A spy balloon that U.S. officials believe was sent by China was a “trial” to see America’s response, according to former Secretary of State and CIA director Mike Pompeo. Pompeo criticized the handling of the situation by the Biden administration, who chose not to shoot down the stratospheric surveillance aircraft for several days after it was sighted over the continental U.S. The balloon was finally taken down by the U.S. military on Saturday, after traveling across a vast area of the U.S. and Canada.
Pompeo argues that the balloon’s appearance in American skies was a test that the Biden administration failed. He told Trey Gowdy on Fox News that the Chinese probably got all the collection they needed for the first few days and now they understand that they can penetrate U.S. airspace without fear of retaliation. Pompeo also commented that “Chinese spying on America—no surprise” and the “weakness of America just is going to invite more aggression.”
The balloon’s appearance in the U.S. came just days before a scheduled trip by Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Beijing to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. However, this trip has since been canceled. On Saturday, Biden told reporters that he had ordered the Pentagon to shoot down the balloon as soon as possible, and the military chose to do so over water for safety reasons.
China has claimed that the aircraft was a civilian weather balloon that had been blown off course. The U.S. officials contest this claim. China’s foreign ministry issued a statement on Sunday saying it reserves “the right to take further actions” in response to the balloon being shot down. Another balloon passed over South America over the weekend, which China also claims was for civilian use.
Pompeo was asked why the balloon wasn’t shot down sooner, and he responded that he could not articulate why the Biden administration did not take down the threat immediately. He suspects that the balloon would have been picked up as soon as it entered the Air Defense Identification Zone, an area in which identity checks for aircraft are required. Pompeo commented that “this isn’t something small coming across [the Pacific]; it’s not even a fast mover. This is going slow and it is big.”
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8 Responses
Pompeo himself is a clown…..he has been running around the cable news networks trashing Trump while selling his new book taking credit for everything that worked and disclaiming responsibility for all the Trump fiascos. At the same time, taxpayers are spending $25 million/year (with Biden’s approval) to protect him and Bolton from being blown up by the Iranian Revolution Guards in retaliation for Trump’s order to assassinate General Sulamani.
Dorah,
It’s sad how obsessed you are with covering for all of Brainless Brandon’s constant screw-ups. You’re as dependable as Pavlov’s dog in responding to every criticism with a heaping portion of mostly irrelevant word salad.
Is this the best way to spend the final week before your boomerang curse returns to you?
Pompeo is considering a run for president. Every Republican is second-guessing Biden but ignoring the Chinese balloon over the US during the previous administration. Not surprised.
Dofi: Your computer is stuck on “paste” from prior comments. And yes, I will continue to obsess over the lame efforts by the right to go after the Dems and Biden based on convoluted facts or no facts at all.
McCarthy will be in the best position (literally) today to waive the balloon behind Biden’s back.
Gadolhadorah: even if he is promoting his book and intending to run in 2024, he may still be telling the truth. you need to present actual facts to dispute his claim, not just your obvious enthusiasm for the other party.
Huju, what Chinese balloon during the previous administration? The whole claim is a lie. There probably never was any such balloon. The Biden administration is simply lying to cover up for itself, and you are repeating the lies.
The reason this demented TREASONOUS America hating DemonRat, did not shoot it down immediately, is the exact same reason this traitorous Marxist gangster does not lift a finger to defend our country from being invaded by millions of illegal criminals and drug dealers.
Its the same reason this America hating terrorist loving swine, deliberately left 50 billion in modern arms for the murderous Taliban.
It’s the same reason this traitor, was the only one in Obama’s cabinet who voted against killing that monster BinLadin