Latest news with #F-18
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
On protecting classified information, Pete Hegseth picks a fight he can't win
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth covered a fair amount of ground in his latest interview with his former Fox News colleague, Will Cain, and the beleaguered Pentagon chief acknowledged that he's received a lot of criticism since joining the White House Cabinet. In fact, he even suggested he should 'get a medal' because journalists have reported on his many failures. But of particular interest were his comments about the one criticism that apparently bothers him. 'There's a reason why our nation's most closely held secrets are contained in certain places with only access from certain people,' the former Fox News personality said. 'Nobody takes that more seriously than me. 'If there's one thing I've sort of been offended by — I don't get offended by much; I'm here to do my job for the president, for the country — is this idea that I don't take classification or I don't take clearances seriously. Nobody takes it more seriously than me.' I can appreciate why Hegseth is eager to defend himself, especially on a network his boss watches, but all things considered, this was a subject he probably should've avoided. By now, the basic elements of the 'Signalgate' controversy are probably familiar: Top members of Donald Trump's national security team participated in an unsecured group chat about sensitive operational details of a foreign military strike — and they accidentally included a journalist, The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg, in their online conversation. The final paragraph of Goldberg's piece on the fiasco read, 'All along, members of the Signal group were aware of the need for secrecy and operations security. In his text detailing aspects of the forthcoming attack on Houthi targets, Hegseth wrote to the group — which, at the time, included me — 'We are currently clean on OPSEC.'' 'OPSEC' refers to 'operations security.' In other words, the defense secretary was certain that he and his colleagues — while chatting on a free platform that has never been approved for chats about national security or classified intelligence — had locked everything down and created a secure channel of communication. Of course, we now know that Team Trump was most certainly not 'clean on OPSEC,' Hegseth's embarrassing boast notwithstanding. What's more, while there was some discussion of whether their discussion included classified information, there's no denying the chat did include highly sensitive information about times and targets, much of which was put there by Hegseth himself. '1215et: F-18s LAUNCH (1st strike package),' Hegseth told his colleagues in the chat. '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).' At one point, the defense secretary literally wrote, 'THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP.' As brutal as those revelations were, they were soon followed by a series of related controversies. The Wall Street Journal reported in late March, for example, that Hegseth brought his wife — who does not have a security clearance — 'to two meetings with foreign military counterparts where sensitive information was discussed.' The Journal also reported that Hegseth used the Signal messaging app for official Pentagon business more extensively than had been previously disclosed, 'engaging in at least a dozen separate chats.' Then, a few weeks ago, the Journal also reported that the Pentagon inspector general was investigating Hegseth's "sharing of military plans to a second Signal chat that included his wife and brother.' It was against this backdrop that Hegseth told a national television audience that 'nobody' takes the protection of classified information 'more seriously' than he does. Among the many unsettling angles to this incident: The defense secretary managed to deliver the line with a straight face. This article was originally published on
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
The United States Must Retaliate Against Whatever Aquatic Demon Is Dragging Its Fancy Fighter Planes to the Watery Depths
Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. Troubling news from the ocean today: Apparently the crew of the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier has allowed an F-18 'Super Hornet' fighter jet to fall into the water, where it can no longer be used for its intended purpose of flying in the air, for the second time in a week: The F/A-18F Super Hornet jet, worth about $67 million, went overboard after an unsuccessful attempt to slow it down upon landing on the USS Harry S. Truman, the Navy said in a statement. Both aviators aboard the jet safely ejected and were rescued at sea by helicopter with minor injuries, and no one aboard the warship's flight deck was harmed, the service said. That report is from the Washington Post, which notes that there were also no serious injuries sustained during the Truman's prior instance of 'airplane falling into ocean' one week ago. In that incident, a jet being towed to its hangar went overboard, the military says, because the carrier (if we can still call it that, given its checkered history of carrying aircraft) swerved to avoid Houthi rebel fire off the coast of Yemen in the Red Sea. A Business Insider write-up of the incident briefly went viral on Wednesday night because its headline appeared to suggest a third jet had just been lost from the Truman; the article was accurate, but in mentioning a third plane, it was actually referring to an incident last December in which a Truman-deployed Super Hornet was accidentally shot down by the USS Gettysburg missile cruiser. (Both of the aviators aboard survived.) So, as far as that third one, we didn't let it fall off the ship, we just shot it down ourselves. In total, the cost of USS Truman Super Hornets lost since December ($67 million each) is nearly equal to the entire annual budget of the National Endowment for the Arts ($207 million). 'The mishaps have the attention of senior U.S. military leaders, a defense official familiar with the discussion said Tuesday night,' the Post reports. Good to know. In February, incredibly, the Truman was in the news because it ran into a cargo ship near the Suez Canal. Simply put, we may be talking about one of the worst-performing boats of all time. Or maybe that's unfair; maybe the Truman is being stalked by an undersea monster or ocean beast that keeps reaching its hideous tentacles out of the briny deep to grab airplanes. Either way, deterrence theory calls for a swift counterattack against the ocean. Inaction only emboldens the Truman's enemies, which in this case include gravity and potentially an octopus, and encourages further mischief. The best time to shoot a nuclear missile at the Great Barrier Reef in order to 'show it who's boss' was yesterday; the second-best time is now (1300 hours). We fight them (sharks) there so they don't come here. Anchors away!
Saba Yemen
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Excerpts of Sayyid Leader speech about latest developments 10 Dhu al-Qi'dah 1446
Sana'a - (Saba): The leader Al-Sayyid Abdul Malik Al-Houthi: If our people's position were merely theatrical displays, the Americans wouldn't have responded with such large-scale mobilisation, deploying bombers, aircraft carriers, and more. #Master_Of_Words_And_Deeds #IfYouSupportAllahHeWillGrantYouVictory The leader Al-Sayyid Abdul Malik Al-Houthi: The scale and intensity of the airstrikes, along with the full American mobilisation, reflect the significant effectiveness of Yemen's position—by Allah's help and grace. #Master_Of_Words_And_Deeds #IfYouSupportAllahHeWillGrantYouVictory The leader Al-Sayyid Abdul Malik Al-Houthi: Our path of supporting the Palestinian people through direct naval operations and the blockade of Israeli ships has achieved complete and undeniable success. #Master_Of_Words_And_Deeds #IfYouSupportAllahHeWillGrantYouVictory The leader Al-Sayyid Abdul Malik Al-Houthi: Although the Americans have destroyed numerous civilian objects and caused hundreds of martyrs and injuries among our dear people, they have completely failed to halt the operations, to destroy our capabilities, or to break the will of our people. #Master_Of_Words_And_Deeds #IfYouSupportAllahHeWillGrantYouVictory The leader Al-Sayyid Abdul Malik Al-Houthi: We have intensively targeted the aircraft carriers, and the scandal surrounding the downing of F-18 fighter jets revealed the impact of these operations. #Master_Of_Words_And_Deeds #IfYouSupportAllahHeWillGrantYouVictory The leader Al-Sayyid Abdul Malik Al-Houthi: At every stage of this conflict—and even now—it has never occurred to us, nor have we ever considered, let alone accepted, the idea of addressing a criminal, oppressive, tyrannical, and arrogant enemy in a language of surrender, entreaty, or weakness. #Master_Of_Words_And_Deeds #IfYouSupportAllahHeWillGrantYouVictory The leader Al-Sayyid Abdul Malik Al-Houthi: Our clear and publicly declared priority is to support the Palestinian people against the Israeli enemy. #Master_Of_Words_And_Deeds #IfYouSupportAllahHeWillGrantYouVictory The leader Al-Sayyid Abdul Malik Al-Houthi: The Americans returned with an aggressive campaign against our country, hoping that they would achieve what they couldn't in the past. However, they have failed. #Master_Of_Words_And_Deeds #IfYouSupportAllahHeWillGrantYouVictory The leader Al-Sayyid Abdul Malik Al-Houthi: The Americans have escalated their operations against our country, but they have suffered greater losses and have failed even more. #Master_Of_Words_And_Deeds #IfYouSupportAllahHeWillGrantYouVictory The leader Al-Sayyid Abdul Malik Al-Houthi: The American announcement is not because we used a language of surrender or entreaty; it only reflects the clownish behaviour Trump is known for. #Master_Of_Words_And_Deeds #IfYouSupportAllahHeWillGrantYouVictory The leader Al-Sayyid Abdul Malik Al-Houthi: If the Americans get involved in any third round of aggression, we are fully prepared to confront them. #Master_Of_Words_And_Deeds #IfYouSupportAllahHeWillGrantYouVictory The leader Al-Sayyid Abdul Malik Al-Houthi: Our comprehensive position in support of the Palestinian people is firm, whether through strikes deep into occupied Palestine or by blocking Israeli ships. #Master_Of_Words_And_Deeds #IfYouSupportAllahHeWillGrantYouVictory The leader Al-Sayyid Abdul Malik Al-Houthi: I call upon our dear people to take to the streets in millions tomorrow, to thank Allah for the failure of the American efforts, to challenge the Israeli enemy, and to express steadfastness in maintaining our position and supporting the Palestinian people. #Master_Of_Words_And_Deeds #IfYouSupportAllahHeWillGrantYouVictory The leader Al-Sayyid Abdul Malik Al-Houthi: We advise all Islamic governments and regimes and remind them of their responsibility concerning the significant tensions between India and Pakistan. #Master_Of_Words_And_Deeds #IfYouSupportAllahHeWillGrantYouVictory The leader Al-Sayyid Abdul Malik Al-Houthi: America is inciting India against Pakistan; however, significant efforts should be made to contain the tension and thwart American attempts. #Master_Of_Words_And_Deeds #IfYouSupportAllahHeWillGrantYouVictory The leader Al-Sayyid Abdul Malik Al-Houthi: The Americans seek to incite a devastating major war between India and Pakistan. #Master_Of_Words_And_Deeds #IfYouSupportAllahHeWillGrantYouVictory The leader Al-Sayyid Abdul Malik Al-Houthi: We are currently witnessing commendable efforts by Iran; however, there should be larger and broader efforts to contain the tension between India and Pakistan. #Master_Of_Words_And_Deeds #IfYouSupportAllahHeWillGrantYouVictory The leader Al-Sayyid Abdul Malik Al-Houthi: The Americans have their own agendas and goals for inciting conflicts and major problems. #Master_Of_Words_And_Deeds #IfYouSupportAllahHeWillGrantYouVictory Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
Iraqi News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Houthis: We carried out two military operations targeting vital Zionist targets
Follow-up - INA The Ansar Allah movement (Houthis) announced today, Wednesday, the implementation of two military operations targeting vital Zionist targets. A statement from the movement stated that "the drone air force carried out two military operations, the first targeting the Zionist enemy's Ramon Airport." He added, "The second operation was carried out against a vital Zionist enemy target in the occupied Jaffa area using a "Jaffa" drone. It indicated that "a qualitative military operation was carried out targeting the US aircraft carrier Truman and a number of its warships," noting that "an American F-18 fighter jet was shot down due to the state of confusion and panic the enemy experienced during the targeting of the carrier." It confirmed that "the US aircraft carrier Truman fled to the far north of the Red Sea during the qualitative operation," explaining that "the qualitative operation resulted in the thwarting of an air attack that the American enemy was preparing to launch against our country." It indicated that "the operation targeting the Truman was carried out before the American enemy announced the cessation of its aggression against our country."
Yemen Press Agency
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yemen Press Agency
Information Minster accuses US of distracting global attention from its war crimes by revealing military setbacks
SANAA, April 29 (YPA) – Spokesperson for Sanaa Government – Minister of Information Hashem Sharaf al-Din, affirmed that Yemen's victories in the battle of 'The Promised Conquest and Holy Jihad' continue in support of the oppressed Palestinian people. In a statement obtained by Yemen News Agency (SABA), Hashem Sharaf al-Din stated that 'the American enemy is being compelled to resort to tactics aimed at preparing American public opinion for its significant losses of its war against the Yemeni Armed Forces.' He added, 'Today, the US Navy has acknowledged the loss of an F-18 fighter jet from the aircraft carrier Truman in the Red Sea, along with the injury of a sailor. Likewise, the ongoing scandal surrounding the American enemy's targeting of civilians in Yemen continues to grow, prompting efforts to divert international media attention from its brutal war crimes by selectively disclosing some of the defeats we have inflicted upon it. ' He continued, 'In light of this, we are confident that the hidden defeats suffered by the American enemy are far greater. Its persistence in aggression against our people—in support of the Israeli enemy and as a partner in the ongoing brutal assault on Gaza—will only lead to further humiliation at the hands of the Yemeni Armed Forces.' The information minister expressed confidence that 'America's attempts to mislead global public opinion, obscure the truth, or fabricate narratives will fail,' emphasizing that 'America's crimes in Yemen are as clear as day—full- fledged war crimes.' He affirmed that 'the American enemy will gain nothing from its deception except further exposure of its ugly criminal face to those still deluded by US propaganda in this world.' The minster of information concluded by saying, 'Our country—its leadership, government, and people—relying on Almighty Allah, remains steadfast and firm in its position of supporting Gaza until the aggression ceases and the siege is lifted.'
