@zephyreks That means it wasn't able to collect data in part because of the countermeasures that contributed to preventing it from collecting data. If that was not the case, why wouldn't the BG have just said, "no it wouldn't have mattered because it wasn't trying to collect data."?
Because they needed to justify the hassle and spending they spent trying to prevent it from collecting? Do you think the US military budget grows on trees?
@zephyreks lol I can’t imagine the mental gymnastics you have to jump through to arrive at your worldview. For you to think that in that moment, while being questioned by a reporter about a Chinese balloon and the collection of data that his immediate thought was I need to justify the budget… It’s just astounding.