Former secretary of state Mike Pompeo described President Joe Biden’s handling of the Chinese spy balloon as a “enormous mistake.” He also said it’s a “global disgrace.”
Pompeo criticized the Biden administration for delaying several days before shooting down the spy balloon off the coast of North Carolina.
What was gathered? Unknown is its signals intelligence.
“The entire world observed a slow-moving balloon fly over Montana, Kansas, and South Carolina, but the United States did nothing.”
Pompeo asserted that the delay granted China “a tremendous geopolitical advantage.”
“I cannot think that the risk of falling debris over Montana was greater than the chance of global disgrace,” he remarked.
The balloon entered U.S. airspace above Alaska on January 28, alerting the Pentagon. Bloomberg reported that the Biden administration hid the information in order to safeguard Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s travel to Beijing. Blinken postponed the trip prior to departure.
The military waited until the balloon was over water off the coast of South Carolina before shooting it down out of concern for human fatalities.
The balloon was part of the People’s Liberation Army’s monitoring operation, according to U.S. authorities.
According to the report, the program has accomplished dozens of missions since 2018. China employs satellite arrays and balloons for long-distance monitoring.
Additionally, Pompeo indicated that the Trump administration was unaware of spy balloons entering American airspace.
“You bring it up as well, and this is precisely what the Biden administration wants you to discuss: ‘Look over here. It sparkles. Trump! Right? he informed The Hill I don’t believe anybody knew. This is a major departure from the preceding two weeks.”
Pompeo’s presence promoting his autobiography Never Give an Inch: Fighting for the America I Love coincides with rumors that he would run against his former employer for president in 2024. Pompeo told the magazine he is considering a run but has not yet made a decision.
Pompeo continued, “My approach to public service was distinct from his. I use language that is respectful of our nation. That is crucial.”
