AMAC Exclusive – By Ben Solis
In a rather anticlimactic speech on Thursday, President Joe Biden announced that three “unidentified flying objects” shot down by U.S. Air Force pilots over North America in recent days were likely privately owned balloons related to scientific research or recreation. The revelation – after a puzzling degree of secrecy from the administration and even a statement that the Pentagon “can’t rule out” aliens – marked an apparent end to the saga that began with a Chinese spy balloon’s lumbering week-long journey across the United States late last month that left Biden and his top lieutenants paralyzed and further revealed the degree of their own failure to protect the homeland.
But even as Biden attempts to save face and show some semblance of leadership, he has done nothing to address the underlying gaps in defense infrastructure that allowed unidentified objects to drift through American airspace in the first place.
The U.S. military first detected an object that turned out to be a Chinese spy balloon moving over the Aleutian Islands in Alaska on January 28. Over the next three days, the balloon traveled across Idaho and Montana, including the location of more than 100 Minuteman III nuclear missile silos. Finally, on February 4th, once the balloon had completed its journey across the United States, potentially sending troves of data to Beijing, a U.S. F-22 Raptor fighter jet dispatched it with and AIM-9X air-to-air missile. Further findings indicated it also hovered over the U.S. Anderson Air Force base in Guam.
Even as questions mounted about why Biden waited so long to act (the White House claims that it was fearful of potential damage to people and property on the ground, a claim that many experts viewed with skepticism) officials announced that the military was tracking three more UFOs.
Many initially assumed the objects to be more spy balloons or even extraterrestrial spaceships – a hypothesis that was fueled by NORAD Commander General Glen VanHerck saying that “I haven’t ruled out anything,” and “At this point, we continue to assess every threat or potential threat unknown that approaches North America with an attempt to identify it,” when a reporter asked directly if aliens could be involved.
Pentagon officials soon backtracked and confirmed that the objects had, in fact, originated on Earth, killing the dreams of many sci-fi fans. Biden further stated that “nothing right now suggests” that the additional UFOs are “related to China’s spy balloon program.”
Mainstream media outlets have subsequently portrayed Biden’s battle with the balloons – both the Chinese and recreational variety – as an almost heroic triumph over a fierce enemy.
But certain details of this battle reveal critical strategic errors that allowed the first spy balloon to enter American airspace virtually undetected and subsequently left the most powerful military in the world unable to determine the identity of other objects traversing U.S. airspace.
Part of the story begins back during the Clinton administration, when, in 1996, the Pentagon established the Joint Aerostat Project Office and Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System. In effect, the purpose of these programs was to detect flying objects, including missiles, aircraft, drones, and, yes, balloons over North America.
An upgrade to the system, known as JLENS, was proposed during the Bush administration. The new defense network was comprised of two protected aerostats, or stationary balloons, that floated 10,000 feet up with two different 360-degree radars that could detect hostile objects up to 340 miles away and provide directions to missile systems on the ground.
Then-defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld emphasized the clear advantages of JLENS over surveillance planes and the old system. The floating detection platforms were unrestricted by fuel and could be connected directly to AEGIS ships and Patriot Missile batteries. In the Pacific, the system could have provided significant protection from Chinese and Russian cruise missiles.
Following 9/11, an early version of JLENS played a crucial role in Operation Noble Eagle, a joint U.S.-Canadian homeland security operation providing radar protection from Boston to Lake Erie and down south to Raleigh.
But with the election of President Barack Obama – and Vice President Joe Biden – came a reduction of the U.S. military’s budget. Obama prided himself on “trimming the fat” in the military, which amounted to $487 billion in spending cuts that decimated essential and nonessential programs all the same.
Obama’s conviction that the U.S. military had over-invested in certain areas was most erroneous, leading to the termination of many long-term research and development projects – including JLENS. An accident in 2015 involving one aerostat breaking free from its tether during an extreme storm provided all the excuse the Obama-Biden administration needed to cancel the program.
Though President Trump reversed much of the Obama-era military spending cutdown, other programs were in even more desperate need of revival. As Trump so often remarked, the military “couldn’t even afford bullets” by the time he took office.
Now, President Biden has continued Obama’s failure to invest in the critical defense systems that would protect the United States from just such airborne threats, even as he beats his chest and spouts empty promises to “hold China accountable.” While accountability is good, concrete action is required. If Biden truly wants to guard against airborne threats, he should pressure Congress to invest in re-invest in programs like JLENS that were inexplicably cut nearly a decade ago.
Ben Solis is the pen name of an international affairs journalist, historian, and researcher.
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It was said that the balloon had “limited” maneuvering capability. So, it could be maneuvered somewhat by the Chinese to obtain the intelligence they wanted.
DICTATOR Beijing biden still hasn’t BANNED TikTok, a Communist Chinese Espionage app. being constantly used against the United States to SPY ON and BRAINWASH
OUR CHILDREN TO HATE AMERICA by Promoting LOSER WOKE GARBAGE.
Then, why would he, when he’s in Communist China’s back pocket and continues to DESTROY the UNITED STATES of AMERICA and OUR CHILDREN’S LIVES
any way he can.
In the ‘Red October’ war games, the Swedish Grippins get missile lock of F-22’s and F-35’s. They say plainly it’s the programming not the radar. According to that, anything made of metal will show up, it just depends on how the radar is set up.
It seems that the President is still guilty of not doing his job!! I think his administration is slipping on the “safety and security of the American citizens” portion of his oath!! The borders are more open than ever allowing millions to cross the border illegally without any method of keeping track of them!! So it also seems that no one in his administration has had their eyes on the sky in our air space or directly over the land mass!! This balloon debacle now has many people worried even more about China and its future intent!! Maybe, Joe, you should be trying to run the country and stop trying to take over the country and ruin it!!!!
Where is & what does SPACE FORCE do at the current time? Trump formed a new branch called SPACE FORCE when he was in office & I have not heard much about them since. Seems like the China Balloons would have involved this branch , any comments on this branch & what they do.
It’s sad how Obama and Biden refuse to see how truly dangerous this world really is becoming.
And how vitat it is to have strong military forces.
And a P.S. As long as them silos have been there,m China oprobley’s knows within 2 feet whereb they are located. Kyle L.
No telling what we have over China. Theres the caught and the uncaught. Kyle L.
I agree we have a Bumbling Bafoon in office now as well as in the past, but what has happened to OUR Alphabet Soup agencies “SPY” Satellites”. They can read a License Plate from Miles up so why and how did we not ID ANY of the Balloons??
So, after this balloon from China, has completed it’s assigned task, it is destroyed. By a missile, which cost the taxpayers almost $400,000.00. Since it was a balloon, could it not have been brought down more or less in one piece so the intelligence community (PUN) could better analyze it’s gathering capabilities. Maybe if the pilot had been instructed to shoot it down with guns instead of said missile, we could have a better handle on what “secretes” have been sold by the biden administration and his now woke military.
So we can’t count on the government to figure out what’s flying over our airspace before shooting it down. What’s next, a heatseeker for Santa at Christmas?
Clinton,Obama and Biden should all be put on trial for treason and when,not if,found guilty,given the appropriate sentence for that crime which,if I am not mistaken,is death by hanging.
Lol, in the above photo Biden is asking Obama, “What should I do next boss?”
Now, that’s funny!! Sadly, it’s true.
Absolutely!
How perfectly apt
Those who said that Biden must fail are correct.
This fact described in this article should be brought to the attention of all American people. I hope our radios will talk about it.
I am glad AMAC publishes articles on Strategic Defense Initiative, this our Ronald Reagan’s The Great idea.
Our “radios” (including news outlets of all types) are heavily biased towards DemocRat Party support. The DemocRats long ago new that media control meant governance control. The Nation suffered a decade of depression (1930’s) by laying blame thru the Media on the Republicans when in fact they had political power to implement help prior to the FDR tenure, but refused to allow it un til they could get Presidential power and use the Media to put blame entirely on the Republicans.
Excellent article.
DICTATOR Beijing biden has not only SOLD OUT the UNITED STATES but commits TREASON every day.
Committed ELECTION FRAUD in 2020.
He opened OUR BORDERS for ILLEGAL ALIEN TERRORIST INVASION letting in CRIMINALS and TERRORIST EVERY DAY, GAVE TERRORIST $86 Billion in U.S. Military Weapons and Airbases in Afghanistan getting 13 U.S. Marines Killed and Abandoned AMERICANS over there, let’s Communist China SPY Ballon’s FLY ALL OVER U.S. for 2 WEEKS before taking action while waiting on POLLS and there are MORE Communist China SPY Ballon’s flying over U.S., Signing Deal with Wuhan Health Organization giving them CONTROL over OUR Medical Care VIOLATING U.S. CONSTITUTION and SOVEREIGNTY, Gives the Cartel CONTROL of our Southern Borders PUMPING IN FENTANYL, DRAINS our U.S. Strategic Oil Reserves for political purposes and SELLS OUR OIL to Communist China while KILLING OUR ENERGY INDEPENDENCE, and the list keeps growing each day he is in WH ILLEGALLY and UNCONSTITUTIONALLY.
Last but least…DICTATOR Beijing biden has Given ALL Of OUR AMMUNITION to Ukraine so the U.S. is UNABLE TO PROTECT ITSELF FROM ANY KIND of ATTACK or ACT of WAR. Which Communist China committed an ACT of WAR by RELEASING THEIR China Virus UPON the WORLD with Fauci and DICTATOR Beijing biden’s blessing.
And let’s add ALL the ILLEGAL and UNCONSTITUTIONAL
LOCKDOWNS, MASK, and VACCINE MANDATES including all the
Executive orders and Bills he signed passed by FASCIST liberals in control of Congress and Senate at time which a LOT of THEM COMMITTED ELECTION FRAUD and
TREASON themselves with their Communist Party.
Let’s not forget that DICTATOR Beijing biden wants to put China Virus Vaccine into OUR FOOD when we HAVE NATURAL IMMUNITY.
And he DESTROYED our FOOD PROCESSING PLANTS and FARMERS abilities to GROW FOOD.
And his Green Energy SCAM for Electric Vehicles and making everything else totally electric when you NEED OIL and NATURAL GAS and COAL to produce ELECTRICITY.
His solar power SCAM is just that…A SCAM. Like everything else he’s done…A SCAM.
Forgot the MOST IMPORTANT TREASONOUS ACT COMMITTED by DICTATOR Beijing biden is him STEALING SENSITIVE HIGHLY CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS
WITHOUT NATIONAL SECURITY CLEARANCE
HIDING THEM EVERYWHERE
GIVING HUNTER and THEIR COMMUNIST BUDDIES ACCESS TO SENSITIVE HIGHLY CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS.
MAJOR NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT.
THIS DISQUALIFIES HIM AUTOMATICALLY FROM RUNNING OR HOLDING ANY GOVERNMENT POSITIONS. ESPECIALLY, FROM BEING A President which he is
ILLEGALLY and UNCONSTITUTIONALLY in office while the DOJ, FBI, and FAKE News protect him by RAIDING AMERICANS HOMES ILLEGALLY and UNCONSTITUTIONALLY.
By the way.
WHY ARE DICTATOR Beijing biden’s and HUNTERS TAX RECORDS NOT MADE PUBLIC and PRINTED?
Are YOU the AMERICAN people going to keep tolerating this when he SPIES ON YOU, and ATTACKS YOU and OUR COUNTRY by ATTACKING YOUR U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS and OUR SOVEREIGNTY
EVERY DAY?
I thought no POTUS could be as incompetent (or moreso) than Obumer. But Joe Hidin’ Biden has managed to do so. But rigged elections tend to wipe out the rule of the majority. The voting system needs to be cleaned up, big time, or this Nation will in time become some version of Communism.
With exceptions to Truman and JFK, angels neither one, every democrat administration since Wilson has been exponentially worse than his predecessor. And like you said, Hal, with each administration, America’s observation is, “It can’t get any worse than this.” I didn’t think the bar could get any lower after LBJ, then Carter, then Clinton, then Obama, and now this idiot, who, in fact, isn’t even the legitimate president at all. There are a few neocon RINOs in the mix that don’t get a pass as well, IMO.
Obama folk is a majority of Biden’s administration. They represent Obama’s mindset that the U.S. should apologize to the world and share the same goal: to humiliate the American people. Their favorite city is Paris, where Obama’s wife traveled for vacation with her dog in a separate aircraft. It is also worth remembering. Nobody was made accountable for these scandals. The truth about Obama’s presidency has never been revealed. Our media were also too shy except for some talk show hosts, mostly Rush.
This article shows that repairing this mistake is a necessity.
They atttacked Trump from the first day over the photo of the inauguration. Unjust and vicious attack at President. Frankly, I do not remember a day without one or two personal attacks by Leftist media.
Does anyone remember what Rush said about the Obama’s presidential program: I want him to fail? He tried to promote our Conservatism, saying that we love people and want to be happy, not resent or complain like the Left. Rush knew that Obama’s decision would damage us terribly. Unfortunately, it happened.
It may be enough to wish Biden more achievement for the same reason. Someone should stand up and say that we want Biden and his cohorts to fail. Biden is ideologically reshaping our country according to the idea he cherished: statism. He is reversing all economic policies Reagan introduced.
It would require Trump to cut welfare by at least two-thirds and repeat to our youth: a job is the most effective welfare program. Finally, our part in Congress should treat immigration as a threat to our national security. Under Biden, it deteriorated to this point.
It is what needs to be said. Biden’s plans will further damage the U.S. No American who loves this country should wish him any achievement. But will anyone have the courage to say it?
After we elected them, we had a resolution on Ukraine. Who needs it?
President Trump stripped the Chinese of the privileged status granted by Clinton. But the biggest mistake was our business moving manufacturing to China and allowing their military firms to raise funding here. Trump partly fixed it, but Biden some of these bans removed.
Our military budget should be the priority and needs to reach Cold War levels.
As for the Chinese, I would not overestimate them and would not portray them as organized or acting according to plan. It is the perception they want to enforce on others. But the last pandemic shows they are chaotic and under pressure – even dangerous for themselves. They did not fight any battles since Vietnam, even clandestinely.
I am optimistic because Biden is making the financial mistakes that Carter did. He has already increased state programs so much that taxes will need to go up for everyone. Our economy, and global economies, will worsen due to persistent inflation. Fed has already said they would need to raise rates for longer. The rates alone will not lower inflation. Economic growth and investment are required – but high taxes and high inflation will push into recession. If that happens, and I can’t see any reason that situation would change, the ideological programs or even show trials will not help Democrats.
Worthless liberals need to live in these dumps stay create. Yet we have over 100 billion dollars we spent on Ukraine seems democrats must be making a lot of money in that country.
We have two more years of Biden with a 50-50 possibility of the next administration ruled by Democrats. You just might want to start learning the skill sets of your grandparents and great grandparents how they lived before electricity. Moreover, learning how to speak a little Mandarin Chinese might come in handy. Since we longer possess the intestinal fortitude that our forebears had when they pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor, I see little change from the path we’re on. To put it in the vernacular, the wheels are coming off this bus. The Republicans are doing too little too late to stop it and the deck is stacked.
Well said. Yes, it is vital we not only learn to speak some Chinese, but the American people should bother to read a lot of what both President Xi and the CCP have published in terms of their plans and objectives over the coming years. Both President Xi and the CCP have been remarkedly honest in stating exacting what they intend to do and how they intend to it for the last 12 to 15 years through a series of white papers covering various subjects. Truly fascinating reading for anyone who honestly cares about how our greatest adversary thinks. They have in essence published a complete roadmap for how they will not only overtake us and the West in general, but also in what order they intend to pursue things. The Chinese have been executing the roadmap consistently on schedule and it has proven to be highly successful.
It would also be beneficial for most Americans to read The Art of War by Sun Tzu. It might at least enlighten some of them as to what it takes to really understand and defeat a committed enemy. That is if the American people still had any of the intestinal fortitude you referenced. Which of course they don’t.
If we had more Presidents like Trump over the last 30 to 35 years in office, much of the Chinese threat could have been prevented from ever occurring. Only utter fools or people that had been completely bought off would have agreed to the long list of things China wanted with no restrictions or enforcement mechanism being appliable to the Chinese. The United States and the leaders of Western Europe instead bent over backwards to hand China everything it wanted, so they could be built up into be the world power that they are today.
Yes, the wheels are coming off the bus alright. What I see from most Republican politicians is a lot of talk, but precious little real, concrete and meaningful action. Everything is centered around future elections, as opposed to being focused on addressing the immediate threats facing our country.
I agree with you. As an old proverb says, a leader’s character is a shield for the nation.