Every now and then there is an event that really kind of sums it all up.
Such is the case regarding the &#8216;Adventure of Joe Biden and the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-military-reveals-size-of-chinese-spy-balloon-says-it-potentially-carried-explosives" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chinese Spy Balloon</a>.&#8217; The incident featured all of the hapless buffoonery of an administration that hardly seems capable of lifting a foot without landing on a misstep. The balloon saga, once again, occasioned the White House’s usual unfortunate mix of incompetence, lying, hiding, and being overruled. In other words, just another day in the Biden presidency.
Let’s begin with the incompetence. When news broke that a Chinese surveillance balloon had been spotted over Montana last week, Joe Biden and his gaggle of nitwits appeared not only surprised but utterly without a plan. This, despite the fact that they had known for days that the balloon had <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/4-star-general-blasts-biden-over-chinese-spy-balloon-we-had-plenty-of-opportunity-to-take-it-down-over-aleutian-islands" target="_blank" rel="noopener">entered US airspace</a>, and by some reporting, known for weeks it was coming.
So what happened once the public became aware of it? Biden let the spy device traverse the entirety of the country before eventually shooting it down. Literally the plan was, we’re just gonna let it float around for a few days.
That brings us to the lying. When the news of the spy balloon dropped, The State Department told us Secretary Anthony Blinken was cancelling his planned trip to China because of China’s “irresponsible act.” But again, shortly thereafter we learned that the White House had known about the balloon for days. So this wasn’t some slap in the face of China for daring to violate U.S. airspace, as it was presented. Anthony Blinken <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-admin-tried-to-conceal-chinese-spy-balloon-to-not-disrupt-blinken-trip-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">knew perfectly well</a> that this “irresponsible act” had taken place and was packing his pajamas for Beijing anyway. Until the public found out about the balloon.
This is approximately the point at which, as usual, Joe Biden went into virtual hiding. As the media swarmed like vultures around the story and calls to shoot the balloon down intensified the president had little to say and wasn’t taking many questions. It was Biden in the basement all over again at a time when he should have been assuring the nation that somebody, anybody, actually knew what the hell was going on and what to do about it.
Finally, we get to Joe Biden being overruled, as we learned the president originally wanted to shoot it down on Wednesday, but his military advisers told him not to. Just like when he announced that the United States would go to war to defend Taiwan and his advisors overruled him, saying the policy hadn’t changed, just like every time he tells us his handlers will “get mad at me” if he asks the wrong questions. Does Joe Biden ever make a decision on his own?
These four elements — incompetence, lying, hiding, and being overruled — are the four corners of the Biden administration. They use this playbook over and over.
Look at the classified documents scandal.
The incompetence was tracking top secrets all over the place like they were a bits of toilet paper stuck to his shoe. The lying was Joe telling us it was just a few items in the DC office when he already knew about the documents in Delaware. The hiding is the absurd claim that the White House can’t talk about this because of the investigation, a claim denied by the Department of Justice. Finally, the president saying he doesn&#8217;t know what&#8217;s in the documents <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/10/us/politics/biden-documents-classified-foreign-countries.html">because</a>, &#8220;his lawyers had advised him not to even ask what was in the files,&#8221; is a classic case of Joe Biden being overruled.
These four elements can be applied to pretty much every Biden debacle. And there is a good reason they do it over and over and over again — because they know that even when they&#8217;re caught in a lie, the media will make excuses for them. Until that changes, nothing is going to change. The administration will continue gaslighting the American people as they seek to push Grandpa Joe either over the 2024 finish line or under the bus.
Whatever foul leviathan is actually running American policy out of the White House, because by his own admission it&#8217;s not Joe Biden, is absolutely ruthless. They will lie forever, safe in the knowledge that our news giants will protect them, usually by finding some way to make the story Trump’s fault.
The bad news is we have two more years of this. The good news is nothing this administration has done in the first two suggests they can correct their course and restore America&#8217;s faith in Biden. There are those who say Biden’s is the worst presidency, but maybe it’s not a presidency at all, maybe instead, it is a playbook of lies meant to capture as much power as possible while the old man dithers.
David Marcus is a West Virginia based columnist and author of “Charade: The Covid Lies That Crushed A Nation.” Follow him on Twitter @Blueboxdave 
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

President Biden Departs The White House En Route To New York

Biden’s Balloon Playbook: Incompetence, Lying, Hiding, And Being Overruled

Biden’s Balloon Playbook Was Incompetence, Lying, Hiding, And Being Overruled

Balloon

Biden Administration

China

classified documents

Joe Biden

Readers Pass

Vice President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/kamala-harris" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kamala Harris</a> has helped companies direct investments outside the United States and into the <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">economy</a> of <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/central-america" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Central America</a> in a move that the <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/biden-administration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Biden administration</a> claims will decrease record levels of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/illegal-immigration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">illegal immigration</a>.
Harris, who serves as the administration’s border czar, has frequently argued that the federal approach to border security should center upon addressing economic instability, climate change, and other “root causes” that purportedly lead to illegal immigration. She has galvanized a combined $4.2 billion in “private sector commitments to create economic opportunity in northern Central America,” according to a <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/02/06/fact-sheet-vice-president-harris-launches-next-phase-of-public-private-partnership-for-northern-central-america/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fact sheet</a> from the White House.
The federal government’s Central America Forward framework created a new Northern Central America Investment Facilitation Team which will “support clean energy infrastructure development, facilitate private sector operations, and promote sustainable economic development in the region.” USAID will sponsor workforce development programs, while the newly formed Central America Service Corps will engage young people in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras with “paid community service opportunities.”
Central America Forward aims to provide one million jobs in the region, as well as heighten access to the financial system, create a $75 million debt fund for small businesses, and facilitate $500 million in infrastructure deals. Federation for American Immigration Reform Head of Government Relations RJ Hauman said in a statement provided to The Daily Wire that “none of these investments serve as a deterrent for illegal immigration to the United States.”
“If the Biden administration wanted to truly end the crisis, they should start from the ground up at relevant agencies, not in corporate boardrooms,” he commented. “Sign asylum cooperative agreements, reform our asylum system, empower officers to enforce federal immigration law, and send the message to economic migrants and human smugglers that asylum fraud is not a pathway to get into the United States.”
As many as 5.5 million migrants have crossed into the United States under the Biden administration, according to <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fair-analysis-5-5-million-illegal-aliens-have-crossed-our-borders-since-biden-took-officehow-is-secretary-mayorkas-still-employed-301658734.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">data</a> from the Federation for American Immigration Reform. Some 113 known or suspected terrorists crossed the border in fiscal year 2021 and fiscal year 2022, while migrant deaths surpassed 856 in fiscal year 2022, marking the deadliest period on record. Critics of the Biden administration’s immigration policies have asserted that lackluster emphasis on securing the border and increased resources for migrants who enter the country have worsened the illegal immigration crisis.
The efforts to spur investments outside of the United States come several months after the Biden administration <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-commits-to-fighting-food-shortages-in-latin-america" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> funds for food security and humanitarian aid for Latin American nations. The aid package amounted to $645 million and included support for “refugee and migrant populations,” as well as cooperative efforts on “climate smart economic reform.”
“This contribution will complement the United States’ existing commitment to providing life-saving humanitarian assistance, responding to acute food insecurity, and advancing capacity-building activities that bolster disaster preparedness and response” across Latin America and the Caribbean, a White House <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/06/09/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-announces-commitments-to-advance-food-security-in-the-western-hemisphere/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> said.
The move nevertheless occurred as inflation in the United States reached record levels. Food prices were increasing 9.1% year-over-year at the time, according to <a href="https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2022/prices-for-food-at-home-up-13-5-percent-for-year-ended-august-2022.htm'" target="_blank" rel="noopener">data</a> from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with prices for meat rising 11.7% and prices for dairy rising 13.5%.

Kamala Harris

VP Harris Helping Funnel Money To Central America To Slow Illegal Immigration

VP Harris Funnels Money Into Central American Job Creation In Effort To Slow Illegal Immigration

Central America

Economy

Executive

Illegal Immigration

World

Never one to take the blame for any wrongdoing in his life, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/joe-biden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">President Joe Biden</a> is continuing that trend as he told reporters that he deserves &#8220;no&#8221; criticism for mishandling classified documents.
As Americans know well, the FBI has found numerous classified documents strewn throughout the Acela corridor at places including the Penn-Biden Think Tank and even the president&#8217;s own garage in Delaware. The president&#8217;s latchkey son, Hunter, of course, had access to both of those locations — adding concern that Biden the elder hadn&#8217;t taken too much care with America&#8217;s secrets after he vacated the vice presidency in 2017.
On Monday, Biden tersely answered &#8220;No,&#8221; when asked if he took any blame for the mishandling of said documents:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Reporter: &quot;Do you take any blame for mishandling classified documents?&quot;
Biden: &quot;No.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/vvfvl7tC7v">pic.twitter.com/vvfvl7tC7v</a>
&mdash; Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) <a href="https://twitter.com/FreeBeacon/status/1622708499699343360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Biden has previously claimed that he has &#8220;no regrets&#8221; over the scandal and that critics were pursuing a dead end.
“I think you’re gonna find there’s nothing there. I have no regrets,&#8221; he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-issues-statement-over-classified-document-scandal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> reporters in late January. &#8220;I’m following what the lawyers have told me they want me to do — that’s exactly what we’re doing. There’s no there there.”
So if Biden doesn&#8217;t deserve any scrutiny, then who does? Well, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/cnn-writes-the-puff-piece-of-all-puff-pieces-about-bidens-work-ethic-handling-of-classified-docs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to a CNN article from January that sounded more like a press release penned by White House outgoing Chief of Staff Ron Klain, it was Biden&#8217;s staffers&#8217; fault.
Biden, you&#8217;re supposed to believe, was too busy gallivanting around the globe ending the career of dutiful public service described by his fan club at CNN. Thus, as his team was closing up shop, more and more documents were flooding his office, creating a chaotic scenario.
“Those competing objectives – to use his office until the final minutes even as it was obliged to shut down – made for a muddled and hurried process that left aides packing boxes of documents and papers late into the night, even as more material kept arriving,” CNN observed.
Who was Biden meeting with? Well, curiously enough, he was rushing off to finalize business with Ukraine, China, and the World Economic Forum. What he was doing on such travel can only be speculated, but perhaps the answer can be found buried deep in Biden&#8217;s own pockets.
Regardless, one thing should be evident by now to all Americans. The president wants all of the credit and none of the blame. As pointed out by RNC staffer Kyle Martinsen, there&#8217;s a bit of a trend with the commander-in-chief.
On everything from inflation to COVID deaths and everything in between, it seems Biden is never at fault:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I&#39;m starting to sense a pattern with this guy&#8230; <a href="https://t.co/y5GM1tHBSE">pic.twitter.com/y5GM1tHBSE</a>
&mdash; Kyle Martinsen (@KyleMartinsen_) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyleMartinsen_/status/1622711557644865542?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

No Surprise: Biden Says He Deserves ‘No’ Blame Over Mishandling Of Classified Docs

No Surprise: Biden Says He Deserves 'No' Blame Over Mishandling Of Classified Docs

Donald Trump

U.S.

<a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/national-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National security</a> experts believe the <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/china" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chinese</a> spy balloon which recently traversed the continental United States was a curveball for officials charged with guarding <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/military" target="_blank" rel="noopener">military</a> secrets and a test for American responses to unconventional threats.
Pentagon spokesperson Brigadier General Pat Ryder <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3287173/dod-statement-on-high-altitude-surveillance-balloon/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> on Thursday that the military observed “a high altitude surveillance balloon” above the nation. The vessel crossed Montana, the home of several defense assets and missile silos, then <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/chinese-spy-balloon-flies-out-of-montana-and-over-new-u-s-state" target="_blank" rel="noopener">traveled</a> over states such as Kansas and Missouri before the object was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-military-shoots-down-chinese-spy-balloon-after-biden-let-it-travel-across-country" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shot down</a> off the coast of the Carolinas.
The Biden administration received backlash for neglecting to down the balloon over the Aleutian Islands or Montana, where critics say threats from falling debris would have been minimized. Some reports indicated that the hesitancy to take out the asset came because Secretary of State Antony Blinken was expected to make a diplomatic trip to China that was later postponed.
Bryan Clark, the director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Defense Concepts and Technology, told The Daily Wire that the balloon was “not a direct threat” but could have enabled China to “obtain close-up visual imagery from different angles” than its low earth orbit satellites.
“That could improve China’s ability to target U.S. missile silos and better understand the construction and layout of U.S. bomber bases in places like Montana and North Dakota where the balloon is flying,” he said. “It could have obtained signals intelligence by listening in on U.S. military radio and radar signals. Because satellite flyovers are known and predictable, U.S. forces avoid transmitting sensitive signals during those windows, but the balloon can fly an unpredictable route and show up unexpectedly.”
The balloon could have also been “a test of U.S. air surveillance and response to less obvious threats,” added Clark, who previously conducted studies on behalf of DARPA and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. “Russian bombers and surveillance aircraft regularly test U.S. responses in the high north, but unarmed uncrewed aircraft like this balloon present a situation U.S. air forces may not have a well-practiced response for.”
Lawmakers were surprised that the balloon was allowed to traverse portions of the country hosting sensitive military assets. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) said in a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/i-am-alarmed-montana-gop-sen-steve-daines-wants-briefing-from-secdef-about-chinese-spy-balloon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin that the incident creates “significant concern” and called for a full security briefing to discuss the incident.
Victoria Coates, a senior research fellow for the Heritage Foundation’s Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom, told The Daily Wire that the surveillance balloon is similar to the national security threats <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tiktok-ceo-will-testify-before-congress-as-national-security-privacy-concerns-grow" target="_blank" rel="noopener">presented</a> by the social media platform TikTok, which is owned by a Chinese company. She concurred that China has “more sophisticated satellite options for gathering information” but said that it could be “developing a redundant system” with less advanced technology to guarantee more steady information flows.
“Make no mistake about it, this violation of U.S. sovereignty on the eve of Secretary Blinken’s scheduled trip to China was not only about surveillance, it was also about testing whether or not the Biden administration would respond strongly and risk the diplomatic engagement,” she remarked. “Unfortunately, until the story blew up in the news they clearly prioritized keeping the trip over defending the national security of the United States, and even though it’s been delayed, Secretary Blinken said in his statement he expects it to be rescheduled and expressed his commitment to diplomacy.”

CHINA-XI JINPING-PARTY SCHOOL-OFFICIALS-TRAINING SESSION (CN)

What Was China Trying To Accomplish With The Spy Balloon? National Security Experts Weigh In

National Security Experts Discuss What China Was Doing With Spy Balloon

Communist China

Global Politics

Military

National Security

Spying

Surveillance

Top Democrat lawmakers mocked people who were concerned about the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/communist-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chinese</a> spy balloon that was attempting to surveil the U.S. this week by downplaying the seriousness of the threat.
An F-22 Raptor took out the spy balloon with one air-to-air A9X sidewinder missile that was fired at an altitude of approximately 58,000 feet. The decision to shoot down the spy balloon came after President Joe Biden allowed the balloon to fly thousands of miles over the continental U.S. during the last several days.
Democrat lawmakers wasted no time mocking and attacking those who were concerned about Communist China surveilling the U.S.
&#8220;I hope everyone understands the performative unseriousness of Shoot the Balloon Down twitter,&#8221; Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) tweeted. &#8220;It’s not real. It’s all theater.&#8221;
A few hours later, after the balloon was shot down, Murphy added: &#8220;See. All better, bed wetters.&#8221;
Rep. Don Byers (D-VA), who had a staffer fired last year after allegedly being <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/democrat-don-beyers-staffer-fired-after-being-caught-spying-for-the-chinese-529411" target="_blank" rel="noopener">caught spying</a> for Communist China, also downplayed the seriousness of China spying on strategic sites in the continental United States.
&#8220;Great news for my Republican colleagues, they can stop panicking about a balloon now,&#8221; Byer tweeted.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) attacked those who were criticizing Biden for not shooting down the balloon much earlier by claiming that they were effectively helping China.
&#8220;No foreign power can violate our sovereignty,&#8221; he wrote in a now-deleted <a href="https://twitter.com/RealSaavedra/status/1621995286028759040" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweet</a>. &#8220;I applaud @POTUS for his order to shoot down China&#8217;s spy balloon in a smart and safe way. Fine to ask tough questions, but those already playing politics with this only serve the interests of our adversaries.&#8221;
Biden tried to take a victory lap over the weekend after the spy balloon was shot down, claiming that he “ordered the Pentagon to shoot it down on Wednesday as soon as possible,” but that the decision was made to not shoot it down over land because debris could cause damage when falling to the ground.
U.S. officials were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-admin-tried-to-conceal-chinese-spy-balloon-to-not-disrupt-blinken-trip-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> “well aware” that the balloon had crossed into American airspace on January 28 and that it was over Idaho on Tuesday, but decided not to inform the public to not upend Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s diplomatic trip to China.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-tries-to-take-victory-lap-for-shooting-down-chinese-spy-balloon-gets-slammed-by-top-officials" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Biden Tries To Take Victory Lap For Shooting Down Chinese Spy Balloon, Gets Slammed By Top Officials</a>

Activists Rally As Supreme Court Hears Arguments NYC Gun Control Case

Democrats Mock Those Concerned About China Spying On U.S., Accuse Biden’s Critics Of Helping China

Politics

New video emerged Saturday afternoon showing close-up footage of the moment that the U.S. military shot a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/communist-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chinese</a> spy balloon out of the sky over the Atlantic Ocean.
A senior U.S. military official <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pentagon-reveals-details-chinese-spy-balloon-taken-single-shot" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that an F-22 Raptor took out the spy balloon with one air-to-air A9X sidewinder missile that was fired at an altitude of approximately 58,000 feet.
Officials waited until the balloon was several miles off the coast of South Carolina before taking the shot in an effort to avoid any damage that may occur from debris falling from the sky.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
🚨<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a>: Incredible HD footage of the Chinese surveillance balloon being shot down
🚨<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MyrtleBeach?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MyrtleBeach</a> l <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SC</a> 
Watch incredible HD video of the moment when the Chinese surveillance balloon was shot down by a single missile from an F-22 fighter jet from Langley Air Force Base <a href="https://t.co/KjwTrgcvcb">pic.twitter.com/KjwTrgcvcb</a>
&mdash; R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) <a href="https://twitter.com/rawsalerts/status/1621980596346953729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Biden tried to take a victory lap over the weekend after the spy balloon was shot down, claiming that he “ordered the Pentagon to shoot it down on Wednesday as soon as possible,” but that the decision was made to not shoot it down over land because debris could cause damage when falling to the ground.
U.S. officials were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-admin-tried-to-conceal-chinese-spy-balloon-to-not-disrupt-blinken-trip-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> “well aware” that the balloon had crossed into American airspace on January 28 and that it was over Idaho on Tuesday, but decided not to inform the public to not upend Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s diplomatic trip to China.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3288535/statement-from-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that the spy balloon was sent to the U.S. “in an attempt to surveil strategic sites in the continental United States.”
Biden faced intense <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-tries-to-take-victory-lap-for-shooting-down-chinese-spy-balloon-gets-slammed-by-top-officials" target="_blank" rel="noopener">scrutiny</a> from top lawmakers who said that the spy balloon should have been shot down last month when it crossed over Alaska’s Aleutian Islands.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/china-responds-to-u-s-military-shooting-down-spy-balloon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">China Responds To U.S. Military Shooting Down Spy Balloon</a>

Fairford

New Video Emerges Of Chinese Spy Balloon Being Shot Down

The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/communist-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chinese</a> foreign ministry responded to the U.S. military shooting down its spy balloon over the Atlantic Ocean on Saturday by claiming without evidence that the balloon was a civilian object and that the country was extremely upset by the action.
An F-22 Raptor took out the spy balloon with one air-to-air A9X sidewinder missile that was fired at an altitude of approximately 58,000 feet. The decision to shoot down the spy balloon came after President Joe Biden allowed the balloon to fly thousands of miles over the continental U.S. during the last several days.
“China expresses its strong dissatisfaction and protest against the US&#8217;s use of force to attack civilian unmanned aircraft,&#8221; the statement claimed. &#8220;The Chinese side has repeatedly informed the US side after verification that the airship is for civilian use and entered the US due to force majeure – it was completely an accident.&#8221;
“China clearly asked the US to handle it properly in a calm, professional and restrained manner. A spokesman for the US Department of Defense also stated that the balloon will not pose a military or personal threat to ground personnel,” the statement continued. “China will resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of relevant companies, while reserving the right to make further necessary reaction.”
Biden tried to take a victory lap over the weekend after the spy balloon was shot down, claiming that he “ordered the Pentagon to shoot it down on Wednesday as soon as possible,” but that the decision was made to not shoot it down over land because debris could cause damage when falling to the ground.
U.S. officials were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-admin-tried-to-conceal-chinese-spy-balloon-to-not-disrupt-blinken-trip-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> “well aware” that the balloon had crossed into American airspace on January 28 and that it was over Idaho on Tuesday, but decided not to inform the public to not upend Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s diplomatic trip to China.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3288535/statement-from-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that the spy balloon was sent to the U.S. “in an attempt to surveil strategic sites in the continental United States.”
Biden faced intense <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-tries-to-take-victory-lap-for-shooting-down-chinese-spy-balloon-gets-slammed-by-top-officials" target="_blank" rel="noopener">scrutiny</a> from top lawmakers who said that the spy balloon should have been shot down last month when it crossed over Alaska&#8217;s Aleutian Islands.

TOPSHOT-CHINA-US-DIPLOMACY-TELECOM-HUAWEI

China Responds To U.S. Military Shooting Down Spy Balloon

President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/joe-biden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joe Biden</a> tried to take a victory lap Saturday afternoon after the U.S. military shot down a Chinese spy balloon that Biden allowed to travel across the entire country before destroying.
Biden claimed in remarks to reporters that he &#8220;ordered the Pentagon to shoot it down on Wednesday as soon as possible,&#8221; but that the decision was made to not shoot it down over land because debris could cause damage when falling to the ground.
U.S. officials were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-admin-tried-to-conceal-chinese-spy-balloon-to-not-disrupt-blinken-trip-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> “well aware” that the balloon had crossed into American airspace on January 28 and that it was over Idaho on Tuesday, but decided not to inform the public to not upend Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s diplomatic trip to China.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3288535/statement-from-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that the spy ballon was sent to the U.S. &#8220;in an attempt to surveil strategic sites in the continental United States.&#8221;
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), the Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee and a member of the Intelligence Committee, <a href="https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-statement-on-downing-of-chinese-spy-balloon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a statement that Biden should have taken out the balloon much sooner &#8220;over remote areas of Alaska or Montana.&#8221;
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Greene (R-NC) said that it was &#8220;indefensible that this threat was eliminated only after great public outcry and the damage to U.S. national security and American sovereignty was already done.&#8221;
&#8220;The fact remains that President Biden, when faced with the opportunity to protect the homeland from our adversaries, chose yet again to demonstrate weakness on the global stage,&#8221; Greene added. &#8220;From the Southern border to Afghanistan and, now, Chinese surveillance directly above our homes and sensitive military installations, this President shows he is not interested in protecting American interests.&#8221;
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📢NEW: Chairman <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMarkGreen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepMarkGreen</a> comments on the Chinese spy balloon being removed from U.S. airspace ⤵️ <a href="https://t.co/C1GjEiM35f">pic.twitter.com/C1GjEiM35f</a>
&mdash; House Homeland GOP (@HomelandGOP) <a href="https://twitter.com/HomelandGOP/status/1621974051748028420?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2023</a></blockquote>
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House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) said that Biden should have &#8220;taken care of this before it became a national security threat.&#8221;
&#8220;I hope we will be able to recover the wreckage to help determine what intelligence the CCP collected while its spy balloon was over our country for days,&#8221; McCaul said. &#8220;I will be demanding answers and will hold the admin accountable for this embarrassing display of weakness.&#8221;
Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) said that while he was glad the U.S. military shot down the spy balloon, &#8220;the damage has already been done.&#8221;
&#8220;We need answers from the Biden Administration on why it took this long to bring the Chinese spy balloon down and we need [to] ensure that this never happens again,&#8221; Schmitt continued.
Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) slammed the entire episode as &#8220;a tremendous embarrassment for the United States of America.&#8221;
Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) called the ordeal &#8220;an abysmal security failure by Biden.&#8221;
Some Democrats, including Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), were not happy about the incident, <a href="https://twitter.com/RepSlotkin/status/1621959539884019712" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saying</a> that &#8220;the Chinese government’s incursion into our airspace is unacceptable &amp; we need to treat it as such.&#8221;
&#8220;There need to be consequences for the CCP beyond the postponement of @SecBlinken’s trip to Beijing,&#8221; she said. &#8220;All members of Congress need to be briefed on the situation this week and in the future as we learn more from studying the remains of the balloon’s payload. We also need to take steps now to demonstrate to the Chinese government the seriousness of their actions. Whether through new sanctions or tighter restrictions on U.S. exports to China, the message needs to be loud and clear.&#8221;
Other notable responses included:
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Almost 48 hours after public discovery, the Chinese spying balloon has been shot down. 
It makes you wonder, would Biden’s Department of Defense have shot it down if the American people hadn’t found out?
&mdash; Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarshaBlackburn/status/1621973456580378624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The Chinese spy balloon was shot down today off the coast of S.Carolina, but it SHOULD have been removed as soon a it crossed into U.S. territory days ago. 
This fiasco was as dangerous to our national security as it was unacceptable. The American people deserve answers. <a href="https://t.co/TcfNEadw4d">pic.twitter.com/TcfNEadw4d</a>
&mdash; Rep. Mike Johnson (@RepMikeJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMikeJohnson/status/1621982487537672192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Like everyone, I&#39;m concerned about the Chinese surveillance balloon, but this is not a new thing. 
The CCP has been SPYING on the U.S. for years. It&#39;s why I fought with <a href="https://twitter.com/RepStefanik?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepStefanik</a> to pass the American Security Drones Act, which would ban any purchase of non-U.S. drones.
&mdash; Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenRickScott/status/1621982084150562818?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
There needs to be a full, transparent accounting of what happened and why this spy balloon was allowed to violate U.S. territorial sovereignty for so long in the first place.
&mdash; Senator Deb Fischer (@SenatorFischer) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenatorFischer/status/1621983093815926785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2023</a></blockquote>
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I’m glad to hear the spy balloon was shot down, but it should have been shot down long ago. President Biden should explain himself immediately.
&mdash; Rep. Michelle Steel (@RepSteel) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepSteel/status/1621982684619706369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Now that this embarrassing episode is over, we need answers from the Biden Administration on the decision-making process. Communist China was allowed to violate American sovereignty unimpeded for days. We must be better prepared for future provocations and incursions by the CCP. <a href="https://t.co/ao8gy8LAp3">https://t.co/ao8gy8LAp3</a>
&mdash; Senator Thom Tillis (@SenThomTillis) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenThomTillis/status/1621965208926257153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Finally. However, this is something that should’ve occurred day ago **before** it entered U.S. airspace. <a href="https://t.co/iv6sZi207D">https://t.co/iv6sZi207D</a>
&mdash; Rep. Ken Buck (@RepKenBuck) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepKenBuck/status/1621963252195368960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2023</a></blockquote>
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This was a test by the CCP &amp; Biden failed. The American people deserve answers.
&mdash; Ashley Hinson (@RepAshleyHinson) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepAshleyHinson/status/1621958956707880960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Allowing China to fly its spy balloon from coast to coast was a test. Biden failed. With Biden as President, our enemies no longer fear us. China must be held accountable.
&mdash; Congressman William Timmons (@RepTimmons) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepTimmons/status/1621951203176316931?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Biden is busy campaigning while a Chinese spy aircraft is floating freely over US soil. Including flights over sensitive national security assets like Fort Bragg.
&mdash; Richard Hudson Press (@RepRichHudson) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepRichHudson/status/1621950100762157056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2023</a></blockquote>
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US-POLITICS-BIDEN

Biden Tries To Take Victory Lap For Shooting Down Chinese Spy Balloon, Gets Slammed By Top Officials

Secretary of State <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/antony-blinken" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Antony Blinken</a> postponed a scheduled trip to <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/china" target="_blank" rel="noopener">China</a> after a suspected &#8220;surveillance balloon&#8221; was spotted flying above the western United States.
Pentagon spokesperson Brigadier General Pat Ryder <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3287173/dod-statement-on-high-altitude-surveillance-balloon/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> on Thursday that the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/military" target="_blank" rel="noopener">military</a> observed “a high altitude surveillance balloon” traveling above the nation this week. Blinken delayed the previously scheduled trip hours before he was scheduled to depart, an official <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/china-report-spy-balloon-us-96869979" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> ABC News. Neither country had released details on the agenda for the diplomatic mission.
Ryder said that the United States continues to “track and monitor” the balloon closely and “acted immediately to protect against the collection of sensitive information” once the object was detected. The balloon was spotted above Billings, Montana, after it traveled above the Aleutian Islands and through Canada. A top defense official said the device is still over the country as of Thursday afternoon but did not disclose its position, according to a <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/suspected-chinese-spy-balloon-found-northern-us-rcna68879" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from NBC.
“The balloon is currently traveling at an altitude well above commercial air traffic and does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground,” Ryder continued. “Instances of this kind of balloon activity have been observed previously over the past several years.”
Montana is the location of several military bases and missile silos. Federal officials previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/white-house-quietly-probes-chinese-tech-firm-for-possibly-harvesting-data-from-military-bases-missile-silos" target="_blank" rel="noopener">investigated</a> Chinese technology company Huawei over concerns that cell towers in the area using the firm’s devices are transmitting data to the communist nation.
After the balloon was detected, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley and Vice Chair Joint Chief General Christopher Grady recommended that no “kinetic action” be taken because of possible falling debris. A senior defense official confirmed during a background <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3287204/senior-defense-official-holds-a-background-briefing-on-high-altitude-surveillan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press briefing</a> that the United States had preemptively scrambled F-22 fighter jets as the Billings Logan International Airport issued a ground stop.
“The context for that was it would put some things on station in the event that a decision was made to bring this down while it was over Montana,” the official said. “So we wanted to make sure we were coordinating with civil authorities to empty out the air space around that potential area. But even with those protective measures taken it was the judgment of our military commanders that we didn&#8217;t drive the risk down low enough, so we didn&#8217;t take the shot.”
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/china-claims-suspected-spy-balloon-is-actually-civilian-airship-that-was-blown-off-course" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> that the balloon was merely a civilian research vessel that had blown off course. “The airship is from China. It is a civilian airship used for research, mainly meteorological, purposes,” officials remarked. “Affected by the Westerlies and with limited self-steering capability, the airship deviated far from its planned course.”
Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) said in a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/i-am-alarmed-montana-gop-sen-steve-daines-wants-briefing-from-secdef-about-chinese-spy-balloon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin that the incident creates “significant concern” that Malmstrom Air Force Base and the nation’s intercontinental ballistic missile fields were targeted for an “intelligence gathering mission.” He called for a full security briefing to discuss the incident.
“I am alarmed by the fact that this spy balloon was able to infiltrate the airspace of our country and Montana,” he wrote. “There is no higher priority for your administration than the safety and security of the American people and it is imperative that your administration reassure them of that fact at this time.”

D75CF769-078E-4AAF-BE14-4F34F5DD98D9_1_201_a

Secretary Of State Blinken Will Postpone China Trip Over Suspected Spy Balloon Incident

Blinken Will Postpone China Trip Over Balloon Incident

Antony Blinken

Foreign Policy

<a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/unemployment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Unemployment</a> fell in January as the number of new <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/jobs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">jobs</a> drastically exceeded analysts’ forecasts, according to <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">data</a> from the Bureau of Labor Statistics released Friday.
Total nonfarm employment increased by 517,000, far surpassing analysts’ expectations of 187,000 new positions. The unemployment rate declined from 3.5% in December to 3.4% in January, falling below estimates of 3.6% and marking the lowest joblessness rate since 1969.
&#8220;The stronger than expected employment report stands in direct conflict with fears of an imminent recession, which has been weighing on the minds of economists and business leaders alike,” Bankrate Senior Economic Analyst Greg McBride said in comments provided to The Daily Wire. “The strength of the January employment report will raise eyebrows among Federal Reserve officials who’ve pledged to keep interest rates higher for longer.”
The unemployment data came after the central bank <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/federal-reserve-raises-target-interest-rates-by-quarter-point-marking-slowdown-of-aggressive-hikes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> a 0.25% increase in the target federal funds rate, marking a slowdown from previous 0.75% and 0.5% rate hikes meant to combat inflation. Members of the Federal Open Market Committee said in a <a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/monetary20230201a.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> that “ongoing increases in the target range will be appropriate in order to attain a stance of monetary policy that is sufficiently restrictive.”
Average hourly earnings accordingly rose 4.4% year-over-year as of January, slightly exceeding the pace estimated by analysts and declining from the 4.6% year-over-year pace seen in December. Price levels have grown at a faster rate than nominal wages over the past two years, suggesting an erosion of purchasing power among households.
The gains in employment were led by the leisure and hospitality sector, which added 128,000 positions; the professional and business services sector, which added 82,000 positions; and government agencies, which added 74,000 positions.
Even as unemployment continues to decline, labor force participation has failed to recover in the wake of the lockdown-induced recession: the metric, which tracks the percentage of the working-age population currently employed or searching for a position, remained unchanged at 62.4% in January. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/federal-reserve-chair-jerome-powell-discusses-future-slowdown-of-rate-hikes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remarked</a> that the workforce “participation gap” is largely the result of “excess retirements” that occurred beyond “what would have been expected from population aging alone.”
Price levels for many products and services meanwhile remain elevated. Food prices and shelter costs have increased 10.4% and 7.5% year-over-year, respectively, even as headline inflation figures decrease due to a more recent decline in certain energy prices, according to <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">data</a> from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Biden administration officials have nevertheless taken credit for the employment gains despite lingering inflationary pressures and supply chain bottlenecks emerging from the tight labor market. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre recently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/karine-jean-pierre-gives-non-answers-on-massive-tech-layoffs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deflected questions</a> from journalists regarding layoffs in the technology sector and noted that dismissals “remain near record lows according to job openings data.”
President Joe Biden <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1621519276380393474" target="_blank" rel="noopener">responded</a> to the newly released unemployment data on social media by proclaiming that “jobs are going up, inflation is going down, and my economic plan is working.&#8221;
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) said in a statement provided to The Daily Wire that the state of the economy does not reflect the “false advertising” from the administration. “Any job growth is good news, but labor force participation is still disappointingly below pre-pandemic levels,” he remarked. “Democrats’ war on work made sitting at home and collecting a check more profitable than getting a job. Better policies are needed for stronger job and wage growth.”

President Joe Biden Jr. highlights Bipartisan Infrastructure

Unemployment Falls, Biden Takes Credit Despite Lingering Economic Concerns

Unemployment Falls, Biden Takes Credit

Inflation

Jobs

Unemployment

For nearly a year now, this author has documented the climate change chicanery that White House Special Climate Envoy John Kerry engages in as part of his mysterious taxpayer-funded position.
Nobody knows <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/how-much-are-taxpayers-paying-climate-czar-john-kerry-he-wont-say-but-one-gop-senator-is-demanding-answers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">how much he is paid</a>, his staff <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/whats-john-kerry-hiding-memo-shows-bidens-climate-office-is-keeping-elements-we-cant-put-on-paper-out-of-emails" target="_blank" rel="noopener">keeps certain things out of emails</a>, and he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jetsetter-john-kerry-asks-worlds-poorest-to-cut-back-on-oil" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bullies third-world</a> countries into ditching fossil fuels all while the Chinese <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/in-devastating-blow-to-john-kerrys-green-energy-utopia-china-to-start-increasing-coal-production" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Communist Party</a> eats his lunch.
Well, now, the House GOP is <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/john-kerrys-secret-ccp-negotiations-probed-gop-oversight-chairman?intcmp=tw_fnc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">launching an investigation</a> into what exactly Kerry is doing as he gallivants around the globe, emitting CO2, while fretting about global warming and slapping himself on the back.
House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) sent the Heinz-ketchup-heiress hubby a letter on Thursday, demanding that he fork over information and documents regarding his office in general, and with a keen focus on his dealings with the CCP, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/john-kerrys-secret-ccp-negotiations-probed-gop-oversight-chairman?intcmp=tw_fnc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to Fox News.
&#8220;We are left with an insufficient understanding of your office’s activities, spending, and staffing,&#8221; Comer claimed in the letter, while adding that more information was needed in order to &#8220;enable long overdue oversight of your office.&#8221;
Kerry has long dismissed any concerns about China&#8217;s human rights record, instead placating them in hopes of getting the U.S. adversary to come to the table.
In the past, when Kerry has been asked about such issues, he has claimed that climate change takes the higher priority.
“Yes we have issues, a number of different issues, but first and foremost, this planet must be protected,” Kerry <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/john-kerry-justifies-climate-change-urgency-over-human-rights-abuses-in-china-life-full-of-tough-choices" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> after being asked about the problem in September 2021.
In turn, China ramped up coal production, began ignoring Kerry&#8217;s emails, and didn&#8217;t even have the courtesy to meet with him face-to-face. When they did meet in the fall of 2022, their talks were cut short and Biden&#8217;s &#8220;dear friend&#8221; blamed his failure on COVID.
As Comer poignantly noted, Kerry has downplayed the CCP&#8217;s tyranny &#8220;while promoting climate negotiations that the CCP does not even appear interested in entering.&#8221;
Through it all, Kerry has displayed a sunny disposition toward China, and now the GOP is saying his actions as Special Climate Envoy are potentially harming America.
&#8220;As a member of the President’s cabinet, you should be representing the United States’ interests. Your statements, however, consistently show disregard for American national security and taxpayer dollars,&#8221; Comer also stated in the letter.
Fox also pointed out that China is responsible for 27% of carbon emissions around the globe.
Unfortunately for taxpayers, Kerry&#8217;s office will likely be about as willing to comply with Congress as the CCP is in dealing with Kerry: Which is to say, not at all. At least it&#8217;s a start for accountability — ideally, the position gets defunded altogether.
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

(L-R) US Vice President Joe Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping and US Secretary of State John Kerry make a toast during a State Luncheon for China hosted by Kerry on September 25, 2015 at the Department of State in Washington, DC.

Finally: Congress Is Investigating Kerry’s Chinese Communist Climate Change Chicanery

Finally: Congress Is Investigating Kerry's Chinese Communist Climate Change Chicanery

Climate Change

Environment

James Comer

John Kerry

The Biden administration on Thursday <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/biden-guantanamo-detainee-majid-khan-transferred-belize-rcna68166" target="_blank" rel="noopener">resettled a terrorist</a> from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, who served as a direct subordinate to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the Al Qaeda terrorist who was the principal architect of the  September 11, 2001, attacks.
Majid Khan was sent to Belize; he is the first detainee resettled by the Biden administration. He joined Al Qaeda after the 9/11 attacks and was later arrested in Karachi in March 2003. After he was captured, he <a href="https://www.aei.org/foreign-and-defense-policy/terrorism/majid-khan-the-terrorist-who-gave-the-cia-information-that-broke-up-the-west-coast-plot-is-charged-at-guantanamo/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revealed information</a> about an Al Qaeda plot to hijack an airplane and fly it into the Library Tower in Los Angeles, the tallest building on the West Coast at the time. In 2012, Khan was charged with conspiracy, murder, and attempted murder in violation of the law of war, providing material support for terrorism, and spying. He pled guilty in February 2012 to conspiracy, murder in violation of the law of war, attempted murder in violation of the law of war, providing material support for terrorism, and spying and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
In June 2022, Khan’s lawyers filed a petition to force the Biden administration to release him as his sentence had ended in March 2022, claiming any place but his native Pakistan would be acceptable, <a href="https://int.nyt.com/data/documenttools/Majid-Khan-post-sentence-habeas/60d6b3ad864a0f48/full.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">writing</a> that because he had cooperated with the American government the “risk of harm is so great that Petitioner can never return to Pakistan where he would face persecution.”
“Petitioner has repeatedly, publicly expressed regret for his actions, apologized to the victims of his offenses and their families, and explained his decision to cooperate with U.S. authorities against Al Qaeda for more than a decade as an effort to atone for his offenses,” the petition stated.
“In October 2021, after a sentencing hearing at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, a panel of military officers sitting as a military commission sentenced Mr. Khan to 26 years of confinement,” the U.S. Defense Department <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2964357/convening-authority-takes-action-on-sentence-in-us-v-majid-khan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted</a>. “The panel also recommended Mr. Khan receive clemency.”
A senior State Department official commented on the willingness of Belize to accept Khan, saying, “This is a political ask. Belize was a great choice because, ultimately, we have a lot of things to do with them. &#8230; They asked all the right questions when this process started,” and did a “terrific job of trying to evaluate” whether they were making the correct decision.
“We are very satisfied the things we asked of them they can do and will do,” the official concluded.

Guantanamo Bay Airplane

Biden Administration Resettles Al Qaeda Terrorist Who Was Direct Subordinate To 9/11 Mastermind

9/11

Al Qaeda

Guantanamo Bay

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