Spy ballons.

[100Coogn]

They just shot down the balloon over the Atlantic. (The one near Myrtle Beach).
Here is the path of a military aircraft just after downing the balloon.  Reports are that a missle took down the balloon.



Coogan

[RUSH1]

So you admit we do exactly the same thing.  Gotcha.

No, this doesn't particularly concern me.  I believe it is being monitored and tracked by our military.  As long as it is not a weapon system or drops down into airline traffic space, then I consider it relatively benign, because I believe in the Open Skies philosophy.  I believe countries conducting surveillance on each other creates a more stable peace. Which is why I'm ok with our spy satellites and recon flights.

At least the government didn't try and claim it was swamp gas.   

So much for your "open skies" approach when a weapon disguised as a surveillance craft shows up. 

[CptTrips]

I wonder if anyone has considered this might have been an intentional provocation to get us to over-react.

I hope it doesn't turn out to be a bunch of meteorological equipment. 

Oh well, the big bag balloon is popped.

Americans can go back to Kardashians and Tucker Carlson now. 

[CptTrips]

So much for your "open skies" approach when a weapon disguised as a surveillance craft shows up.

You have proof weapons were on board?

[RUSH1]

I wonder if anyone has considered this might have been an intentional provocation to get us to over-react.

I hope it doesn't turn out to be a bunch of meteorological equipment. 

Oh well, the big bag balloon is popped.

Americans can go back to Kardashians and Tucker Carlson now. 

We'd never be having this conversation, or  had it been taken out when it first entered our airspace, now would we?  So are you ok with Joe doing it now?

[CptTrips]

We'd never be having this conversation, or  had it been taken out when it first entered our airspace, now would we?  So are you ok with Joe doing it now?

Wait.  Just a sec.

You said is was a weapons system disguised as a surveillance balloon.

You have proof there were weapons on board?

[100Coogn]

Doesn't have to be bombs on board those balloons.
Those things could've very easily been carrying some type of biological weapon, and China hoping we'd shoot them down over land.

Coogan

[RUSH1]

You have proof weapons were on board?

Under any circumstance.  I wasn't referring to this baloon.

[RUSH1]

Wait.  Just a sec.

You said is was a weapons system disguised as a surveillance balloon.

You have proof there were weapons on board?

I never said that.  I was referring to your "open skies" approach to our airspace.  Stop trying to spin my statements.  Or maybe take a reading comprehension course.

[CptTrips]

Under any circumstance.  I wasn't referring to this baloon.

You said,

So much for your "open skies" approach when a weapon disguised as a surveillance craft shows up.

So you are now admitting there is no evidence this balloon was carrying weapons.

At least you are learning. 




I'm leaning toward intentional provocation.  We can track softball sized objects in orbit.  They would surely realize we could track something the size of 3 city buses.

And no, this doesn't change my view on Open Skies. I believe countries constantly surveilling each other in a non-harmful manner creates a more stable peace.  Nothing that has occurred changes my opinion on that.

[AKIron]

98 Chinese balloons in the sky, 98 Chinese balloons. You shoot one down....

[CptTrips]

98 Chinese balloons in the sky, 98 Chinese balloons. You shoot one down....

Dude, you can do better than that!



Yes, we're old. 

[-gg-]

Doesn't have to be bombs on board those balloons.
Those things could've very easily been carrying some type of biological weapon, and China hoping we'd shoot them down over land.

Coogan

exactly. We just do not know. I personally do not think we should allow balloons from foreign nations to float across the United States.

I'm not in charge and I don't have all the information, but if all I knew was that it was from China and that we do not know what's on board or what it's mission is, I'd shoot it down. You might risk a life doing so, but we have to protect the nation. That's how stuff works. Nothing is without risk. Cops kill people all the time when trying to stop crimes. It's a risk. You can't be frozen in fear of acting.

[RUSH1]

You said,
So you are now admitting there is no evidence this balloon was carrying weapons.

At least you are learning. 




I'm leaning toward intentional provocation.  We can track softball sized objects in orbit.  They would surely realize we could track something the size of 3 city buses.

And no, this doesn't change my view on Open Skies. I believe countries constantly surveilling each other in a non-harmful manner creates a more stable peace.  Nothing that has occurred changes my opinion on that.

How old are you?

[CptTrips]

How old are you?

Older and wiser than you I suspect.

So again, you are admitting you have no evidence this balloon was armed, right?

I'm not sure why you have such a hard time admitting the obvious.  Ego?   How old are YOU?