The Chinese Spy Balloon

[dryhumor]

A novel approach that the World could take in the China/Taiwan debate is say “yes, we endorse China reunification, with the caveat the the Government would be patterned after Taiwan’s, ie a Palimentary Republic.

It is difficult to sanction a repressive Government that was the creation of one of the most prolific mass murderers in history.

I don’t see Taiwan as any different than Hong Kong. The world would watch long enough to become complacent. Then it starts to end in subtle ways; then it is the new normal as in Hong Kong currently.

Look at the money. Look at the sheer volume of resources that are extracted and sent there to become the throwaway consumer products for the world and provide dividends for shareholders. Then look back at the money. And look at the methodical creation of islands, runways, and gun emplacements that has been going on. Look at the money going to roads and bridges programs in every crap hole around the world that are providing good infrastructure for military transport. Then look at the money made by mining the resources in those crap holes.

The four horsemen of the apocalypse. Race, Religion, Greed, and Politics. Then look back at the money, and how it drives the horsemen.

It’s always about the money.

And I’m just an average guy that notices things.

 

[Retired shooter]

View attachment 1408339

Been sitting back in the shadows of the ballon.
But I believe this is the funniest one so far.
Have a great day.!

 

[BlueWater]

I don’t see Taiwan as any different than Hong Kong. The world would watch long enough to become complacent.

Hong Kong, however (up to the handover back to China), was a tenuous arrangement based on treaty/contract (if it can be called that). Once that thin thread was parted, though, we all saw how "valued" CCP considered Hong Kong's "open" society.

With Taiwan, there have never been any such arrangements or constraints. It was a nation's civil war ... and the CCP won it, with the vanquished fleeing.

That war, effectively, never really ended, though it clearly paused until such time as when China could be economically and politically powerful enough to get its way. It was able to accomplish its ugly desires (by force) upon Tibet; but then, Tibet wasn't a spot anyone elsewhere really cared about, strategically, instead having merely political angst at stake.

Taiwan is much bigger stakes. And, like the Spratlys, Paracels and neighboring spots, Taiwan's situated in a location that can help China eventually control traffic and presence in one of the highest-traffic zones of the world's oceans. Those build-ups in the region aren't by accident.

Ducks in a row. Once that happens, ...

 

[M-61]

Well the Biden spokesman did say they want to recover the BALLOON, so shoot the payload. lol. I can't believe people still vote for these (fill in the blank).

They did and they will

 

[rr2030]

F16 could have given it a few spurts over Montana and after slowly coming down, all the gear on it wouldn't resemble a water logged pancake!!!

Bu, bu, but then with all the gear intact the sheeple would demand to know what it was really doing up there. Decision at the highest levels of Government decided to deny us, so they sent it in the drink.

$400K for a sidewinder, $44 to &70K an hour for the operational cost of the F22, peanuts compared to the mobilization of the Navy and Coast Guard assets operating in the debris field and committed to finding trinkets.

How long will it be before Xi Jinping summons Biden to Peking to explain himself ?

 

[BlueWater]

"The balloon does not belong to the U.S. The Chinese government will continue to resolutely safeguard its legitimate rights and interests."

- Mao Ning, spokesperson for China
​

China says will 'safeguard interests' over balloon shootdown

China says it will "resolutely safeguard its legitimate rights and interests" over the shooting down of a suspected Chinese spy balloon by the United States.

apnews.com

Yet, the airspace does.

Pretty bold statement by their spokesperson, given the thing was in the airspace of another nation. And, the remarks are customarily vague in their implied threats.

A "fishing trawler" cruising around in international waters nearby Pearl Harbor or San Diego Harbor, for example, should be treated as just that. Monitored, watched, but not dealt with as an invader. Same with aircraft outside the airspace. But, imagine if, say, a Russian or Chinese "trawler" instead decided to root around a harbor's interior ... or sent an aircraft into national airspace to do whatever. Big difference.

They get their knickers wadded at the mere idea of such shipping in international waters between Taiwan and China or anywhere near the Spratly Islands. I suspect they'd blow a gasket if, say, shipping or aircraft were to head up the Yangtze River or floating over any spots they deemed "sensitive" over their land. Wadded-up knickers wouldn't be the half of it, if their previous actions are any guide.

World's gettin' fairly "sporty," these days. At some point, retaliatory insanity is going to get ugly, in response to such continued missteps. And nations will imagine they have every right to do it.

 

[TTE]

Like a magician distracting you with one hand while doing something else with the other!

That is the circumstance everyday with Government.
Does not diminish what happened with the balloon or rendered it less of a threat

 

[TTE]

Ukraine 2nd. biggest City bombed, Chinese balloon floating across the U.S.
WTF happened to the info about brandon's Classified documents in his Vet with the "doors locked" and Hunters Laptop? WE NEED MORE INFO. The Truth and Nothing but the Truth!!!
Is that the sound of the U.S. being flushed down the drain?

you know the newer generation can't think/do of more than 1 thing at a time, what do you expect ? Come on !

 

[BlueWater]

You have "not created the proper atmosphere" for dialogue and exchange. You have "seriously violated international norms and set a pernicious precedent."

- Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson, after China's refusal to to answer the "hotline" between the two nations, following the downing of the Chinese spy balloon​

​

Indeed, as China's implying, most nations wouldn't bother standing up to a spying operation, in these times; isn't a "norm" to stand up for what's right. Yet, the remarks by China's mouthpiece are rich and brazen, from the perpetrators of a spying incident who have been caught in the act. Doubling-down is still a commonplace tactic, for many, human nature being what it is. They've lost "face," and continue to lose it. That must really chap their heinies.

'It just rang': In crises, US-China hotline goes unanswered

When a giant Chinese balloon made an uninvited visit to the United States, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin turned to a hotline system set up with Beijing to defuse the situation.

apnews.com

 

[LHSmith]

So it turns out the geniuses at the Pentagon were wrong again. What they thought was the easy peasy recovery is turning into a colossal expensive cluster #$%@.
Here is an idea -next time bring it down with a few bursts of the F22's 20mm cannon over snow covered Alaska and recover it intact from a slow descent in a day or 2 at a fraction of the cost.
Bering sea too cold and deep, too dangerous over land, too dangerous for the F22 using the 20mm cannon (too close), all excuses that don't hold an ounce of water. Government is totally inept and cover it with lies.

 

[Bill Norris]

So it turns out the geniuses at the Pentagon were wrong again. What they thought was the easy peasy recovery is turning into a colossal expensive cluster #$%@.
Here is an idea -next time bring it down with a few bursts of the F22's 20mm cannon over snow covered Alaska and recover it intact from a slow descent in a day or 2 at a fraction of the cost.
Bering sea too cold and deep, too dangerous over land, too dangerous for the F22 using the 20mm cannon (too close), all excuses that don't hold an ounce of water. Government is totally inept and cover it with lies.

The more we hear now about the whole thing I'm thinking it may have all been planned by our very smart so called gov. Too many things simply don't add up. The big key-in was the point of impact with the missile. Why not keep away from the very parts we needed to analyze and bring it down in a more controlled manner ?

 

[markT]

The more we hear now about the whole thing I'm thinking it may have all been planned by our very smart so called gov. Too many things simply don't add up. The big key-in was the point of impact with the missile. Why not keep away from the very parts we needed to analyze and bring it down in a more controlled manner ?

The Sidewinder missle uses thermal to hit the target and costs $400k per copy... We gotta keep the MIC going.. Oh wait, we have Ukraine for that.. Never mind..

 

[LHSmith]

Somebodies playing us for a fool with these balloons ......China ? Joe? or both?
Joe seems pretty sure of himself that he is untouchable.

 

[Gary in MD]

Apparently, we just shot something else down over Alaska this afternoon

 

[Dgd6mm]

Apparently, we just shot something else down over Alaska this afternoon

So far what I read is it is being called an object. This is from headlines. Hopefully when I get a minute there will be an accurate description.

 

[KMart]

Apparently, we just shot something else down over Alaska this afternoon

second verse, same as the first.

 

[Gary in MD]

They are claiming that we don’t know what it is or who owns it. But hopefully it fell over the ice so we can recover it

 

[LHSmith]

Apparently, we just shot something else down over Alaska this afternoon

Don't know which is more assinine -the reporters questions at these briefings or the answers from the administration.
If the Chinese don't use these briefings as a comedic reality show, their not as smart as we thought.

 

[M-61]

So far what I read is it is being called an object. This is from headlines. Hopefully when I get a minute there will be an accurate description.

Your last sentence, first word. People every day hope to win the power ball. Others hope for peace in the mid east. Others still hope for a cure for all cancers
All of the above are far more likely than an accurate description from the government. They are the original and best spin doctors.
They want you to think they are inept and foolish.
They are the very definition of cleverness.

 

[markT]

Your last sentence, first word. People every day hope to win the power ball. Others hope for peace in the mid east. Others still hope for a cure for all cancers
All of the above are far more likely than an accurate description from the government. They are the original and best spin doctors.
They want you to think they are inept and foolish.
They are the very definition of cleverness.

Yes make y'all look at balloons while we take over / invade Taiwan.