Top Secret Leak
Atlantic Releases Chat Shows Hegseth’s Detailed Attack Plan | March 27th
Speaking as a former Navy Aviator (515 missions during the Vietnam War), he firmly rebutted Defense Secretary Pete Hegses’s claim that the content of the signal text released by the Atlantic was not discussed. This is why references to text attacks were top-secret.
1. Centcom (US Central Command) is cited. Therefore, missions take place in the Middle East, Central Asia, or South Asia.
2. The US Navy F-18 is cited, which means that US aircraft carriers are taking part in the attack. The Times, which stated the launch of the first and second strikes and the start of the attack, allows rough calculations to determine the approximate distance from the carrier to the target.
3. The only aircraft carrier operated in CENTCOM’s operational responsibility area was USS Harry S. Truman, and it was well known that the carrier was operating in the Red Sea.
4. The text cites the MQ-9 “Strike Drone Launch,” an unmanned aviation vehicle used by the Navy in past airstrikes in Yemen. Houthis fired down over 10.
5. Time for the second F-18 Air Strike states that “the first sea-based Tomahawks have been released.” Again, the dead prize is that the attack comes from the sea and involves the launch of missiles from ground combatants of the aircraft carrier task force.
The Department of Defense policy is obligated to classify information related to combat operational plans. If Houthis had known the text information, they would have had time to prepare. Given the explicit operational description of the impending attack, the content of the text should have been categorized as a top secret.
Gordon I. Peterson, Captain, US Navy (retired), St. Petersburg
The hypocrisy on display
Atlantic Releases Chat Shows Hegseth’s Detailed Attack Plan | March 27th
The current Secretary of Defense, Fox’s news on air analyst, says: “Hilary Clinton is using private mail servers to do official business while he holds a high position in government.
When asked about providing information to journalists on March 14th this year, Tulsi Gabbard, our Director of National Intelligence, said:
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Others in the Signal App “Group Chat” include Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
Many, if not all of these people, spoke loudly about the aforementioned security breaches. Now they are defending their actions by stating that information is not classified, rather than a “war plan” before debate on the intention, timing and logistics of fatal military action arises.
These people know with most certainty what war plans are and what information is categorized. There is no nuance here.
Terry R. Arnold, Treasure Island
Through the visual glass
With EVS, Teslas becomes a political target, with Florida drivers considering options | March 25th
Has FBI Director Kash Patel signed Alice with Wonderland Syndrome? Please check it out. This is a rare neurological disorder characterized by temporary distortions in perception. He has launched a task force targeting anti-Tesla, acting as a “domestic terrorist attack.”
On January 6th, 2021, an angry mob descended onto the U.S. Capitol at the request of Donald Trump and occupied it. The perpetrator is considered a “political prisoner” and a “patriot” and is forgiven. If we try to block a peaceful transfer of power from one government to the next, we see nothing here. But somehow, Tesla vandalism is equivalent to “domestic terrorism.”
Mark T. Butler, Clearwater
Free speech is eroded
Trump brought political fear into everyday American life | Column, March 30
What will be next? Do we all need to chip or get tattooed? Do Canadians need to sew maple leaves into clothes like the Star of David? Is the “dictator” president the only freedom of speech? Where is our backbone? How can we protect ourselves against this tyranny and injustice? comment!
Carol Brech, Largo
ev slut
When EVs and Teslas become political targets, Florida drivers consider options | March 30th
It’s strange how politics can change the environment. Less than two years later, the mandate said that all cars produced by 2035 must be electric. Carbon emissions from fossil fuels have been a progressive topic at the top. How did Elon Musk have the responsibility to mainstream quality EVs just two years ago – become a social pariah?
I don’t think the propagandists were able to spread the lie because the rich guy cleaned up Twitter. What a dare! If that wasn’t bad enough, Musk had the audacity to advise the Trump administration. Fast forward a few years ago, liberals are driving EVs to local Tesla dealers and burning cybertrucks. Can you spell sarcasm?
Mark Hayes Campbell, St. Petersburg
flip flop
When EVs and Teslas become political targets, Florida drivers consider options | March 30th
A few months ago, people on the left showed us how important it is to buy an electric vehicle to save the planet and combat global warming. Former President Joe Biden was also filmed on an electric vehicle. Now, the same people are protesting, bombing, shooting electric car dealers, destroying electric cars to threaten their owners.
John Spangler, Spring Hill
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Submit your letter at www.tampabay.com/opinion/submit-letter/. The letters are edited for clarity and length.
