Page 59 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - February 2023 Edition

Balloon Part of Vast Aerial Spy Program 59

Chinese Balloon Part Of

Vast Aerial Surveillance

Program, U.S. Says

Continued from Page 58

The ministry initially issued a statement,
saying China “regrets that the airship
strayed into the United States by
mistake.” Since then, Beijing has been
contacting its neighbors to keep lines of
communications open amid the
burgeoning crisis — a signal, said one
official in the Pacific region, that Beijing
was embarrassed by the balloon’s flight

across the United States and trying to
quell the controversy.

In a statement over the weekend, a
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson
appealed for maintaining “a coolheaded
and prudent” approach to the incident.
N O R A D

A U.S. official said that “there was no ~ North American Defense Command ~
sense that” the balloon’s incursion into
continental U.S. airspace on the eve of Agreement

Blinken’s visit was a deliberate
provocation. But, the person added, “We
The common defense of the North American continent traces its history back to
are confident that this was a purposeful
1940 when Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King and U.S. President
global program.”
Franklin Roosevelt met to discuss the war in Europe and mutual defense
concerns.
“China’s foreign policy is a constant
search for leverage and in most
In September 1957, the two nations agreed to create the “North American Air
circumstances there are ample
Defense Command” (NORAD) headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo. as a
opportunities,” said the official. “In this
bi-national command, centralizing operational control of continental air defenses
one, there would appear to be very few.
against the threat of Soviet bombers. On May 12, 1958, the agreement between
So when the Chinese appeal for calm and
the Canadian and U.S. governments that established NORAD was formalized.
coolheadedness you can be sure they’re
The agreement included 11 principles governing the organization and operation
nearly out of options.” []
of NORAD and called for a renewal of the agreement in 10 years.

DEBUNKED: I Just Saw A
The first renewal of the agreement came in March 1968. The NORAD
Bright UFO!
Agreement has been reviewed, revised, renewed or extended several times since
then: May 1973; May 1975; May 1980; March 1981 (when the name was
changed to “North American Aerospace Defense Command”); March 1986;
It's a familiar trope for police stations and
April 1991; March 1996; June 2000; and May 2006.
astronomy writers. From time to time,
somebody will call (or write) in to say they
just saw a UFO in the sky. While UFO is The March 1996 renewal redefined NORAD’s missions as aerospace warning
the term used for any flying object that an and aerospace control for North America. The new agreement included a
observer cannot identify, many people consultative mechanism for issues concerning aerospace defense cooperation
claim that they are alien spaceships. They and, a provision for the review and management of environmental practices
spotted a bright light around sunset, or saw
related to NORAD operations. As part of its aerospace control mission, NORAD
a light moving around in an unfamiliar way.
also assists civil authorities in the detection and monitoring of aircraft suspected
of illegal drug trafficking.
While every situation is different, one
common explanation for "UFOs" is actually
another extraterrestrial object: Venus. The May 2006 renewal added a maritime warning mission to the command's
Venus can be extremely bright when it's at existing missions.
its closest, because it's relatively near Earth.
The planet is also extremely reflective The on-going adaptation of NORAD’s mission and capabilities to meet the
because the sun's light bounces off the
challenges posed by ever-changing threats testifies to the strength of the
clouds. So before calling to say you've
NORAD Agreement and the close cooperation between Canada and the United
spotted a UFO, check your sky charts!
States.