Now begins the idiotic politics of failure....BREAKING: 2 Former DNI Directors Say Report of Chinese Balloons Under Trump is Fake

 Note.  Earlier I classified this balloon thing as not the big deal is was being touted as being.  I stand by that.  The delayed response, the lack of decisiveness and now the awkward and lame finger pointing all shows one thing.  Our political/military power structure is fucked beyond belief.  Apparently they have the same pulse of the people as I do, except that they have a bigger megaphone and have the ability to PROPERLY explain why they arrived at a certain decision.  Vacillation like we've seen is a danger sign.

via Trending Politics

On Sunday morning, former acting Director of the United States National Intelligence (DNI) Richard Grenell denied the recent report claiming Chinese Spy Balloons flew across the United States under former President Donald Trump.

“Yes, Chinese Spy Balloons Flew Over The U.S. When President Trump Was In Office Too,” the piece from Matt Novack published on Forbes read.

The article was extremely vague and weakly sourced.

In a tweet on Sunday, Grenell strongly denied the piece and hammered the Biden administration for pushing the fake news.

“Biden’s DoD is shamelessly using an anonymous source to say that Chinese balloons flew over the US under Trump – and the Trump team allowed it,” he tweeted. “It is a lie. We never heard this – ever. Congress should demand @SecDef tell the truth. Shame on @JakeSullivan46.”

Story here 

The only real loser in the China Spy Balloon Incident is Milley...

Mark Milley held secret calls with China in 2020 undermining Trump

Mark Milley gave the order not to shoot down the Chinese spy balloon

General Mark Milley in 2015 declaring that China is not our enemy: pic.twitter.com/Z00ZcdUdu9

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) February 5, 2023

Parts of Military Twitter & ESPECIALLY the Conservative Twitter spaces are eviscerating Milley. He has never been popular with the troops (from the outside looking in...but does it really matter?) and he's been suspect to both the left and right. To the left because he's military and to the right because he's implemented some policies that many disagree with.

But when it comes to the balloon case I almost feel sorry for the dude.

Biden threw his ass under the bus so quick its shocking.  The CJCS over ruled him and told him not to shoot down the balloon?  Then Biden over ruled him and ordered the balloon shot down?

China got an over flight of the USA.  Got first hand experience with the lack of decisiveness from our elected officials....basically they got a timeline of how long it would take for America to decide to sortie forces to aid Taiwan.  If it took days to shoot down a fucking balloon how long will it take to decide to lose a couple of carriers and dozens of other warships along with countless lives of American troops?

And Milley.

Milley just sealed his fate as probably the worst CJCS in the history of the US.

The dude has had a rough ride with two "unique" Presidents but the guy is still trash.

Former French Navy Carrier Foch scuttled in international waters...

Brazilian Navy Clemenceau-class aircraft carrier São Paulo, formerly French Navy carrier Foch, was scuttled it in international waters on 3rd February 2023....sad to see her go this way pic.twitter.com/ZHjytIdXls

— Stiofán Sopelza (@sopelza) February 4, 2023

The Brazilians didn't get much use out of her. Is it even worthwhile to buy ships second hand anymore? I know the US Navy rides all its ships HARD. There is a big opening for some basic builds to supply smaller nations fleets but no one is tapping into it. Oh and Brazil! Next time buy a LHD. It would be more cost effective and better suit your needs!

This is a damn winter hurricane!

❄️💨❄️This is EXTREME WEATHER! Right now Mount Washington is living up to the reputation of having the worse weather in the world.
INSANE conditions Temp -42° F, Wind Chill -101° F, Wind Gusts 127 mph! https://t.co/vr4pGu9p7G
From the summit cam 230-240pm. #OHwx #PAwx pic.twitter.com/6N30euV9oL

— NWS Cleveland (@NWSCLE) February 3, 2023

That looks plainful.

Welcome to America 2023. People are dumpster diving in Austin, TX

Why are people taking food out of dumpsters in Austin? pic.twitter.com/FxBPEp7b5z

— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) February 4, 2023

What The Fuck is going on here! 

I'm just looking at the short vid just like you but those don't look like street people. So now the lower/middle class are dumpster diving? Jesus H. Christ! 

This is a new level of just plain sad.

Did you catch that glimpse of a LEO maintaining order?  So this is either a known thing or the crowd was such that they got a call.

Weird.  Just weird!

Open Comment Post. 4 Feb 23

 

Note.  I posted a pic yesterday that showed how the ARV is smaller than the JLTV and MUCH smaller than the ACV.  The reason is because the Marine Corps while (I believe) revising the requirement to being that the vehicles could swim from ship to shore, originally had them arriving by connector and that 4 of them should be able to fit on an LCAC.

John Mearsheimer | THE US CREATES CONFLICT FOR THE WORLD

Thanks to Carlton for the link!

   

Just listen to the vid. Then think about it. For us or rather our govt, this is just fun and games. For Russia this is a massive threat and a HUGE red line. Oh and if Ukraine and the West push for the recapture of Crimea then you WILL see the nukes fly.

The hysteria about this Chinese balloon is almost comical....this is about super powers playing games...

US citizens better get used to the super power games that are soon to be coming our way. This balloon is just the first installment.

And ya know what?

Compared to what we've been doing for the past few years this balloon is COMICAL!

We have a dedicated spy plane (X-37) that changes orbit, is hard to reach, is supposedly maneuverable in space and has been unchallenged (or so I believe...haven't read otherwise) that we also can assume has been flying with impunity over China.

You don't think China doesn't have anti-sat weapons?

YOU BET YOUR ASS THEY DO!

So will I get upset over a freaking balloon?  Nope.  

I don't trust the Pentagon or the service chiefs one bit...BUT I DO THINK that they've taken measures to ensure that it isn't carrying any kind of hostile payload so the danger is miniscule.

Super power games means a willingness to play chess not checkers.

Sometimes you have to save your knight to take out a worthy target and not a pawn.

This balloon doesn't rise to the level of a worthy target.

About that Chinese Spy Balloon...

USMC's Cottonmouth Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) is actually small

Having never seen it in the flesh, the USMC's Cottonmouth Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) is actually much smaller than I realised. Or, having seen them both in real life, ACV and JLTV are massive. Probably a bit of both... pic.twitter.com/rXiRbgZ2M4

— Jon Hawkes (@JonHawkes275) February 3, 2023