The end of NATO?

[number9]

Also, the media shitstorm from the fact that it's SECDEF is significantly higher than a random butter bar that no one cares about. Without Hegseth's name, "oh my god, I found out in a Signal chat that the Navy is going to strike the Houthis today just like the U.S. said they would! More at 11!" is the most benign story in the world. And without a media shitstorm, our butter bar gets a slap on the wrist, does some extra training and pushups, and moves on with life.

It's a security breach and he shouldn't have done it. But let's realize what the proportionality is here.

Fellas, is it a security violation to text on Signal about target packages, weapons load-outs, and attack sequencing?

 

[Spekkio]

Fellas, is it a security violation to text on Signal about targeting packages, weapons payloads, and attack sequencing?

Did I say there wasn't a breach?

We don't revoke people's licenses and throw them in jail for getting a ticket for 75 in a 65 because speeding could have killed someone.

We take action appropriate for the violation based on actual events and impact. The breach is being spun as if the information leaked will be the turning point of the conflict when in reality it will have no meaningful impact.

 

[number9]

Did I say there wasn't a breach?

We don't revoke people's licenses and throw them in jail for getting a ticket for 75 in a 65 because speeding could have killed someone.

We take action appropriate for the violation based on actual events and impact.

The proportionality is that he should resign, and that any butterbar in the IC who made an equivalent mistake would be looking for a new career.

 

[Spekkio]

The proportionality is that he should resign, and that any butterbar in the IC who made an equivalent mistake would be looking for a new career.

I think that a public apology and some words about tightening up security protocols are sufficient.

And I've never seen a butter bar's career ended over an accidental security violation.

 

[number9]

I think that a public apology and some words about tightening up security protocols are sufficient.

And I've never seen a butter bar's career ended over an accidental security violation.

I mean:

 

[JTS11]

And I've never seen a butter bar's career ended over an accidental security violation

Very gentle wording of SecDef's behavior there...accidental is doing a lot of work. C'mon dude.

 

[Yardstick]

Just like I said, the White House press secretary speaks some sanity on the situation. From Karoline Leavitt:
“
Jeffrey Goldberg is well-known for his sensationalist spin. Here are the facts about his latest story:

1. No “war plans” were discussed.

2. No classified material was sent to the thread.

3. The White House Counsel’s Office has provided guidance on a number of different platforms for President Trump’s top officials to communicate as safely and efficiently as possible.

As the National Security Council stated, the White House is looking into how Goldberg’s number was inadvertently added to the thread.

Thanks to the strong and decisive leadership of President Trump, and everyone in the group, the Houthi strikes were successful and effective. Terrorists were killed and that’s what matters most to President Trump.”

All the progressives can stop pretending like they care about national security now, this is another in a line of nothing burger stories

 

[CommodoreMid]

Ah yes, Karoline Leavitt and her masterful grasp of facts.

 

[number9]

Just like I said, the White House press secretary speaks some sanity on the situation. From Karoline Leavitt:
“
Jeffrey Goldberg is well-known for his sensationalist spin. Here are the facts about his latest story:

1. No “war plans” were discussed.

2. No classified material was sent to the thread.

3. The White House Counsel’s Office has provided guidance on a number of different platforms for President Trump’s top officials to communicate as safely and efficiently as possible.

As the National Security Council stated, the White House is looking into how Goldberg’s number was inadvertently added to the thread.

Thanks to the strong and decisive leadership of President Trump, and everyone in the group, the Houthi strikes were successful and effective. Terrorists were killed and that’s what matters most to President Trump.”

All the progressives can stop pretending like they care about national security now, this is another in a line of nothing burger stories

1. Target selection, weapon selection, and attack sequencing is not a war plan?

2. Target selection, weapon selection, and attack sequencing is not classified? Internal discussions of foreign policy are not classified?

3. Where does Signal fall into this guidance?

I think pretty lowly of WH press secretaries in general, but this is the same press secretary who tried to tell me that tariffs are a actually a tax cut. So, yeah.

 

[JTS11]

Just like I said, the White House press secretary speaks some sanity on the situation. From Karoline Leavitt:
“
Jeffrey Goldberg is well-known for his sensationalist spin. Here are the facts about his latest story:

1. No “war plans” were discussed.

2. No classified material was sent to the thread.

3. The White House Counsel’s Office has provided guidance on a number of different platforms for President Trump’s top officials to communicate as safely and efficiently as possible.

As the National Security Council stated, the White House is looking into how Goldberg’s number was inadvertently added to the thread.

Thanks to the strong and decisive leadership of President Trump, and everyone in the group, the Houthi strikes were successful and effective. Terrorists were killed and that’s what matters most to President Trump.”

All the progressives can stop pretending like they care about national security now, this is another in a line of nothing burger stories

Jesus dude...you're lapping up the spin from 27 yr old Karoline Leavitt?

Hmmm, the WH is looking into how someone was added to the Houthi chat. We're all waiting for the answer...maybe it was Hillary Clinton?

 

[taxi1]

1. No “war plans” were discussed.

Goldberg should publish them, then. Along with the identity of the CIA chat participant. He reports, we decide.

I'm betting there is SCI information in that chat. All the people involved in the strike can confirm/deny.

The folks that flew the strike can then ponder on whether an adversary could have done something with a 2 hour heads up.

 

[Faded Float Coat]

Let's be gracious and presume Karoline Leavitt, Jesse Watters, Foghorn Leghorn, and @Yardstick are correct in their assessment of the material discussed. Okie doke.... Sean Spicer (and maybe this guy) would like a word....But, that doesn't resolve the pesky little problem of using a commercial messaging system. These people have so many options and technologies available to them, even in the portable device realm. Next, let's ask why the Atlantic writer's number was so easily entered - on mistake. I'll try on my foil hat for a second, but could it be that one of the OPSEC ninjas with their commitment to rooting out leakers had the dude on "speed dial" and had a habit of communicating with Goldberg? Someone should ask Goldberg very directly if this was the first time Waltz had messaged him. Of course, it could absolutely be just an accident, "I meant to add general such and such, but zoinks(!), it's the editor of the Atlantic." That could totally happen. Finally, how many of these people also have TikTok on these phones.....?

It's sloppy, it's amateur, and it's grossly hypocritical.

 

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

Just like I said, the White House press secretary speaks some sanity on the situation. From Karoline Leavitt:
“
Jeffrey Goldberg is well-known for his sensationalist spin. Here are the facts about his latest story:

1. No “war plans” were discussed.

2. No classified material was sent to the thread.

3. The White House Counsel’s Office has provided guidance on a number of different platforms for President Trump’s top officials to communicate as safely and efficiently as possible.

As the National Security Council stated, the White House is looking into how Goldberg’s number was inadvertently added to the thread.

Thanks to the strong and decisive leadership of President Trump, and everyone in the group, the Houthi strikes were successful and effective. Terrorists were killed and that’s what matters most to President Trump.”

All the progressives can stop pretending like they care about national security now, this is another in a line of nothing burger stories

 

[number9]

 

[robav8r]

Everything so far sounds as you describe. I highly doubt this is the first time that high-level leaders got sloppy with what they perceive to be secure communications among trusted colleagues. They just happened to get caught this time. Remember the whole snafu with Hillary Clinton's emails? This is kind of reminiscent of that. High level officials should be more careful out of self-awareness that the media is always trying to snoop on them (unlike the nameless butter bar), but hubris is hubris.

Unfortunately, I highly doubt that the government is going to do a thorough investigation on every cabinet member and person with high level clearances devices to ensure they aren't doing the same thing. So then it'll turn into digging into who added the media rep and why were they added and crucifying that person.

LOTS of people use Signal. My team uses it when we're on the road overseas. The funny thing is, govt. issued phones can't download the app. Lots CI briefs about govt. phones being vulnerable to the "accepted" list of apps available for use. An IOS updated iPhone that avoids public WiFi is pretty secure when using apps like Signal. Not perfect, but pretty good.