They had to use an F-22 to shoot down a balloon?

[Cassie88]

Apparently, the U. S. Air Force used one of these

to shoot down one of these

What's wrong with this picture here? They use their most advanced aircraft to shoot down a balloon. The Chinese balloon was apparently the F-22 Raptor's very first "kill", and they seem to be very proud of that :D

I would have just used a sling-shot.

Updates

+1 y

As a training exercise it would have been useful, so I guess there is that. I still think it was a gross over-reaction though. Will you also shoot down the next Russian satellite that passes over Area 51 as well? Nations spy on each other constantly, so you'd better get used to someone doing it to you, because it's not going to stop.

Updates

+1 y

(sigh) Most of the responses here have been truly hysterical. No, I wasn't serious when I suggested using a sling-shot, nor did I suggest anything else. I simply questioned why it required the use of the latest and most expensive aircraft ever built to do the job. We're supposed to question, to assume that what we're being told might be wrong, and in this instance it almost certainly is. As someone below already pointed out, how was it determined so quickly that the balloon was from China?

[Lliam]

So they used a $215 million jet that costs $millions more for pilot, fuel, and support personnel to fire a $400k missile at a fucking balloon. Golly, the U. S. is so bad ass. I'm bursting with national pride. 🤣

Isn't it reassuring that our government is doing such a good job at protecting us from danger?

Despite the histrionics and and fear porn propaganda, we don't even know what the balloon was carrying. But we're supposed to believe that it was an existential threat; a "spy" balloon. I mean, how stupid do you have to be to give a shred of credibility to government spokespersons or script reading talking heads on mainstream media?

Man, those Chinese are high tech, eh? Sneaky bastards. Next, they plan to launch a fleet of paper lanterns to attack us. ROFL

It's not like China, Russia, and especially the U. S. aren't spying on each other constantly. It's so common that it's mundane. They do it with satellites and other technology. So why would someone send a balloon? How diabolical!

Our "good friend" Israel steals more secrets from the U. S. government and business than any other country. What are we doing about that? I guess reporting on that would be antisemitic.

I wish our government was as concerned about the constant criss-crossing of our skies by aircraft that secretly spray us with toxic chemicals in the name of "climate control".

[Jessica405]

Now what if part of the payload was a nuke...

[Lliam]

@Jessica405. How would setting off a nuke benefit anyone. It would be suicide.
What if the payload was giant, flesh eating cockroaches? What if, what if?

I think the hysteria over a balloon was a tempest in a teapot. Our government needs to promote fear of "enemies" in order to justify its aggression toward other countries.

[Jessica405]

It is the same reason US and much of NATO is getting rid of Chinese telecomms equipment and other devices.

[Cassie88]

@Jessica405 A nuke. On a bloody balloon! Come on Jessica, actually use that brain of yours.

[Lliam]

Thanks for the MHO, Cassie.

[NamerOfStars]

No- no, they didn't. Sidewinders and amraams both have proximity fuses that detonate after reaching a certain distance to a locked target- but a balloon wouldn't have a heat signature to lock on to, and an impact detonator wouldn't find anything hard enough to set it off. Near as I can tell, F-22s don't even HAVE guns, so either there's remote detonation capacity to those missiles we haven't been told about, or that wasn't a balloon- or it wasn't shot down by an F-22. Or the pilot said "Hell with it", popped the canopy open, drew his pistol and put a few rounds into it (incredibly stupid, yes, but awesome).

This whole scenario is fishy is hell- why would the Chinese deploy a balloon to spy on (if that's what it was doing) the US? What could it possibly see from 60,000 feet? Did they think it wouldn't be spotted? And when it WAS spotted, how did they know it was Chinese? Did it have their flag on it? Why would the Chinese send a balloon WITH THEIR OWN FLAG on it? I'm very dubious of any claims made about this whole affair.

[Cassie88]

Exactly! This whole story is incredibly fishy. There's definitely a lot more going on here than we're being told.

[Rosexøxø]

Cassie I don't know who’d tell you anything lol I don't know why you’re so mixed up with this.

What does it mean to you?

[Cassie88]

@Rosexøxø I was simply asking a question. That's what GAG is for, isn't it? The "Chinese spy balloon" story just doesn't make any sense. That, to me, is obvious. The fact that I joked about it (i. e. saying I would use a slingshot, and posting that image of the party balloons) is obvious too, but it wasn't to a couple of people here named Roland and Fuentes, and then you jumped into the fray with the infantile insults.

[Cassie88]

Actually, I'm pretty sure the F-22 does have guns, and an object like a large balloon would emit heat to its surroundings.
Anyway, other than those two points, I agree with what you say here.

[NamerOfStars]

The Air Force's website says otherwise- of course, it's entirely possible that the hardpoints can mount other weapons. My assertion wasn't "This whole story is nothing but lies!"; it was "the details we've been given don't add up". This could end up being a publicity stunt, or a horribly misunderstood ad campaign, or a meteorology student in a Chinese university whose escaped project somehow crossed an ocean.

However, a balloon is simply a balloon- there's no chemical reaction that'd be generating heat; it's just a bag full of lighter-than-air gas. And you need quite a bit of heat for a heat-
seeking missile to lock on to you; it's not just being a degree or two higher than the ambient temperature.

[northerngal]

Shooting down a balloon like this at high altitude is not easy. The RCAF tried to shoot down an actual research balloon with cannon from a CF18 and was unable to do much damage. Use of a missile was probably imperative. The balloon canopy would have provided plenty of heat for an advanced sidewinder to track on (heat of the sun) To attempt a shoot down and fail would be a big embarrassment to the US military so using an F22 or F15 made sense. It also was a useful training and experience exercise as well.

[KostasKouvalis]

Lol. I'm curious what all the butthurt American nationalists on this post think now that their number 1 source of information, Fox News is even starting to laugh that our military is using fighter jets to shoot at "UFOs" and they don't even know what they're shooting at😂

I grieve for our country and how pathetically naiive its people are.

Kiwi girl one, American nationalists zero😂

[Cassie88]

Oh, apparently they don't like being called "nationalists", that triggers them. They prefer the term "patriots", which means the exact same thing!

[KostasKouvalis]

I know, "American Number 1!" lol

[Cassie88]

Murica! Yeaaaahh! We're number one because we've got The Bomb! And we're armed (mainly with Russian AK's), and we don't take no shit (poor grammar is a hallmark of those people) from no one man! Yo, Go Trump! We like to bomb and invade other countries because WE CAN! Yeah!

[Red_Arrow]

The balloon was at over 60,000 feet. Show us how you hit something that high with your slingshot. And that is discounting the strength of the skin of the balloon. I am waiting to see your video of you shooting something that high down with your slingshot.

[Alessa13]

They could of used a missile right 🤣

[Cassie88]

Feet? An utterly useless measure of distance. 19,812 metres, or 19.812 km. You do know that we're able to bring down satellites don't you?
Besides, all of this is beside the point. There are too many unanswered questions about this, like how the hell they knew the balloon was Chinese, even before they shot it down.

[Rosexøxø]

Why do you want to know about American Intelligence?

You don’t seem trustworthy at all.

You don’t seem in support of us. I don’t think we should give you answers or reasoning, then.

[Red_Arrow]

Your words: "I would have just used a sling-shot." Again I say show us how you hit something that high with your slingshot. And they knew the balloon was Chinese because that is where it came from. (And the Chinese admitted it was theirs). Please pay attention.

[Cassie88]

@Rosexøxø I don't seem to "support" you? To whom are you specifically referring? Who are "us" when you say that? The U. S. government? The U. S. media? The establishment? The people of the United States?
You're right, I don't support you. Why should I? I support those who speak the truth, and at the moment not many people who have responded to this question are doing that.

[Rosexøxø]

Thanks for clarifying that- and to clarify-

TRUTHFULLY-

I made NO CLAIMS

Other than this is HOW WE DO IT

Lol this is how we chose to respond.

You’re questioning course of action and this site is at the forefront gender based

Did you really expect anyone here to know the specifics of why certain materials and weaponry is used for different global and local situations?

And even if anyone here did know the very very specifics-

Why would we share that with foreigners-

Listen Delilah, you don’t need to KNOW how Sampson’s strength works- all you need to know is if he’s a good guy or a bad guy.

You support truth… pff the one that supports your country I bet.

I’d rather speak with someone else from your country and all others than you. You just don’t seem trustworthy.

If you were genuinely curious- there would be NO JOKES

but like I said- you didn’t want information,

You wanted people to confirm your beliefs or give TOP secret information about our resources.

Leave it be and focus on your own country’s success.

If we need you we will ask.

Vice versa.

#DiggingHandsInTheCookieJar

[Cassie88]

@Rosexøxø "... give top secret information about our resources"
Oh damn, you got me there! My boss Mr. Wong is wondering why I'm taking so long to extract the valuable information you no doubt have about your country's resources and air capabilities. If I don't get results soon, he might recommend I be transferred out to the far West to live with the Uigurs and join them in one of their camps.
Wow, you people really are a paranoid bunch.

[Rosexøxø]

No we’re just responsible and not careless.

You can spend YOUR time being paranoid about the apple pies you bake, while responsible citizens will show proper patriotism and respect to those WHO SACRIFICE THEIR LIVES FOR US.

I CARE ABOUT MY COUNTRYMEN

I WILL NOT SHARE THEIR INFORMATION WITH LADY

WHO CAN BECOME A PAWN OF EVEN SOME MERE TALIBAN OR SOMETHING.

You have no backbone and fight for nothing worthwhile. This conversation I withdraw from.

It’s clearly not for you, nor mr. balls in his hands.

It’s why you both are perfect for gossiping and ridiculing big people, and can fuck yourselves silly.

That’s cool too…

Cheerio 👌

[Jessica405]

China admitted it was theirs. Did the same with the balloon over Latin Ajerica.

[Miristheiss]

So?

Maybe an F-22 flight is cheaper than launching a missile. Maybe they used guns. The plane has air to air guns it can fire instead of launching a missile.

Basically air defense consists of air superiority fighter jets and missiles.

If you are arguing they should have fired a surface to air missile, what is your reasoning as to why that would have been preferable.

I don't know how they brought it down but my guess is the guns would have been the safest for people on the ground. 60,000 feet is pretty high. Not a lot of deadly force things you can get up that high.

[Paul_in_Indy]

What are you talking about? There are multiple angles a video of the event. Everyone knows exactly what happened. What in the world?

[Miristheiss]

@Paul_in_Indy
Haven't watched so your point is moot.

[Paul_in_Indy]

You don’t need to speculate about any “maybes.” In the time it takes you to speculate, you could have all the i formation. This is an information superhighway. So, you don’t need to be willfully ignorant.

[Miristheiss]

Why don't you reply to the OP. I don't really give a sheeet what meaningless crap you want to say to me. You haven't given any replay at all to the F-22 comment the OP made. You are just being an annoying asshole.

[purplepoppy]

If you shoot it with a bullet (or a crossbow) it won't pop, just very slowly deflate until it crashes into a house.
Now obviously they should have dealt with it before it got over land in the first place by using a helicopters blades to slice it open.

[Rosexøxø]

Nice and true.
But what if it got caught in the blades and crashed the copter?

I heard it was 20 stories long

I don't know if that’s credible, but I don’t know that is a good decent high rise in New York.

That could get a bit risky with a helicopter’s blades,

And would the material be penetrative? Or would it be hit into an entirely different direction?

I’m sure these craftsmen know their basic physics

[Likes2drive]

@Rosexøxø don’t forget that helicopters can’t go that high, they can’t even go to the top of Mount Everest at 29,000 feet because of the lack of air density

[Rosexøxø]

@Likes2drive you are so right! That I did forget.

Crucial piece of information 🤝

[KrakenAttackin]

@Rosexøxø Good grief, she was kidding. The balloon was at 60,000 feet... please stop commenting you are exposing your complete lack of knowledge.

[Rosexøxø]

@KrakenAttackin step aside kraken

Maybe you’re an American hater after all, just add it to the list of things you hate-

Besides this is one of the very few topics I ACTUALLY SAID I didn’t hear much on. Just the plane visual and the zoomed out image of the balloon. I heard the action and the protocol by us. That’s all I needed to know-

I don’t need details like this disappointing user who wants to criminalize USA and make us seem like the worst country in all HUMANITY history.

I’ll comment as long as America is a country who upholds free speech- she made her questions of idiocy and I made my claims and OPINION

On this site of OPINIONS.

You want to tell me how many Nobel peace prizes, you won there Cap’n Crunch?

STEP

aside

Tyvm 😍

Good luck with your list of hating by the way

Will keep a close eye on you later 😍🤙

[KrakenAttackin]

@Rosexøxø American and former F-18 pilot.

[Rosexøxø]

@KrakenAttackin so you see that as a need or excuse to sit back now? You did the real work so your brothers are overreacting when they do the same duty?

Or your title means you can scrutinize?

Did you hate that job?

Because you could be a former anything

I could’ve formerly ate avocado, but doesn’t mean I liked them.

I’d thank you for the service, but did you actually want to do it?

And would it be replaced with any level of treason?

I mean, I won’t get into it, but do you hate fellow Americans?

I seriously won’t argue with you- I am just curious.

Feel free to keep that confidential

[Jessica405]

I'm afraid choppers don't go that high. LOL! Nice idea, though.

[Fuentes]

Lol as @RolandCuthbert said the fact you think it's a real balloon is amusing. Also what @Rosexøxø said lol you're not even American so I'm nit sure how this even affects you. But per usual it's always the foreigners from boring countries who have the most to say.

[RolandCuthbert]

That was crazy!!!

First, she said she would just use a slingshot. Like a sortie by an F22 would be too expensive. Then she claimed we should have used a land based missile capable of shooting down a satellite. So use a missile worth millions of dollars, that is capable of hitting objects out in space at a distance of 200-300 miles. Instead of a simple sortie by an F22 may cost $200,000.

[Fuentes]

@RolandCuthbert this just goes to show ignorance is Bliss haha and this is why the United States is richer & Better then New Zealand.

[Rosexøxø]

Yeah, I saw her trying to make it seem as we were over reacting, and it felt suspicious in her construct of it. When I received confirmation from her profile, just showed me she’s trying to make other Americans feel bad about this.

I told her: I won’t apologize for a good defense.

What exactly was her problem?

Accident was met with Perfection?

Can’t argue that, can’t condemn that, and I won’t apologize for that.

I absolutely love it. Over U. s. soil?

I’m swooning lmao

[Fuentes]

@Rosexøxø lol we just gotta accept that some people are just different-different sometimes

[Cassie88]

I'm "not even American". Um... so what? How is that fact even relevant? How about just answering the question? Roland took my joke about using a slingshot seriously for some weird reason, responding indignantly with, "This wasn't a party balloon", as if I didn't know that.

[Rosexøxø]

As long as my other fellow Americans do not see an issue with this, I am fine. I will not let people manipulate.

She’s entitled to her ideas.

She’s completely entitled to live anywhere that IS NOT American soil.

No one here would dare FORCE her to stay here. No one here even knows who she is.

I guess this is her daily gossip.. who even knows.

[Cassie88]

@RolandCuthbert I was JOKING about the slingshot you bloody moron! Geez, does everyone on this site have autism?
No, I was NOT suggesting using a surface-to-air missile, I was hinting (if not outright saying) that you trigger-happy Yanks shouldn't have shot down the thing in the first place! How did you know it was Chinese, for starters? Did it have a big red flag on it?
You people are completely brainless.

[Rosexøxø]

@Fuentes ^^

And also look, now she wants to be taken seriously lol

Comedy. Pure Comedy.

[Fuentes]

@Rosexøxø clear as day self projection. I don't think we even need to tell her off I think we all see who suffers with what she accuses others of hahahahaha.

[Rosexøxø]

Lol she’s projecting herself like the balloon 🎈 and we, to her unfortunate case, shot down her question with some perfectionist claims ✈️

Crazy, the similarities. Lol

[Cassie88]

"... we all see who suffers with what..." - Fuentes
No, I don't have autism, but the three of you (yourself, Rose and that guy with the Roland) clearly do. The "slingshot" suggestion was CLEARLY a joke, even if not a funny one, but you all thought I was serious! LOL Wow.

[Cassie88]

@Rosexøxø "Perfect claims" - What "claims"? The three of you were clearly (and severely) triggered by my question. As for "projection", I seriously doubt any of you even know what that is.

[Cassie88]

@Rosexøxø Hahaha... don't worry. I wouldn't want to live "on American soil". God, what a drongo you are! :D
You people actually believe that your country is the best in the world, when in fact it's the shittiest!

[Fuentes]

You typed three different paragraphs in abuncha shambles and using language I never even heard of, I mean if you're going to converse with us "Americans" at least try to use Google translate so we can understand you..

[Fuentes]

@cassie88

[Rosexøxø]

@Fuentes 😂😁😁 the next replies by @cassie88 made me smile and almost break into a goofy laugh, lol.

Cassie.. perfect claims because we don’t need to justify our behavior to something that doesn’t affect you and our behavior which is directly linked to our own diplomacy. Our own protocols.

That’s a perfect claim whether you were joking or not, you’d have to admit to see- IF you weren’t biased, but throughout this whole thing you have been biased and “joking” about something stupid.

You’ll never make it as a comedian if you keep it up at this rate lol.

You made me laugh not by your post or by your comments around it, but your comments of trying to deliberately insult us, loses all its creativity and is just too funny. It’s so basic, really.

You clearly have no experience or follow ups with politics. Clearly never been out of Netherlands

Clearly have 0 American friends, unless they were haters of America themselves and possibly emo/gothic/ suicidal

I mean 🤷‍♀️ lol

The words AMERICA IS THE GREATEST
Never came out of my digital mouth..

I said I was PROUD of our RESPONSE to your comedic laughter at a balloon that some other country thought was OKAY- when it was NOT.

Get your head screwed on right lol 😂

[Fuentes]

@Rosexøxø lol she's in another world I think that happens when foreigners watch our news so hard they forget that they themselves don't live in the US and it doesn't affect them. I'm not sure what made her realize this either by her. openijg her front door & looking outside or she just forgot where she was. Poor girl hahaha.
😂

[Rosexøxø]

Update: Um yeah we’re not getting used to it-
You get used to it.

Let all corrupt Russian and Chinese men rape your house and land.

Get used to that, I guess.

I say harsh words because that’s how harsh they would act towards you if given the chance.

We will not allow others to spy on us.

What is our privacy is ours and we will adapt.

We share respectable information. What is OURS is ours.

You wish to be flung around and disrespected, overtaken by others who don’t care about you- go ahead.

[Rosexøxø]

@Fuentes LMAOOO DUDE you're HILARIOUS

IM CRYIN 😭😂😂😂🤣👐😆

#TopTier

#Accurate

Accuracy is all too real

[Cassie88]

"Language I never heard of", says the person who uses "words" like abuncha! :D
My language is clear enough for anyone who can read beyond a third-grade level, so... what's the issue here?

[Cassie88]

@Rosexøxø "You clearly have no experience or follow ups with politics. Clearly never been out of Netherlands"
I don't live in the Netherlands. Try New Zealand. Oh dear, you lot really are a lost cause. So sad :'(

[Fuentes]

@cassie88 maybe you speak Maori since you're from NZ and all I would assume when you stop making sense your speak the real native language of your country. But anyway are you still going?

[Rosexøxø]

😂 Cassie LMAO I read zealand before, but forgot. Honestly think I’ll just leave it because it’s too funny 🤣

Yeah, you have never been out of the Netherlands 👋☹️

LmaoOOO I’m literally laughing out loud.

Actually that’s too far I don't know is it? 🧐

My love to Netherlands and New Zealand

But I’ll say you’re from the two, interchangeably with accordance to this post lol

[Cassie88]

@Rosexøxø You're "literally laughing out loud". Okay, you've finally flipped. I think now would be a good time to call those nice young men in white suits who will provide you with your very own, new jacket (it ties up at the back, so you can't wave your hands around like a lunatic). Have fun in your new home! :*

[Rosexøxø]

Yes I can laugh at idiocy at any moment. The one you give off is especially funny-

Leave politics and join the circus.

[Fuentes]

@Rosexøxø she doesn't understand everything she says is laughable I mean I could tear her a whole new one but what's the point she's a riot we can all just laugh at her instead cause everything she says is self-protection hahahaha!

[Rosexøxø]

Yes now that she said “her free speech” before us all, and we all EQUALLY shared ours.

NOW

I can laugh freely 😊

To freedom of speech brother! 🇺🇸 🤝💪

May we laugh many more suns and moons, and make peace with those who MEAN well.

[Rosexøxø]

@Fuentes ^^

Apologies as well. The tag has to be typed manually 🤜🤛

[andreasderjuengere]

What else could be used? I think that biplanes are not longer in service :)

However... a giant sling shot would have been an interesting exercise to witness.

Shooting down a suspicious object can't be wrong either. Giving this balloon the option to drift on and later also spy on Ireland or Denmark is just too devastating a thought.

[Adam1978]

Why would you not use what you have to solve your problems? You can't use a slingshot for a big balloon at that height. Besides it's good target practice for the pilots.

[Cassie88]

What if it's a giant sling-shot, one developed at Area 51 that has a super-dooper range? :)

[Red_Arrow]

The plane they used was a super duper pea shooter with super dooper range!

[bolverk]

They did not 'have' to use an F22 to 'shoot down' the balloon, an F15 could have done the same mission more cost effectively than the F22. The F15 costs less to operate per hour, has the same operational ceiling and as effective armament as F22.
They used the F22 to show it off.

[RolandCuthbert]

You actually think this was just a regular balloon from the circus?

[Cassie88]

No. However, it still was just a balloon, and using an F-22 was a perfect example of overkill, don't you think?

[RolandCuthbert]

Uhm no. If you do a little research, we have tried to shoot down balloons before. With little success.

It is up at 60,000 feet.

Uhm. . . air up there isn't the same as down here.

There is a lot less pressure. I don't understand what is so hard to understand about this.

[Cassie88]

"Less air up there". Oh gee, you don't say. And do you really expect me to believe that the U. S. Air Force has trouble stopping balloons? They've had anti-satellite missiles since the 1970's. Maybe YOU should "do a little research".

[RolandCuthbert]

Yeah. . . uhm a balloon isn't a satellite.

And I don't know how you are comparing a land based missile to a simple sortie by an F-22.

So yeah. . . that whole research thing.

Because you know. .. an actual land fucking based missile is a lot of money and a lot of firepower.

What in the sideways fuck?

[Cassie88]

"A balloon isn't a satellite". No shit Sherlock. A balloon is at a much LOWER altitude, is prone to deflation due to leakage for example, can be and often is buffeted by air currents, is often unpredictable in its path, and is generally not a very good method to use to spy upon another nation.
Now cut the shitty attitude, and unless you have something intelligent to say I don't want to hear it, because I don't tolerate people with smug, superior attitudes who think they can bully others into silence, and you're exactly that type of person judging by all the other comments of yours I've seen thus far.

[RolandCuthbert]

You are going to sit there and argue that a land based missile is much less effort and expense than a sortie by an F-22. When the Air Force goes on routine patrols every single day?

Don't change the subject.

And yes I have a smug superior attitude. If you can't deal with it, go kick your fucking dog.

[Cassie88]

No, I didn't - did NOT - suggest using ANYTHING! How about this for a suggestion? Not shooting it down.
How did you people determine it was Chinese before it was brought down? Why were people in the media saying it was from China? It could have been from anywhere.
This whole story is fishy, and if you can't see that, well... you're not terribly inquisitive, is all I can say.

[Still-alive]

lol asker clearly fails. she had a clear agenda here comparing regular party balloons to what it actually is.

[RolandCuthbert]

@Still-alive @cassie88 Of course there is always an agenda.

But I keep asking the same question why do they think being disingenuous is a workable strategy.

Why not just say. . ."I hate Biden. And you should hate him too!"?

[KrakenAttackin]

@cassie88. Cassie, stop while you only look "typically female stupid", you are fast approaching "idiot" levels.

[Rosexøxø]

No, no. It give them and others the right message, and gives us the right attitude towards such behavior.

[Cassie88]

What "message"? That the U. S. is run by crazy people who tend to over-react?

[Rosexøxø]

No, that if they send suspicious materials owned by their government we will handle it accordingly, and that we keep watch on our airways.

Listen lady- I know people who share the stories of 9/11

I had family

And it’s these same jets who went to shoot down such horrific things.

You don’t give cruel people the chance, but you know what, go right ahead and swim with sharks without your metal chain scuba gear.

Give them the chance. Go ahead. I’m not gonna stop you, but as far as my military and how they handled this situation with TOP 🔝 priority precaution, I’m personally grateful.

Sorry their elite behavior bummed you out? ☹️👌

[Rosexøxø]

Oh wow you’re not from America so you not being from here chose to make fun of how and why we do things instead of actually knowing why we do things.

These men have a job to do. We let them do their job.

Why don’t you invite china to float balloons over your country and house and use some drones too. Make it a true party.

You and anybody can easily make America seem like crap because of our obvious short comings, but you cannot make it seem as if other countries are total saints and neglect their very true history.

Government men are corrupt, the world isn’t filled with angelic children.

Their protocol in that instance had made me proud. I won’t apologize for a good defense. I won’t apologize for that, at all.

[Cassie88]

Geez, talk about an over-reaction. Why the defensiveness? You're "proud" of this? You managed to shoot down a balloon. What an accomplishment!

[Rosexøxø]

And we’ll shoot down anyone who didn’t come with a proper appointment either.

You say overreact.
I say perfection.

Besides it’s not a “reaction.”

Our men aren’t emotional like you lady..

They follow protocols and drills.

You don’t like our drill?

Then don’t visit America when we’re practicing drills.

👌

That way everybody’s happy.

See? You don’t see us, you’re happy.

We don’t see or hear these complaints from who?

We’re happy.

Everybody’s happy.

[AviatorTom]

They needed a jet that could reach the 52000 ft altitude the balloon was flying at. The F22 was a good choice for that.

[exitseven]

The Air Force paid more than 100 million dollars for it and it was just sitting in the hangar collecting dust so they figured to take it for a spin.

[SnowedIn]

It's entirely possible that was the closest deployable aircraft.

But I really like your slingshot idea! 🙂

[OlderAndWiser]

You can shoot a slingshot 60,000 feet straight up? I'd like to see a demonstration.

[OlderAndWiser]

I assume that since the balloon was transmitting to China, they could tell it was Chinese by the nature of the communications mode being employed.

[Randalama]

Slingshot would not have destroyed the evidence which was the purpose. The fact that trillion dollar weapons system is scoring it's first kill is disturbing as well. Why not build weapons that are practical and affordable.

[Randalama]

Just to be clear Cassie, I wasn't giving you a hard time about the sling shot comment. I knew you were joking and thought it funny so I mentioned it.

[Cassie88]

Yes, but try telling that to Roland and a couple of his buddies here. They actually thought I was serious when I made that suggestion :D

[Randalama]

Red Arrow was my favorite. You clearly had him outside his comfort zone and his performance suffered for it.

[Cassie88]

And why are the Americans who are responding to this question so defensive, so triggered by it? It's almost like I suggested we dynamite the Statue of Liberty.

[Randalama]

What you are suggesting confuses and frightens people and this confusion often manifests itself as anger. I had a similar experience on another thread. Dude came at me like I had shagged his mom. But I hear you Cassie88 and it resonates.

[Cassie88]

I have to say that it's good to see at least ONE sane person here in this discussion thread, and I have to admit I never anticipated some of the comments I now see in response to a question that I really believed wasn't really controversial in any way.

[Rosexøxø]

Welp seems like a good opportunity for you both to fuck now. Go invite red arrow and see if he’ll join in threesome 🙄

Simps.

Classic case of Sampson and Delilah

[Randalama]

@Rosexøxø Ok, but is it possible for you to actually address the point under discussion? Why are you all so afraid. I don't agree with all of what Cassie has to say but she's trying to lead a discussion by presenting questions that a lot of people are asking. She's surely right about one thing though. You sound like a petulant child screaming in the sand box because someone stole your lolly. Say something intelligent. Who knows, maybe I'll agree with you and give you some of the validation you so desperately need.

[Rosexøxø]

Listen here…..

You simp for purely sexual things…

I will never ever ever ever ever

EVER

Seek validation

Or recognition

From

Immature
Irresponsible
Closed minded
Careless
Indifferent
Pushovers
And cruel people

Never

EVER

I think my country has to buckle up because we have WORK to do, and while I know we should help others less fortunate

I will not stand EVER

For someone QUESTIONING us who has no involvement with us

She didn’t build or make America what it is today

If she saw you in some god forsaken war she wouldn’t help you at all.

You want to seem intelligent and polite

And this isn’t the place for that.

This isn’t a matter to be discussed.

These are matters we are taking care of so people of different countries can freely socialize in artistic and creative ways.

SHE HAS NO RIGHT to talk about U. S. government

She’s not studying in her country to be a lawyer/ a diplomat/ militia/ physicist/ public relations agent or anything else.

She’s probably bored. Even if she got the answer she WANTED because clearly she became defensive when I was EXPLAINING to her we are right for our procedures and that’s is determined by us alone, what we DO on American soil. She didn’t information.

She had wanted an answer to please her own beliefs.

She will do nothing and take no part in anything government related, and does not care about common people of any country or human life.

She will remain a traditional woman like her country makes her to be

And you will flirt with her because you are a biological male, and neither of you will take serious the diplomatic matters of ADULTS.

Am I child? Probably would seem that way since I am conversing with children…

Obviously I cannot paint a clearer itty bitty picture for you two.

[Randalama]

@Rosexøxø Wow, clearly my shaft struck center. I admire your passion. But I must disagree when you say matters are not open for discussion. You sound like a confused tyrant. Silencing people to protect free speech. Imprisoning people to free them. Be careful or you'll become the enemy you fear. In regards to this sexual angle you continue to push, Cassie88 and I have not discussed the matter. We were talking about a balloon and your ego. You on the other hand keep banging on about it and you're getting yourself all worked up and you've convinced me, I'm quite inspired. Now if you will excuse me, I have another matter that will require some considerable attention.

[Rosexøxø]

Ah yes, thanks for confirming I was right and thank you but you have no say in who I shall become, you don’t even have the power to become the best good or the best bad kind of person out there.

I have my role models 😉 I have my guides.

I’m stubborn with an open mind.

I know how to protect the things worth protecting and consider the opinions of others on the things that can allow it.

Governments aren’t for children and everyone doesn’t get to put their little hand print on it.

Governments and countries and the welfare of the common people are sacred- I would die for that.

So yes, so others can better understand your BEAT around the bush (pun intended)

You may go jerk off- and for a thousand nights if need be and never return,

I only ask one thing

Take this Cassie mountains lady with you

While the rest of us who care for maintaining responsible order of life itself, will do so.

Passionate? Very much so.

I die for the unfortunate- but I won’t die if I don’t have to.

You all don’t know what to live for it seems

[Rosexøxø]

You have plenty of years to grow up and figure it out 😊🤗

[Rosexøxø]

Sounds like you’re both still in puberty 🤔 👍

[Randalama]

@Rosexøxø Ok and I'm back. 2 min 47 sec by my watch. Not a world record but a well fought personal best so my thanks and compliments madam. No offense but I feel like maybe I'm being trolled by a chatbot at this point. Is that you GAG, running some kind of social experiment on me? Because if it is I've only got one question for you... Where'd you get that chatbot and how do I get my hands on one? Most gratifying.

[Rosexøxø]

Oh wowww how nice of you to tell all of GaG what no one cares for, and managing accurately describe yourself.

As you jerked yourself.

You do that a lot?

Turn yourself on by thinking about your own fantasies in the midst of real people?

Hang on pal!

Hold on to reality!

Don’t blame yo Igor wanting to be out of it-

But again, those of us who do, will do our best to fix and maintain it.

Dm cass? 🤷‍♀️ I’m sure her incompetency will love to flirt with a record breaking- delusional bot.

Be seein’ ya ☺️👍 this has lost all conversational values and will amount to nothing.

[Rosexøxø]

Managing to accurately describe*

Don’t blame you for*

[Randalama]

@Rosexøxø Don't blame my Igor for? Is that what you're going for? Don't blame my Igor for what? Who the fuck is Igor? I'm talkin bout my fundamental rights and freedoms goddamit. I shall cast my seed to the free wind and may God have mercy upon you if you obstruct me because I shall have none and this I vow... Naw, just kidding but seriously Rose, it's been a delight. Same time tomorrow?😘

[Rosexøxø]

LMAO you think

You think

You think

I’m a woman to be manipulated like clay

Cast your seed ALL. DAY. LONG.

Watch me not care.

Obviously I type fast 😉

Shall I blow a kiss? Shall I get into your game?

SIKE

Same time never.

You’ll probs die with your hand on your bawls

LMAO 🤣🤣😂😂😂😂

[Randalama]

@Rosexøxø Listen Rose, I feel like we maybe got off on the wrong foot and if I have a portion of blame to shoulder for that then I humbly beg your pardon. I think it's the topic of discussion. It's concerning and can be divisive. Perhaps we should get to know each other a little better before we cast stones. Tell me a little bit about yourself. Whatchoo uh... Whatchoo wearin right now girl?

[Cassie88]

@Rosexøxø :"I’m stubborn with an open mind."
Do you see how self-contradictory you're being here? Stubborn people by definition don't have open minds, because... well... they're stubborn. That's the opposite of being open-minded.
You don't even know the meaning of words, and I have to laugh at how easily Randalama pushed your buttons and caused your head to explode! :D
Almost like that balloon when it was shot down :D
You must have been red in the face with anger when you responded to him here. :D
And how could you possibly know that I'm, "... not studying in her country to be a lawyer/ a diplomat/ militia/ physicist/ public relations agent or anything else"?
You know nothing about me at all.

[Cassie88]

"SHE HAS NO RIGHT to talk about U. S. government" - Rose
Actually, I can discuss anything I damn well like, and there isn't a thing you can do to either stop or dissuade me from doing so. :P

[Rosexøxø]

Lol you don’t even know how to properly quote little miss dandelion that the Clydesdale eat.

That alone would show anyone you’re not into politics. That would be an automatic fail… well who knows maybe that’s how your part of the little village “runs politics.”

Anywho, I knew someone with your simple mind could not understand the glorious meaning of the word:

BALANCE

Only few can wield it.

That just shows ME

You’re either a PUSHOVER and someone who is severely brainwashed/ conditioned,

OR

you’re severely stubborn and ill minded to even take in any new information.

You’re either directly one or the other, and that is a shame.

Never enter politics with that mindset, on your person.

It’ll be for the best of us- the us that is global

[Cassie88]

@Rosexøxø (yawn) Whatever, you crazy old lady! Good bye! :P

[Rosexøxø]

Lol you’re older than me-

Don’t waste your life, respectively 🤝😎

[slatyb]

Small holes in a large balloon don't have much effect.

[Cassie88]

Yes, true, but there were alternatives to shooting it down. Like, for example, not shooting it down, but of course it was a "Chinese spy balloon", and they (somehow) knew this right from the start. This story doesn't make any sense.

[Dargil]

At 65,000 feet?
Sure, they wanted to show off the Raptor. Neither the ChiComs nor the balloon saw it coming.

[KrakenAttackin]

I would take the tame to explain why the F-22 was perfect for this, but I don't have the energy to explain to "stupid".

[Cassie88]

I'm not the one here who is stupid Mr. Kraken. All I did was ask a simple, non-controversial question, but the responses I got in return were completely ridiculous and over-the-top.

[zagor]

You'd have to have a hell of a slingshot to get to 60,000 feet.

Though it does seem they could have used a fighter with a gun, if they still exist.

[CAPTAIN-OBVIOUS]

Yeah, that was much safer and less expensive. We have some of the best trained military in the world. We have to use them.

[Cassie88]

You could have made the decision to NOT shoot it down.

[CAPTAIN-OBVIOUS]

Nope, we had to shoot it down. Poses a risk for civilians. We can’t have something like that in the air going over peoples homes and stuff.
China has been known to spy on people through TikTok also. So many creeps over there.

[CAPTAIN-OBVIOUS]

Plus they started covid also.

[Cassie88]

How was it determined so quickly that the balloon was Chinese though? And Covid is completely irrelevant to this particular topic.

[CAPTAIN-OBVIOUS]

It proves they can’t be trusted

[Likes2drive]

Yeah, it was a bit of an overkill and I guess they could’ve use the bow and arrow

[Wise4myage]

I loved it. I just wish Biden had the balls to shoot it down over Alaska.

[Leopard23]

Biden left the decision with airforce in case things went wrong and then claimed he made the call after it was shot down. The reality was the US Airforce allowed it to cross us territory unhindered and shot it down over the ocean because they wanted to recover it intact to examine it for intelligence purposes.

[Wise4myage]

@Leopard23 I don't buy that for a second.

[Leopard23]

I buy it. Its called passing the buck.

[Wise4myage]

@Leopard23 Biden loves to pass the buck, especially when it comes to China.

[Red_Arrow]

Whether you buy it or not, it was decided to bring it down where we could recover most of it with minimal damage so that we could gather intel from the equipment about what they were using and what they were actually able to see. Also it was preferred to bring it down over water instead of dropping over 400 pounds on populated areas.

[Leopard23]

@Red_Arrow I agree. Us airforce did a great job. It was a good decision by the heads of the airforce

[Jamie05rhs]

It was just more convenient that way. The F-15 has the maneuverability to get the right angle to take a clean shot.

[Iron_Man]

They don’t wanna take any chances with that balloon they need speed to be able to get out if something happens nobody knows what’s in there

[Guardian45]

Because they had to some use out of it. Afterall they spent a LOT of money on it, didn't they?

[LiamJHayden]

200 feet long, 60,000 feet up, weighing in the tons. Good luck with that slingshot.

[Twalli]

The ballin was not anything like the balloons we have at parties

[driven159]

Not all jets can work at that high of altitude and it was the jet that was based near the balloon

[Tomisworthless]

Doubt the ballon was a Chinese spy ballon and the US was just using a show of might

[Fudgeinmycreampie]

That was a huge frickin balloon it was above. The atmosphere past the air level

[EmmaMary]

Only in America! 🤣

[Rosexøxø]

Amen 🙏

[inkyvampire]

I love the sling shot idea! Haha

[CubaPirate]

A typical United States response unfortunately 😕

[Leopard23]

Right tool for the right job.

[Anonymous]

that damn clown pennywise leaving his balloons everywhere

[Fireguy17]

it was a pretty big balloon?

[Anonymous]

Ah, New Zealand. That explains it.

[Opinion Owner]

And yet you're obsessed with things that don't affect you. That told me right off the bat you weren't American. I have yet to hear an American cry about a Chinese balloon being shot down. And that's violent? lol Trust me, if that Chinese spy balloon was over YOUR airspace, I wouldn't give two shits about it. I wouldn't even talk about it and I sure wouldn't waste my time here posting a question about it.

[Opinion Owner]

And the balloon affected you enough to write this question.

[Opinion Owner]

Biden is retarded, but our military intelligence is the best in the world. They make dog collars with GPS in them, but the Chinese could't find this balloon? Do you believe everything you're told? This wasn't a carnival balloon, it was 200 feet tall and had a payload the size of a jetliner. Who cares whose balloon was, it had to be taken down for our national security. Your country would do the same thing, but they would probably ask the US to do it for them.

[Rosexøxø]

Girll you are so spot on I’m proud of you 🤝😂😁

America wants you in government lol

You speak the truth.

That girl is living in farmer fields and will be the first to run at a sight of trouble.

She thinks we own the world when we don’t.

History clearly shows WHO thinks they own the world and people, and how WE have always responded to others and their twisted ways.

She probably didn’t ace history, so her lens while watching global news- irrelevant to her- is completely dramatized and biased.

I don’t trust her for this.

I’d rather bunk with a Japanese citizen than her. Aussies are much nicer and clearly neutral. She’s weird… very suspicious and has “no chill.”

[OfMiceandMen]

Seems like an expensive overkill option?

[Sirenboobzilla]

Simply put, USA learned what not to do from Canada

[WhitneySnow]

China admitted it was their balloon

[clampfan101]

Target practice? lol

[Chad345]

65,000 feet high