141–150 of 1001 posts
Why didn't they just down it safely harpooning it from a helicopter or something? Didn't they want to investigate the payload in detail rather than mangled remains? Was it really just a scientific baloon but US found it more useful to accuse Chinese of sending grotesquely large and not stealthy at all spy balloon? Otherwise why destroy it? EDIT: I stand corrected that USA just didn't have the technological capacity t…
Why didn't they just down it safely harpooning it from a helicopter or something? Didn't they want to investigate the payload in detail rather than mangled remains? Was it really just a scientific baloon but US found it more useful to accuse Chinese of sending grotesquely large and not stealthy at all spy balloon? Otherwise why destroy it? EDIT: I stand corrected that USA just didn't have the technological capacity t…
I am so tired of China being used to stoke American jingoism, of politicians making a contest of who is really 'tough on China' and, most horrifyingly, of seeing other USians online practically salivate as they fantasize about a war with China. It's some cold war boogieman horseshit. And it's depressing to watch here on Hacker News, too, any comments that question the beating of those war drums go dead. Yesterday I h…
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It was probably a much higher ratio than that. Wouldn't be surprised if it was actually 1000:1. On the other hand, the military is constantly in need of new drills to keep everyone's skills sharp. This was a pretty good one for them with no negative outcomes beyond whatever data might have been collected and sent back to China.
The thing is gigantic. It's definitely not cheap and most likely more than the unit cost of a missile.
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What would you have them do? I know many people wanted it shot down over Montana, but even the most rural places have more people than you'd think. If they had shot it down and it had hit someone/something, or even come close to it, it would be a complete disaster.
https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/China-hot-sale-surveillance-balloon-with_60454941082.html
https://www.made-in-china.com/showroom/jennerjiang/product-list/catalog-1.html?view=0
Why didn't they just down it safely harpooning it from a helicopter or something? Didn't they want to investigate the payload in detail rather than mangled remains? Was it really just a scientific baloon but US found it more useful to accuse Chinese of sending grotesquely large and not stealthy at all spy balloon? Otherwise why destroy it? EDIT: I stand corrected that USA just didn't have the technological capacity t…
Why didn't they just down it safely harpooning it from a helicopter or something? Didn't they want to investigate the payload in detail rather than mangled remains? Was it really just a scientific baloon but US found it more useful to accuse Chinese of sending grotesquely large and not stealthy at all spy balloon? Otherwise why destroy it? EDIT: I stand corrected that USA just didn't have the technological capacity t…
Why didn't they just down it safely harpooning it from a helicopter or something? Didn't they want to investigate the payload in detail rather than mangled remains? Was it really just a scientific baloon but US found it more useful to accuse Chinese of sending grotesquely large and not stealthy at all spy balloon? Otherwise why destroy it? EDIT: I stand corrected that USA just didn't have the technological capacity t…
I actually think it might just be a stray weather balloon. If they considered it a security threat they would've downed it before it reached continental US. Overall it's a fair resolution. It's a good political move to raise public awareness of tensions with the PRC (you'd be surprised how many people don't know). Downing it is mostly symbollic and completes the safety narrative.
I’m not in the defense industry neither know how the Chinese spy agency works but I guess there are more covert ways to spy than sending a 20ft ballon half way around the world.