Anyone who remotely (and rightfully) criticized Hillary Clinton- as I did, and still continue to do- for using her own email server should be absolutely furious to the point of apoplexy about this news story. I’m certain our board Trumpers are so angry about this unacceptable breach of national security that they’re too mad to even compose their thoughts. Don’t worry- they’ll be along to condemn this and demand the resignation, impeachment, and/or imprisonment of everyone on that text thread soon. Just you wait!
This OPSEC fail is truly unfathomably astounding, but IMO the content of the messages is arguably worse. It’s like an episode of Veep come to real life. The messages show that:
1. Even at the highest levels, these guys are often left in the dark and wondering what Trump actually wants.
2. Trump himself is not involved in the critical decision-making processes of the government over which he presides (he was golfing in the hours preceding and during the strikes), ones that have direct national security implications.
3. The priority in the aftermath has been the PR spin, not the operations themselves.
4. Even though the purpose of the strikes is to “send a message”, Europe will still need to pay for them, despite not asking for them?
5. And the beyond-cringe use of emojis which, while maybe not a huge deal, demonstrates how truly unprofessional this whole organization is and how unseriously the administration takes things like lethal missile strikes and military actions.
