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Original poster

To be concerned about the balloon discovered hovering over Montana

262 replies

MeetPi · 03/02/2023 05:57

The balloon is said to be a Chinese spy balloon up to three football fields long. In the last few minutes, another balloon has possibly been spotted over Canada - where the first balloon apparently came through to the US.

Purportedly President Biden wanted to shoot the balloon down, but the Pentagon convinced him otherwise, as this could prove a risk to people on the ground.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/feb/02/pentagon-chinese-spy-balloon

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Itisbetter · 03/02/2023 09:46

I think do a fly by and spray paint it.

Stars and Stripes?
Pokémon?
Hannah Montana?
A huge eyeball?

WedonttalkaboutMaureen · 03/02/2023 09:49

@AutumnLeaves5 of course it's been "noticed" the US will have had it monitored before it even came close to their shores. It's a diplomatic move to release this info now - they are poking back at the Chinese. Or the Canadians said something that the media could get hold of, so the US had to release the info now.

Either way, it's definitely not just rocked up over Montana with nobody knowing it's there.

Crazykatie · 03/02/2023 09:55

This has taken the US by surprise and was probably identified visually because balloons don’t show up on radar, commercial balloons use a transponder so they can be tracked, I dont expect these have transponders. A spy satellites track can be predicted so ground activity can be stopped and hidden, an undetected slow moving balloon would see it all.

TheVanguardSix · 03/02/2023 09:57

"Montana is home to one of the nation’s three nuclear missile silo fields at Malmstrom air force base."

Initially, I was ready to get my jokes on... but the balloon is a massive structure and Montana is home to nukes. Christ. It's a tricky one.

Anyway, off to listen to the beautiful song Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland Illinois which has suddenly come into my head upon reading this.

BarmyArmy22 · 03/02/2023 10:09

Has it blown over after Chinese new year?

Sirius3030 · 03/02/2023 10:17

RichardsGear · 03/02/2023 07:13

Well men, really. I bet there were precisely no Chinese women involved in the development and deployment of this balloon.

Of course. No Chinese women involved at all. Apart from the Chinese women soldiers obviously.

To be concerned about the balloon discovered hovering over Montana
To be concerned about the balloon discovered hovering over Montana
Plitvice · 03/02/2023 10:19

I'm surprised you are concerned about a balloon and not a Eufy, Reolink, IGeek (and hundreds of other) small home devices made in China which has your wifi password, often unencrypted.

VaccinistaToteBagChicBaristas · 03/02/2023 10:32

Sounds like the beginning of the film Arrival. Maybe there are some mysterious aliens inside.

unsureatthispoint · 03/02/2023 10:33

Why don't they just clear the area and bring it down? They would do it with a plane. It can't be that difficult, surely

unsureatthispoint · 03/02/2023 10:34

unsureatthispoint · 03/02/2023 10:33

Why don't they just clear the area and bring it down? They would do it with a plane. It can't be that difficult, surely

Maybe they don't want to?

unsureatthispoint · 03/02/2023 10:35

RichardsGear · 03/02/2023 07:13

Well men, really. I bet there were precisely no Chinese women involved in the development and deployment of this balloon.

Do you really believe this? What a naive comment

MissConductUS · 03/02/2023 10:41

GreenBiscuitr · 03/02/2023 08:03

It's a load of rubbish one way or another, if China wanted to spy they can do it perfectly easily from satellites in space.

Because the balloon is much closer to the surface, it can take more detailed photographs. It may also be picking up low-power radio and mobile phone signals, which can't be done from satellites.

Igotjelly · 03/02/2023 10:42

unsureatthispoint · 03/02/2023 10:33

Why don't they just clear the area and bring it down? They would do it with a plane. It can't be that difficult, surely

Because at present they have clearly assessed that the geopolitical ramifications (as well as any physical risk) of such a move outweighs the risks associated with whatever information its collecting/message its designed to send.

I would be extremely surprised if there isn't significant sensitive diplomatic activity with Beijing at this very moment.

unsureatthispoint · 03/02/2023 10:46

Igotjelly · 03/02/2023 10:42

Because at present they have clearly assessed that the geopolitical ramifications (as well as any physical risk) of such a move outweighs the risks associated with whatever information its collecting/message its designed to send.

I would be extremely surprised if there isn't significant sensitive diplomatic activity with Beijing at this very moment.

Show quote history

Really? We have to tolerate stuff on our airspace because of fear of 'geopolitical ramifications'? How about if we sent a bunch of baloons their way? I bet that would go down well. Our leaders are beyond wet

unsureatthispoint · 03/02/2023 10:47

I bet they wouldn't have sent happy baloons if Trump was in power (whatever you might think of him)

FloydPepper · 03/02/2023 10:48

RichardsGear · 03/02/2023 07:13

Well men, really. I bet there were precisely no Chinese women involved in the development and deployment of this balloon.

And todays award for “randomly blame a man for no reason” goes to…

Igotjelly · 03/02/2023 10:49

unsureatthispoint · 03/02/2023 10:46

Really? We have to tolerate stuff on our airspace because of fear of 'geopolitical ramifications'? How about if we sent a bunch of baloons their way? I bet that would go down well. Our leaders are beyond wet

Show quote history

Well considering that 'geopolitical ramifications' can vary from another country being a bit pissed off, to China actively supporting Russia in its war against Ukraine (which could change the course of the war), to China undertaking military activity against the US, then yes I think sometimes its better to suck it up. I'm sure those informing the President are able to risk assess better than any of us....

MeinKraft · 03/02/2023 10:52

I thought spies were supposed to be subtle. Nothing subtle about that balloon! Imagine if your house was under it Shock

Dotjones · 03/02/2023 10:57

I'm not sure whether they have grounds to shoot it down. It's a debated point as to the altitude where national airspace ends. Satellites for instance are clearly not treated as invading national airspace. This balloon is higher than aircraft usually fly. If the US shot down something above its airspace that could be seen as an aggressive act in the same way one country destroying another's satellite could be.

GasPanic · 03/02/2023 11:00

unsureatthispoint · 03/02/2023 10:33

Why don't they just clear the area and bring it down? They would do it with a plane. It can't be that difficult, surely

It's probably very high up, so it would be a massive area.

But my guess is there are two issues, one is whether they have something to go high up enough to shoot it down.

The other is if they do shoot it down, debris will be scattered over a wide area. Not so bad if it is bits of balloon. Very bad if it is powered by nuclear RTGs.

NotAnotherBathBomb · 03/02/2023 11:05

Switchwitch · 03/02/2023 06:01

I'm amazed they can have a balloon that tracks people and spies on nuclear sites but my Amazon Alexa tries to play me house music rather than time my pasta on the hob.

😭

Ryder68 · 03/02/2023 11:07

Just heard on the radio that China is 'looking into the balloon sighting reports' 🤔

Badger1970 · 03/02/2023 11:10

I'd be a bit worried if that was floating around near my house, just in case it came down.

The Alexa comment made me chuckle.... DH kept calling her Alexis and she wasn't impressed. The two of them bickering meant that Alexis was soon consigned to the spare bedroom.

unsureatthispoint · 03/02/2023 11:15

Badger1970 · 03/02/2023 11:10

I'd be a bit worried if that was floating around near my house, just in case it came down.

The Alexa comment made me chuckle.... DH kept calling her Alexis and she wasn't impressed. The two of them bickering meant that Alexis was soon consigned to the spare bedroom.

😂

Original poster
MeetPi · 03/02/2023 11:22

@DogInATent

And supposedly it's the balloon that's got you concerned, and the balloon that you'd like us all to become worried about.

It's the sum amount of military activity of China globally over the past few years that has me concerned - not just this incident. I'm not sure why you're determined to downplay that.

OP posts: