[Dilbert San Diego]

If the balloon was not Gathering sensitive data , then why did we shoot it down?

Once it had floated out of American air space, why didn’t we just let it go on its way, if it wasn’t gathering information?

[hanamizu]

“If the balloon was not Gathering sensitive data , then why did we shoot it down?”

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Because it embarrassed Brandon; made him look weak and incompetent. Made people question his leadership. This is not to say that it didn’t gather intelligence info.