Hell they know now could use that as a bargaining chip. Float one along down the line with an EMP weapon and then invade Taiwan and tell us to stay out or they'll blow the payload. Like sure we could pop the silos and glass their countryat that point but that'd be a moot point after an emp blows.
Even the most optimistic projections predict a 50-60% reduction in the US population after such an event and years to repair the damage if we even could.
Exactly as the article says, Beijing Biden was getting HEAVY criticism for this especially with the existence of a second balloon over South America.
Imagine if a third one appeared over Japan or Europe and they shot it down immediately, the damage to Biden's nonexistent credibility would be enormous.
So after moseying over the country for a week, broadcasting whatever they wanted back to the homeland, shedding whatever pollutants / biologicals they wanted, now they get around to shooting it down.
I guess they have to make a show of "we did something" when it's painfully obvious the administration is 100% in the pocket of China.
The spy balloon wouldn't be picking up much more than a spy satellite could at any time.
The only question is why the Biden administration dragged it's feet. If there was nothing to lose by letting it go and nothing to gain by shooting it down, why shoot it down now?
In 20 years, the wikipedia page, and the history books, will talk about the balloon and how Biden shot it down.
Lost from those accounts will be that it took a week, was shot down over the Atlantic and not when it entered US airspace, and anyone who says different is a conspiracy theorist nut job that thankfully can be thrown in jail thanks to the Truth in Information Act of 2028.
There has to be more to it. The military-industrial complex/national security state is the most powerful group in the US. Even if the Chinese had bribed Biden, if he had ruled that the balloon should not be shot down - there would have been hell to pay. Leaks, damaging reports, insubordination, etc.
So I think this is a rather ridiculous panic on the part of the right-wing, which is desperate to paint Biden as "soft on China"... even though he has continued many of Trump's hardline policies.
It's ridiculous panic by everyone. If they thought it was an actual spy balloon I doubt it would have ever made it over land. This is just bullshit to distract and pivot attention from Ukraine to China.
The idea that this big honking naked eye visible bright white balloon is a spy balloon is just insane.
The U2 spy aircraft lit up radar installations like Christmas, spy satellites are known and tracked by amateurs. I fail to see what is so far fetched about it being a lighter than air UAV.
Perhaps the Chinese were counting on exactly this response, and buy enough time to get some good photos.
It's hard to say, perhaps it isn't even Chinese at all, the media etc could be lying. Although their off course weather balloon press release sort of confirms it
The hope had been the Soviet radar couldn't track the U2. U2 couldn't be shot down by Soviet aircraft; this balloon is a sitting duck. If the regime actually thought it was a spy balloon they would have shot it down off the coast of Alaska.
I really haven't seen any "panic" on the right, all I've seen was mild amusement and confusion, because it was so incredibly stupid. "We can't shoot it down, it might hit someone!" - in fucking Alaska, and later Montana. Really? Who's it going to hit, a moose?
Now China knows they can float EMP devices over the country and crash our electrical grid and our woke military won't do anything until it's too late.
Success. Transfer funds to Hunter's account. Add 10% for the big guy. And maybe a happy meal for quisling General Milley.
Hell they know now could use that as a bargaining chip. Float one along down the line with an EMP weapon and then invade Taiwan and tell us to stay out or they'll blow the payload. Like sure we could pop the silos and glass their countryat that point but that'd be a moot point after an emp blows.
Even the most optimistic projections predict a 50-60% reduction in the US population after such an event and years to repair the damage if we even could.
Stop, you're going to trigger Milley's "white rage"
Exactly as the article says, Beijing Biden was getting HEAVY criticism for this especially with the existence of a second balloon over South America.
Imagine if a third one appeared over Japan or Europe and they shot it down immediately, the damage to Biden's nonexistent credibility would be enormous.
Ding ding ding.
I doubt he would have done anything if it wasn't for there being an optics risk that a South American country showed more backbone.
Teddy Roosevelt is spinning in his grave at hypersonic speed
So after moseying over the country for a week, broadcasting whatever they wanted back to the homeland, shedding whatever pollutants / biologicals they wanted, now they get around to shooting it down.
I guess they have to make a show of "we did something" when it's painfully obvious the administration is 100% in the pocket of China.
after it already gathered and sent data and GPS coordinates. fucking stupid
Meh, with a side of meh sauce
The spy balloon wouldn't be picking up much more than a spy satellite could at any time.
The only question is why the Biden administration dragged it's feet. If there was nothing to lose by letting it go and nothing to gain by shooting it down, why shoot it down now?
In 20 years, the wikipedia page, and the history books, will talk about the balloon and how Biden shot it down.
Lost from those accounts will be that it took a week, was shot down over the Atlantic and not when it entered US airspace, and anyone who says different is a conspiracy theorist nut job that thankfully can be thrown in jail thanks to the Truth in Information Act of 2028.
They are so desperate for a war with China.
There has to be more to it. The military-industrial complex/national security state is the most powerful group in the US. Even if the Chinese had bribed Biden, if he had ruled that the balloon should not be shot down - there would have been hell to pay. Leaks, damaging reports, insubordination, etc.
So I think this is a rather ridiculous panic on the part of the right-wing, which is desperate to paint Biden as "soft on China"... even though he has continued many of Trump's hardline policies.
It's ridiculous panic by everyone. If they thought it was an actual spy balloon I doubt it would have ever made it over land. This is just bullshit to distract and pivot attention from Ukraine to China.
The idea that this big honking naked eye visible bright white balloon is a spy balloon is just insane.
The U2 spy aircraft lit up radar installations like Christmas, spy satellites are known and tracked by amateurs. I fail to see what is so far fetched about it being a lighter than air UAV.
Perhaps the Chinese were counting on exactly this response, and buy enough time to get some good photos.
It's hard to say, perhaps it isn't even Chinese at all, the media etc could be lying. Although their off course weather balloon press release sort of confirms it
Good photos of what? Shit Google Earth already has hi res photos of?
The hope had been the Soviet radar couldn't track the U2. U2 couldn't be shot down by Soviet aircraft; this balloon is a sitting duck. If the regime actually thought it was a spy balloon they would have shot it down off the coast of Alaska.
I really haven't seen any "panic" on the right, all I've seen was mild amusement and confusion, because it was so incredibly stupid. "We can't shoot it down, it might hit someone!" - in fucking Alaska, and later Montana. Really? Who's it going to hit, a moose?
That being said, there's this: https://nitter.lunar.icu/stillgray/status/1621975945468076032#m
Someone remind me, was it Milley who bragged about promising to "warn his Chinese counterpart in case Orange Man goes rogue"? It was, wasn't it?
Same guy. He's probably a Chinese asset.
Did Biden mention White Rage Milley? When I watched the video, didn't hear it, only the military.
No, but my understanding is that he's the "they" Biden is referring to. He's the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Yeah, it makes sense if it was.