Apparently almost every media outlet buried the lead. According to analysis from combined intelligence operations of the U.S government, last week the Biden administration ordered U.S. military fighter jets to launch missiles and shoot down of what is now believed to be “balloons belonging to private companies, recreation, or research institutions.” WATCH (w/ transcript below):
[Transcript] – THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. Last week, in the immediate aftermath of the incursion by China’s high-altitude balloon, our military, through the North American Aerospace Defense Command — so-called NOR- — NORAD — closely scrutinized the — our airspace, including enhancing our radar to pick up more slow-moving objects above our country and around the world.
In doing so, they tracked three unidentified objects: one in Alaska, Canada, and over Lake Huron in the Midwest.
They acted in accordance with established parameters for determining how to deal with unidentified aerial objects in U.S. airspace.
At their recommendation, I gave the order to take down these three objects due to hazards to civilian commercial air traffic and because we could not rule out the surveillance risk of sensitive facilities.
We acted in consultation with the Canadian government. I spoke personally with Prime Minister Trudeau and Ca- — from Canada on Saturday.
And just as critically, we acted out of an abundance of caution and at an opportunity that allowed us to take down these — these objects safely.
Our military and the Canadian military are seeking to recover the debris so we can learn more about these three objects. Our intelligence community is still assessing all three incidences. They’re reporting to me daily and will continue their urgent efforts to do so, and I will communicate that to the Congress.
We don’t yet know exactly what these three objects were. But nothing — nothing right now suggests they were related to China’s spy balloon program or that they were surveillance vehicles from other — any other country.
The intelligence community’s current assessment is that these three objects were most likely balloons tied to private companies, recreation, or research institutions studying weather or conducting other scientific research.
When I came into office, I instructed our intelligence community to take a broad look at the phenomenon of unidentified aerial objects.
We know that a range of entities, including countries, companies, and research organizations operate objects at altitudes for purposes that are not nefarious, including legitimate scientific research.
I want to be clear: We don’t have any evidence that there has been a sudden increase in the number of objects in the sky. We’re now just seeing more of them, partially because the steps we’ve taken to increase our radars — to narrow our radars. And we have to keep adapting our approach to delaying — to dealing with these challenges.
That’s why I’ve directed my team to come back to me with sharper rules for how we will deal with these unidentified objects moving forward, distinguishing — distinguishing between those that are likely to pose safety and security risks that necessitate action and those that do not.
But make no mistake, if any object presents a threat to the safety and security of the American people, I will take it down. I’ll be sharing with Congress these classified policy parameters when they’re completed, and they’ll remain classified so we don’t give our roadmap to our enemies to try to evade our defenses.
Going forward, these parameters will guide what actions we will take while responding to unmanned and unidentified aerial objects. We’re going to keep adapting them as the challenges evolve, if it evolves.
In addition, we’ve derived — I’ve directly my National Security Advisor to lead a government-wide effort to make sure we are positioned to deal safely and effectively with the objects in our airspace.
First, we will establish a better inventory of unmanned airborne objects in space — above the United States’ airspace and make sure that inventory is accessible and up to date.
Second, we’ll implement further measures to improve our capacity to detect unmanned objecti- — objects in our airspace.
Third, we’ll update the rules and regulations for launching and maintaining unmanned objects in the skies above the United States of America.
And fourth, my Secretary of State will lead an effort to help establish a global — a globa- — a common global norms in this largely unregulated space.
These steps will lead to safer and more secure skies for our air travelers, our military, our scientists, and for people on the ground as well. That’s my job as your President and Commander-in-Chief.
As the events of the previous days have shown, we’ll always act to protect the interest of the American people and the security of the American people.
Since I came into office, we’ve developed the ability to identify, track, and study high-altitude surveillance balloons connected with the Chinese military.
When one of these high-altitude surveillance balloons entered our airspace over the continental United States earlier in the month, I gave the order to shoot it down as soon as it would be safe to do so. The military advised against shooting it down over land because of the sheer size of it. It was the size of multiple school busses, and it posed a risk to people on the ground if it was shot down where people lived.
Instead, we tracked it closely, we analyzed its capabilities, and we learned more about how it operates.
And because we knew its path, we were able to protect sensitive sites against collection.
We waited until it was safely over water, which would not only protect civilians but also enable us to recover substantial components for further analys- — for further analytics.
And then we shot it down, sending a clear message — clear message: The violation of our sovereignty is unacceptable.
We will act to protect our country, and we did.
Now, this past Friday, we put restrictions on six firms that directly support the People’s Republic Liberation Army — the People’s Lib- — the People’s Liberation Army aerospace program that includes airships and balloons, denying them access to U.S. technology.
We briefed our diplomatic partners and our allies around the world, and we know about China’s program and where their balloons have flown.
Some of them have also raised their concerns directly with China. Our exports [experts] have lifted components of the Chinese balloon’s payload off the ocean floor. We’re analyzing them as I speak, and what we learn will strengthen our capabilities.
Now, we’ll also continue to engage with China, as we have throughout the past two weeks. As I’ve said since the beginning of my administration, we seek competition, not conflict, with China. We’re not looking for a new Cold War.
But I make no apologize — I make no apologies, and we will compete. And we’ll be res- — we’ll responsibly manage that competition so that it doesn’t veer into conflict.
This episode underscores the importance of maintaining open lines of communication between our diplomats and our military professionals. Our diplomats will be engaging further, and I will remain in communication with President Xi.
I’m grateful for the work over the last several weeks of our intelligence, diplomatic, and military professionals who have proved once again to be the most capable in the world. And I want to thank you all.
Now, look, the other thing I want to point is that we are going to keep our allies and the Congress contemporaneously informed of all we know and all we learn. And I expect to be speaking with President Xi, and I hope we have a — we are going to get to the bottom of this. But I make no apologies for taking down that balloon.
Thank you very much.
(Cross-talk by reporters.)
Q Mr. President, why did you wait so long to address the public on this matter, Mr. President?
Q Sir, there’s been a criticism — there’s been criticism of this —
Q When are you speaking to President Xi, Mr. President?
Q Is this deal with China compromised by your family’s business relationships in China, President Biden?
THE PRESIDENT: Give me a break, man. (Laughs.) (Inaudible.)
Q Sir — Mr. President — Mr. President, there’s been criticism —
Q Did you overreact?
Q — Mr. President, there’s been criticism that this was an overreaction that was done because of political pressure —
(Cross-talk by reporters.)
THE PRESIDENT: I can’t —
Q Is your son still (inaudible) —
THE PRESIDENT: You can come to my office and ask the question when you have more polite people (inaudible).
We would be better off if The Three Stooges were running everything.
Moe Howard and his family were true patriots, in 1940. Moe Howard’s satire “You Nazty Spy” of the Nazis fits well.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Nazty_Spy!
Saturday mornings were spent watching the Three Stooges on TV when I was a kid.
Lots of laughs.
Now Sunday afternoons are spent watching government Stooges on Meet the Press.
Now I weep for my country.
Tim Russert is spinning in his grave with what his show has become .
Yes it sure would. At least it would be humorous and we could all have a good laugh.
Instead of cry at the unfolding tragedy of a Dying Empire.
I heartily disgree: They already are. Biden; Harris; Buttgouge.
Rachelle yes this is correct, but also a slight insult at the Three Stooges! I knew what I was getting with them, but not so much with this incompetent bunch.
How long will it be before the Northerm Illinois Balloon Brigade (NIBB) will receive some attention from the efbeeeye ?
Watch the DNC and media (but I repeat myself) pivot to “vibrant, young leaders” in the party, those who are not “past their prime” (to borrow Don Lemon’s words).
Ha,ha,ha, sure thing!
In what universe.
If you believe this, i have some great real estate on mars to interest you.
Good lord, he can’t keep track of the lies on top lies.
Dollar Tree has been identified as a national security threat, at least that’s what NORAD decided after the mylar birthday balloon was identified.
Correction: Dollar Twenty – Five Tree. 🙂
FJB = Idiot!!!
The only thing he added to his previous statements is that there may have been a recreational balloon in the mix. I would say that accurately describes at least one of the balloons they shot down with $400,000 missiles. Politicians are all circus clowns. Just my opinion, of course. 🙂
Has anybody figured out why they built a fake WH? Do they hate the country so much that they don’t want to use the WH? Or have they trashed it so badly that they don’t want the media to see it?
The only story I ever heard was that the real Oval Office did not have enough teleprompter room.
I am assuming the fake one has something on the order of a couple dozen set up, one for every possible angle – including on the floor under the fake desk to handle the pratfalls.
Whatever wall Biden is facing when he is on camera, the ENTIRE WALL is turned into a giant teleprompter so that he can read it and follow it without squinting his eyes.
The real White House is filled with those destroying, I mean, running America – Soros, his Committee of Evil and BlackRock.
The fake whitehouse is where they keep the brainDead Prop … out of their way … and away from “visitors” and media.
Fake elections have real consequences.
JUDASpence did this!!!
Perhaps our Secretary of Transportation could task the FAA to develop new rules for commercial and private balloons that would require them to carry a transponder that would broadcast a code that would allow the Air Traffic Control System to track and identify them as non-hostile (while stil being a hazzard to air navigation).
Oh, wait. Isn’t that Mayor Pete? Nevermind.
One of those balloons shot down was a helium balloon sent off by a group of guys known as the Bottlecap Balloon Brigade- they send up helium balloons and track them for fun…Joe spent $400,000 of TAXPAYER MONEY (the cost of each shot from a sidewinder missle) to blow this out of the air. It’s like a Saturday Night Live skit…..
We’ll have to find comfort in our only “recovery” … funny memes.
Thus far, no reference or time taken to address China’s brazen spying across the US. After all, “they’re the Chinese government” when Joe earlier on, totally shrugs it off. Yet frenzy, money and spin shooting down unidentified objects.
According to Joe, partners and allies, some of whom have addressed/raised their concerns directly with China. Partners and allies are not USA. What does Joe have to say directly to China about America’s concerns?
As China Joe puts it, now he’s pressured:
“We briefed our diplomatic “partners and our allies around the world”, and we know about China’s program and where their balloons have flown.
Some of them have also raised their concerns directly with China. Our exports [experts] have lifted components of the Chinese balloon’s payload off the ocean floor. We’re analyzing them as I speak, and what we learn will strengthen our capabilities.
” .. we’ll also continue to engage with China, as we have throughout the past two weeks”
Past 2 weeks? Doing what Joe?
This, says it all.
“As I’ve said since the beginning of my administration, we seek competition, not conflict, with China. We’re not looking for a new Cold War”
Wow – Am horrified that I was wrong, to assume that lethal aerial weapons would not be expended over North America without Positive ID of the target.
Note that fighter pilots over Vietnam developed a method to achieve positive visual ID of potentially hostile air targets prior to missile launch, despite overbearing ROEs. It was called ‘Eyeball-Shooter.’
There is no excuse for this epic buffoonery at the national command level. None.
One heat seeking sidewinder missed its “ufo” target … still no word where it ended up … it hit something – somewhere … silence … this may actually be another huge coverup of something bad.
Here’s one company that sells balloons like the last 3 shot out of the sky:
http://www.scientificballoonsolutions.com/news/
You can come to his office and ask questions when you have more polite people? Wow.
This video actually shows the dogfight and wreckage between Dark Brandon’s forces and the UFO
Enjoy!
I don’t recall *any* photos of Biden in the Oval Office.
Everyone stay away from annual balloon festival in Albuquerque,NM this year
Okay, this is not the same Joe Biden from a year ago or even 6 months ago. I have seen other threads claiming it’s a double, brushed them off, but now I’m convinced. He could barely string two sentences together…now he holds a whole press conference with paragraphs of information. Sure it was still nonsense, but this was not him. Patients with dementia do NOT improve their cognition. Just sayin.
Biden is senile as well as corrupt! He can’t remember what he says from one day to the next. The only thing he seems capable of these days is being able to make deals that will enrich the Biden family at the expense of our entire country. This is what you get when you have your electoral rights stolen right under your nose, as ours were in November of 2020. We probably have democrats in the thousands, who bear responsibility for that steal, who should be sitting in a prison today. Instead we have a corrupt and fully incompetent government which for the most part doesn’t govern, but does what all thieves do, it steals, our money and our rights!