Comment by lapcat
8 months ago
> Waltz set some of the messages in the Signal group to disappear after one week, and some after four. That raises questions about whether the officials may have violated federal records law: Text messages about official acts are considered records that should be preserved.
I suspect that this was the point of their using Signal, to avoid preservation of records.
The DoD or Pentagon don’t have their own messaging apps? Maybe our government doesn’t spend enough on tech. To me this is the same as if this were happening on Zoom or Discord, since these are not exactly world war level apps.
Finally, the echoes of Dr Strangelove are strong with this one. A veritable board room of talking heads that don’t ever really talk about life or death, but just the material numbers of raw commerce or messaging (deterrence) .
Of course they do, but you can't set official government apps to illegally delete messages after a week.
Edit: Seems like they are supposed to use Microsoft Teams https://dodcio.defense.gov/Portals/0/Documents/Library/Memo-.... Also -
> When mission needs or the effective conduct of DoD business cannot be adequately supported by Microsoft Teams Chat, SMS texting may be used in accordance with DoDI 8170.01. In such cases, a complete copy of the record must be forwarded to an official DoD electronic messaging account of the user within 20 days of the record's original creation or transmission in accordance with Section 2911 of Title 44 U.S.C, and Component processes. The complete copy of the record includes the content of the message and required metadata, and the record must be retrievable and usable in compliance with the applicable retention schedule approved by the Archivist of the United States. DoD Component heads shall ensure that DoD users are provided guidance on their Component's processes for forwarding complete copies of records originating in SMS texts.
Weren't they told to stop using SMS due to Salt Typhoon?
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They do, and they are certified for this kind of communication.
Is Signal even FedRAMP? I don't think it is.
> not exactly world war level apps.
And what is?
A face to face meeting in a bunker. But seriously, we pondered the psychological damage of those who are drone operators. How is this different? There should be more ceremony when making decisions like this, not an afternoon group chat. Dress for it, look yourself in the face for it. Be present.
I’ll just say one thing about this administration. It is often true that when one thing is wrong with a man, then it’s possible all things are wrong with the man. We keep adding to the list, but I’m suggesting the inductive proof here. All things may be wrong with these men, which is scary.
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SO much for 'the most transparent administration in history', not that I bought into that claim in the first place. Seems like a violation of multiple public record-keeping laws.
"But her e-mails."
> It’s best to understand that fascists see hypocrisy as a virtue. It’s how they signal that the things they are doing to people were never meant to be equally applied.
> It’s not an inconsistency. It’s very consistent to the only true fascist value, which is domination.
> It’s very important to understand, fascists don’t just see hypocrisy as a necessary evil or an unintended side-effect.
> It’s the purpose. The ability to enjoy yourself the thing you’re able to deny others, because you dominate, is the whole point.
> For fascists, hypocrisy is a great virtue — the greatest.
* https://mastodon.social/@JuliusGoat/109551955251655267
See also: “Every accusation, a confession.”
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Using the insult "Fascist" in every other sentence really diminishes whatever message was in there
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On the other hand, directly sharing war plans with the press is about as transparent as you can get.
A corollary here is that maximum pressure is being put on DoD to find “leakers”. It now appears that to the normal people in DoD, what looks like evidence of regular leaking to the press might be incompetence at the appointee level.
I would love for them to say that. Awe heck it was about transparency, we’re doing that from now on.
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You can already guess what consequences they're going to face: none.
Nevertheless, the Democrats should move to impeach. The fact that they probably won't be able to get a vote taken (never mind win one) is beside the point.
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Please FOIA the administration's process for meeting records requirements while using Signal. People need to call them out on this or nothing happens.
Thankfully done, at some scale, https://bsky.app/profile/nationalsecuritylaw.org/post/3ll5cd...
It is such a horror that this government is operating off the books, that this administration will again leave behind only empty pages in the history book where normally the government would have ownership of what transpired.
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Hahaha...it has always been a farce, just like Twitter and Musk are for free speech and DOGE is about transparency.
But they are extremely transparent. All of their actions are clearly in furtherance of corruption, stealing, and helping Russia (and China) destroy the United States.
Unfortunately we also live in the time with the largest mass media consumption (social media), all but guaranteeing their followers keep rationalizing their actions with a litany of talking points rather than understanding straightforward criticism said by someone on the "other" team.
It's not just social media. What enabled things to get to this point was Fox News, which was created specifically to do that.
" In 1970, political consultant Roger Ailes and other Nixon aides came up with a plan to create a new TV network that would circumvent existing media and provide "pro-administration" coverage to millions. "People are lazy," the aides explained in a memo. "With television you just sit — watch — listen. The thinking is done for you." Nixon embraced the idea, saying he and his supporters needed "our own news" from a network that would lead "a brutal, vicious attack on the opposition." "
https://theweek.com/articles/880107/why-fox-news-created
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>…all but guaranteeing their followers keep rationalizing their actions with a litany of talking points rather than understanding any criticism said by someone on the "other" team
To me, the one-sided right wing media bubble seems to be the root of how we got here in the first place. It allows politicians to avoid any and all accountability for their actions. Popular rule cannot function in this environment, and if it continues, nothing will stand in the way of this administration destroying what’s left of the country.
I think 'blatant is a better word to describe this than transparent. Not keeping records of government business makes accountability (political or legal) impossible. But yes, I basically agree with your view.
They are transparent! They give the info directly to the press before anyone else! /s
transparent but also ephemeral
Wait, you’re saying the Trump administration might be breaking a rule? Pretty wild accusation
Trump's razor: The opposite of what he says is closer to the truth.
Addendum: Anything GOP accuses others of, they're doing.
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I'd have phrased it a bit differently. If he accuses an "enemy" of doing something, he's saying he did that.
It's the whole point of using Signal and Starlink WiFi.
The obvious follow up is what else do they illegally delete?
If they’re doing it so blatantly to plan for attacks that will eventually be public, contain no conspiracies or illegal activity, and will be used to dunk on Biden, then what else are they automatically deleting?
Plus, if China/Russia/Iran/NK weren’t targeting US officials phones and Signal, now they certainly are.
> what else do they illegally delete?
Likely everything they can. Rules are for fools in this admin.
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