Well, this happened right on time for USMNT...
Follow
Alex Ward
@alexbward
National security reporter . Write #NatSecDaily. Finishing a book on Biden’s foreign policy. DMs open.
Alex Ward’s Tweets
Also, proud to have contributed to yet another TEx episode title :)
6
Show this thread
TL;DR The China balloon matters because it's China spying on us. It also doesn't matter because it's happened before and there have been far, far, far worse moments in the recent U.S.-China relationship.
Quote Tweet
The balloon crisis is blown up. @Politico’s @alexbward deflates it for us.
open.spotify.com/episode/3HMyYf
1
6
20
Show this thread
"What was different here was the visibility. It just has a different feel when it is a physical intrusion on the country,” former NSA director Gen. Mike Rogers told about the balloon
1
1
Comes a day after the admin said they were ready to brief Trump admin officials on the at least three instances of Chinese spy balloons that entered the U.S. on their watch
Quote Tweet
WH spox John Kirby says Biden admin has reached out to "key" Trump officials and offered to brief them on instances of suspected Chinese spy balloons flying over US airspace during the Trump years.
He says he can't speak to what Trump officials did or didn't know at the time.
Show this thread
1
2
4
U.S. policymakers have been trying to galvanize public energy for competing with China for several years.
The CCP could not have picked a more ludicrous stunt to do so.
1
5
29
Show this thread
"Something visceral and tangible about seeing a competitor fly an object overhead"
This is why I think it became *The Story*.
China's other intel/spying efforts are, by nature, secret and clandestine. Having China's spy equipment *right above your head* makes it A Thing.
Quote Tweet
I never fully appreciated the psychological effect that Sputnik flying overhead must have had on ordinary Americans until this week.
The balloon is obviously different in many ways but there's something visceral and tangible about seeing a competitor fly an object overhead.
Show this thread
3
8
"Ukraine no longer enjoys a significant manpower advantage."
Quote Tweet
After Kharkiv & Kherson, the Russian military was at its most vulnerable going into the winter. Mobilization helped stabilize Russian lines, raise manning levels, and establish reserves. Consequently, Ukraine no longer enjoys a significant manpower advantage. 2/
Show this thread
2
2
5
Official statement: I, Alex Ward, have just reached my Chinese spy balloon pun limit. I have none more to give and am struggling to accept new offerings.
Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.
6
3
53
I am *not* surprised at the number of natsec reporters who have rolled their eyes at the breathless coverage of the Chinese spy balloon. To wit, from ' opener to his newsletter today:
8
16
60
Show this thread
ICYMI: After former Trump officials said that no spy balloons flew over the US during their watch, the Biden admin is offering to brief them on the incidents politico.com/news/2023/02/0
2
12
22
Trump “plans to try and paint himself as an anti-war dove amongst the hawks. They believe doing so will resonate with GOP voters who are divided on, but growing wary of, continued support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.”
1
4
3
My guess: The invasion started on Feb. 24, 2022
5
7
45
Show this thread
“This information was discovered after the prior administration left. The intelligence community is prepared to offer key officials from the Trump administration briefings on [China’s] surveillance program”
4
13
17
NEW TONIGHT: The Biden administration is willing to brief former Trump officials on newly discovered intelligence that China sent spy balloons into U.S. airspace during their time in charge
politico.com/news/2023/02/0
78
195
452
Show this thread
Senior admin official tells me intel of Chinese balloons during Trump years “was discovered after the prior Administration left. The intelligence community is prepared to offer key officials from the Trump Administration briefings on this PRC surveillance program.”
13
26
Other senior Biden officials say it’s possible senior Trump figures weren’t briefed on those incursions. In some cases, devices were smaller and were only in US airspace for short periods of time, making them harder to detect politico.com/news/2023/02/0
8
22
19
We spoke with five senior Trump admin officials who said they were never told of such incidents (a large Chinese spy balloon flying over the continental U.S.) occurring when they were in office. W/
2
8
15
“PRC government surveillance balloons transited the continental United States briefly at least three times during the prior administration and once that we know of at the beginning of this administration, but never for this duration of time.”
1
10
5
Quote Tweet
"Two things can be true at once: this happened and it wasn’t detected.” foxnews.com/politics/us-in
2
Show this thread
"Two things can be true at once: this happened and it wasn’t detected.”
1
2
5
“The hostile one-upmanship aimed at China over the intelligence-gathering balloon served as just the latest example that lawmakers across the political spectrum see a clear benefit in taking a hawkish stance toward the global power.”
2
5
Lot of on-record denials from Trump admin officials, including Trump himself, that there were no Chinese balloons flying above the U.S. during their time in charge
2
2
5
Show this thread
“Moscow and Tehran are moving ahead with plans to build a new factory in Russia that could make at least 6,000 Iranian-designed drones for the war in Ukraine”
3
14
23
There it is. *Another* reason to keep the balloon flying was to gather intel on/from the device.
Quote Tweet
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senior defense official: US collected intelligence on Chinese balloon as it flew over the the US this week.
9
17
67
Senior US military official says 1 air to air missile fired by F22 at 58,000 feet (an A9X missile) brought down China spy balloon. The balloon was at 60-65,000 feet when shot.
86
282
891
“China is providing technology that Moscow’s military needs to prosecute the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine despite an international cordon of sanctions and export controls”
8
15
“The last thing we wanted was for something the size of a school bus to go through the roof of a preschool,” a U.S. defense official told #NatSecDaily.
2
7
30
“The classified report to Congress last month discussed at least two incidents of a rival power conducting aerial surveillance with what appeared to be unknown cutting-edge technology…the surveillance probably was conducted by China.”
1
3
11
Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder to me: “We are seeing reports of a balloon transiting Latin America. We now assess it is another Chinese surveillance balloon.”
Quote Tweet
Second balloon in Costa Rica? thenationalnews.com/world/the-amer
Show this thread
69
352
447
Show this thread
“two balloons being coincidentally off course in two different places certainly seems to deflate that theory” -
1
2
14
Quote Tweet
Ahh, where’s our balloon? Since 2005, we have spent over 300 billion a year on protecting our national defense. And no high flying ballon or drone in the budget? Come on! twitter.com/AdamKinzinger/…
4
2
7
Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder to me: “We are seeing reports of a balloon transiting Latin America. We now assess it is another Chinese surveillance balloon.”
Quote Tweet
Second balloon in Costa Rica? thenationalnews.com/world/the-amer
Show this thread
69
352
447
Show this thread
The Biden administration will brief the Gang of 8 next week on the Chinese spy balloon, according to a Schumer spokesperson
22
46
86
Scoop: The commanding general of Fort Sill, where Ukrainians are being trained, was temporarily suspended
22
41
85
“A congressional aide, who listened in on a Friday Pentagon briefing, said the balloon entered Alaskan airspace on Jan. 28, left it on the 30th and then reentered U.S. airspace on the 31st in northern Idaho.”
1
17
12