As most of you know, the United States Secretary of State was scheduled to travel to Bejing for high level talks with China, our most powerful adversary. Given that tensions have soared in recent months between the two most powerful nations on earth, this could only be regarded as a good thing. But those talks have been postponed as a result of a Chinese spy balloon that drifted over the continental US and Canada for eight days before being shot down off the coast of South Carolina. Republican critics of President Biden think it should have been shot down when it was first detected over the Aleutian Islands, but defense analysts concluded it posed no threat or intelligence risk. Republican critics continued to demand military action once it started to fly over the US mainland, but this was determined to be too risky to civilians. The issue has been politicized by Republicans, who seem to forget that Chinese spy balloons were at least briefly in US airspace on at least three occasions when Donald Trump was President. What question Republicans should be asking instead is why would the Chinese send a spy balloon the size of three school buses for an eight-day cruise across the US? It's a lousy way to spy. The balloon was plainly visible to just about everyone who could raise his head. That gasbag was here to cause both domestic and international trouble, not spy. It succeeded, too.
On the domestic front, Biden is being attacked as weak. Never mind that he seems to have done precisely what he should have done. On the international front, hardliners in Bejing who like the tensions are happy to see a state visit called off.
66 comments:
You voted for him he is by far the worst President in the 20th and 21 century..
It now appears that the US took a strategic approach and possibly jammed the surveillance until such time they could down and recover the main cargo somewhat intact in 47 feet of water. They will now understand what intelligence may have been gathered and engineer better counterintelligence.
BTW, don't tell the public 500,000 jobs were created in Jan and 12M since the pandemic bringing unemployment to 3.7%, lowest since 1967. It is just a matter of time before House republicans sabotage our ecominic gains with brinksmanship over dept ceiling with threat a shutdown. Uncertainty will bring the market and youral 401k down faster than a white ballon.
Much ado about nothing, just another distraction from the real issues facing the country.
I suppose if one believes everything put out by our government agencies, and CNN’s latest anonymous source, you will not disagree with this interpretation. However, as so often these days, other sources claim something altogether different. Since the balloon route was known days before it arrived over our land, I believe the balloon should have been shot down before allowed to travel over our massive nuclear warhead facilities in Montana and other adjoining states. Geez, we scramble jets over various special events all the time to prevent such risks. I certainly wouldn’t find comfort in China’s claims it was strictly another weather balloon.
Bernie, you are getting worse by the day.
Hunters' laptop is Russia meddling, right?
Whew! You got to type the word T-R-U-M-P in a post and it's only Monday!!! This week is off to a great start, huh?!?
It is just the way republicans act.
Attack President Biden ,his family, anything he does or says 24/7.
Same thing they did to President Obama--run the 10 minutes of hate on Fox every hour.
President Biden is a weak wristed sob sister or a tyrant all at the same time.
Instead of working on policy the republicans are worried about power.
The republicans really have no solid goals except tearing down the other side.
What makes it easy for the republicans is that their base has no memory and the truth is optional for them.
republicans are not held accountable for any lies being told--Santos for example.
It completed its mission. Then it was shot down. It was first spotted over the Aleutian Islands that’s where it should have been dealt with.
Wow, I didn't know about those 3 balloons during Trump years!
But then, neither did Trump nor his Secretary of Defense, his Secretary of State, and his DNI.
And the Trump hating media never made a mention.
I think we need some evidence here before belief. Somehow everything is Trump's fault or he did it more. SMH
I find it amazing that out of all the democrat talking points you could regurgitate, you chose the 'Why does it Matter' one.
Biden owns this sorry situation, from start to finish. I think everyone (no matter how pro-democrat) is in agreement that this was a spy balloon, so here are my takes:
1) If this is a lousy way to spy, why would the Chinese send it? Does it give them information they wouldn't have already had, and could it have been laden with something more harmful that just spy equipment? Either way, we couldn't have known that yet Biden let it continue to fly all over the US.
2) If the balloon needed to be shot down (and it did), it should have been shot when it was first detected over the Aleutian Islands, or at least over sparsely-populated areas in the western US. The fact that Biden finally shot it down proves that was the correct decision, and also proves that it should have been shot down BEFORE it went across the entire nation.
3) The balloon incursions under Trump have not been verified, but even if true I haven't heard any evidence that anyone was aware of them at the time. If so, those balloons should have been shot down as well. But even if someone in the Trump Administration was aware of those incidents, what bearing would it have on this situation? We're talking about THIS balloon, and if THIS balloon needed to be shot down (and Biden's actions prove that it did), it needed to be shot down early.
4) As far the balloon affecting the Secretary of State's trip and hardliners in China being happy about the trip being called off, this was Biden's decision, not anyone else's.
5) It's not the Republicans who are playing politics with this. I think most (if not all) of them wanted the balloon shot down immediately. No matter how you look at what happened, this is a massive failure by Biden and the elected democrats who are supporting his actions. Thankfully, there are a handful of democrats in Congress with more concern for the country's well-being than for politics.
You voted for this war mongering shit sandwich...now wipe your chin Bernie.
tRump has/had Chinese bank accounts whilst president of USA and paid more taxes to them than he did to USA!
" The issue has been politicized by Republicans, who seem to forget that Chinese spy balloons were at least briefly in US airspace on at least three occasions when Donald Trump was President."
Ummm... You got a source for that or are you spreading disinformation and need to be banned from the internets?
What's good for the goose is good for the gander. :)
like most dems you have your head up and locked
I speculate that the Chinese were looking for the best land they could claim as part of their territory in lieu of fiat or digital currency when they call in their bonds from the U.S. Treasury. This was their version of the Louis Clark Expedition and the Canadian Alexander McKenzie expedition.
Separately, Canada's defense ministry said a "high-altitude surveillance balloon" was detected over their territory and that it was monitoring a "potential second incident", without giving further details, adding that it was in frequent contact with the United States.
In regard to the Canadian C Alexander McKenzie expedition. Referring to the book "First Across the Continent - Sir Alexander McKenzie "by Barry Gough Seeking the Northwest Passage and the fabled link to Russia, Japan and Cathay, Alexander McKenzie drove himself and his men relentlessly, by canoe and portage across the uncharted rivers, valleys and mountains of North America, Mackenzie's 1789 journey to the Arctic Ocean and his arduous journey to the Pacific in 1793 predate the Lewis and Clark expedition. By the age of thirty-one, Alexander Mackenzie had become the first white man to cross North America from the northwestern hub of the interior trade, Lake Athabasca to the Pacific Ocean. He had opened the continent to trade and expedition. Historically U.S. President Thomas Jefferson felt the need to keep the Port of New Orleans open to American Commerce. Therefore, control of the Port by foreign nations who could impose an embargo on the passage of American goods through this port was a problem. So, Jefferson welcomed the opportunity to negotiate with the French agents of the emperor Napoleon the purchase of the Port of New Orleans. But Jefferson was shocked when the French negotiators included in the package a much bigger deal at a very good price. Constitutionally, Jefferson initially felt that he did not have the power to make this deal. Consequently, Americans should be grateful that Jefferson overcame his initial concerns and made a deal for the region for the following reason: Had he not done so, the continent would have not been opened to Americans for exploration and trade.
Temporary forgetting their claim to Taiwan which never was part any of the Chinese ancient dynasties they will claim U.S and Canadian territory because of alleged Asian crossing of the land bridge from Asia to North America via the Bering Sea.
The Chinese Trojan Horse has been exposed But yet the U.S.A is to be blamed for shooting down Chinese property. China promises a future response to this American atrocity.
As pointed out in today’s WSJ editorial that balloon could have triggered an electromagnetic pulse that would take out our electric grid. We are very vulnerable in that regard & Biden wants us totally dependent on electric power vs fossil fuels.
Wonder which side he is really on considering his son’s relationships?
I don’t understand why everybody thinks this balloon was the size of three school buses. The balloon itself was probably the size of 40 school buses….. but the undercarriage of the balloon where I would imagine a lot of the data was being gathered was the size of three school buses.
Republicans are cRaZy. Check this out from MAGA trash Leon Panetta, former CIA Director and Obama's chief of staff on CNN yesterday:
“So, the question obviously is, the Pentagon said that there were risks here. I understand that argument, that there were debris risks. At the same time, I think we should have acted earlier if our suspicions were valid that this was, in fact, on an intelligence mission,” he continued. “I hope in the future we make clear to China that this kind of incident cannot happen again and it will not happen again, and in the future, if we see that kind of balloon, we are going to — if they don’t take action to prevent that balloon from entering our airspace, that we will indeed shoot it down much earlier than we did this time around.”
I agree, it’s sad how Republicans once again have politicized something that didn’t need to be.
Maybe Biden should just claim the balloon was inflated before he took office.
The balloon was probably a test; a test of U.S. reaction, a test of a low-tech method to gather information (a low-tech means like a balloon can still contain sophisticated surveillance cameras), or a test of how winds traverse North America.
They certainly collected a lot of information from this; what kind is the big question.
Yes, we should be worried.
The Soviets didn't wait to shoot down Powers' U2. The Soviets didn't wait to shoot down that U2 during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Why did the U.S. wait?
You mean to tell me that the US military cannot capture a balloon without risking civilians?
Yes, we should be worried.
"Wow, I didn't know about those 3 balloons during Trump years!
But then, neither did Trump nor his Secretary of Defense, his Secretary of State, and his DNI.
And the Trump hating media never made a mention."
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-02-06/us-didn-t-know-about-chinese-balloons-during-trump-until-later
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/3844511-chinese-balloons-flew-over-us-three-times-during-trump-administration-officials/
https://thehill.com/policy/international/3844841-what-we-know-about-chinese-balloon-sightings-during-trump-presidency/
@5:16 and exactly what kind of intelligence would they gather flying over these nuclear sites? It’s common knowledge where they are. You need to stop watching Faux ‘News’, OAN and Newsmax. This story is much ado about nothing.
@8:08
Beam me up Scotty.
"You mean to tell me that the US military cannot capture a balloon without risking civilians?"
No, what I am saying is that military officials tend to give the best assessments of what risks we take when we use military force, not politicians or right wing gasbags. When the balloon was over the Aleutian, the assessment of the military is that the balloon posed no intelligence or strategic threat. Over the mainland, it was deemed too risky.
"As pointed out in today’s WSJ editorial that balloon could have triggered an electromagnetic pulse"
I am sure that possibility was ruled out or we would have taken it out despite the risk.
Senior U.S. defense and military officials said Sunday that Chinese balloons similar to the one shot down by the Biden administration flew over the U.S. at least three times while Trump was in the White House. What did Trump do? Dreck!!!!!!! Like most Republican with no backbone.
No Trump is and it has been noted by independent presidential scholars
It was a weather balloon. That’s it.
If you actually think the US, with all their military might, would be this aloof about a Chinese spying apparatus, you’re delusional.
A true red herring event.
I'll agree that if there were any possibility that this balloon was carrying a nuclear device that could trigger an EMP, it would have to be shot down regardless of risk to civilians. I am assuming that our military, when it concluded that this balloon posed no threat, ruled out that possibility. Remember, it is the military who advised the Prez to wait.
But once it left the mainland and got over the Atlantic it suddenly became “an intelligence or strategic threat” that needed to be shot down then?
That makes no sense.
I have a novel idea. How about we hold all incompetence accountable, and not rely on the excuse that the other guy was worse so my incompetence looks good by comparison?
Crazy I know.....
Anon 9:13 am said:
Republicans are cRaZy. Check this out from MAGA trash Leon Panetta, former CIA Director and Obama's chief of staff on CNN yesterday:
“So, the question obviously is, the Pentagon said that there were risks here. I understand that argument, that there were debris risks. At the same time, I think we should have acted earlier if our suspicions were valid that this was, in fact, on an intelligence mission,” he continued. “I hope in the future we make clear to China that this kind of incident cannot happen again and it will not happen again, and in the future, if we see that kind of balloon, we are going to — if they don’t take action to prevent that balloon from entering our airspace, that we will indeed shoot it down much earlier than we did this time around.”
________________________________________________________________________
For those unaware or missing the obvious sarcasm, in addition to being CIA Director under Obama, he was a DEMOCRAT congressman who also served as Chief of Staff under Bill Clinton, and Secretary of Defense under Obama.
A lifelong democrat, he is no republican, yet he also questioned Biden's actions.
But give him a day to get the talking points, and I'm sure he'll fall in line.
The liberal left is ruining our country on every level and situation. we must rid this country of the far left socialist before it is too late.
Bernie -
Regarding the three other incidents that supposedly occurred under Trump, I followed your link to the Hill article.
There, an un-named "US Defense official" supposedly makes the accusation about "similar" balloon flights under Trump, as well as a previous balloon flight that occurred under Biden. There is no assertation that Trump or other members of his Administration were aware of the flights, if they actually occurred.
I think we need a little more than accusations from un-named sources, as well as a definition of what they regard as "similar" incidents.
And whatever happened in any prior incidents, if they even exist, shouldn't have a bearing on what happened this time.
My bigger question about the prior incidents is when did the Biden Administration become aware of them and why weren't we informed about them? Why wouldn't they inform us, or at least inform members of Congress, something that doesn't seem to have happened at all?
What the Biden Administration knew about previous incidents, and when they knew about them, should absolutely be investigated.
I believe most Americans would have felt more secure if the balloon was shot down immediately, rather than take any chance on what it ‘might’ be. In other words, be proactive. Particularly when a mysterious aircraft from a foreign nation and foe is about to glide across our land. What is the benefit to us by ignoring such an incursion for several days?
Everyone now has a buddy on the tarmac in Germany waiting to respond.
BO, you're right about this one. It's fun to watch the Biden-haters' heads explode!
726am- you simply find reason to complain. Go find a Steve Lynch/John Birch rally, will ya?
President Biden said that he relied on our military's intelligence, which by last analysis is 80% conservative Republican.
You just want to come on here with your bullet point facts and pretend that Trump was the Jesus Christ and every Democrat before or after, sucks.
Even if there were three previous incidents of Chicom balloons flying over US territory under Trump, it wasn't across the whole frigging continental US! Feckless Biden just watched it happen like the senile fool he is.
Biden is CCP's bitch! His family has taken so much influence $$$ from China that he would allow their spy balloons hover over the White House rather than act. They are blackmailing this corrupt President and his idiot son.
CNN now admits trump didn't know. The question begs why didn't he or us know. But it is clear he did not
The US military is not like the military of the past. we now have left wing people in position of power some are from the ivy league. Our military gave away billions of dollars of equipment in Afghanistan and more of the same to the corrupt government of Ukraine, they have fired thousands of men for not taking the covid shot the moral in military is at an all-time low even worse than after Viet Nam. China will attack Taiwan in the next 2 years while Biden is in office and we cannot possibly compete with China.
Another problem is the sidewinder missile used to poke a hole in the balloon.
you really want to be searching a large swath of Montana--etc looking for a missile 2 ft in diameter with fins that put a 4 ft hole in a balloon and was moving at mach 2.5 ?
the search area would be very large vs it hits out to sea say 20 miles offshore.
the warhead could be safed but you still have 20 lbs of high explosive inside of the missile.
Do you really want something like that "somewhere" in Montana?
There were no balloons during Trump's time in office another left wing lie.
To the contrary, there was a big ugly orange balloon fastened between Trump's shoulders the whole time he was in office.
Bernie@9:54am -
Interesting articles but I find it strange that no names are given - only senior defense official. It appears that UFO's during Trump have been identified now as Chinese balloons, just when Biden needs it. SMH, again.
Oops, not @9:54am. Shoulda been @9:40am
Should have held off with this comment . He now admits it. Lol.
You sound like sean Hannity
0836. Gen. Glen VanHerck, head of North American Aerospace Defense Command made reference to 3 other balloons. Defense folks are putting their names to the claim.
I am glad the balloon wasn't shot down while over our land. No one could say what was inside it. What if held an explosive or harmful biologic that would be dispersed in retaliation should it be shot down and do harm to the land or people in the area. I consider the decision to wait until it was over water to shoot it down a wise one and carefully thought out.
If there were spy balloons during the Trump admin, Farty Swalwell, Pelosi, Schumer, or Schiff would have made it known immediately to CNN, even as Feng Feng was loving Swalwell long time. I'm old enough to remember when a sitting member of the House Intelligence Committee was actually banging a actual Chinese spy like a actual broken screen door. Then, Democrats permitted him to continue serving on the committee. It's no wonder Chinese spying doesn't bother Democrats.
Yes, the menacing liberal left.
That fight for equality, universal healthcare, and a fair living wage.
The fearful liberal left.
Who wants to force billionaires to pay their fair amount in taxes, check greedy corporations, and to save this earth from self destruction through climate reform.
So radical that left I tell you…
@1:26 I guess you are talking about your lord and savior tRump the Russian Chinese dictator wanna be.
5:57 WOW I guess even special need cult followers can learn. There may be hope for conversion of some back to normal humans. YES So many things were Russian create under the highest level plant the Russians ever had in the US govt.
7:18 Trump did not know about the ballons during his time because he was on the golf course and it was not in the script Putin gave him. It is document that he said the US intelligence knew nothing and that he preferred the Russians over his own intelligence agencies. Also There were numerous times he told the teams to bury information.
@7;26 do us all a favor and finish the very special Jonestown coolaid. The truth could drive a stake in your heart and if fox news told you not to worry about it you would be ok with it.
7:31 so how many of the previous posts were you. If it is so bad move to you new hero state under DeSATAN
7:54 the source is the liar and chief trainee SANTOS who idolizes Trump and has been quoted for saying he gotall his ideas from the Orange Moron. If he could lie so much to so many people why should he be able to.
11:50. YOu were not informed for two reasons. 1 is trump choose to burry so much intelligence about Russia, Chinese, and other dictator activities during his tenure. And second you were not informed because you are too stupid to look at things objectively and only spin them in a a ultra self serving way.
Do you have copies of bank statements and tax forms?
5:15 do you have the same despiese for Trump who it is factual that he has done all the things you are accusing Biden of?
Famous last words...
Crazy reading these uneducated comments this morning.
Biden admin has now reported a new NORAD system is in place that wasn't available before. With this new system, the balloon was detected, where in the past, balloons like these may not have been detected.
Trump admin can be telling the truth, "it never happened".
Biden admin can be telling the truth, "it happened before".
Would be nice to hear why Biden admin thinks it happened before, as related to this current incident.
Finding out why it is happening at all is probably something we should all be focused on rather than this pissing contest trying to make each other smell bad.
You're all ridiculous, Biden and Trump supporters alike. Grow up. #thirdparty
Again we are all fighting each other and honestly being played as we aren't being told the facts. Focus off the facts and onto the American people fighting each other when none of us know the truth!
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