Shoot down the Chinese Spy Balloon as proof we can do it to not embolden them?

 

During the Cold War the U.S. regularly was flying spy planes over Soviet skies
The Soviets silently fumed but were helpless as their missiles could not fly that high
On May 1, 1960 after nearly half way into his U-2 flight to spy
Gary Powers learned the hard way that on Soviet helplessness we could no longer rely
Shot down in flames at near 70,000 feet he managed to eject
But the film and camera destruct button he physically was unable to select
Worse for us the plane that was supposed to disintegrate in a crash
Failed, leaving enough intact pieces for us to be in public bashed
The Soviets reminded the world that unauthorized flights over a nation was an act of war
Running the risk of being shot down if the pilot the airspace boundaries was ordered to ignore
In addition to the U-2 shot down in flames
The planned summit between Ike and Nikita suffered the same
Today we have a Chinese spy intruder peering down
Blatant incursion that to maintain peace most nations would frown
With today’s satellite photos ability to read the numbers on a license plate
Not sure what advantage the spy balloon photos would rate
Cancelling a trip by our perceived weak Secretary of State
Also a feeling from the Chinese as a weakness sign creates
A bigger fear that would embolden the Chinese is their thought we can’t shoot it down
Confirm what many of our foes and allies believe that Biden is a weak and feckless clown

© 2/3/2023 Michael P. Ridley aka The Alaskanpoet