# Pentagon leak of documents related to Ukraine invasion **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** ukraine-invasion\ **Created:** [April 13, 2023, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-leak-of-documents-related-to-ukraine-invasion/982628 "2023-04-13T14:49:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2023, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-leak-of-documents-related-to-ukraine-invasion/982628/1 "2023-04-13T14:49:54Z")
Continuing the discussion from [Russia invades Ukraine {2022-02-24} (Part 2)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-invades-ukraine-2022-02-24-part-2/973972/3497): With a suspect for the leaks identified, there’s probably going to be a lot to discuss on the topic, so let’s split it off from the general Ukraine invasion thread. Here we can discuss the leak, its impact on the war (hypothetical or actual), and hopefully the eventual trial of the asshole who leaked it. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2023, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-leak-of-documents-related-to-ukraine-invasion/982628/2 "2023-04-13T14:51:52Z")
Here’s the latest on the leaker, copied from the other thread. > **[Pentagon leaks linked to young gun enthusiast who worked at military base –...](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/apr/13/pentagon-leaks-og-source-military-base-discord-report)** > > Man known online as ‘OG’ is said to have access to large amounts of classified material and to regard intelligence services as repressive ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2023, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-leak-of-documents-related-to-ukraine-invasion/982628/3 "2023-04-13T16:52:14Z")
He should be tried for treason and, if found guiltily, given the max sentence as an example to others who mishandle top secert documents. This shit has got to stop. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2023, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-leak-of-documents-related-to-ukraine-invasion/982628/4 "2023-04-13T17:09:30Z")
Especially if he was being paid to do it, as opposed to as a “patriotic” act (which should still be punished, but seems less morally reprehensible in my eyes to an extent). ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2023, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-leak-of-documents-related-to-ukraine-invasion/982628/5 "2023-04-13T17:30:03Z")
It looks like he was radicalised by the mass media, as so many in the US are these days. Handing top secret clearance to 1.2m people in such an environment seems unwise, if not damn stupid. But perhaps that claim is inaccurate or misleading because it seems extraordinary. This is very embarrassing for the US, but worse it affects the war which means people may die as a result of this idiot. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2023, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-leak-of-documents-related-to-ukraine-invasion/982628/6 "2023-04-13T17:57:45Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > Handing top secret clearance to 1.2m people in such an environment seems unwise, if not damn stupid. But perhaps that claim is inaccurate or misleading because it seems extraordinary. As I understand it, “top secret” is a classification level, not a big catchall category. In other words, if I am granted top secret clearance, that doesn’t mean I have access to everything with a top-secret stamp. You still need to demonstrate that you have a need to see this particular subset of material. Getting the top-secret authorization, apparently, is just a first line of checking which simplifies things administratively, to filter out the people who shouldn’t see _any_ of it. The point being, X million people having top secret clearance doesn’t really tell us anything. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2023, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-leak-of-documents-related-to-ukraine-invasion/982628/7 "2023-04-13T18:14:07Z")
Dude’s going to spend a lot of his life in prison because he wanted to impress strangers on the internet. Jeez. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2023, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-leak-of-documents-related-to-ukraine-invasion/982628/8 "2023-04-13T19:22:38Z")
An arrest has been made. This appears to be a New York Times gift link, but not mine, so I hope it works. > **[Live Updates: Air National Guardsman Arrested as F.B.I. Searches His Home](https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/04/13/us/documents-leak-pentagon?unlocked_article_code=ok9rIkN25hDsJ3-kOFg7p3V6yAEsMa3EM6uz57TYLD6xDjD-oAeFM-phQWWveLRwNFcy7yHEkzrRdK2-ZKkQNvtABjJvFG1CKtH3JWu_1mwwzGbWR3dYtUdLOKbwjParA7gMXC3LFr7_e-gESe2GUiwyE0iD7jcdC-BlYTQxVSGElmNBJrL5SIotVMWuXXn1ziT1T7ahwjLDTd1Aj9dQi_F0l5OykII3KUWrMpHnKX8Q-ittPUpbthnbaTZZOFMZYrrHZ_6sL0DUaVdkX84eBIHg_EMSNhGU-BecLGttBI42-zjAWkCjJtRLjj03BAMQ0A_l3Um51bO6nVgdgBSAuaw9SAW4UA&giftCopy=1_CurrentCopy&smid=re-share)** > > Federal officials are investigating leaks of classified U.S. intelligence revealing government secrets about the Ukraine war. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the airman’s arrest in connection with the unauthorized removal and transmission... ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2023, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-leak-of-documents-related-to-ukraine-invasion/982628/9 "2023-04-13T19:22:39Z")
Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira, 21, was arrested by the FBI. [![](https://dynaimage.cdn.cnn.com/cnn/digital-images/org/675dde1e-7fc3-4d64-8173-2718dd825e03.jpg) ](https://dynaimage.cdn.cnn.com/cnn/digital-images/org/675dde1e-7fc3-4d64-8173-2718dd825e03.jpg) [![](https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/230413143852-suspect-arrested-pentagon-leak-large-tease.jpg) ](https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/230413143852-suspect-arrested-pentagon-leak-large-tease.jpg) > **[FBI arrests suspect in connection with intelligence leaks | CNN Politics](https://edition.cnn.com/2023/04/13/politics/us-government-intel-leak/index.html)** > > A member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard is expected to be arrested soon in connection with the leaking of classifieds documents that have been posted online, according to a law enforcement source. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2023, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-leak-of-documents-related-to-ukraine-invasion/982628/10 "2023-04-13T19:33:41Z")
He seems a bit low-level for access to Top Secret information, including international relations and Ukraine war details. Maybe he stole them from someone who was lax in secure handling of classified information. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2023, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-leak-of-documents-related-to-ukraine-invasion/982628/11 "2023-04-13T19:37:43Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > He seems a bit low-level for access to Top Secret information, including international relations and Ukraine war details. Based on what? ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2023, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-leak-of-documents-related-to-ukraine-invasion/982628/12 "2023-04-13T19:38:41Z")
Retired general Mark Hertling responds: > > > The Bulwark @BulwarkOnline ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2023, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-leak-of-documents-related-to-ukraine-invasion/982628/13 "2023-04-13T19:41:56Z")
It’s quite possible that he was not specifically authorized to handle that material. Unless it was in the most trivial form of “handle”, like a documents clerk. Who handles everything but isn’t authorized to read or act on anything. But again, Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning had routine access to material they didn’t have a specific need-to-know. And as pointed out, a lot of the actual first-pass analysis work in military intelligence is done by fairly low-ranking analysts. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2023, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-leak-of-documents-related-to-ukraine-invasion/982628/14 "2023-04-13T19:46:40Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Based on what? Just the breadth of topics, really, which, aside from all the Ukraine War info, includes stuff on Russia, China, Egypt, Iran, Hungary, Serbia, South Korea, Israel, Turkey, Canada, Haiti and the United Arab Emirates. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2023, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-leak-of-documents-related-to-ukraine-invasion/982628/15 "2023-04-13T19:48:29Z")
> **[Who is Jack Teixeira, the man arrested over Pentagon files leak?](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/apr/13/who-is-jack-teixeira-the-man-arrested-over-pentagon-files-leak)** > > US air national guardsman has been identified as prime suspect in leak of classified documents > In a video seen by Washington Post, a man identified as OG\* is seen at a shooting range with a large rifle making racial and antisemitic slurs on camera. > > As the investigation has closed in on the leaker, there are serious questions to be asked about the latest highly embarrassing leak of US intelligence. > > Perhaps top of the list is how someone so young and emotionally insecure, and with racist and anti-establishment views, could have been allowed access to a site with highly classified intelligence. > > Equally shocking, as the story is emerging, is how that individual was able to remove classified material from a secure site without raising suspicions. \*Teixeira’s Discord handle. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2023, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-leak-of-documents-related-to-ukraine-invasion/982628/16 "2023-04-13T20:38:27Z")
Apparently, this is another Snowden. > ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2023, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-leak-of-documents-related-to-ukraine-invasion/982628/17 "2023-04-13T20:41:53Z")
Teixeira was a “Cyber Transport Systems Journeyman”, or IT guy: > > > Natasha Bertrand @NatashaBertrand That might be why he was able to see information on such a diverse range of topics. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2023, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-leak-of-documents-related-to-ukraine-invasion/982628/18 "2023-04-13T22:22:38Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > That might be why he was able to see information on such a diverse range of topics. No it doesn’t. The obvious approach is to encrypt a document and only send keys on how to decrypt that document file to those few people who need to read it. Instead it sounds like the Defense Department is sending around classified documents in plain text. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2023, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-leak-of-documents-related-to-ukraine-invasion/982628/19 "2023-04-13T22:24:20Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > sending around classified documents in plain text On protected networks and systems, so it’s all good. 🤪 Now I (a cleared defense contractor) get to live through another spasm of insider threat panic. ---
**Author:** ![Ssounder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@Ssounder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ssounder)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2023, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-leak-of-documents-related-to-ukraine-invasion/982628/20 "2023-04-14T02:11:53Z")
Call it panic if you will, but these breaches are a major problem. IMO, it’s way past time to get our collective house in order on the security side. These are uncertain times internationally and we should err on the side of caution. If someone has to take more classes or if they lose access to sensitive information -too bad. People up the food chain will still have access and know about the state of things. It’s their responsibility to pass any job specific information to their subordinates. Giving everyone access is just a lazy practice by management. File encryption has been around for many years so I’m not buying that an IT tech should be able to read all files just because they maintain a secure encrypted server. I hope nobody dies as a result of this childish adventure. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-leak-of-documents-related-to-ukraine-invasion/982628.md?page=2)