# War Plans Signal Screwup- The Atlantic is publishing the full messages **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 26, 2025, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-plans-signal-screwup-the-atlantic-is-publishing-the-full-messages/1016136 "2025-03-26T12:54:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**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 22, 2025, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-plans-signal-screwup-the-atlantic-is-publishing-the-full-messages/1016136/261 "2025-04-22T05:07:01Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > Gets cold busted, looks like a dick but faces no actual consequences, and then DOES IT AGAIN. I have no argument that this is all a colossal fuckup, but both Signal chats happened before he got caught. Who knows what he’s been up to since then. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-plans-signal-screwup-the-atlantic-is-publishing-the-full-messages/1016136/262 "2025-04-22T05:13:35Z")
That’s fair. I wasn’t thinking about it happening before the public bust. One does shudder to think how much vital info might have gotten into the wrong hands over the last three months. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-plans-signal-screwup-the-atlantic-is-publishing-the-full-messages/1016136/263 "2025-04-22T06:35:10Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Yes, Signal may be high-tech and advanced and all that, but perhaps the old fashioned ways might be more suitable for discussions like this. I don’t think this is the problem that they are trying to solve. The problem they are trying to solve is how to communicate in a manner that doesn’t leave any traces behind for future law enforcement to use as a basis for criminal charges. > [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > But he does it anyway because it’s more convenient, or whatever. They _all_ do it and most likely on the orders of the boss, who really hates it when people take notes on his criminal conspiracies. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-plans-signal-screwup-the-atlantic-is-publishing-the-full-messages/1016136/264 "2025-04-22T09:05:28Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > what fucking reason do his wife and brother have to be privy to information that, if released, potentially endangers the lives of US servicepersons? Given his history of heavy drinking, it may be they’re used to drunk texts saying, “Hey, remind me tomorrow I want to buy a bitchin’ Camaro bomb Yemen.” ---
**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 22, 2025, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-plans-signal-screwup-the-atlantic-is-publishing-the-full-messages/1016136/265 "2025-04-22T09:28:22Z")
On a general note, I’m still puzzled why Trump didn’t pull the “Acting Secretary” trick. Of course, there’s much less possibility of any of them getting fired this time. ---
**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 23, 2025, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-plans-signal-screwup-the-atlantic-is-publishing-the-full-messages/1016136/266 "2025-04-23T01:10:32Z")
Ok, this just makes me laugh and laugh, even if it’s a slip of the tongue. Here’s hoping their misstatements about Kegsbreath becomes reality. > **[Fox News Host Calls Hegseth 'Former Secretary' to His Face Amid Latest Signal...](https://www.latintimes.com/fox-news-host-calls-hegseth-former-secretary-defense-his-face-581423)** > > The accidental reference as the "former" defense secretary, though quickly corrected, added to the perception that Hegseth's grip on his role is weakening. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2025, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-plans-signal-screwup-the-atlantic-is-publishing-the-full-messages/1016136/267 "2025-04-23T02:18:43Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > I hope you’re right. I just heard on CBS 24/7 that “the President is standing behind Hegseth”, but that channel plays stuff on a loop so who knows what’s happened since. Strangely enough, standing behind someone is the best position for stabbing them in the back. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2025, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-plans-signal-screwup-the-atlantic-is-publishing-the-full-messages/1016136/268 "2025-04-23T12:00:23Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > On a general note, I’m still puzzled why Trump didn’t pull the “Acting Secretary” trick. Of course, there’s much less possibility of any of them getting fired this time. “Acting” officials have less formal authority and power. It’s supposed to be a temporary position. A lot of the broad departmental changes and goal-setting that Hegseth has enacted couldn’t have happened if he were an Acting Secretary. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2025, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-plans-signal-screwup-the-atlantic-is-publishing-the-full-messages/1016136/269 "2025-04-23T15:30:37Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > A lot of the broad departmental changes and goal-setting that Hegseth has enacted couldn’t have happened if he were an Acting Secretary. “Couldn’t” or “Shouldn’t?” Who would be in a position to enforce that? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2025, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-plans-signal-screwup-the-atlantic-is-publishing-the-full-messages/1016136/270 "2025-04-23T15:33:55Z")
Wouldn’t the pool of qualified people to be “acting” have been composed mainly of Biden folks? My understanding (please correct me if I’m wrong) is that only someone who currently holds a Senate-confirmed position can be appointed in an “acting” capacity? So when Trump came to office in January, there wouldn’t have been many Trump-loyalists already in the public service who could be appointed “acting”? ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2025, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-plans-signal-screwup-the-atlantic-is-publishing-the-full-messages/1016136/271 "2025-04-23T15:39:12Z")
Yeah, that’s another problem. The people qualified would be ones who have already been confirmed by the Senate for some position, even if not in the specific Department they’re going to. And limited to serve in that role for some amount of time (200 days? 300?). If the question is “what if they just don’t pay attention to the relevant laws for those?”, well sure that could happen. But then, none of this really matters if there’s not at least fig leaf adherence to existing law. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2025, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-plans-signal-screwup-the-atlantic-is-publishing-the-full-messages/1016136/272 "2025-04-23T15:51:50Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > But then, none of this really matters if there’s not at least fig leaf adherence to existing law. They’ll adhere to the fig leaf until it gets in their way. Then it will be “we’re in an unusual situation because [something] and need to do this anyway.” ---
**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 24, 2025, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-plans-signal-screwup-the-atlantic-is-publishing-the-full-messages/1016136/273 "2025-04-24T03:58:01Z")
It’s reported tonight that Hegseth supposedly installed Signal on his office computer in the Pentagon to get around the ban on cell phones in secure areas. Words fail me. > **[Hegseth installed Signal on Pentagon computers where phones banned: report](https://www.rawstory.com/pete-hegseth-2671834413/)** > > Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had the Signal messaging app installed on his desktop computer in the Pentagon to circumvent poor cell service in the building, according to a new report in The Washington Post, which cited three people familiar with... ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-plans-signal-screwup-the-atlantic-is-publishing-the-full-messages/1016136/274 "2025-04-24T05:30:48Z")
It’s only just come to my notice (sorry, a foreigner here) that Hegseth was previously a Fox News host. A FOX NEWS HOST?? It may be redundant, but how the fuck does a news host get to be Secretary of Defence? Gobsmacked. And yes, I know, I shouldn’t be…this is all par for the course of the Fuckstick’s administration, but really? ---
**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 24, 2025, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-plans-signal-screwup-the-atlantic-is-publishing-the-full-messages/1016136/275 "2025-04-24T05:51:15Z")
It’s the modern version of the parent’s bedtime reassurance. “Yes, dear, it’s true. If you sufficiently slobber on the Orange Deity’s backside, you can be anything you want to be.” ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-plans-signal-screwup-the-atlantic-is-publishing-the-full-messages/1016136/276 "2025-04-24T06:05:40Z")
Ironically, this is civilian command coming back to bite us in the ass. The rule prohibiting active or recent military officers from being SecDef unintentionally allows unqualified jokes like Hegseth to be SecDef. (Yes, I know, Hegseth was in the National Guard. But a 4-star active general would be much better.) ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-plans-signal-screwup-the-atlantic-is-publishing-the-full-messages/1016136/277 "2025-04-24T06:20:01Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > The rule prohibiting active or recent military officers from being SecDef unintentionally allows unqualified jokes like Hegseth to be SecDef. (Yes, I know, Hegseth was in the National Guard. But a 4-star active general would be much better.) That’s not really the cause of Hegseth. We’ve had retired generals be SecDef before. Trump could have found one to nominate. What really is the cause is that the Senate should have rejected this bozo immediately. ---
**Author:** ![IkesAcolyte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ikesacolyte/32/19012_2.png) [@IkesAcolyte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IkesAcolyte)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-plans-signal-screwup-the-atlantic-is-publishing-the-full-messages/1016136/278 "2025-04-24T13:45:01Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > What really is the cause is that the Senate should have rejected this bozo immediately. Since Gaetz dropped his nomination, they should have been stricter on the rest of the nominations. But they still let this nimwit slip through. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-plans-signal-screwup-the-atlantic-is-publishing-the-full-messages/1016136/279 "2025-04-24T14:44:46Z")
The current Senate works for trump. Period. The whole point of the trump ~~administration~~ criminal regime is to cripple, and ideally destroy, a) the federal government, and b) the US economy. Hegseth is a stellar example of success by those metrics. He’s not going to be replaced; he’s doing great gouts of trumply double-plus goodness. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-plans-signal-screwup-the-atlantic-is-publishing-the-full-messages/1016136/280 "2025-04-24T22:42:55Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > The whole point of the trump ~~administration~~ criminal regime is to cripple, and ideally destroy, a) the federal government, and b) the US economy. Plus (c) the destruction of the USA/European alliance, weakening the West, destroying NATO, and opening the way for Putin to expand his hegemony. Russia’s investment in Trump is paying off bigly. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-plans-signal-screwup-the-atlantic-is-publishing-the-full-messages/1016136.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-plans-signal-screwup-the-atlantic-is-publishing-the-full-messages/1016136.md?page=15)