Mike Waltz claims ‘full responsibility’ for Signal chat group leaked to journalist

[Jason Warfield]

Yes.


Sure.


Shrug...

I'll leave it up to the people involved to determine if something is classified or not.


You are welcome to your opinion.


Not so. Even if someone who shouldn't be in the chat isn't supposed to be in the chat, Signal is working as it should.


Again, you are welcome to your opinion.

I didn't say the core program of Signal didn't work, and neither did the NSA, but what we are both saying is that it doesn't matter if it works or not if you don't take care of the security prior to using it. The security of the system is that once Signal is engaged, then no one can be on the thread...but if you allow someone to be in the thread who shouldn't be there, then what Signal can do at its core programing doesn't mean a damn thing because the thread already is already compromised. That was my point and the NSA's point. And that's not opinion BTW, in case you think it is, that is basic operational security.

Leaving it up to who determines what is classified or not is quite frankly a lazy answer. Here's why: you should be concerned that if this was not classified...because it was a military operation that hadn't happened yet, an operation with several moving parts, a target package that could be warned and enemies of the US that get away. I'm not talking about just Signal, but in any event where our leaders decided a military operation that has yet to happen gets leaked out because it isn't classified...on any system, or no system. That is not acceptable operational security. No one would think that is just "opinion" either.

And think of it this way, if this operation was not classified, why use a "secure" system to talk about then? And anyone who read that question would pause to think that if we didn't want the Houthis to know, then that means it should've been classified and a better encrypted system would have been used that already exists. The NSA can provide them free of charge. So can the CIA, the military, anyone with a vested interest in operational security that has a modicum of intelligence would NOT use an open source encryption that public can use. Why?

Because there are hackers who make money defeating those open source systems to quietly sell to the highest bidder, once they do. If they can hack NTF's, they can hack Signal. And NTF's get hacked.

But in this case, I feel that this is due to pure human ****ery. Someone screwed up and allowed a security breach using a program available to the public unlike proper encrypted systems that would have been normally used. Hegseth should NEVER have allowed a military operation be discussed on such a system, and if it wasn't classified, he should be fired for not providing proper operational security to a military operation that hasn't happened yet.

That is NOT an opinion. That is operational security.

 

[ElChupacabra]

If you set up a group telephone call with people in your phone's contact list, are you SURE the phone number for one of your contacts actually belongs to that person?

Yep. Because I make sure the metadata for the entries in phone's contact list is completed so I know who is who down to which number is for a mobile phone versus land line.

Are you SURE someone didn't alter the contact information?

Since I am the only one with access to my phone, yes.

Yes, perhaps you have more control over that kind of information on your phone than someone in the federal government where other government employees are responsible for keeping your contact list up to date.

That still doesn't solve the problem of Goldberg being added though. Why did Waltz add someone with the initials "JG" to the call when from what we know, no one expected on that call had those name initials.

 

[Allan]

The funny thing about this whole situation is that for all of the crackpot conspiracy theories about hacked contacts lists being shopped around desperately by @Mycroft, he misses the most obvious likely explanation: Mike Waltz is a past informant / source for Jeffrey Goldberg.

Looks like you nailed it. Goldberg won't say whether he's ever spoken to Waltz before or why his contact information might be in his phone.

 

[ElChupacabra]

Trump throws @Mycroft under the bus...

Signal shoots down Trump’s suggestion that administration’s security leak could be blamed on app

President Trump suggested that the encrypted message app Signal may be “defective” after a journalist was inadvertently added to a group chat that included his top administration officials discussing recent airstrikes in Yemen.

www.washingtontimes.com

Your going to have to find a new line of bullshit Mycroft.

Wait, how does Donnie Boy not know how Signal works? Or does that only apply to ancient tech like wheels and walls?

 

[weaver2]

If you set up a group telephone call with people in your phone's contact list, are you SURE the phone number for one of your contacts actually belongs to that person? Are you SURE someone didn't alter the contact information?

Yes, perhaps you have more control over that kind of information on your phone than someone in the federal government where other government employees are responsible for keeping your contact list up to date.

Trumpers are running out of lies and excuses for Trump's stupidity.

 

[ColdHardTruth]

Indeed.
The Dems are going to deploy their MSM propagandists and over hype and over play all this, because they are down in the polls and they know it.
Their sheeple with buy into all that without questioning.
And they have the gall to turn right around projecting this cult-like sheeple compliance onto their political opponents who don't even come close to doing the same thing.

Yeah, quite a 'circus', isn't it?

More nonsensical right-wing bullshit.

Whataboutism is not going to cut it.

 

[Hamish Howl]

This shit is still in the beginning stages of blowing up.

They can't even keep their lies straight among themselves.

 

[weaver2]

This shit is still in the beginning stages of blowing up.

They can't even keep their lies straight among themselves.

It's not like bring president is new to them. They've had 4 years of practice and they are still ignorant and incompetent and getting worse.

 

[ajn678]

The Signal app isn't the problem. It is certified by all the government security agencies as being secure.

The problem is that someone manipulated the app and inserted false contact information into it.

I would hate to be that person. They are about to be in a world of hurt.

Lol! It is not certified by any government except for maybe ones run by idiots to be used to discuss secret intelligence on it.

 

[Mycroft]

I didn't say the core program of Signal didn't work, and neither did the NSA, but what we are both saying is that it doesn't matter if it works or not if you don't take care of the security prior to using it.

And that would be an issue no matter what app is used, so that means it's not a problem inherent to Signal. It's a problem with the people who use Signal.

 

[Allan]

And that would be an issue no matter what app is used, so that means it's not a problem inherent to Signal. It's a problem with the people who use Signal.

You missed some talking points. Trump says Signal is defective.

 

[Mycroft]

Lol! It is not certified by any government except for maybe ones run by idiots to be used to discuss secret intelligence on it.

Like the CIA, right?

 

[ajn678]

Like the CIA, right?

The CIA ran by one of the idiots in this groupchat?

 

[Atomic Kid]

Sorry, but I don't pay attention to speculation...especially from a Trump hater.

A little too much logic and reason for you to be able to absorb? Goldberg had to be in Waltz's contact list. That's the only way it could have been added to the Signal app, no matter who set it up for him, if anyone did. But the stupidity doesn't stop there. Waltz's Venmo account was still set to public as well, and guess what? His friend list is full of journalists as well. Not Goldberg, but several other journalists, along with some notable names. Including Susan Wiles, Bernard Kerik, Kirstjen Nielsen, and Morgan Ortagus. Given that Waltz’s settings were set to public, any foreign adversary in the know already has this information. Do you want to see it for yourself? Here you go!


But he doesn't need to feel bad about it since he's not the only one. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also left his Venmo account set to public until it was reported on several weeks ago.

Pete Hegseth’s Venmo: Defense Contractors, UnitedHealth Execs, Fox, and Friends

The VA may be the next government agency to go dark, if Pete Hegseth’s digital Rolodex is anything to go by.

prospect.org

Not to mention, Hegseth was the one who unilaterally decided to post highly sensitive and classified details of an upcoming military operation for some unexplained reason. Why was that even necessary? Then you have Waltz using emojis in the chat. For Christ's sake, couldn't he at least try to maintain a veneer of professionalism and maturity instead of posting like a middle school preteen? What an inept ****ing clown show!

 

[Atomic Kid]

Do you see which pieces of information which would make it actionable is missing?
No locations, no routes, no specific units, no specific targets.

What a moronic post. The information Hegseth posted contained info about the composition of airstrike packages, the type of aircraft and munitions, the exact time of departures of the sorties, and their objective targets. We won a huge victory in WWII over the Japanese at the Battle of Midway with intelligence info that had gleaned similar details, such as the composition of the Japanese naval forces and when they would be departing, which allowed us to extrapolate approximately when they would be arriving at the objective and the general direction from which they would be coming. That was all we needed to set up an ambush that dramatically turned the tide of the Pacific War.

 

[Hatuey]

Mike Waltz :

Democrats :

Republicans :

 

[LouC]

Charges?

Charges.

 

[cpwill]

The Signal app isn't the problem. It is certified by all the government security agencies as being secure.

That is not entirely correct. Signal is not rated for these kinds of discussions, and govt has warned it is potentially penetrated by the Russians specifically.

Using Signal is absolutely a problem.

The problem is that someone manipulated the app and inserted false contact information into it.

He used his initials. Those are his initials. Waltz (or his staff) didn't bother to check the number - which you can do in Signal - they were lazy and incompetent on top of being lazy and stupid.

 

[cpwill]

Mike Waltz :

It is the clearest use case I have seen for

 

[Allan]

This is funny. America has become an SNL skit...

 

[Jay Falcon]

More was missing as well.
No no routes, no specific units, no specific targets.

How many square miles is the Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen now?
Approximately 203,850 square miles.

It's amazing to what lengths the MAGA cult will go to make excuses for the incompetence they elected.

 

[Airyaman]

Was going to start a thread on this but 1) want to wait on additional sources and 2) much of the article is on a paid substack. So for now:



This falls in line with Project 2025 and the use of unofficial methods of communication so as to not have to keep records.

 

[Bubber]

That is not entirely correct. Signal is not rated for these kinds of discussions, and govt has warned it is potentially penetrated by the Russians specifically.

Using Signal is absolutely a problem.



He used his initials. Those are his initials. Waltz (or his staff) didn't bother to check the number - which you can do in Signal - they were lazy and incompetent on top of being lazy and stupid.

He knows all of this. He has been told several times. He is ignoring it because it is inconvenient to his narrative.

 

[ColdHardTruth]

You missed some talking points. Trump says Signal is defective.

Trump is defective.

Signal was merely the tool by which Trump's henchmen committed treason.

 

[eohrnberger]

Sure but that doesn’t matter.

Point is they are subject to MiM attacks and other vectors since it’s not a network they control.

If you are claiming that Signal has been exploited by a MiM attack in the message flow, do please support that.

This is security 101. They chose to violate it.

There's more to consider in that than just your declaration of it being so.

No. Read the policy. Sigh.

I did skim it. You are claiming the contrary. Which part of the policy did you want to highlight?

No because I think discussion of attack times, targets and weapons shouldn’t be discussed on public network in any fashion.

The date wasn't specified.
Targets were not specified.
Locations were not specified.
Routes were not specified.
Specific units were not specified.

With out those, you really don't have much an 'attack plan' or 'war plan', or at least you have a next to useless one, which is next to useless for anyone who would try and defend against this plan's execution - no specifics.

It wasn't 'on public network', it was in a private strongly encrypted chat app with a mistaken invitee, apparently.

How is this not common sense to you? Trump world has gone even more insane.

Given the above, it appears that far more is being made of this than is really there, and I suspect that it is being made more of is strictly political.