Michelle Bachmann said "China has blinded United States satellites with their lasers" on Laura Ingraham's radio show Friday. She "did not offer evidence" about the lasers, Politico's James Hohmann notes, but Bachmann did offer that she is a member of the House Intelligence Committee and therefore can see "the nation's classified secrets." Not to worry, though. The nation's secrets are safe with Bachmann. She promised, "I'm not sharing something I shouldn't." And info on the alleged laser warfare, she said, came from an "open source document" -- what could that be? In 2006, China tested a laser on one American satellite, but did no damage to it, USA Today reported at the time. It's unclear if that test actually blinded the satellite. So perhaps a newspaper is her secret source. On the other hand, earlier this month, The New York Times' Trip Gabriel reported, "People close to the campaign, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Mrs. Bachmann is often influenced by the last person she speaks with on an issue rather than maintaining discipline in communicating a message."

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Elspeth Reeve