BIDEN SAYS HE AUTHORIZED PENTAGON DAYS AGO TO SHOOT DOWN CHINESE SPY BALLOON

BIDEN SAYS HE AUTHORIZED PENTAGON DAYS AGO TO SHOOT DOWN CHINESE SPY BALLOON

 Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceled a planned trip to Beijing due to the incident, while Republicans hammered President Biden for initially failing to shoot down the balloon. On Saturday afternoon, as the

 balloon tracked over Myrtle Beach, S.C., it was finally deflated by an F-22 pilot.

The White House said that Biden followed the advice of the Pentagon and top military leaders not to shoot the craft down over the U.S. In case it causes civilian casualties and other collateral damage.