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Like many of you, Cockburn has been following the developing story involving the Chinese spy balloon currently hovering over Montana.
For those unaware, sometime over the last few days a spy balloon has floated over the Aleutian Islands in Alaska, across Canadian airspace and entered into Montana, where it’s been for several days. It traveled at an altitude of around 50,000ft and is currently not far from the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base, which houses a portion of America’s intercontinental ballistic missiles, among many other key military assets.
So far, the Biden administration’s response has been to do nothing, on the advice of “senior military officials,” perhaps for fear of spoiling a diplomatic trip to China by secretary of state Antony Blinken in the coming days. This seems to Cockburn to be a grave mistake — and a missed opportunity to show the world that we take the threat of communist China seriously.
Let’s think about this for a moment: a communist country is flying a spying over American airspace and America has yet to do anything about it. There’s a phrase Cockburn has heard used in politics frequently, one that though unfamiliar with the actual concept in his day-to-day life, may be apt here: letting this stand is what they call a “cuck move.”
While Cockburn doesn’t usually get involved in international diplomacy or the Great Game any more (those days are far behind him), this seems as good a time as any for him to dust off his analytical skills for his general reading audience — but more importantly, for the vast number of influential policymakers that read his stories daily.
Let’s break down the situation in terms that may make it easier for President Biden to understand. In the scenario where China continues to operate its spy balloon over US airspace, America takes on the role of Beau Biden, while China takes on the role of Hunter Biden. Hunter (China) is taking advantage of a situation. Hunter has needs (in this particular case, intelligence) and he’s willing to take it any way he can get it, no matter how vulnerable the other actors may be. In this case Beau (America) is being wronged. This is not a position of strength, or the bravado the world is used to seeing.
Mr. President, make America more like Hunter Biden. Shoot down this balloon.
