OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
An explosion has been caught n camera above Billings, Montana, the last place the spy balloon from China was seen.
The person who shared the video, Dolly Moore, said she “saw a jet go by so fast and then explosion in the sky.”
“Ok, so here’s what I just caught I few minutes ago out my window. I saw a jet go by so fast and then explosion in the sky. Holy crap! Billings MT,” she said.
Ok, so here’s what I just caught I few minutes ago out my window. I saw a jet go by so fast and then explosion in the sky. Holy crap! Billings MT. pic.twitter.com/swr8ERC6pf
— Dolly Moore (@MMtTreasures) February 4, 2023
There is no indication that the explosion is related to the spy balloon.
The Pentagon has responded to the Chinese spy balloon that has been traversing the United States. It came after China insisted that the balloon had drifted off course and could not be maneuvered, but the Pentagon said that was incorrect.
“The balloon is maneuverable,” Pentagon spokesman Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said to reporters on Friday. “It violated the law. We communicated that to China.”
He said that shooting down the balloon “was taken into consideration,” but “because we assessed that currently, it does not pose a psychical or military risk to people on the ground, for now, we are continuing to monitor and review options.”
“What we’re not gonna do is get into an hour-by-hour location of the balloon,” the spokesman said.
“Does the public not have the right to know…?” a reporter said before the spokesman gave his most glib answer.
“The public certainly has the ability to look up in the sky and see where the balloon is,” he said.
REPORTER: "Does the public not have the right to know…?"
PENTAGON: "The public certainly has the ability to look up in the sky and see where the balloon is." pic.twitter.com/3mLU3BQTRQ
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) February 3, 2023
China has made a stunning admission, declaring that the “spy balloon” that is currently flying over the United States is theirs. The People’s Republic of China said on Friday that the balloon is theirs but claimed it was not meant to enter United States airspace, Fox News reported.
“The airship is from China. It is a civilian airship used for research, mainly meteorological, purposes,” a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Friday. “Affected by the Westerlies and with limited self-steering capability, the airship deviated far from its planned course.”
“The Chinese side regrets the unintended entry of the airship into US airspace due to force majeure. The Chinese side will continue communicating with the US side and properly handle this unexpected situation caused by force majeure,” the spokesperson said.
House Speaker and Republican California Rep. Kevin McCarthy has called for an intelligence briefing on the matter.
“China’s brazen disregard for U.S. sovereignty is a destabilizing action that must be addressed, and President Biden cannot be silent,” he said on Twitter. “I am requesting a Gang of Eight briefings.”
China’s brazen disregard for U.S. sovereignty is a destabilizing action that must be addressed, and President Biden cannot be silent.
I am requesting a Gang of Eight briefing. https://t.co/KarTCUzbOS
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) February 3, 2023
Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder announced the detection of the balloon on Thursday.
“The United States Government has detected and is tracking a high altitude surveillance balloon that is over the continental United States right now. The U.S. government, to include NORAD, continues to track and monitor it closely. The balloon is currently traveling at an altitude well above commercial air traffic and does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground. Instances of this kind of balloon activity have been observed previously over the past several years. Once the balloon was detected, the U.S. government acted immediately to protect against the collection of sensitive information,” he said.
Other Republicans weighed in on what they thought of the situation.
“Biden should shoot down the Chinese spy balloon immediately. President Trump would have never tolerated this. President Trump would have never tolerated many things happening to America,” Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green said.
Biden should shoot down the Chinese spy balloon immediately.
President Trump would have never tolerated this.
President Trump would have never tolerated many things happening to America.
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) February 2, 2023
“Under Biden: Pentagon tracks Chinese Spy Balloon for days over US & does NOT shoot it down. Abandons Americans & $85 billion in US military equipment & arms in Afghanistan. Won’t secure our border- 5+ million people invade. The Biden admin is impotent,” she said.
Under Biden:
Pentagon tracks Chinese Spy Balloon for days over US & does NOT shoot it down.
Abandons Americans & $85 billion in US military equipment & arms in Afghanistan.
Won’t secure our border- 5+ million people invade.
The Biden admin is impotent.https://t.co/QUIDAUfOzx
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) February 3, 2023
“I know I was just named to the Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday but I’m going to go out on a limb and say we shouldn’t have a Chinese spy balloon floating over the United States of America. Take it down,” Sen. Eric Schmitt said.
I know I was just named to the Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday but I’m going to go out on a limb and say we shouldn’t have a Chinese spy balloon floating over the United States of America.
Take it down.
— Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) February 3, 2023
“The only thing to conclude is the CCP must have so much on the Biden family, this administration will not react to any of the CCP provocations. -Cancelled the China initiative, soft on IP theft, COVID 19 origins no questions whatsoever about it and now this,” Fox News host Maria Bartiromo said.
Biden's response to the Chinese spy balloon is literally ripped from the plot of 'Dont Look Up'
— Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) February 3, 2023
Secretary Blinken should cancel his trip to China.
And President Biden must answer why he has not secured U.S. airspace.https://t.co/PqwFLCpVhN
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) February 2, 2023
“Secretary Blinken should cancel his trip to China. And President Biden must answer why he has not secured U.S. airspace,” Sen. Tom Cotton said.
