On Monday, General Glen VanHerck of the U.S. Air Force informed journalists that the Chinese balloon that was shot down near South Carolina's coast on Saturday might have been carrying explosives for possible self-destruction. As the Commander of NORAD and USNORTHCOM, he mentioned that the balloon was around 200 feet tall and weighed more than a few thousand pounds.
Wow: Northcom chief Gen. VanHerck says the balloon was up to 200 ft tall, with a payload the size of a jetliner. It weighed "in excess of a couple thousand lbs" and potentially carried explosives " to detonate and destroy the balloon."
— Lara Seligman (@laraseligman) February 6, 2023
Although the military typically lacks the power to collect intelligence within the U.S., exceptional permission was granted in this case to gather information on the balloon. Despite its substantial size and weight, General VanHerck stated that it did not pose a physical military danger to North America and that its mobility was restricted.
"It was my assessment that this balloon did not present a physical military threat to North America. This is under my NORAD hat, and therefore I could not take immediate action [against the balloon] because it was not demonstrating hostile act or hostile intent," said VanHerck.
A spokesperson for the National Security Council, John Kirby, added that the spy balloon had propellers and a rudder for navigation, but its ability to maneuver was restricted. General VanHerck then went on to explain that the Chinese use their balloons' limited maneuverability to strategically place themselves to take advantage of the winds and cover parts of countries they want to monitor for intelligence-gathering purposes.
Gen. VanHerck of NORAD/NORTHCOM offers more on how these balloons navigate: "They utilize their maneuverability to strategically position themselves to utilize the winds to traverse portions of countries that they want to see for collection purposes."
— Matt Seyler (@MattSeyler) February 6, 2023
Trending Political News
Pamela Anderson Drops Massive Accusation on Tim Allen - He Denies It
Pamela Anderson, known for her role on "Baywatch," alleges in her recently published book that Tim Allen exposed himself to her while they were on the set of "Home Improvement" when she was 23. However, Allen denies the incident occurred.
As reported by entertainment website Variety, Anderson's upcoming book "Love, Pamela" includes an account of an incident in which she claims Tim Allen opened his robe and exposed himself to her. She states that he did this because he wanted to even the playing field after seeing her in the nude in Playboy magazine.
Tom Brady Goes on Profanity-Laced Tirade When Asked About His Future
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady gave an expletive-laden response this week when questioned about his football future.
Brady was asked on the "Let's Go!" podcast if he has made a decision regarding his continuation in playing another season in the league.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Gives Insane Suggestion to Help Avoid Being Mugged
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot stated in a public address that one of the ways to decrease crime in the city is for citizens to try and avoid carrying cash, as reported by News Channel 20.
Mayor Lightfoot, who is running for re-election, discussed safety concerns in a debate between candidates. Safety is a top concern among the citizens of Chicago.
White House Press Secretary Ripped for 'Shameless' Claim She Made While Deflecting Blame on Gas Prices
Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, faced significant backlash on social media following her statement at Monday's conference that House Republicans aim to increase gas prices.
At the press conference, Jean-Pierre immediately accused the GOP, who now hold a slim majority in the House, of intending to increase gas prices through their latest bill.
Bad News for People Sharing Passwords on Netflix
According to a recent Forbes report, Netflix plans to begin offering a paid option for customers who wish to share their passwords with individuals outside their household in the near future. The company has previously expressed concerns about password sharing, but it now appears that they have a definite plan to implement this change in the first quarter of this year. This means that the feature is expected to be available by the end of March.
Peter Doocy Catches Karine Jean-Pierre Off Guard with 'Four Letter Word' Question and All She Can Do is Laugh
Fox News reporter Peter Doocy always finds a way to be a major source of difficulty for White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
After the revelation that the FBI had discovered six additional classified "items" during a 12-hour search of President Joe Biden's Wilmington, Delaware, residence on Friday, Jean-Pierre probably had an uneasy feeling as she called on Doocy during Monday's press briefing.