A suspected Chinese surveillance balloon’s meandering, days-long overflight of the United States ignited a media frenzy. But the Pentagon, secretly aware of China’s global spy balloon effort thanks to a new focus on UFOs, quickly deemed the balloon harmless. According to officials, the airship did not pose a significant intelligence risk, offering Beijing only “limited additive value” beyond the data it collects from satellites.

For one, the balloon’s lumbering pace allowed U.S. officials to protect against the collection of sensitive information. Moreover, according to a U.S. official, “we were able to study and scrutinize the balloon and its equipment, which has been valuable.” Military and intelligence agencies may also have fed the balloon false information, rendering any data it collected worthless.

Of course, an analysis of the balloon’s wreckage may ultimately shed more light on its capabilities. But for now, the Great Hullaballoon of 2023 appears to be more diplomatic brinksmanship than intelligence coup.

Far more intriguing – and deserving of the intense media scrutiny afforded China’s ill-fated balloon – are U.S. military encounters with mysterious flying objects exhibiting seemingly extraordinary technology.

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