Pete Hegseth, Trump Dept of Defense nominee…

[jmacvols1]

 

[n_huffhines]

here we go.........truth is out for all to see in this video where this 'Signalgate' is nothing but an attack by Dems to "get Hegseth"

Non-sequitur. Of course dems are going to use it to attack him. This is how both parties operate. This point does nothing to address the substance of the issue.

 

[n_huffhines]

I don't think there is anything weird about a Trump admin having contact info for the editor of The Atlantic. Having someone's contact info is not an endorsement of support.

Can't believe people would think an Atlantic sympathizer in the WH would be the "bigger issue" than the incompetence displayed by our leaders. TDS

 

[05_never_again]

the only "scandal" here is how JG got in on the chat, who let him in and why.

No it isn't. The attack's timing, sequencing, and the identity of an undercover CIA agent were discussed in that chat.

I agree that the most interesting part of this, yes, is how Goldberg got added to the chat. We wouldn't know about any of this if he hadn't. But there was sensitive information (people are getting lost with this "...but it wasn't classified!!!" and "...but it technically wasn't war plans!!!" stuff) that was being discussed in a commercial, publicly-available messaging app that should not have been.

And yes, of course Dems are using this as a way to get to Trump or others in his orbit. It sure as hell is politically-motivated. If this happened with Jake Sullivan and Antony Blinken, Dems would be downplaying it and Repubs would think it was a scandal. Just because an effort is motivated by politics doesn't mean that it isn't a legitimate scandal.

 

[BowlBrother85]

I don't think there is anything weird about a Trump admin having contact info for the editor of The Atlantic. Having someone's contact info is not an endorsement of support.

Can't believe people would think an Atlantic sympathizer in the WH would be the "bigger issue" than the incompetence displayed by our leaders. TDS

It is strange that Jeffrey Goldberg's contact information was saved in Mike Waltz's phone. It's by no means the biggest issue, but it is weird if you know the history between Goldberg and Donald Trump. Obviously, Mike Waltz understood this, because he initially said that he had never been in contact with Goldberg. That had to have been a lie.

 

[BowlBrother85]

No it isn't. The attack's timing, sequencing, and the identity of an undercover CIA agent were discussed in that chat.

I agree that the most interesting part of this, yes, is how Goldberg got added to the chat. We wouldn't know about any of this if he hadn't. But there was sensitive information (people are getting lost with this "...but it wasn't classified!!!" and "...but it technically wasn't war plans!!!" stuff) that was being discussed in a commercial, publicly-available messaging app that should not have been.

And yes, of course Dems are using this as a way to get to Trump or others in his orbit. It sure as hell is politically-motivated. If this happened with Jake Sullivan and Antony Blinken, Dems would be downplaying it and Repubs would think it was a scandal. Just because an effort is motivated by politics doesn't mean that it isn't a legitimate scandal.

.... and multiple sources are now reporting that some of Hegseth's texts included classified information at the time he sent them. The White House is lying.

 

[05_never_again]

It is strange that Jeffrey Goldberg's contact information was saved in Mike Waltz's phone. It's by no means the biggest issue, but it is weird if you know the history between Goldberg and Donald Trump. Obviously, Mike Waltz understood this, because he initially said that he had never been in contact with Goldberg. That had to have been a lie.

I'm sure that was a lie. Goldberg and Trump obviously don't get along, but Waltz and Goldberg are both neocons. Their foreign policy views are broadly aligned, so I wonder if Waltz was Goldberg's "in" to the Trump administration and he would leak information to him. I don't think he intended to add him to this group chat, but that would explain why he had his contact info in his phone.

 

[n_huffhines]

It is strange that Jeffrey Goldberg's contact information was saved in Mike Waltz's phone. It's by no means the biggest issue, but it is weird if you know the history between Goldberg and Donald Trump. Obviously, Mike Waltz understood this, because he initially said that he had never been in contact with Goldberg. That had to have been a lie.

Yeah, but if you have Goldberg's number from 10 years ago, you're gonna take the time to delete it bc Trump? Probably wouldn't even think to. There are totally plausible explanations that don't indicate a mole, or whatever people may think of this.

 

[LSU-SIU]

.... and multiple sources are now reporting that some of Hegseth's texts included classified information at the time he sent them. The White House is lying.

I would say as I said before, in my experience if this came over the old comm systems it probably would be marked confidential or secret, unlikely to be ts or unclass. But that is beside the point the Sec of Defense has classification authority.

 

[rjd970]

The dissonance needed to downplay this is astounding.

 

[bamawriter]

not classified info, not "war plans"

View attachment 730606

And now we've reached the point where precise timing of strikes and the weapons to be used don't count as war plans.

 

[05_never_again]

Yeah, but if you have Goldberg's number from 10 years ago, you're gonna take the time to delete it bc Trump? Probably wouldn't even think to. There are totally plausible explanations that don't indicate a mole, or whatever people may think of this.

I have no way of knowing this, but I bet Waltz didn't have Goldberg's number for all that long. Waltz won a House seat in 2018, and he got on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs in 2023. Goldberg is known as The Atlantic's foreign affairs guy, so I bet he became interested in developing a relationship with Waltz at that point, and it ended up paying off for him when Trump named him NSA. Goldberg is a liberal, but he sees more eye to eye with someone like Waltz on foreign affairs, plus Waltz is a pretty swampy, establishment guy as far as connections (his wife worked for CFR and WEF). But who knows.

 

[LSU-SIU]

And now we've reached the point where precise timing of strikes and the weapons to be used don't count as war plans.

Bush I had news cameras rolling when the airplanes took off in 1991, Bush II had news cameras rolling and setup in Iraqi. It certainly wasn't classified, its up to the administration. Doesn't seem like a war plan, seems like a few targets with really just when the planes/drones launch.

 

[bamawriter]

Bush I had news cameras rolling when the airplanes took off in 1991, Bush II had news cameras rolling and setup in Iraqi. It certainly wasn't classified, its up to the administration.

I would point out how dumb this comparison is, but you're going to handwave away anything that looks bad for Trump and Co, so I won't bother.

 

[RavinDave]

"Biden let us do it" isn't exactly great rationale. Doesn't this thread think it was the worst President of all-time?

It? Are you referring to the Autopen?

 

[BowlBrother85]

I would say as I said before, in my experience if this came over the old comm systems it probably would be marked confidential or secret, unlikely to be ts or unclass. But that is beside the point the Sec of Defense has classification authority.

.... but he can't retroactively declassify information. At the time Hegseth (inadvertently) provided his information to Goldberg, it was still classified. It didn't automatically become declassified just because Hegseth gave it to someone without security clearance. Hegseth really blew it here.

 

[BowlBrother85]

Bush I had news cameras rolling when the airplanes took off in 1991, Bush II had news cameras rolling and setup in Iraqi. It certainly wasn't classified, its up to the administration. Doesn't seem like a war plan, seems like a few targets with really just when the planes/drones launch.

It was classified information.

 

[hog88]

I'm sure that was a lie. Goldberg and Trump obviously don't get along, but Waltz and Goldberg are both neocons. Their foreign policy views are broadly aligned, so I wonder if Waltz was Goldberg's "in" to the Trump administration and he would leak information to him. I don't think he intended to add him to this group chat, but that would explain why he had his contact info in his phone.

I fully believe that he was intentionally added, by whom? IDK

 

[LSU-SIU]

I would point out how dumb this comparison is, but you're going to handwave away anything that looks bad for Trump and Co, so I won't bother.

I would say your idiotic statement that a war plan includes everything but where the war is going on as troublesome.

 

[LSU-SIU]

It was classified information.

Says who? This is clearly DOD information which the Sec of Def has classification authority.

 

[n_huffhines]

I have no way of knowing this, but I bet Waltz didn't have Goldberg's number for all that long. Waltz won a House seat in 2018, and he got on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs in 2023. Goldberg is known as The Atlantic's foreign affairs guy, so I bet he became interested in developing a relationship with Waltz at that point, and it ended up paying off for him when Trump named him NSA. Goldberg is a liberal, but he sees more eye to eye with someone like Waltz on foreign affairs, plus Waltz is a pretty swampy, establishment guy as far as connections (his wife worked for CFR and WEF). But who knows.

But that kind of proves the same point, right? If it's 2015 or 2023, it's still likely an innocuous explanation. If he got his number after he got in with this 2nd Trump admin, that looks a lot different.

 

[CagleMtnVol]

On what planet is this unclassified?

View attachment 730607

No Who, What, Where or When?

Could all have been hypothetical.

 

[bamawriter]

I would say your idiotic statement that a war plan includes everything but where the war is going on as troublesome.

Do what now? Do you think that if the Houthis had come into the info posted in the chat they would have been confused as to their own locations?

 

[LSU-SIU]

Do what now? Do you think that if the Houthi's had come into the info posted in the chat they would have been confused as to their own locations?

That is beside the point, not only is it not a war plan its barely even information. Now you can debate whether it should have been done regardless, but in no sane universe is that a "war plan".

Over dramatization.

 

[GroverCleveland]

It was classified information.

Isn't it illegal to 1) continue to access classified information once one knows they do not have clearance and 2) to release classified information one has not been authorized to do, regardless of the 1A?

Kind of surprised the app does not have a warning or notice of the nature of the communications. If so, I would think Goldberg has some legal issues, but have not heard anything indicating that.

Screw up all the way around. Have not heard the latest, but my understanding was a staffer was the one who inadvertently added Goldberg into the chat. I know nothing about the app, but have heard it because normal for government communications during the Biden admin. Does not relieve the current group of responsibility of knowing who the hell is on their chat, but they did not set the system up as some seem to indicate.