That's the problem in a nutshell ... there apparently isn't an approved texting program for secure government communications. There's certainly a secure email system, and approved secure phone lines, but no texting platform for sensitive discussions -- hopefully this will inspire the administration to make one.
If there isn’t a secure texting application, THEN DON’T TEXT SENSITIVE INFORMATION! Don’t blame a journalist for catching you doing something wrong. The core issue is still that you did something wrong. And notice that I didn’t say “don’t use Signal”. I’m just saying don’t use Signal to communicate sensitive information.
Now, for the sake of consistency, fire whoever disclosed state secrets. If you don’t, every rank and file government worker will use this as a precedent to not lose their jobs. In my view, it’s not the person who invited the journalist to the chat. That’s just the ‘getting caught’ part. It’s the person who disclosed sensitive information on an insecure channel. It’s the person who put their pilots lives in danger.
It’s shocking that the government has been without a secure, closer messaging system.
That’s wild.
It is annoying how apps snd suggestiins get so jacked up sometimes.
But this kind of thing highlights the absolute need for the government and military to have a closed, secure, encrypted messaging app.
Reading the other posts: - the government has secure communication methods, but weren’t used; - they used personal phones to message each other that also is not allowed;
So: blaming an iPhone is childish: “it wasn’t me”.
People post lots of opinions and imagination. Government agencies have been using signal long before this. There isn’t a government-only conpareable app. Otherwise it would be used.
This snafu (love that word) highlights the need for one. I can imagine Elon Musk already being tapped to come up with something.
The Biden administration used Signal to give each other heads-ups. They did not send classified government communications over signal. The government does have classified messaging systems. However, you need to use a government provided device and for the level of this discussion need to be in a secure location. Individuals at the level of this discussion routinely have special equipment installed in their homes or are given ways to communicate while traveling. The reason this administration doesn’t use the government devices is that, contrary to the law, they don’t want their communications kept by the archivist. That could open their discussions up to scrutiny.
The level of incompetence in the current administration is truly mind boggling. It's not just national security, the global economy, and allowing a sociopath manic rich guy with only a fleeting contact with reality to run amuck through the most private personal information of American citizens, it's pervasive throughout everything that is going on since Jan 20th. It feels like the current administration is hell bent on destroying everything that has been done to build our nation over the past 250 years. It can only be driven by pure hatred for anything that is good.
I don’t like it but the reality is that if the Defense Secretary says the information was not classified, then it is not classified and your headline is factually inaccurate. Just like when the Speaker says that the rest of the session is one day long to prevent Dems from introducing legislation then from a legal POV that is that. Is this what America voted for? I don’t know, but it wasn’t what, or who, I voted for. But there are consequences and this is one of them (along with tariffs destroying the global economy).
I don’t like it but the reality is that if the Defense Secretary says the information was not classified, then it is not classified and your headline is factually inaccurate. Just like when the Speaker says that the rest of the session is one day long to prevent Dems from introducing legislation then from a legal POV that is that. Is this what America voted for? I don’t know, but it wasn’t what, or who, I voted for. But there are consequences and this is one of them (along with tariffs destroying the global economy).
There is a process for the declassification of information an it is not as simple as the Secretary of Defense declaring it not classified.
The level of incompetence in the current administration is truly mind boggling. It's not just national security, the global economy, and allowing a sociopath manic rich guy with only a fleeting contact with reality to run amuck through the most private personal information of American citizens, it's pervasive throughout everything that is going on since Jan 20th. It feels like the current administration is hell bent on destroying everything that has been done to build our nation over the past 250 years. It can only be driven by pure hatred for anything that is good.
I don’t like it but the reality is that if the Defense Secretary says the information was not classified, then it is not classified and your headline is factually inaccurate. Just like when the Speaker says that the rest of the session is one day long to prevent Dems from introducing legislation then from a legal POV that is that. Is this what America voted for? I don’t know, but it wasn’t what, or who, I voted for. But there are consequences and this is one of them (along with tariffs destroying the global economy).
There is a process for the declassification of information an it is not as simple as the Secretary of Defense declaring it not classified.
Well the President said so too. So it is a done deal for all practical purposes. It is why the Atlantic published the posts - because they were not classified. I don’t like it but get over yourself. Elections have consequences and this is one of them. Instead of frothing like a rabid animal, start thinking about the elections in less than two years. It is not too late to make a difference yet. Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and even Florida show the way forward.
I don’t like it but the reality is that if the Defense Secretary says the information was not classified, then it is not classified and your headline is factually inaccurate. Just like when the Speaker says that the rest of the session is one day long to prevent Dems from introducing legislation then from a legal POV that is that. Is this what America voted for? I don’t know, but it wasn’t what, or who, I voted for. But there are consequences and this is one of them (along with tariffs destroying the global economy).
There is a process for the declassification of information an it is not as simple as the Secretary of Defense declaring it not classified.
Well the President said so too. So it is a done deal for all practical purposes. It is why the Atlantic published the posts - because they were not classified. I don’t like it but get over yourself. Elections have consequences and this is one of them. Instead of frothing like a rabid animal, start thinking about the elections in less than two years. It is not too late to make a difference yet. Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and even Florida show the way forward.
That doesn’t change if they were classified at the time of exposure. stuff ups also have consequences. Tyranny of loudest minority approach to government doesn’t change that.
Setting aside the inappropriateness of the channel used for the "discussion", was this discussion really needed or relevant? I must confess I did not read all of the chat that's available, but it seems like it was mainly a giddy "Bro" chat, making the potential of exposing sensitive information all that more offensive.
Yup. This. The current administration are a bunch of boy and girl scouts treating their jobs like it's a video game to win, leaning on "loyalty" (to a man, to a country) as a defence and argument. It's embarrassing to watch.
I don’t like it but the reality is that if the Defense Secretary says the information was not classified, then it is not classified and your headline is factually inaccurate. Just like when the Speaker says that the rest of the session is one day long to prevent Dems from introducing legislation then from a legal POV that is that. Is this what America voted for? I don’t know, but it wasn’t what, or who, I voted for. But there are consequences and this is one of them (along with tariffs destroying the global economy).
Lol. That's not how declassification works. Just because the defense secretary or the President says something, or orders something declassified, doesn't mean that it will be, or should be. Even if the President says something classified, that doesn't declassify it. There's a process, and nothing can be done by executive fiat.
I wrote the headline. It's factually accurate.
Source: I still have my clearance, get annual training, and I'd be underneath the jail awaiting trial if I ever did anything approaching this.
These MAGA morons never take responsibility for their careless and ignorant actions. It is both hilarious and sad. And they take the natural trump response by trying to deflect and shift the blame. How embarrassing to blame the iphone itself instead of the morons who do not seem to understand how the telecommunication apps actually work. And, for the clueless here, there absolutely are government approved secure ways to communicate, but idiots have to understand those ways and use them.
The Biden administration used Signal to give each other heads-ups. They did not send classified government communications over signal. The government does have classified messaging systems. However, you need to use a government provided device and for the level of this discussion need to be in a secure location. Individuals at the level of this discussion routinely have special equipment installed in their homes or are given ways to communicate while traveling. The reason this administration doesn’t use the government devices is that, contrary to the law, they don’t want their communications kept by the archivist. That could open their discussions up to scrutiny.
Scrutiny could open there discussions up to illegal activity. Check that. Further illegal activity. But the window is limited which is why they shouldn't have been using signal in the first place. Which is why they're using it in the "firstest" place.
Waltz: Here's some plans and operational parameters for the next gen nuke boat and MHD drive.
Group: Set to be operational in 2028. What's MHD?
Goldberg: WTF.
Hegseth: No big deal.
Trump: I didn't now anything about it but no big deal.
With Hegseth's limited exposure to Classified intel I forgive his NBD attitude. /s At least Trump has a lot of experience in handling and declassifying Classified documents. /s
Comments
It is truly surreal.
stuff ups also have consequences. Tyranny of loudest minority approach to government doesn’t change that.
Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair
Yup. This. The current administration are a bunch of boy and girl scouts treating their jobs like it's a video game to win, leaning on "loyalty" (to a man, to a country) as a defence and argument. It's embarrassing to watch.
Source: I still have my clearance, get annual training, and I'd be underneath the jail awaiting trial if I ever did anything approaching this.
Waltz: Here's some plans and operational parameters for the next gen nuke boat and MHD drive.
Group: Set to be operational in 2028. What's MHD?
Goldberg: WTF.
Hegseth: No big deal.
Trump: I didn't now anything about it but no big deal.
With Hegseth's limited exposure to Classified intel I forgive his NBD attitude. /s
At least Trump has a lot of experience in handling and declassifying Classified documents. /s
maybe skull
PEBS
That removes any distinction of keyboard as well.
The modern homily of PEBKAC is more than close enough for Government work, especially the way the current administration isn't working.