction of the President, Secretary of State, Defense, the Pentagon, key members of the Senate and House.

That was extremely valuable.

[SaveFerris]

🔝🔝🔝

[Bonemaker]

Nah, they just floated the balloon for the hell of it.

[Lurker]

They really do think we are stupid.

L

[GreenHornet]

Nah, they just floated the balloon for the hell of it.

Yeah, we're supposed to believe there was no real-time transmission of data back to China. The Chinese military sent it out with the hope that it would make its way safely back to China, at which time they would look to see if it brought back any information of value. That's what we're supposed to believe.

[Sacajaweau]

Like we believe that...

[PTBAA]

They wanted to steal military secrets from the Bahamas and flew over our military bases to get there.

[Hot Tabasco]

My arguments against that being a spy balloon without any means of propulsion at 68,000 feet to control it have been exonerated.

Weather, yes. Spy? Nope.

[TBP]

And I’m the King of France.

[Fledermaus]

Well, if it flew over DC then it’s true

[fuzzylogic]

When a claim is made that is unknowable know that it is a bold faced lie.

[R_Kangel]

[thegagline]

A spy balloon that doesn’t spy. Roger that.