Stringfellow Hawke said:

---

MarathonAg12 said:

---

aggielostinETX said:

---

So it seems the former military guys here all agree that we should not have shoot it down prior to this. Why did we even let it get here?

This seems like a massive **** up by our military to allow it to even get over our air space. Explain that.

That's what I mean by carrying the water. Y'all seem to be defending, poor performance and bad decisions.

---

I'm not former. I'm current.

For reasons that go beyond your comprehension of national defense. There are experts conducting surviellnce in china, the Pacific Ocean and at home. This goes way beyond "see bad balloon, shoot bad balloon". With some of the most sophisticated intelligence gathering platforms in the world, both on ground and space, we deemed it to be a threat not worth shooting down over American soil.

Think strategic level impacts and influence and not tactical capabilities.

---

I wish I had a shred of faith in the folks running things at that level. Afghanistan exit was a debacle and have huge questions regarding overall military readiness and abilities.

---

redcrayon said:

---

TexAgs91 said:

---

redcrayon said:

---

Rapier108 said:

---

redcrayon said:

---

We can't just shoot stuff down and endanger civilians. That debris can kill people and destroy property.

---

When it was over Montana, there are virtually nothing for it to fall on. Should have been blasted out of the sky right then and there.

Actually, should have shot it down over the Aleutian Islands.

---

Why would we do that when we had disabled it's ability to gather and transmit data?

You can't predict where the debris will land. This isn't that simple.

---

Actually, we can. Ever heard of physics?

---

I guess you should call the Pentagon and let them know that you are better at physics than they are. I'm sure they'd love your assistance since they're all idiots.

---

girlfriend_experience said:

---

I see the liberal talking points are out !

Ballon isn't that big of a deal carry on

---

TexAgs91 said:

---

redcrayon said:

---

TexAgs91 said:

---

redcrayon said:

---

Rapier108 said:

---

redcrayon said:

---

We can't just shoot stuff down and endanger civilians. That debris can kill people and destroy property.

---

When it was over Montana, there are virtually nothing for it to fall on. Should have been blasted out of the sky right then and there.

Actually, should have shot it down over the Aleutian Islands.

---

Why would we do that when we had disabled it's ability to gather and transmit data?

You can't predict where the debris will land. This isn't that simple.

---

Actually, we can. Ever heard of physics?

---

I guess you should call the Pentagon and let them know that you are better at physics than they are. I'm sure they'd love your assistance since they're all idiots.

---

I see. So you've heard from the pentagon that they weren't able to predict where the debris would land?

The only thing in that balloon that's hard to track is the helium. Everything else is heavier than air and will fall.

You have its position, initial velocity, and the military should know what range of velocities the debris would spread from the impact point. You figure out a range of terminal velocities of the likely debris, and then you take into account the winds that the debris would fall through.

I'm sure the pentagon has plenty of smart people who can figure that out.

---

TexAgs91 said:

---

redcrayon said:

---

TexAgs91 said:

---

redcrayon said:

---

Rapier108 said:

---

redcrayon said:

---

We can't just shoot stuff down and endanger civilians. That debris can kill people and destroy property.

---

When it was over Montana, there are virtually nothing for it to fall on. Should have been blasted out of the sky right then and there.

Actually, should have shot it down over the Aleutian Islands.

---

Why would we do that when we had disabled it's ability to gather and transmit data?

You can't predict where the debris will land. This isn't that simple.

---

Actually, we can. Ever heard of physics?

---

I guess you should call the Pentagon and let them know that you are better at physics than they are. I'm sure they'd love your assistance since they're all idiots.

---

I see. So you've heard from the pentagon that they weren't able to predict where the debris would land?

The only thing in that balloon that's hard to track is the helium. Everything else is heavier than air and will fall.

You have its position, initial velocity, and the military should know what range of velocities the debris would spread from the impact point. You figure out a range of terminal velocities of the likely debris, and then you take into account the winds that the debris would fall through.

I'm sure the pentagon has plenty of smart people who can figure that out.

---

SPF250 said:

---

If it really took a sidewinder, due to altitude or some other reason, I can somewhat see waiting until it was over the ocean to shoot it down. Minuscule risk from the balloon falling over Montana, but a sidewinder is a whole other thing.

Edit: See Elimanatus' post while I was typing.

---

TexAgs91 said:

---

The only thing in that balloon that's hard to track is the helium. Everything else is heavier than air and will fall.

---

Brittmoore Car Club said:

---

Letting it cross the entire continental US before shooting it down is bad optics at the very least. But maybe some of you are right and it's just 32D chess, and we actually won this one. I am losing faith in our increasingly woke and LGBTQ obsessed DoD and military though.

We are mediocre now. Last war we won was like almost 80 years ago. Pretty crappy track record ever since.

---

Stat Monitor Repairman said:

---

TexAgs91 said:

---

redcrayon said:

---

TexAgs91 said:

---

redcrayon said:

---

Rapier108 said:

---

redcrayon said:

---

We can't just shoot stuff down and endanger civilians. That debris can kill people and destroy property.

---

When it was over Montana, there are virtually nothing for it to fall on. Should have been blasted out of the sky right then and there.

Actually, should have shot it down over the Aleutian Islands.

---

Why would we do that when we had disabled it's ability to gather and transmit data?

You can't predict where the debris will land. This isn't that simple.

---

Actually, we can. Ever heard of physics?

---

I guess you should call the Pentagon and let them know that you are better at physics than they are. I'm sure they'd love your assistance since they're all idiots.

---

I see. So you've heard from the pentagon that they weren't able to predict where the debris would land?

The only thing in that balloon that's hard to track is the helium. Everything else is heavier than air and will fall.

You have its position, initial velocity, and the military should know what range of velocities the debris would spread from the impact point. You figure out a range of terminal velocities of the likely debris, and then you take into account the winds that the debris would fall through.

I'm sure the pentagon has plenty of smart people who can figure that out.

---

This is barber shop conversation. We're looking at all this play out asking questions and raising issues.

Yes, presumably they know what's going on, had a plan and have it all figured out.

Nobody is trying to pretend like this ain't the peanut gallery.

---

TexAgs91 said:

---

Brittmoore Car Club said:

---

Letting it cross the entire continental US before shooting it down is bad optics at the very least. But maybe some of you are right and it's just 32D chess, and we actually won this one. I am losing faith in our increasingly woke and LGBTQ obsessed DoD and military though.

We are mediocre now. Last war we won was like almost 80 years ago. Pretty crappy track record ever since.

---

Winning the cold war was a notable achievement.

---

MarathonAg12 said:

---

StandUpforAmerica said:

---

Today, the U.S. sent a powerful message to the world: If a hostile nation invades our airspace with spy equipment, we'll let it loiter around our strategic military sites for days before we take it out.

I bet Putin is quaking in his boots.

— Election Wizard 🇺🇸 (@ElectionWiz) February 4, 2023

---

The same fearless leader Putin who can't even take over Ukraine (financed by the American taxpayer)?

You think he has a chance with us?

I'm as conservative as they come too

---

redcrayon said:

---

TexAgs91 said:

---

redcrayon said:

---

TexAgs91 said:

---

redcrayon said:

---

Rapier108 said:

---

redcrayon said:

---

We can't just shoot stuff down and endanger civilians. That debris can kill people and destroy property.

---

When it was over Montana, there are virtually nothing for it to fall on. Should have been blasted out of the sky right then and there.

Actually, should have shot it down over the Aleutian Islands.

---

Why would we do that when we had disabled it's ability to gather and transmit data?

You can't predict where the debris will land. This isn't that simple.

---

Actually, we can. Ever heard of physics?

---

I guess you should call the Pentagon and let them know that you are better at physics than they are. I'm sure they'd love your assistance since they're all idiots.

---

I see. So you've heard from the pentagon that they weren't able to predict where the debris would land?

The only thing in that balloon that's hard to track is the helium. Everything else is heavier than air and will fall.

You have its position, initial velocity, and the military should know what range of velocities the debris would spread from the impact point. You figure out a range of terminal velocities of the likely debris, and then you take into account the winds that the debris would fall through.

I'm sure the pentagon has plenty of smart people who can figure that out.

---

The military advised not to shoot it down over the continental US for the reasons I stated. I'll trust they know more than you do.

---

TexAgs91 said:

---

redcrayon said:

---

TexAgs91 said:

---

redcrayon said:

---

TexAgs91 said:

---

redcrayon said:

---

Rapier108 said:

---

redcrayon said:

---

We can't just shoot stuff down and endanger civilians. That debris can kill people and destroy property.

---

When it was over Montana, there are virtually nothing for it to fall on. Should have been blasted out of the sky right then and there.

Actually, should have shot it down over the Aleutian Islands.

---

Why would we do that when we had disabled it's ability to gather and transmit data?

You can't predict where the debris will land. This isn't that simple.

---

Actually, we can. Ever heard of physics?

---

I guess you should call the Pentagon and let them know that you are better at physics than they are. I'm sure they'd love your assistance since they're all idiots.

---

I see. So you've heard from the pentagon that they weren't able to predict where the debris would land?

The only thing in that balloon that's hard to track is the helium. Everything else is heavier than air and will fall.

You have its position, initial velocity, and the military should know what range of velocities the debris would spread from the impact point. You figure out a range of terminal velocities of the likely debris, and then you take into account the winds that the debris would fall through.

I'm sure the pentagon has plenty of smart people who can figure that out.

---

The military advised not to shoot it down over the continental US for the reasons I stated. I'll trust they know more than you do.

---

Stop deflecting. We're talking about your statement that you can't predict where the debris would land.

---

Stat Monitor Repairman said:

---

TexAgs91 said:

---

Brittmoore Car Club said:

---

Letting it cross the entire continental US before shooting it down is bad optics at the very least. But maybe some of you are right and it's just 32D chess, and we actually won this one. I am losing faith in our increasingly woke and LGBTQ obsessed DoD and military though.

We are mediocre now. Last war we won was like almost 80 years ago. Pretty crappy track record ever since.

---

Winning the cold war was a notable achievement.

---

Sitting here in 2023, I can't say that the Cold War ever ended.

---

doubledog said:

---

TexAgs91 said:

---

The only thing in that balloon that's hard to track is the helium. Everything else is heavier than air and will fall.

---

And there is a good chance that they bought that Helium from the U.S. Let that sink in.

---

aggielostinETX said:

---

MarathonAg12 said:

---

aggielostinETX said:

---

Pumpkinhead said:

---

aggielostinETX said:

---

Pumpkinhead said:

---

aggielostinETX said:

---

So it seems the former military guys here all agree that we should not have shoot it down prior to this. Why did we even let it get here?

This seems like a massive **** up by our military to allow it to even get over our air space. Explain that.

That's what I mean by carrying the water. Y'all seem to be defending, poor performance and bad decisions.

---

They shot it down so it would fall in water off the East coast near Norfolk where a bunch of Navy water recovery assets are. Yes, they clearly decided to wait to do that. And anybody opining they definitely made a mistake okay you slept in a Holiday Inn Express last night and know for sure that was the wrong approach. Everybody has a right to their opinion.

---

.

Do you not think that letting it get over US soil was a mistake?

---

Has anybody been hurt yet by this? Apparently no, and they shot it down in a way and over water near Norfolk naval base making it as easy as possible to recover it.

So folks against what they did, can you 100% say with factual evidence that approach was wrong?

---

Can you say with 100% accuracy that it was correct? What Intel was gathered as a traversed over Alaska and then over the rest of the country. What are they gonna use that intel for? Any ideas?

---

What is your background in? Conspiracy theory and message board applications?

Your inability to accept the fact of spy games and letting this balloon dance across the US says it all. There is more at play here then the tangible object. We did this for a reason if we saw no threat.

---

1. You have no idea on my background. You might want to not assume so much.

2. My background is deep enough to know if you actually had any idea what was going with this balloon and the military, you wouldn't be on here talking about it and risking you clearance. Which tells me you don't know **** except what you want others to think you know.

3. Maybe take a step back and take a deep breathe and realize someone let a persistent threat exist over the US for far too long and many people aren't good with that.

---

aggielostinETX said:

---

MarathonAg12 said:

---

aggielostinETX said:

---

Pumpkinhead said:

---

aggielostinETX said:

---

Pumpkinhead said:

---

aggielostinETX said:

---

So it seems the former military guys here all agree that we should not have shoot it down prior to this. Why did we even let it get here?

This seems like a massive **** up by our military to allow it to even get over our air space. Explain that.

That's what I mean by carrying the water. Y'all seem to be defending, poor performance and bad decisions.

---

They shot it down so it would fall in water off the East coast near Norfolk where a bunch of Navy water recovery assets are. Yes, they clearly decided to wait to do that. And anybody opining they definitely made a mistake okay you slept in a Holiday Inn Express last night and know for sure that was the wrong approach. Everybody has a right to their opinion.

---

.

Do you not think that letting it get over US soil was a mistake?

---

Has anybody been hurt yet by this? Apparently no, and they shot it down in a way and over water near Norfolk naval base making it as easy as possible to recover it.

So folks against what they did, can you 100% say with factual evidence that approach was wrong?

---

Can you say with 100% accuracy that it was correct? What Intel was gathered as a traversed over Alaska and then over the rest of the country. What are they gonna use that intel for? Any ideas?

---

What is your background in? Conspiracy theory and message board applications?

Your inability to accept the fact of spy games and letting this balloon dance across the US says it all. There is more at play here then the tangible object. We did this for a reason if we saw no threat.

---

1. You have no idea on my background. You might want to not assume so much.

2. My background is deep enough to know if you actually had any idea what was going with this balloon and the military, you wouldn't be on here talking about it and risking you clearance. Which tells me you don't know **** except what you want others to think you know.

3. Maybe take a step back and take a deep breathe and realize someone let a persistent threat exist over the US for far too long and many people aren't good with that.

---

redcrayon said:

---

TexAgs91 said:

---

redcrayon said:

---

TexAgs91 said:

---

redcrayon said:

---

TexAgs91 said:

---

redcrayon said:

---

Rapier108 said:

---

redcrayon said:

---

We can't just shoot stuff down and endanger civilians. That debris can kill people and destroy property.

---

When it was over Montana, there are virtually nothing for it to fall on. Should have been blasted out of the sky right then and there.

Actually, should have shot it down over the Aleutian Islands.

---

Why would we do that when we had disabled it's ability to gather and transmit data?

You can't predict where the debris will land. This isn't that simple.

---

Actually, we can. Ever heard of physics?

---

I guess you should call the Pentagon and let them know that you are better at physics than they are. I'm sure they'd love your assistance since they're all idiots.

---

I see. So you've heard from the pentagon that they weren't able to predict where the debris would land?

The only thing in that balloon that's hard to track is the helium. Everything else is heavier than air and will fall.

You have its position, initial velocity, and the military should know what range of velocities the debris would spread from the impact point. You figure out a range of terminal velocities of the likely debris, and then you take into account the winds that the debris would fall through.

I'm sure the pentagon has plenty of smart people who can figure that out.

---

The military advised not to shoot it down over the continental US for the reasons I stated. I'll trust they know more than you do.

---

Stop deflecting. We're talking about your statement that you can't predict where the debris would land.

---

I'm not deflecting. I'm repeating what they said about why they didn't want to shoot it down over the continental US. Maybe they were lying. Maybe they know more about what kind of debris or contaminants would come down. Again, if you know more, send them an email. I'm sure they get more than a few per week.

---

Proc92 said:

---

Any links from back when it happened?

---

redcrayon said:

---

TexAgs91 said:

---

redcrayon said:

---

Rapier108 said:

---

redcrayon said:

---

We can't just shoot stuff down and endanger civilians. That debris can kill people and destroy property.

---

When it was over Montana, there are virtually nothing for it to fall on. Should have been blasted out of the sky right then and there.

Actually, should have shot it down over the Aleutian Islands.

---

Why would we do that when we had disabled it's ability to gather and transmit data?

You can't predict where the debris will land. This isn't that simple.

---

Actually, we can. Ever heard of physics?

---

I guess you should call the Pentagon and let them know that you are better at physics than they are. I'm sure they'd love your assistance since they're all idiots.

---

TexAgs91 said:

---

redcrayon said:

---

TexAgs91 said:

---

redcrayon said:

---

TexAgs91 said:

---

redcrayon said:

---

TexAgs91 said:

---

redcrayon said:

---

Rapier108 said:

---

redcrayon said:

---

We can't just shoot stuff down and endanger civilians. That debris can kill people and destroy property.

---

When it was over Montana, there are virtually nothing for it to fall on. Should have been blasted out of the sky right then and there.

Actually, should have shot it down over the Aleutian Islands.

---

Why would we do that when we had disabled it's ability to gather and transmit data?

You can't predict where the debris will land. This isn't that simple.

---

Actually, we can. Ever heard of physics?

---

I guess you should call the Pentagon and let them know that you are better at physics than they are. I'm sure they'd love your assistance since they're all idiots.

---

I see. So you've heard from the pentagon that they weren't able to predict where the debris would land?

The only thing in that balloon that's hard to track is the helium. Everything else is heavier than air and will fall.

You have its position, initial velocity, and the military should know what range of velocities the debris would spread from the impact point. You figure out a range of terminal velocities of the likely debris, and then you take into account the winds that the debris would fall through.

I'm sure the pentagon has plenty of smart people who can figure that out.

---

The military advised not to shoot it down over the continental US for the reasons I stated. I'll trust they know more than you do.

---

Stop deflecting. We're talking about your statement that you can't predict where the debris would land.

---

I'm not deflecting. I'm repeating what they said about why they didn't want to shoot it down over the continental US. Maybe they were lying. Maybe they know more about what kind of debris or contaminants would come down. Again, if you know more, send them an email. I'm sure they get more than a few per week.

---

I think we can assume there are people within the DoD who know basic physics. Whether they're concealing what they know about that or not is not surprising and is deflecting from your original statement that we can't know where the debris would fall. I've just listed the things you'd have to consider to calculate that. None of which is unknowable. Is there anything else that's unknowable that I should have included?

---

MarathonAg12 said:

---

aggielostinETX said:

---

MarathonAg12 said:

---

aggielostinETX said:

---

Pumpkinhead said:

---

aggielostinETX said:

---

Pumpkinhead said:

---

aggielostinETX said:

---

So it seems the former military guys here all agree that we should not have shoot it down prior to this. Why did we even let it get here?

This seems like a massive **** up by our military to allow it to even get over our air space. Explain that.

That's what I mean by carrying the water. Y'all seem to be defending, poor performance and bad decisions.

---

They shot it down so it would fall in water off the East coast near Norfolk where a bunch of Navy water recovery assets are. Yes, they clearly decided to wait to do that. And anybody opining they definitely made a mistake okay you slept in a Holiday Inn Express last night and know for sure that was the wrong approach. Everybody has a right to their opinion.

---

.

Do you not think that letting it get over US soil was a mistake?

---

Has anybody been hurt yet by this? Apparently no, and they shot it down in a way and over water near Norfolk naval base making it as easy as possible to recover it.

So folks against what they did, can you 100% say with factual evidence that approach was wrong?

---

Can you say with 100% accuracy that it was correct? What Intel was gathered as a traversed over Alaska and then over the rest of the country. What are they gonna use that intel for? Any ideas?

---

What is your background in? Conspiracy theory and message board applications?

Your inability to accept the fact of spy games and letting this balloon dance across the US says it all. There is more at play here then the tangible object. We did this for a reason if we saw no threat.

---

1. You have no idea on my background. You might want to not assume so much.

2. My background is deep enough to know if you actually had any idea what was going with this balloon and the military, you wouldn't be on here talking about it and risking you clearance. Which tells me you don't know **** except what you want others to think you know.

3. Maybe take a step back and take a deep breathe and realize someone let a persistent threat exist over the US for far too long and many people aren't good with that.

---

It's time to take off the tin foil hat.

@NSA @FBI

You are the real crazy with a certificate from Info Wars. You have no clue what you are talking about.

---