Likely because nobody cared much at the Pentagon about the spy capabilities of a balloon. Sending a balloon over the US of A is apparently a good way to create some political churn among global Snowflakes, but a pretty poor way to gather anything actionable.
The media is likely innocent of spin, because no media person found out at the time.
The first actionable Intel China obtained was that they could fly balloons into our airspace unimpeded.
We assume their satellites are as capable as ours, but are they? Balloons can also carry a payload.
It’s fine to think China is not a threat, but to assume balloons are benign is naive.
And, it is absurd that China was so presumptuous.
Right, which China discovered some years ago *.
Let’s also realize that like a number of things in global politics: the US stooped that low first (e.g. spying from fake weather balloons). Another blow to Science and rational inquiry, on the scale of another USA first: fake vaccination campaigns.
[*] according to the Pentagon, which has not yet provided exact details, dates, radar tracks or other proof that could be independently corroborated.
So can fighter jets with “stealth technology”.
In 1999 a USAF F-117 Stealth Fighter was shot down over Yugoslavia (if memory serves) The USAF’s pride and joy, not to mention one the most secretive aircraft. The planes wreckage was not recovered by the US military, however, it is believed that the Chinese managed to get their hands on at least some of it.
In 2010, a satellite flying over an industrial complex in Luoyang, China captured this image:
which appeared to be an F-117. In Communist China???
Military analyst spotted F-117 Nighthawk in Reconnaissance Images of China (fighterjetsworld.com)
Then in 2011, the Chinese air force made it’s first few test flights of their own “Stealth Fighter” the J-20
China stealth fighter ‘copied parts from downed US jet’ - BBC News
This thing looks pretty mean:
If there is one thing the Chinese have become very well known for is copying other peoples technology. IF they have been using balloons to fly over the USA without anyone “detecting” them, who’s to say that one of these hasn’t either? Or is it that they are trying to figure out how to send one of these into our airspace “undetected”?
I’m not trying to put out speculative tin foil hat type of ideas out there, but if the USSR was able to sneak a nuclear submarine into San Diego Harbor in the mid '80s, who to say the Chinese couldn’t fly one of these into downtown LA and wreak some havoc… Anything is possible anymore…
The sad thing about this whole situation, the midterms are over and every career politician is gearing up for the next election cycle, China is pissed because our gov’t won’t give back the balloon they blew to crap, the Pentagon is willy nilly making statements they cannot confirm and trying to walk them back and our president is trying to act like a tuff guy… If only these idiots in DC could pull their heads out of their arses long enough to see how F…ing stupid they are all being by putting their own politics ahead of the country… I really do have a serious dislike for career politicians… They are ALL crooked SOBs… Once again, rant over… Good night.
When “The Balloon” Comes South: When “The Balloon” Comes South - YouTube
What’s with all the UFOs’ all off a sudden? The third one since the China balloon fiasco was shot down today.
Seems like a lot of distraction for something bigger.
They said they were the size of cars, so my first thoughts were Kardashians smuggling in butt implants…
You mean like Biden giving away/reinstating child tax credits with taxpayer money again?
Isn’t it up to four now?
