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'Shoot. It. Down': Republicans call for Chinese spy balloon to be blown out of sky
Washington Examiner ^ | 2/3/2023 | Virginia Aabram

Posted on 02/03/2023 10:50:48 AM PST by Right Wing Vegan

GOP lawmakers are calling for the United States to shoot down the alleged Chinese spy balloon found floating over Montana on Wednesday.

The Pentagon said it would not shoot down the balloon, arguing it "does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground at this time," and China blamed the incursion into U.S. airspace on a civilian aircraft that had deviated off course. Montana is home to sensitive nuclear military installations.

"It was a mistake to not shoot down that Chinese spy balloon when it was over a sparsely populated area," Sen. Marco Rubio (FL), the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, tweeted. "This is not some hot air balloon, it has a large payload of sensors roughly the size of two city buses & the ability to maneuver independently."

"President Biden should stop coddling and appeasing the Chinese communists," Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) tweeted on Friday. "Bring the balloon down now and exploit its tech package, which could be an intelligence bonanza."

A defense official said Thursday the intelligence value of the destroyed balloon would be minimal and that the Defense Department doesn't want to risk hurting people on the ground.

Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT) dismissed what he called "bowing" to China's "provocation."

"Shoot. It. Down. The Chinese spy balloon is clear provocation. In Montana we do not bow. We shoot it down. Take the shot," he tweeted on Thursday.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) emphatically agreed, saying the Pentagon's argument on safety "doesn't sell."

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) told Fox News the presence of the spy balloon is "disturbing."

Why hasn't the Biden administration shot this spy balloon down?" she asked. "It's very disturbing to know that it's still up there in the air near our military installations. The time is now. Let's get this thing out of the air."

Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said the U.S. government continues to monitor the balloon closely.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Canada; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; US: Arkansas; US: Florida; US: Georgia; US: Montana; US: South Carolina
KEYWORDS: arkansas; balloongate; canada; cccp; ccp; china; florida; georgia; marcorubio; marjorietaylorgreene; montana; nancymace; patrickryder; putin; russia; russiaiscommunist; ryanzinke; southcarolina; sovietunion; spyballoon; tomcotton; virginiaaabram; virginiaabram; xi
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To: BlackAdderess
It’s flying at 66,000 feet. Drones can’t go that high, planes don’t go that high except for the U-2 spy plane.

The F-15 has a service ceiling of 65,000 feet.

221 posted on 02/03/2023 4:12:54 PM PST by ETCM (“There is no security, no safety, in the appeasement of evil.” — Ronald Reagan)
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To: Right Wing Vegan

I’d say capture it and reverse engineer all the stolen technology


222 posted on 02/03/2023 4:17:55 PM PST by P.O.E. (Pray for America.)
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To: vetvetdoug
Brigadier General Jack D Ripper...yep, I incorrectly stated his rank. I just recently reviewed the movie too. General LeMay wouldn't have put up with this bullshit either.


Every thing in Asian society can be seen in perspective as not losing face, saving face etc. I can imagine right now the world thinking, what is going on here, with the Chinese spy balloon overflying the US. Sad sign of weakness, loss of face and disrespect for Joe Biden. Just like when Obama landed and they would not give him a gate to deplane; had to walk across tarmac. Disrespect for weakness.

I recall when I entered the Air National Guard in 1972, we had a colonel in charge of 1300 men in a small ANG base. He was a rather eccentric WW2 veteran, and would chip golf balls over the admin building in the afternoon. No one would ask him not to do that; he was king so long as his units passed the ORI. Referred to the men as his "creatures", and that was a pretty true to life characterization. He was nothing like Jack D. Ripper, and had a kindly exterior demeanor, but had been through war and was tough as nails. I regret that at the time I did not truly understand the greatness of these heroes.

Yes, Curtis LeMay would not have tolerated this b.s.

223 posted on 02/03/2023 4:43:57 PM PST by The_Media_never_lie (Remember August 8!)
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To: palmer

Rhino Nancy Mace is getting a chance to act tough, when all she does is schmooze. Useless.


224 posted on 02/03/2023 4:46:11 PM PST by The_Media_never_lie (Remember August 8!)
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To: dragnet2; dfwgator
LOL!

Jesse Waters on Fox News just reported there is supposedly another Chinese spy balloon over Latin America right now. And.. there was just a massive explosion in the sky over Billings, Montana. 🤔

225 posted on 02/03/2023 5:04:24 PM PST by nutmeg
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To: Right Wing Vegan

one word, pussy


226 posted on 02/03/2023 5:07:31 PM PST by Kakaze (I'd like the Republic back)
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To: Cobra64
It is about a foreign country invading our sovereign airspace.

I'm glad that you also reject the notion (others have so meticulously repeated a million times on all threads on this topic) that the sheer fact the US has ever spied or entered another nation's airspace somehow negates our sovereignty and the right and duty to intercept or even destroy whatever infringes it.

227 posted on 02/03/2023 5:08:59 PM PST by Right Wing Vegan (Pot legalization licenses every degenerate pothead piece of trash to force drug neighbors.)
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To: WalkerinSC
Paging Eric Baumgartner.....Eric....pick up your phone...have a mission for you.

Only human that has exceeded the speed of sound without an aercraft


228 posted on 02/03/2023 5:18:28 PM PST by spokeshave (Proud Boys, Angry Dads and Grumpy Grandads.)
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To: spokeshave

aercraft = aircraft


229 posted on 02/03/2023 5:19:30 PM PST by spokeshave (Proud Boys, Angry Dads and Grumpy Grandads.)
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To: spokeshave

230 posted on 02/03/2023 5:22:15 PM PST by spokeshave (Proud Boys, Angry Dads and Grumpy Grandads.)
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To: ETCM
"The F-15 has a service ceiling of 65,000 feet."




And is known to have shot a satellite out of the sky!





Let Us Remember When a U.S. F-15 Blasted an Orbiting Satellite to Smithereens (Popular Mechanics)

231 posted on 02/03/2023 5:43:15 PM PST by Bikkuri (I am proud to be a PureBlood.)
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To: Right Wing Vegan

Nevermind. You don’t get it. Go have a steak.


232 posted on 02/03/2023 5:43:27 PM PST by Cobra64 (Common sense isn’t common anymore.)
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To: P.O.E.
"I’d say capture it and reverse engineer all the stolen technology"


You should already know that it is probably our technology that they stole from us.
233 posted on 02/03/2023 5:44:41 PM PST by Bikkuri (I am proud to be a PureBlood.)
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To: Cobra64

Hm... What I don’t get is where our views collide on this topic. But I’m recalling now that you do not welcome replies from me. Sorry as it was quite some time ago since your last unwarranted hostility.


234 posted on 02/03/2023 5:53:32 PM PST by Right Wing Vegan (Pot legalization licenses every degenerate pothead piece of trash to force drug neighbors.)
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To: WalkerinSC

I don’t subscribe to the take that most Democrats are out to destroy the country.

Not physically, maybe. They want to destroy everything good and decent about our country. The insane communists have taken over the Democrat party. There are no “moderates” left. Some, like Joe Manchin talk a good game but when the rubber hits the road, they vote with the other lunatics.


235 posted on 02/03/2023 6:20:01 PM PST by rxh4n1
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To: WalkerinSC

for your condescending information, the rubes can process more than one issue at a time...

unlike you it seems


236 posted on 02/03/2023 6:21:25 PM PST by Chode (there is no fall back position, there's no rally point, there is no LZ... we're on our own. #FJB)
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To: Jonty30

RE: Can’t something be tied to it and drag it down?

Jules Verne had that in the Africa section of the novel Five Weeks In A Balloon. (1863)

Elephant catches a line and pulls at the balloon for a few yards.

https://www.weslpress.org/9780819575470/five-weeks-in-a-balloon/


237 posted on 02/03/2023 6:25:37 PM PST by frank ballenger (You have summoned up a thundercloud. You're gonna hear from me. Anthem by Leonard Cohen)
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To: dragnet2

Trump....

Right.
But like most other stories that didn’t happen due to his reputation. Chicoms would have said to themselves “The balloon thing? Let’s not.”


238 posted on 02/03/2023 6:27:30 PM PST by frank ballenger (You have summoned up a thundercloud. You're gonna hear from me. Anthem by Leonard Cohen)
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To: newfreep

Good one.


239 posted on 02/03/2023 6:29:07 PM PST by frank ballenger (You have summoned up a thundercloud. You're gonna hear from me. Anthem by Leonard Cohen)
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To: vetvetdoug

Yes.
We cannot allow a balloon gap.

Remember when Rush used this theme for condom discussions?

The Fifth Dimension.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKkNlwpajNk


240 posted on 02/03/2023 6:32:20 PM PST by frank ballenger (You have summoned up a thundercloud. You're gonna hear from me. Anthem by Leonard Cohen)
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