Staff Reports
The Biden administration has decided to play the role of the Scooby-Doo gang when it comes to a rather unusual phenomenon: swarms of drones allegedly spotted flying along the Eastern Seaboard. As reports of these drones surged, particularly near New Jersey, one might expect a sense of urgency from the White House. Instead, officials confidently declared that they have found no evidence to suggest that these flying gadgets pose a national security threat. Considering the world we live in, this lack of concern could raise eyebrows, especially for conservative Americans who are wary of the sleepy response to potential threats.
As the sightings gained traction, a few rumors fluttered about an Iranian “mothership” allegedly harboring these drones in the Atlantic. However, the administration was quick to squash that narrative, perhaps wary of adding fuel to conspiracy theories more popular than a good ol’ barbecue in Texas. National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby confidently stepped up to the podium to inform reporters that the real culprit behind these drone sightings might just be regular ol’ manned aircraft doing their own lawful thing. In Biden’s America, the sky is apparently not falling, but just busy with everyday pilots going about their day.
White House National Security Advisor dismisses the drone claims.
“We have not been able to, and neither have state and local law enforcement authorities, been able to corroborate any of the reported visual sightings”
The thousand or so of you in New Jersey who have seem them,… pic.twitter.com/6vY7Cn1vRJ
— Rich McHugh (@RichMcHugh) December 12, 2024
Instead of scrambling to respond to what sounds like an episode of a low-budget sci-fi movie, Kirby announced that the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI are collaborating with local New Jersey officials to sift through what could very well be a modern-day mystery. Their resources include “sophisticated electronic detection technologies,” which is quite the fancy way to say they are using the latest tech to determine if these drones are a threat or just an overzealous group of remote-control hobbyists. Either way, conservatives may see this as another instance of the federal government being a little too slow on the uptake regarding potential safety issues.
Kirby also raised a red flag—one that seems swathed in red tape—noting how the reported drone flights point to a “gap in authorities.” He used his airtime to urge Congress to get its act together and pass some legislation to shore up their “counter-drone authorities.” If the Biden administration seems unperturbed by drone sightings, then surely expressing the need for more bureaucratic power would make them feel less dazed and confused. After all, what’s better than asking for more authority in a scenario that could easily be addressed with some common sense?
At the end of the day, the whole situation feels like yet another missed opportunity for the administration to showcase a proactive approach to security. Instead of confronting the possibility that there are more drones flying around than people during a Black Friday sale, the response has been more lax than a Sunday afternoon. Conservative voices might find it alarming—or at the very least, amusing—that a situation with potential national implications is getting the classic shrug-off that has become the hallmark of this administration. No matter the outcome, the American public will remain tuned in, watching to see if the skies are indeed clear or whether they will look back at this moment with a chuckle and a hint of concern.
