People are telling the world that tRump’s ego is going to get someone killed. Well, that and SignalGate for a bonus reason. Pilots are outraged by the details that emerged from the infamous debacle on Signal, a commercial app that is just asking to be hacked. This conversation Should Not Have Happened. And the fact that they “accidentally” included a journalist? Let me just say how much I admire and respect Jeffrey Goldberg for what he did, or, rather, what he *didn’t do* until forced. Awesome.
From nj.com: The report sparked backlash from lawmakers, pundits, and former defense officials who warned that their actions could have put military pilots in harm’s way. Current and former U.S. military pilots expressed similar concerns in interviews with The New York Times this week.
And it continues: “The whole point about aviation safety is that you have to have the humility to understand that you are imperfect, because everybody screws up. Everybody makes mistakes,” Lt. John Gadzinski, a retired Navy F-14 pilot, told The Times. “The whole point about aviation safety is that you have to have the humility to understand that you are imperfect, because everybody screws up. Everybody makes mistakes,” Lt. John Gadzinski, a retired Navy F-14 pilot, told The Times. “But ultimately, if you can’t admit when you’re wrong, you’re going to kill somebody because your ego is too big,” he added.
The Mango Mandarin is calling it a “mistake” and is downplaying the incident and trying to sweep it under the rug. They have claimed that no classified information was shared. Wrong! This is too big. Oh, it might die down a bit, but what a colossal mess! Lawmakers and former defense officials have said what Hegseth shared on this app should have been classified. It has the exact timing of strikes and *what aircraft were being used*. If this had gotten out AT ALL, we could very well have lost some pilots and planes. Hegseth and crew are trying to forget what might have happened. “Oh, it went as planned and all is well”. Gahhhhhhhh!!!
One Navy pilot, who was granted anonymity to avoid backlash from the Pentagon and Trump, told The Times that plans are “intentionally” not shared with “people who don’t need to know.” “You don’t share what time we’re supposed to show up over a target. You don’t want to telegraph that we’re about to show up on someone’s doorstep; that’s putting your crew at risk,” the pilot said. “When you disclose operational security, people can get killed.” Geee ya THINK?!
Going forward, pilots can no longer be certain that when they strap into their cockpits that the Pentagon is focused on their safety. Sounds about right to me, and I’m not a pilot! This came from pilots in the military! “In the group chat, Hegseth posted multiple details about the impending strike, using military language and laying out when a “strike window” starts, where a “target terrorist” was located, the time elements around the attack and when various weapons and aircraft would be used in the strike. He mentioned that the U.S. was “currently clean” on operational security.” Lord, have mercy. We have people who care nothing for protecting their military. Nothing. Do they *want* to attract war to our country? No classified details, my a$$.
So, the ongoing cover-up continues. I’m glad pilots are speaking up. It’s their lives in the balance. I’m still stunned. I would want every single one of them who was involved in the actions to resign their positions. Seems that only Waltz will be falling under the bus. But he wasn’t the only one who messed up. Otherwise, things aren’t going to change. Damn.
*****And now, please read a very special request from our awesome boss******
Zoomers, if you can find some spare change in the sofa cushions, we could use it. April starts soon and that is month six of this depressed media climate we now live in due to Trump Depression Syndrome. We thank you for any help you can give and most of all we thank you for coming here to read. Ursula
