A Chinese spy balloon has appeared over Montana, and the WH isn’t shooting it down for WHAT reason?

Thursday evening The Pentagon confirmed that the US government has been tracking what is being described as a high-altitude surveillance balloon from the People’s Republic of Communist China. The balloon, which entered continental US airspace a “couple of days ago,” according to a senior defense official, is the latest sign of the growing severity of the power competition between Communist China and the United States.

The balloon, spotted above Montana, is floating at an altitude that The Pentagon described as “significantly above where civilian air traffic is active,” but in the atmosphere and not in outer space.

Although defense officials expressed doubt that the balloon was any more valuable at gathering information than the PRC’s low orbiting satellites, worries remain about the flight path the balloon is taking.

When asked whether the balloon was trying to collect intelligence on nuclear weapons that are siloed in Montana, the senior defense official stated that it was a concern.

“Yes, so clearly the intent of this balloon is for surveillance. And so the current flight path does carry it over a number of sensitive sites.”

This concern was echoed by Montana’s Republican senator, Steve Daines. In a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Daines wrote, “The fact that this balloon was occupying Montana airspace creates significant concern that Malmstrom Air Force Base (AFB) and the United States’ intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) fields are the target of this intelligence gathering mission.”

After being briefed on the issue, President Biden asked for military options but was advised by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Mark Milley, and the commander of NORTHCOM, General Glen VanHerck, not to take kinetic action “due to the risk to safety and security of people on the ground from the possible debris field.”

Some Republicans disagreed with the decision to not shoot down the balloon. Representative Ryan Zinke, a Republican from Montana, tweeted, “Shoot. It. Down. The Chinese spy balloon is clear provocation. In Montana we do not bow. We shoot it down. Take the shot.”

Fellow Montana Republican Matt Rosendale expressed similar outrage at Biden’s inaction tweeting, “It’s unacceptable to allow Communist China to invade our airspace – this is another clear example of Chinese aggression. President Biden must start putting the American people first and recognize that Communist China is a threat to our freedom, values, and way of life.”

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy also called out President Biden.

“Communist China’s brazen disregard for U.S. sovereignty is a destabilizing action that must be addressed, and President Biden cannot be silent. I am requesting a Gang of Eight briefing.”

The “Gang of Eight” is a group of top congressional leaders including the chairs and ranking minority members of the Senate and House Intelligence Committees.

Exactly what action will be taken remains to be seen, but there is clear agreement that the surveillance balloon is indeed from Communist China.

“I will just say we have very high confidence that this is a PRC balloon. Very high confidence,” noted the senior defense official.

Editor’s Note

LwC is on Substack now! Each day we overwhelm your brains with the content you’ve come to love from the Louder with Crowder Dot Com website.. but algorithms hide our ranting and raving as best they can. The best way to stick it to Big Tech? Subscribe to For the Content!

FOOTAGE: Communist China’s New BLACK MIRROR Lockdowns will make your skin crawl!!! | Louder With Crowder

youtu.be