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I suspect we did not even know that the balloon was there until it was over Montana. Otherwise why would we not shoot it down over Alaska?

A very large payload with enormous satellite-style solar panel "wings" would have a huge radar cross-section, and a significant visual signature. The thing was probably visible for 100+ miles to aircraft above the clouds (most flights at those latitudes) and visible on early-warning radar for probably a couple thousand. Heck, it probably showed up as an anomaly on civilian radar satellites (Sentinel-1 etc). It wasn't subtle. I can almost guarantee we knew about it.

The heartburn-inducing part of your statement is the final question- why wouldn't we shoot it down [before it performed its mission over the US / it didn't necessarily come in over Alaska- probably came in over B.C. and Alberta]. The very painful answer to that is- have you noticed who the commander-in-chief of the military has been since January 20th, 2021..?

Yes, in a sane world we'd have shot the damn thing down over the Pacific and probably never said a thing.

We haven't lived in a sane world for awhile now...

Very good post.

Is it possible our people jammed transmission back to China?

Or did they allow transmission because they are compromised?