Chris Kelly Opinion: ‘Signalgate' exposes MAGA mendacity

Yahoo

30-03-2025

Every few months, my employer requires my colleagues and me to change the passwords that allow us access to the company's computer network. It's a minor nuisance that's absolutely necessary to secure the system from hackers, scammers and other bad actors.
We also complete periodic online training exercises to keep up to date on cyber threats and learn how to thwart them. A key theme is not sharing company secrets or other sensitive information on platforms or devices that are easily compromised without proper security measures.
The training is mandatory, and you can't just start the modules and walk away. They are peppered with questions that require answers. Participation reflects that you understood the training and that the company did its due diligence to keep you from making embarrassing and potentially damaging mistakes, either accidentally or willfully.
Given all my training, if I download a virus that sends shockwaves through the system, I may as well change my password to $o$orryPl3@$3M@ilMyFin@lCh3ck.
If I do it willfully and lie about it, my final paycheck could be replaced by a lawsuit and criminal charges.
Not so for high-ranking apostles of the Second Coming of Trump. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, National Security Adviser Tim Waltz, Director of National Security Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and other officials shared obviously classified information with Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, on an encrypted app called 'Signal.'
Then some of them lied about it. Under oath. To Congress. The messages released by Goldberg prove it beyond any reasonable doubt. Hard evidence strongly suggests that the alleged leaders of our defense and security agencies violated the Espionage Act and perjured themselves before Congress.
In any other administration, they would all be fired from a cannon and likely prosecuted. So far, Trump refuses to even criticize any of them. Firing any of them would confirm what sane, serious people said when they were nominated — none of these nincompoops has the experience, intellect or character to hold the most crucial posts in our government.
Meanwhile, an unelected, immigrant billionaire owner of a failing electric car company chainsaws his way through the federal workforce, illegally and immorally firing dedicated civil servants with glowing employee records for 'poor performance.'
And the nincompoops and their apologists on Fox 'News' and other right-wing propaganda mills keep lying about documented facts that are not in doubt. The more they lie, the more they inadvertently highlight the truth.
I know a lot about lying. In my drinking days, I became expert at deflecting blame, particularly in the sad practice of lying when caught. I'd come home reeking of alcohol and swear to my wife I hadn't been drinking. I was lying to myself. She trusted her eyes, ears and nose to tell the truth.
When all the evidence is against them, liars can choose to acknowledge the facts and accept the consequences of their words and deeds or stick by the lie, no matter how ridiculous and obviously false. Compulsive liars always stick by the lie, determined to ride it all the way down, collateral damage be damned. This twisted persistence is the essence of gaslighting, which is the lifeblood of Trump's long con.
When the boss is a shameless liar, subordinates feel not only emboldened but obligated to follow suit. In a workplace with no consequences for egregious errors and unscrupulous excuses, the next disaster is always imminent.
This latest historic blunder lays bare (yet again) the hypocrisy, mendacity and mindless menace that animates the so-called 'MAGA movement.' For all their 'patriotic' posturing, hardcore Trumpers don't give a damn about government reform, national security, the safety of our men and women in uniform or even cheaper eggs. They crave chaos, damage and retribution against anyone who has it 'better' than them, especially minorities.
Beneath all the lies and political rigamarole, this is a serious, ongoing national security issue. The Signal group chat not only violated security protocols and possibly the Espionage Act; it put the lives of U.S. Air Force pilots at risk. Any bad actor surreptitiously monitoring the chat could have warned the enemy of the imminent airstrike. We are lucky 'Leaky Pete' didn't get our pilots killed. How would Trump and Sean Hannity blame Biden for that?
Before we could deploy to Iraq with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in 2004, then-Times-Tribune Photo Director Mike Mullen and I were required to report for training at Fort Dix, New Jersey. We learned how to stay out of the way in combat situations and not get ourselves or our soldiers killed or wounded.
Religious observance of operational security ('OPSEC') was drilled into our civilian heads. Mike and I were welcome to accompany soldiers on missions, but if we published or shared with our editors any information that could compromise their safety or objectives, we would be on the first plane home and possibly facing arrest and prosecution.
We were cool with that. Mike and I made it clear to commanders that we didn't want to know anything we didn't need to know. We understood that any mistake could have fatal consequences for us and our soldiers.
The commanders gave us remarkable freedom to do our jobs. They understood that we were there to document the daily trials and triumphs of local soldiers at war — real people with families, careers and futures they put at risk to defend Our Republic.
Those citizen-soldiers are some of the most honest, decent, professional and brave people I've ever known. Some I liked better than others, but every one of them is better than Hegseth, Vance, Waltz, Gabbard, Ratcliffe and Trump combined.
CHRIS KELLY, the Times-Tribune columnist, has two days left to change his password. Any suggestions? Contact the writer: [e-mail]; @cjkink on X; Chris Kelly, The Times-Tribune on Facebook.