I don't think we can rule out mega-error as the source of the #ChineseSpyBalloon . Whether it was launched for "research" or "intelligence" purposes, it may never have been intended for Montana skies.
Here's my thinking (thread).
In the last week of January China --
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2/ ...from Beijing to Siberia, experienced the coldest weather ON RECORD, with temperatures hitting -63 F in the far north. The frigid Polar Vortex air moved east, hit ocean, warmer air, and soared in an atmospheric river north towards Alaska/Yukon.
MORE washingtonpost.com/weather/2023/0…
3/ On Jan 31 that cold front fell over #Bozeman, and wind chill temp fell to -23F. Since, it has warmed, winds calmed, & now it is 41 F.
Any gas-filled container launched into the atmosphere from China in late January would have been battered by that frigid air flow.
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4/ Rather than "shoot the balloon down," as most #Republican leaders are shouting, @SpaceForceDoD should capture it, undamaged, for close analysis, determining its purpose & intended course.
We need to know -- not blow it to indecipherable smithereens.
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5/ BTW, ever heard of Fu-Go? During WWII Japan launched more than 9300 hydrogen balloons, to the USA. Some 1,000 of them reached this continent, but there were only 285 reported incidents of sightings, landings or explosions.
MORE web.mst.edu/~rogersda/fore…
6/ The balloons "were released with easterly wintertime jet stream winds above 30,000 feet to float 5,000 miles across the north Pacific."
(Sound familiar, #ChineseSpyBalloon ?)
In Japan they were called "Vengeance Balloons," and they carried small incendiary devices.
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7/ The Fu-Go devices were found as far south as Nogales AZ & east as far as Detroit. Based on diatom analysis of found balloons, the objects were determined to have come from Honshu, and it was learned they were made under government orders by Japanese school kids on that island.
8/ Fu-Go rode the same winter air currents over the Pacific that, in far more extreme, northerly form, carried the Chinese "spy balloon."
So, was the #ChineseSpyBalloon launched on a Fu-Go trajectory, blown off course in icy air stream? Regardless, its purpose?
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Donald Trump is now addressed the UN General Assembly. He notes the teleprompter isn't working and, "whoever is responsible for this teleprompter is in big trouble."
He reads from printed text on the podium.
"This is the Golden Age of America."
2/ His remarks open by listing his accomplishments domestically since taking office. "In my first term I built the best economy in the history of the world...and this time it's even better."
"The number of illegal aliens entering our country has reached zero...If you come illegally into the U-S you're going to jail...or perhaps further. You know what that means."
3/Trump at UNGA
Says the U.S. was a laughing stock, but not anymore. My administration has negotiated one historic trade agreement after another."
I have ended 7 un-endable wars. I ended 7 wars. " Cambodia/Thailand, Congo/Rwanda, Armenia/Azerbaijian, Albania/Kosovo.
"And I did it in just 7 months. There's never been anything like it."
The UN "did nothing. I never even received a phone call from the U-N."
Canadian PM Mark Carney is addressing the Council on Foreign Relations right now. He opened by describing the very positive relationship Canada and the US shared -- until now.
And looking at Trump impacts on the global geopolitical landscape.
"So, what do we do about it? We think we can thrive for three reasons"
1.) we have what the world wants:
- energy
- we are top % in world's critical minerals
- we are a leading developer of AI and quantum talent
- we have sophisticated pension funds and investors
- we have a govt that can act decisively
2.) Our public square is loud, diverse and free
3.) We recognize what's going on. A rupture. Sharp change.
- build strength at home, cut taxes, increased X-province trade, doubling defense spending, especially in AI
- defend out values
- build alliances abroad
- diverse trade agreements, espec. w/EU
- joining SAFE -- EU defense
- comprehensive approach w/Mexico trade
- we are largest contributor per capita to Ukraine
- support 2-state solution in ME
- forming buyers' clubs for REEs & critical minerals
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Carney/2
"Old Multilateralism" -- how we used to work.
Now, substantial change underway, espec. for REEs, essential minerals, energy.
When you think about Canada, think of a strong soveriegn nation.
We understand what's going on. We have the resources the world needs. We're a reliable partner...with any part of the world.
Carney/3
LIVE now Carney is talking on stage w/CFR Pres. Froman
Q - 2/3rds Canadian population lives w/in 100 km of US border -- how much can you reorient economy?
Carney: 1st, recog. the need to do it. To be masters in our own house.
Don't want to look at Truth Social daily to see changes in US poilicy
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On Friday, when most of America wasn't paying attention, heading out for the holidays, Trump signed an Exec Order transferring ALL control over foreign aid from State to OMB.
This will destroy American overseas programs. Here's why (MORE)whitehouse.gov/presidential-a…
2/US programs for everything from #famine relief & #HIV care to safe pregnancy efforts & building electricity grids have won America friends in the world & saved 100s of millions of lives. They were nested in the State Dept so our diplomats on the ground can oversee them.
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3/ By moving foreign aid out of State & into OMB, programs for saving starving children, rescuing families from catastrophes, teaching kids to read, stopping epidemics -- ALL of that now falls under the control of Russell Vought.
Who is Vought?
MOREtrumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/people/russell…
As #JoeBiden hunkered down in Delaware & Party leaders scrambled to figure out how #Democrats can win the election, I kept thinking of March 31, 1968. On that day the White House put out word of a mysterious speech LBJ would give from the Oval Office.
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@BeschlossDC
2/ In a world without Internet or 24-hour news cycles the buzz in Washington about the event failed to reach the American people until that night. America assumed LBJ’s address would be about the widening war in Vietnam. On live television, a very haggard-looking LBJ began:
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3/ "Good evening, my fellow Americans:
Tonight, I want to speak to you of peace in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
No other question so preoccupies our people. No other dream so absorbs the 250 million human beings who live in that part of the world."
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While #Trump claims no direct connection to #Project2025 it's clear han no #Republican in national power has denounced the Heritage Foundation 887-page manifesto. I put a few hours into scrutinizing the Project's plans for @HHSGov & health agencies. (pages 449-502)
🧵unfolds:
2/Health & Human Services @HHSGov must “respect for the sacred rights of conscience” for Federal workers & healthcare workers broadly who object to #Abortions contraception, gender reassignment & other issues.
“Radical actors inside & outside govt are promoting..."
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3/ “...harmful identity politics that replaces biological sex w/subjective notions of 'gender identity' & bases a person’s worth on his or her race, sex, or other identities. This destructive dogma, under the guise of 'equity,' threatens American’s fundamental liberties..."
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When a society attacks its toiling scientists, ranking the opinions of quacks, religions & charlatans above those of scientific insight and discovery, it is a sorrowful time.
Scientists who have been persecuted for their work...
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2/ -Muhammad ibn Zakariyā Rāzī or Rhazes of Baghdad (860 - 932 AD) beaten into blindness for introducing medical advances from non-Arab countries
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-Michael Servetus (1511-1553) made discoveries in blood circulation. Burned at the stake by Calvin in Geneva
-Henry Oldenburg (1619-1677) promoted sharing scientific insights, labelled a spy, held in the Tower of London
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