Drudge Retort

Friday, March 28, 2025

Hegseth Texted Plan Time of Killing of Yemeni 'Terrorist'

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth texted the start time for a planned killing of a Houthi militant in Yemen on March 15 as well as other details of imminent waves of US airstrikes, according to a screenshot of a text chat released by The Atlantic today (26 March).

Posted by Corky at 06:31 PM | 46 COMMENTS | permalink

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Hegseth's text started with the title "TEAM UPDATE" and included these details, according to The Atlantic:

"TIME NOW (1144et): Weather is FAVORABLE. Just CONFIRMED w/CENTCOM we are a GO for mission launch"

"1215et: F-18s LAUNCH (1st strike package)"

"1345: 'Trigger Based' F-18 1st Strike Window Starts (Target Terrorist is @ his Known Location so SHOULD BE ON TIME " also, Strike Drones Launch (MQ-9s)"

"1410: More F-18s LAUNCH (2nd strike package)"

"1415: Strike Drones on Target (THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP, pending earlier 'Trigger Based' targets)"

"1536 F-18 2nd Strike Starts " also, first sea-based Tomahawks launched."

"MORE TO FOLLOW (per timeline)"

"We are currently clean on OPSEC"

"Godspeed to our Warriors."

Senior US national security officials have classified systems that are meant to be used to communicate secret materials."

-

This Incompetence is totally unexpected from Hegseth!

#1 | Posted by Corky at 2025-03-26 12:13 PM

"We are currently clean on OPSEC"

I know we are seeing new lows daily from the Trump Cabal.

But this is truly a new low.

The SecDef using an unsecured off-books comms channel being monitored by Russia and China to declare OpSec is intact.

#2 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-03-26 12:16 PM

"This Incompetence is totally unexpected from Hegseth!"

NO ONE in the chat warned of the discussion method. They are ALL incompetent. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM should've demanded a skif.

The fact NO ONE did, means EVERYONE should be fired.

#3 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-03-26 12:19 PM

#3

The Buck Stops.... anywhere but with Trump, his Appointees, or the Congress that approved them.

This is obviously all the fault of a Rogue Reporter!

#4 | Posted by Corky at 2025-03-26 12:24 PM

This article describes the Houthi as a "militant." Who exactly is this Houthi militating against? Per unclassified data sources: One Tomahawk missile costs nearly $2m and an F-18 Hornet costs $18,000 per hour to operate during offensive operations. This chaotic episode exposes not only the incompetence of the Trumpf junta, but the incredible waste of hard-earned American taxpayer dollars to help Bibi Netanyahu.

#5 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-03-26 01:28 PM

Waste, Fraud, and Abuse.

#6 | Posted by YAV at 2025-03-26 01:29 PM

@#2 ... The SecDef using an unsecured off-books comms channel being monitored by Russia and China to declare OpSec is intact. ...

While one of the participants in that chat group supposedly was participating in the chat via his cell phone while in Russia.

I guess this is what happens when you rely upon merit-based hiring policies for senior Trump admin officials.




#7 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-03-26 01:36 PM

Trump is today still denying that any 'classified material was sent'.

'

"The Signal incident is what happens when you have the most unqualified Secretary of Defense we've ever seen," Senator Mark Kelly wrote on social media.

"We're lucky it didn't cost any servicemembers their lives, but for the safety of our military and our country, Secretary Hegseth needs to resign."

Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost said the latest report from The Atlantic makes "clear that this was a massive breach of our national security".

"Had this very specific plan gotten in the wrong hands, Americans would be dead right now, Waltz and Hegseth must be fired immediately," he wrote on X."

'

"Faced with the mounting outrage on Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt doubled down on the Trump administration's stance."

"We have said all along that no classified material was sent on this messaging thread. There were no locations, no sources or methods revealed, and there were certainly no war plans discussed."

She added that the White House considered Goldberg an "an anti-Trump hater".

Blaming the source? What a novel idea!

But hey, Trumpers will buy whatever the Cult Leader is selling.

#8 | Posted by Corky at 2025-03-26 03:33 PM

Trump is today still denying that any 'classified material was sent'.

And Trumpers are repeating what he says.

Just read anything posted by "Visitor_"

It's how cults work. Blind subservience.

#9 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-03-26 03:48 PM

'Just own it': GOP Rep. Bacon says Signal chat contained classified info

www.youtube.com

#10 | Posted by Corky at 2025-03-26 07:43 PM

"Administration trying to avoid that Signal chat is massive security breach, Goldberg says

Details about U.S. military strikes being discussed on Signal have shocked many in the national security community. But President Trump called the whole episode a "witch hunt" and said Defense Secretary Hegseth "had nothing to do with this."

Geoff Bennett discussed more with Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of the Atlantic and moderator of Washington Week."

www.youtube.com

#11 | Posted by Corky at 2025-03-26 07:54 PM

Founder of Signal chimes in....

"In a post on X on Monday afternoon, Moxie Marlinspike, whose real name is Matthew Rosenfeld, poked fun at the group message leak and used it to ironically promote the "many great reasons to be on Signal."

"Now including the opportunity for the vice president of the United States of America to randomly add you to a group chat for coordination of sensitive military operations," the founder of the platform and its former CEO wrote in the post."

www.businessinsider.com

x.com

#12 | Posted by Corky at 2025-03-26 07:59 PM

Israel Supplied Intelligence for Airstrike in Chat

politicalwire.com

#13 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-03-27 04:15 PM

#13: Of course. Since the US neglected the Shia Houthis circa 2015, no CIA or DIA personnel had cover to operate undercover with the State Dept, USAID, etc in Yemen. The USIC has SIGINT and IMINT coverage of Yemen, but no HUMINT sources. I'm so glad to read that Bibi is spending US dollars and jeopardizing American servicemembers in USCENTCOM to avoid those pesky inquiries and corruption trial. How many Palestinians did Netanyahu have butchered today? biowrite.wordpress.com

#14 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-03-27 04:42 PM

"We are Currently clean on OPSEC!"

Is now right up there with

"They are eating the pets!"

and will go down in American history and be taught taught and written about for generations to come.

(Offer not valid in Texas or Florida)

#15 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-03-27 05:42 PM

There is a high potential that Russia, China and Israel were observing.

By law Hegseth must be replaced.

Waltz committed espionage.

Gabbard and company lied and from even just weeks prior were crowing for legal actions and imprisonment against espionage all over MSM.

#16 | Posted by redlightrobot at 2025-03-28 06:51 PM

Yawn.

#17 | Posted by visitor_ at 2025-03-28 07:10 PM

I can tell the a**hat above (#17) has never stood a post, and has no regard or respect for those who do.

#18 | Posted by dutch46 at 2025-03-28 07:26 PM

The pickled rapist hired his brother to help destroy the country.

apnews.com

#19 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-03-28 07:36 PM

You can't handle the truth.

#20 | Posted by visitor_ at 2025-03-28 08:07 PM

The only purpose for a group chat (to begin with) was a group hug. Why else would it be necessary for so many details when a simple "Mission accomplished" would suffice?

They were so busy getting pumped up with self-importance that they didn't notice there was an eavesdropper in their midst.

Can you imagine how this group of nincompoops would handle themselves in a REAL war with dozens of missions taking place in dozens of locations, ground, air and sea?

And the Nincompoop-in-Chief barking out the orders.

#21 | Posted by Twinpac at 2025-03-28 11:23 PM

Can you imagine how this group of nincompoops would handle themselves in a REAL war with dozens of missions taking place in dozens of locations, ground, air and sea?

And the Nincompoop-in-Chief barking out the orders.

#21 | Posted by Twinpac

Like Hitler towards the end of the war, Trump would be ranting like a madman. At least Hitler had military experience unlike lying draft dodger Cadet Bone Spurs who called dead U.S. soldiers "suckers and losers."

#22 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2025-03-29 01:14 AM

The degree of denial and faux outrage among MAGAts over the outrageous texting scandal is unbelievable. Somehow pretending it is not a big deal with scary National Security implication. And the amount of hatred they are focusing on the journalist Goldberg who was included in the chat should be criminal. Seems like FoxNews and rightwing radio is doing their best to get him killed by angry MAGAts. (Keeping in mind that Goldberg did NOTHING wrong than turn on his computer and learned he had been invited into a chat group.) Somehow Republicans publicly keep insisting this is not a big deal and we should just move on. WTF? The Secretary of Defense and the National Security Advisor held a cabinet level meeting about plans to militarily attack another country and target enemies, but they are now playing childish games of semantics trying to claim it was not "top secret". WTF? I'll say this much, if the individual who included Goldberg in the chatgroup did so intentionally (and that may be the case), then that individual should be charged with treason and if convicted face the severest punishment allowed.

Everyone, - China, Russia, Iran, N. Korea, etc. - have all found ways of breaking into rightwing confidential communications, and it seems as if the Trump Administration is doing it's best to facilitate these breaches.

#23 | Posted by moder8 at 2025-03-29 03:08 AM

The degree of denial and faux outrage among MAGAts over the outrageous texting scandal is unbelievable. Somehow pretending it is not a big deal with scary National Security implication. And the amount of hatred they are focusing on the journalist Goldberg who was included in the chat should be criminal. Seems like FoxNews and rightwing radio is doing their best to get him killed by angry MAGAts. (Keeping in mind that Goldberg did NOTHING wrong than turn on his computer and learned he had been invited into a chat group.) Somehow Republicans publicly keep insisting this is not a big deal and we should just move on. WTF? The Secretary of Defense and the National Security Advisor held a cabinet level meeting about plans to militarily attack another country and target enemies, but they are now playing childish games of semantics trying to claim it was not "top secret". WTF? I'll say this much, if the individual who included Goldberg in the chatgroup did so intentionally (and that may be the case), then that individual should be charged with treason and if convicted face the severest punishment allowed.

Everyone, - China, Russia, Iran, N. Korea, etc. - have all found ways of breaking into rightwing confidential communications, and it seems as if the Trump Administration is doing it's best to facilitate these breaches.

#24 | Posted by moder8 at 2025-03-29 03:14 AM

The degree of denial and faux outrage among MAGAts over the outrageous texting scandal is unbelievable. Somehow pretending it is not a big deal with scary National Security implication. And the amount of hatred they are focusing on the journalist Goldberg who was included in the chat should be criminal. Seems like FoxNews and rightwing radio is doing their best to get him killed by angry MAGAts. (Keeping in mind that Goldberg did NOTHING wrong than turn on his computer and learned he had been invited into a chat group.) Somehow Republicans publicly keep insisting this is not a big deal and we should just move on. WTF? The Secretary of Defense and the National Security Advisor held a cabinet level meeting about plans to militarily attack another country and target enemies, but they are now playing childish games of semantics trying to claim it was not "top secret". WTF? I'll say this much, if the individual who included Goldberg in the chatgroup did so intentionally (and that may be the case), then that individual should be charged with treason and if convicted face the severest punishment allowed.

Everyone, - China, Russia, Iran, N. Korea, etc. - have all found ways of breaking into rightwing confidential communications, and it seems as if the Trump Administration is doing it's best to facilitate these breaches.

#25 | Posted by moder8 at 2025-03-29 03:14 AM

Say it once, why say it again?

#26 | Posted by moder8 at 2025-03-29 03:15 AM

Grossly stupid, yeah. End of the world, nah. Could it have been worse, yeah. Will it happen again, unlikely - but if it does, they are out of warnings. Democrats milking it, oh yeah. Enjoy your tiny win.

#27 | Posted by visitor_ at 2025-03-29 10:51 AM

Military pilots are pissed at the pickled rapist.

www.nytimes.com

#28 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-03-29 10:55 AM

The buck stops with Trump. He picked these slap-happy losers.

#29 | Posted by Twinpac at 2025-03-29 04:44 PM

Every year at Christmas my older brother and I exchange political gag gifts. One year I got a Maga hat, and he got a pink ----- hat. Another year I did a mock-up for a Trump NFT. This past Christmas, I got a T-shirt with the red and blue voting counties delineated.

"Oh look at the fine print" I said. "Blue counties represent 70% of GDP."

This year, I'm going to get him a "We are clean on OPSEC" T-shirt, and a "Gulf of Mexico" hat.

#30 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-03-29 04:55 PM

The ~known terrorist is @ his known location~ part of the sub-summary image is very concerning.

How did Sec Hegseth know where that person would be and when he would be there?

Sec Hegseth seemed to give the Houthis a valuable piece of spycraft information, that the US knew that info.

Now the Houthis can start back-tracking to find the leak. For example, who knew the where and when of his whereabouts?

The person who provided that info to the US could be in serious danger.

imo, of course.




#31 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-03-29 06:15 PM

@#30 ... This year, I'm going to get him ...

Thanks for that comment, it brought a smile to my face to see how you and your brother handle politics.

But, I have to ask, don't you think it might be a little too early in the year so pick this year's present?

I mean, there are still more than seven months for something even worse to happen. I know, it may be hard to imagine that, but look at the history since Jan 20, 2025 ...


:)

#32 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-03-29 06:20 PM

The person who provided that info to the US could be in serious danger.

Hegseth probably assumed it was Matt Damon and he'd be fine.

#33 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-03-29 06:21 PM

Maybe Sec Hegseth has not a clue what "security" is?


WSJ: Hegseth took wife to meetings with top foreign military officials
www.timesofisrael.com

... US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth brought his wife to two meetings with foreign military counterparts "where sensitive information was discussed," The Wall Street Journal reports.

Former Fox News producer Jennifer Hegseth is not employed by the US Defense Department, officials tell the outlet.

According to the report, she attended meetings with UK Secretary of Defense John Healey and at NATO headquarters in Brussels for discussions on Ukraine.

The meeting with Healey was held the day after the US said it had scrapped intelligence sharing with Kyiv. The Journal says the meeting covered "the US rationale behind that decision, as well as future military collaboration between the two allies."

The report says the NATO meeting was with the US-led forum of 50 nations called the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. Officials say that confidential information is routinely discussed at the forum, including donations to Ukraine that they do not want to be publicly known.

The outlet says some officials present at the meetings were unaware who Jennifer Hegseth was, while others were surprised at her presence but allowed the meetings to be held without objections.

The report comes amid concerns over Hegseth's handling of sensitive and classified materials and information after it was revealed he texted the start time for a planned killing of a Houthi rebel in Yemen on March 15, as well as other details of imminent waves of US airstrikes, according to a screenshot of a text chat released by The Atlantic. ...


#34 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-03-29 06:25 PM

@#33 ... Hegseth probably assumed it was Matt Damon and he'd be fine. ...

I'm not a viewer of recent films, so the significance of that comparison eludes me.

Can you explain?

#35 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-03-29 09:09 PM

"Can you explain?"

He was Jason Bourne in the movie series.

#36 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-03-29 09:22 PM

Can you explain?

Damon played Jason Bourne in a few films. Jason Bourne is a 007esque super-spy character created by Robert Ludlum.

#37 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-03-29 09:23 PM

@#36,37

Ah... OK, I know of the Bourne series of movies, but I did not know who acted in them.

Thanks for the follow-up.


#38 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-03-29 09:33 PM

@#31 ... How did Sec Hegseth know where that person would be and when he would be there?

Sec Hegseth seemed to give the Houthis a valuable piece of spycraft information, that the US knew that info. ...

I'm somewhat surprised this aspect has not received more attention.


Possibly revealing sources?

#39 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-03-29 11:10 PM

How did Sec Hegseth know where that person would be and when he would be there?

www.cbsnews.com

#40 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-03-29 11:14 PM

"Will it happen again, unlikely"

You missed the salient "tell". EVERYONE in that group has a pro-active DUTY to insure security. EVERY ONE of them had the responsibility to SPEAK UP, and demand security.

Since NONE of them did, nor are they aghast at themselves for their failure, the conclusion is clear: this wasn't a one-off, this was SOP.

Vlad is probably dismayed the US might stop using Signal.

#41 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-03-29 11:20 PM

@#40

Israeli officials furious that Signal group chat exposed intelligence, sources say
www.cbsnews.com

Yup.

Reminds me of ...

Horrified' Israeli intel officials were shouting at US counterparts' over Trump leak (2017)
www.timesofisrael.com

... US President Donald Trump's reported sharing of a highly classified Israeli tip with Russia led to incredibly tense meetings between Israeli and American intelligence officials, Foreign Policy Magazine reported Friday.

The Israelis reportedly shouted at their US counterparts, demanding an explanation for Trump's actions, according to the magazine, which quoted a US defense official.

"To them, it's horrifying," the official said. "Their first question was: What is going on? What is this?'" ...


#42 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-03-29 11:27 PM

2NU - This Is Ponderous (1991)
www.youtube.com

Lyrics excerpt ...

genius.com

...
This is ponderous, man, really ponderous

I had this dream the other night
I went to work one day
And nobody remembered who I was
So, I decided to take the day off

On my way out
I run into my boss and he says
Hey, you look familiar
I said, thanks, people say that
A lot in these dreams

Then the horns kicked in
And my shoes started to squeak

Then all of a sudden
I'm standing on a beach
In some tropical part of the world
And there's this sign that says
'Aren't you supposed to be at work'
Sort of screamed out at me

Then I remembered
I'd been here in other dreams
But usually there was a water polo game
And a girl who could talk with her eyes
See upcoming pop shows
Get tickets for your favorite artists
You might also like
What a Wonderful World
Louis Armstrong
Die With A Smile
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
Slime You Out
Drake
And she'd say
'Can you see what I'm saying'
Then the horns kicked in
And my shoes started to squeak

Before I knew it
I was walking near a lake
When a phone rings
And the operator speaks to me
In a language I don't understand
...


An apropos tune? ...


:)

#43 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-03-29 11:37 PM

@#39 ... I'm somewhat surprised this aspect has not received more attention.

Possibly revealing sources? ...

OK, more seriously.

Did the person who posted that comment to the insecure chat realize the intelligence information they may have been exposing?

#44 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-03-29 11:41 PM

Dems, making a mountain out of a molehill, as usual.

#45 | Posted by MSgt at 2025-03-30 03:50 PM

-------, did Putin's bitch ever acknowledge the 4 American soldiers who died in Lithuania?

#46 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-03-30 03:53 PM

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