White House defends decision to shoot down flying objects.
The United States has defended its recent decision of shooting down the three unidentified flying objects in its airspace. Despite various concerns that the objects may have been intended for surveillance or spying purposes, White House national security spokesman John Kirby stated that the objects were flying at a low altitude posing a risk to civilian air traffic and were eliminated from the sky in the interest of public safety.
Flying Objects
The decision to shoot down unidentified flying objects is controversial as it goes against the previous policies that generally avoided the use of force unless there was a clear and present danger to national security. However, in this case, officials believed that eliminating the objects from the sky was necessary even though they had no evidence of their intended purpose or origin.
The three recent objects were part of a succession of unidentified objects in US skies that have
puzzled officials and sparked curiosity around the world. While the objects differed in size,
manoeuvrability, as well as other related characteristics officials, believed that they posed a
potential threat to the national security and the safety of civilians on the ground.
While the United States has not yet established any link between the objects and China, officials have not ruled out the possibility. This is significant given the recent sighting of a high-altitude Chinese balloon in American airspace earlier this month which raised concerns over the potential spying and surveillance activities.
The decision to shoot down the objects has been seen as a way for the US to assert their sovereignty and protect its airspace. As drone technology has made it easier for non-state
actors to carry out surveillance and other activities in American airspace, the United States is
increasingly aware of the need to protect its airspace and prevent unauthorized access by foreign entities. Despite concerns over the legality and ethics of shooting down unidentified flying objects the United States has emphasized its commitment to international laws and regulations.
The US has stated that it acted in accordance with international law when it shot down an Iranian drone in the Strait of Hormuz in 2019 and it has also stressed the importance of de-escalating tensions and preventing further conflicts.
The shooting down of such flying objects is a departure from previous policies as is seen by
some as a necessary step in protecting national security and ensuring the safety of civilians. The threat of terrorism and other forms of violence is ever present in today’s world and accordingly, governments must take all the required measures to ensure the safety of their citizens.
However, opponents argue that the shooting of flying objects is a violation of both human rights as well as international laws. It can be seen as an act of aggression and can escalate tensions between countries. Additionally, it may prevent people from travelling or conducting activities without fear of being targeted which can impede their right to privacy and freedom of movement.
The recent incident of UFOs sightings in US airspace has generated interest worldwide and
added to the debate around the use of force in protecting national security. Even though the United States has defended its decision to shoot down the objects it has also emphasized the importance of following international law and regulations. Also, it is worth noting that the US is
not the only country that has shot down unidentified flying objects.
In the year 2016, a Turkish F-16 fighter jet was shot down by a UFO that was allegedly violating Turkish airspace. The incident sparked a diplomatic dispute between Turkey and Russia as the UFO was believed to have been operated by the Russian military.
