Speaking of Security....

px_eliezer_

National Security Agency chief and deputy director dismissed

The director and the No. 2 official at the National Security Agency were ousted from their positions Thursday, according to a defense official and three sources with knowledge of the matter.

It was not immediately clear why Air Force Gen. Timothy Haugh and his deputy were dismissed, the sources said…..

“NSA Director Tim Haugh and his deputy Wendy Noble have been disloyal to President Trump,” she (Laura Loomer) added. “That is why they have been fired.”

Loomer, who has spread false conspiracy theories that the 9/11 attacks were an “inside job,” did not cite specific examples of when they had been disloyal to Trump. She said they could not be trusted because they were Biden appointees….

Haugh and Noble are career officials who have spent decades working under Republican and Democratic administrations. Haugh has spent more than 30 years in the Air Force, primarily in intelligence and cyber positions. Nobles joined the NSA in 1987 and has worked her way up in the agency since then.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/national-security-agency-chief-deputy-director-dismissed-rcna199647

GrumpyCanadian

px_eliezer_ did not cite specific examples of when they had been disloyal to Trump.

px_eliezer_ She said they could not be trusted because they were Biden appointees

Or, in other words, it’s a political settling of scores and/or ideological vendetta. Aside from that, I thought the first duty of such officials was to serve their country, not pledge their undying loyalty and subservience to the president.

px_eliezer_

GrumpyCanadian Aside from that, I thought the first duty of such officials was to serve their country, not pledge their undying loyalty and subservience to the president.

One would think, but that’s not in fashion now. 🙁

I’m probably ignorant of such things, but to me pissing off the whole NSA (which still has thousands of dedicated employees who monitor lots and lots of communications…), it seems to me that pissing off the whole NSA is pretty stupid.

GrumpyCanadian

px_eliezer_ I’m probably ignorant of such things, but to me pissing off the whole NSA (which still has thousands of dedicated employees who monitor lots and lots of communications…), it seems to me that pissing off the whole NSA is pretty stupid.

Oh, I agree! Doing that, one might eventually find that Signal and/or iOS wasn’t as secure as one was led to believe, and even more embarrassing details end up discreetly leaked to the press. With the help of contacts in other countries, one would never know how it was obtained or who did the leaking.

urbanriot

GrumpyCanadian

Or, in other words, it’s a political settling of scores and/or ideological vendetta.

This happens with every administration, it’s not exclusive to this one.

At the same time we have no idea what happens behind closed doors and a lot of shady shit has happened prior to the most recent change in administration.

mmmdonuts

Interesting how some think that flag officers and civilians who reach high positions in the DoD are not political animals by virtue of them being in the DoD.

ALL high level positions in gov and lettered agencies, including the DoD, are political animals.

px_eliezer_

mmmdonuts Interesting how some think that flag officers and civilians who reach high positions in the DoD are not political animals by virtue of them being in the DoD.

Believe it or not, there ARE military men and women with long service to their country who have a high degree of patriotism and competence, and who do their best to avoid partisan battles.

Interesting how some people think that Laura Loomer is qualified to give advice to anybody, on anything.

Downright bizarre and fascinating at the same time.

px_eliezer_

urbanriot This happens with every administration, it’s not exclusive to this one.

It’s a matter of degree.

For example, Texas is far larger than Delaware.

They are both US states, and for that matter each has two senators, but there is a BIG difference in land area and population.

Sorry, the events of the last several weeks are just not normal, regardless of previous administrations…!

mmmdonuts

px_eliezer_ Believe it or not, there ARE military men and women with long service to their country who have a high degree of patriotism and competence, and who do their best to avoid partisan battles.
Interesting how some people think that Laura Loomer is qualified to give advice to anybody, on anything.

I never mentioned Loomer nor would I have reason to do so. And I agree with your assessment of her. It’s actually quite surprising that anyone would think that she had anything do to with those firings.

There ARE military men and women and even civilians with those qualities. The higher up you go in the chain the further that percentage (or ratio) swings in the other direction. Even when they try to maintain their integrity as much as they can more and more of their acts and decisions become political. You can count on a few fingers how many of those people have been willing to put their job/role/position/status (ass) on the line for what is right.

px_eliezer_

mmmdonuts I never mentioned Loomer nor would I have reason to do so. And I agree with your assessment of her. It’s actually quite surprising that anyone would think that she had anything do to with those firings.

Well, being that she pretty much claimed responsibility, why would this be surprising ??

On Friday, far-right conspiracy theorist Laura Looma appeared to take credit for the dismissal.
https://www.dw.com/en/trump-fires-nsa-chief-far-right-activist-takes-credit/a-72147165

mmmdonuts And I agree with your assessment of her.

Thank you for that, at least.

mmmdonuts

px_eliezer_

Cool. You wrote “pretty much claimed responsibility” in reference to a link with a headline “appeared to take credit” with article content stating “U.S. official briefed on the matter said she called for his removal”. How many more levels of sharing before we get to “she personally walked in his office and gave him the boot”?

px_eliezer_

mmmdonuts Cool. You wrote “pretty much claimed responsibility” in reference to a link with a headline “appeared to take credit” with article content stating “U.S. official briefed on the matter said she called for his removal”. How many more levels of sharing before we get to “she personally walked in his office and gave him the boot”?

What level of proof do you require?

Do you check your spouse’s photo ID every morning?

Sheesh.

GrumpyCanadian

mmmdonuts There was another article (which I can’t find at the moment) that explicitly said that she had a personal audience with the President, and dear old Elon also called for an overhaul of the NSA on Twitter. In interviewing former Trump cabinet members, they claimed that with the “adults in the room” of his first term, she would likely have been kept away.

mmmdonuts

GrumpyCanadian
You’re also missing the point. I’m not denying that Loomer went to the WH and met with the President or that she openly called for those and others to be fired. It’s the statements that she claims responsibility made by people who fall for the media based “telephone game”. Articles reference other articles that reference social media posts that reference unnamed sources, etc. and each adding more certainty to the lies. SOP for the MSM and those who believe them.

Either way it doesn’t matter. I don’t care for or about Loomer. As a media whore she’s eager to insert herself into any situation for personal gain and at the same time careful enough to not make statements of dubious claims at the level of POTUS. They were fired for a reason, whatever that was, and many others still need to be fired. Let the cleanup continue.

Peace out.

px_eliezer_

Thanks for your description of Loomer.

Which brings up the question of why she was granted a presidential meeting.

As well:

The notion that the military is supposed to place personal loyalty to the president over and above loyalty to the country and the Constitution, is quite disturbing.

ThirdShifter

He was part of the MIC club. Every admin has their own preferred MIC club members to replace and install when they come into office. This is just a shiny thing to distract you.

The players change but the game is the same.

Excessive Military Spending: The MIC can lead to disproportionate allocation of national resources towards military spending at the expense of social programs, education, and healthcare. This can result in underfunded public services and infrastructure.
Influence on Policy: Defense contractors may exert significant influence over government policy, leading to decisions that prioritize military solutions over diplomatic or peaceful resolutions. This can perpetuate conflicts and lead to unnecessary military engagements.
Perpetuation of Conflict: The MIC can create a cycle where ongoing conflicts are sustained to justify continued military spending and production. This can lead to a focus on war rather than peace, as the economic interests of the defense industry may conflict with the goal of conflict resolution.
Corruption and Lack of Accountability: The close ties between government officials and defense contractors can lead to corruption, favoritism, and a lack of accountability. This can result in wasteful spending, cost overruns, and subpar military equipment.
Public Perception and Militarization: The MIC can contribute to a culture that glorifies military solutions and normalizes the use of force. This can affect public perception and support for military actions, potentially leading to a more militarized society.
Impact on Civil Liberties: In some cases, the focus on national security can lead to the erosion of civil liberties and increased surveillance, as governments may prioritize security measures over individual rights.
Environmental Consequences: Military activities can have significant environmental impacts, including pollution, habitat destruction, and resource depletion. The focus on military readiness can overshadow the need for sustainable practices.
Global Arms Race: The MIC can contribute to an arms race, as countries feel pressured to increase their military capabilities in response to perceived threats, leading to heightened tensions and instability.
You know the outcome.

GrumpyCanadian

At this point, I’m fairly convinced that the data-entry clerk who processed her birth certificate misread the chicken scratch, and entered an “m” where “ni” should have been.