Security threat or social media hysteria? Mysterious drones seen flying over New Jersey, East Coast

Security threat or social media hysteria? Mysterious drones seen flying over New Jersey, East Coast – operator unknown

By bellecarter // 2024-12-16

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Since mid-November, residents in New Jersey and other East Coast states have reported numerous mysterious drone sightings, raising public concern and speculation.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that there's no evidence these sightings pose a national security threat. They attribute many sightings to mistaken identity of commercial aircraft or stars.
Some lawmakers, like Rep. Jeff Van Drew, speculate foreign involvement, particularly from Iran or China. This has sparked debate and scrutiny over the sightings' origins.
There are concerns that the drone sightings could be part of a psychological operation to push for new legislation, such as the Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety and Reauthorization Act of 2024, which would grant the government more control over airspace.
Citizens are advised to stay informed, report any suspicious activity and remain vigilant while avoiding panic.

The skies over New Jersey and the eastern seaboard have been buzzing with uncertainty lately and not just because of some annoying drone chatter. A wave of mysterious drone sightings has the public and lawmakers on high alert, with social media ablaze with speculation and worry. Since mid-November, residents of New Jersey have been on high alert, reporting dozens of drone sightings. The concern is palpable, especially given the proximity of some sightings to sensitive military installations like Picatinny Arsenal and President-elect Donald Trump's golf course in Bedminster. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a statement clarifying that, despite the widespread panic, there's "no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus." They also noted that many of these sightings are likely cases of "mistaken identity" where commercial aircraft or stars are being misidentified as drones. (Related: Mysterious drone sightings over New Jersey raise concerns.) That said, some lawmakers, like Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), aren't ready to let this one go. He's pushing the narrative that these drones are being operated from an Iranian "mothership" in the Atlantic. Meanwhile, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) is raising the specter of Chinese involvement. The hysteria isn't limited to New Jersey. Drone sightings have been reported in several other states, including New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. In some cases, it looked like a coordinated effort to test public reactions. New York's Stewart Airfield had to shut down for nearly an hour due to drone activity, while police in Connecticut confirmed "suspicious drone activity" and deployed detection systems. But here's the kicker: Iran's drones would need to fly from their home waters, over 7,500 miles away, to reach the East Coast. Given that the Department of Defense (DOD) would have scrambled their best fighters – F-22s and F-35s – at the first sign of a genuine threat, citizens can't help but be skeptical of Iran's alleged involvement. Meanwhile, Big Tech mogul Elon Musk has been talking about "drone wars" since last year. His tweets, including ones about epic drone battles and swarm warfare, have some people wondering if he knew something we didn't. When questioned by Fox News reporter Bill Melugin, Musk responded, "Alien spaceships controlled by Iran obviously." While this sounds like a joke, it highlights the wild rumors circulating online.

Be it a psyop or real threat, stay vigilant

Some people are questioning whether the entire situation is a psychological operation (psyop) designed to push for new legislation. X user mcm_ct_usa makes the case that the drone sightings could be a way to manipulate Congress into passing the Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety and Reauthorization Act of 2024, which would grant the government enhanced powers to control airspace and potentially declare acts of war against other countries. While this conspiracy theory seems far-fetched, it's worth noting that the DHS joint subcommittee held a hearing on this bill just as drone sightings began to ramp up. The bill would renew and reform counter-UAS legal authorities, giving the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) more oversight power over drones. As citizens, it's important to remain vigilant but not panic. Keep your eyes peeled for any suspicious activity, and report it to the authorities. The truth, as always, is probably somewhere in the middle. Stay informed, stay safe and stay skeptical. Head over to NationalSecurity.news for updates on stories on national security threats. Watch the video below that talks about the drone invasion reaching southern California. This video is from Rick Langley's channel on Brighteon.com.

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Be it a psyop or real threat, stay vigilant

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