Chapter 1: The Balloon Dilemma

Let's address the topic of UFOs, or rather, the things that are often mistaken for them. We must maintain a sense of humor about this situation. We certainly don't want to be driven to madness by balloons. There are already plenty of serious issues to contend with. Sure, the idea of a balloon carrying something dangerous—like explosives or a new virus—is unsettling. Therefore, perhaps targeting balloons isn't the most prudent strategy? It’s a classic case of Missile Command facing off against balloons.

The Complexities of Balloon Surveillance

With any issue, it seems there are more questions than solutions. I've encountered queries that I haven’t heard raised elsewhere, particularly when I restrict myself to mainstream news and government sources. Comments from readers often pose insightful inquiries, such as, “Is a balloon really worth $500 million to take down? How many balloons could that money tackle?”

One hopes it doesn’t actually cost that much to neutralize a balloon, but jet operations and missile expenses can add up quickly. I recently heard a statement from retired Lt. Gen. David Deptula: "Our Air Force is outdated, and we need to invest more." He has a point. We should consider the economic implications here. Are we inadvertently launching our own balloons as a means of funding? This leads me to wonder if we should place a greater emphasis on teaching science and mathematics to children. Shooting down these aerial objects, whether they’re UFOs or balloons, boils down to a math problem.

I’m not so cynical as to believe this is purely about finances, though it is intriguing to consider the unknowns: who created these balloons, and where did they originate? Hypothetically, a well-funded individual could be sending objects into the sky for personal motives. Balloons are relatively inexpensive, and the technology is accessible. It’s conceivable that certain consumer gadgets could be weaponized. Imagine a contemporary version of "Red Dawn," utilizing drones and other gadgets. Should we scrutinize the mega-wealthy as potential suspects? Elon Musk’s support for Ukraine was remarkable. What if he, or another billionaire, sought to undermine the U.S. military?

It’s a real-life "Game of Thrones" scenario.

Unraveling the Mystery of Balloon Incursions

We are led to believe that China has been sending balloons our way for some time. In the compilation video of UFOs shot down, credit to Cristina Gomez, there were three confirmed balloons over the U.S. during Trump's presidency. Oddly, I don’t recall that. Then again, my attention was preoccupied during and after the COVID crisis.

Is it fair for the media to present this information now, having previously dismissed Trump’s concerns about China? Does Hollywood genuinely think China is invested in U.S. affairs?

I’m not condemning the Chinese; every nation prioritizes its own interests. This is commonplace! It's one reason I advocate for a global perspective, as games like "Game of Thrones," Monopoly, and even nuclear conflict lead to dead ends.

I’m not taking a stance for or against Trump, but if the balloon influx is accurate, it raises a question—have we been blindsided for years simply because of political biases? Sigh. Do we reap what we sow when we lack rational discourse? It’s not uncommon for irrational individuals to attain office globally. Shouldn't we strive for rationality?

NORAD and the Airspace Enigma

What is NORAD’s coverage area? How far inland did this ‘UFO’ travel before it was detected? I hesitate to use the term UFO because, for me, it signifies something unidentified beyond terrestrial origin. This recent occurrence feels very much Earth-bound and politically charged.

According to Deptula, “It didn’t resemble a plane, so we can dismiss Global Hawks and Reapers.” Therefore, it’s not a drone. As of this writing, there’s no evidence suggesting it was a balloon either. Additionally, some pilot reports claiming it “defied known physics” raise more eyebrows.

If this is indeed a UFO of extraterrestrial origin, should we really engage with it? Have there been updates on the UFO that Russia shot down? They didn’t recover it over the ocean with U.S. divers assisting.

My primary concern is hypothetical: if we assume this is a balloon and the U.S. desires to investigate the technology, can we not bring it down without destroying it? It’s not as if we’re engaging in dogfights with dirigibles using Curtiss F9C Sparrowhawks. Perhaps shooting at balloons from 60,000 feet is impractical, but what about 40,000?

Alternatively, could we strike the balloon using a dummy warhead? The missile could pass through, causing minimal damage as it drifts down! This way, we avoid a catastrophic explosion while still addressing the issue.

The Surveillance Framework

Today's aviation relies on transponder signals rather than radar exclusively. While radar is used, it’s not always active from the FAA’s viewpoint. If commercial flights report unusual objects, the FAA may attempt to track them.

In contrast, NORAD operates continuously. Did they identify this object before it entered land? Are there gaps in NORAD's surveillance? What about satellite monitoring? Could a balloon launched from an oil tanker at sea have entered our airspace undetected?

Some of these inquiries may remain unanswered as the military may wish to keep certain details confidential to avoid tipping off any suspects. However, if these balloons are indeed used for intelligence gathering and have been in our skies for decades, they must be aware of our awareness. This is evident, given that similar objects have reportedly been sighted daily, according to retired Navy aviator Lt. Graves.

If I may pose an alien-related question: if UFOs were indeed extraterrestrial, wouldn’t it be logical to assume they could deploy rudimentary surveillance mechanisms, much like weather balloons, to test our readiness before a potential invasion?

Conclusion: No Need for Alarm

You shouldn't be worried about alien invasions. If they are indeed more advanced than we are, there’s little we could do to stop them. After over 75 years of government denial and neglecting to involve our brightest minds in understanding these phenomena, it is what it is.

If these aerial objects are from China, another nation, or even a private individual with enough resources to launch balloons and attach payloads, that’s a legitimate concern.

It might be time for citizen skywatching to make a comeback.

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