DickC Loc: NE Washington state

Yep, I agree!! If there's instruments in it, they might be able to tell us what it is!

Ava'sPapa Loc: Cheshire, Ct.

IT'S DOWN. You're right nimbus shopper. They've already received all of the info that they stole. But Sleepy Joe's a hero now.

DickC Loc: NE Washington state

Watch out for missles now!!

Ava'sPapa Loc: Cheshire, Ct.

You have to stand tall at some point!

Jim Plogger Loc: East Tennessee

Just shot down in the Atlantic near Surfside Beach, SC.

Klickitatdave Loc: Seattle Washington

Another possibility that I have yet to hear mentioned is that when the Pentagon and State Department report that they are monitoring the balloon they mean something different than just watching it floating across the country. Our military and NSA has technology we can't even imagine that can intercept data going to and from the balloon. They might even have the capability to change the data being sent back to China so that the CCP gets inaccurate information. Is this the case? Maybe, maybe not but there is something that is not being communicated by our military and State Department. There is a reason why they are not just blasting it out of the air and it isn't related to fears of collateral damage.

flathead27ford Loc: Colorado, North of Greeley

Nope, used an F-22 with a missile. LOL

Chout Loc: Central Texas

They popped the balloon on the Atlantic coast. Now they have to find the debris to see what it was really.

Dannj

Now there are reports that similar balloons were spotted during the previous administration but the public was not informed.

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

It wasn't the gov't that brought this one to the public's attention either!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Sorry, but some facts, according to several news sources. The balloon was carrying a payload roughly the size of three large buses. What was in that large container? It could have been nuclear power, explosive fuel, harmful chemicals, or another v***s. If it were shot down from an altitude of 60,000 feet, the debris, possibly harmful, could spread for miles. As it traveled across the country, sensitive sites in US territory took precautions to limit data gathering by the balloon. In the meantime, US technology examined the balloon and its cargo to learn all they could about it. Now that its cargo is resting in about 45 feet of water, the US will recover it and examine it. We will be able to get a good look at Chinese technology and learn about their capabilities. That's better than having it drop onto a town.

Our government became aware of the balloon when it was over Alaska, on January 28. Biden gave the military the shoot-down order on Wednesday, but they had to wait until it was safe to do so. "Shoot first and ask questions later" is not a good policy when dealing with the unknown. This is not the first time Chinese balloons have entered US airspace. Three of them flew over our country during the last administration, but they were not interfered with.

petrochemist Loc: UK

Thanks Jerry, nice to have someone considering the facts rather than just trying to score political points.

SpikeW Loc: Butler PA

I THINK IT WAS China doing a survey of their farmlands.

rlv567 Loc: Baguio City, Philippines

Maybe also for their buddy, Bill Gates. He now owns a LOT of US farmland.

Loren - in Beautiful Baguio City

JimBart Loc: Western Michigan

Why the heck did Washington let it fly over the entire USA before shooting it down. They got all the info they wanted from us then we shoot it down. Invaded airspace sb shot down immediately…. Why not in Alaska first.
Also what about that 2nd balloon. Duh.