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President Donald Trump disclosed highly classified information to Russia's foreign minister about a planned Islamic State operation, two U.S. officials said on Monday, plunging the White House into another controversy just months into Trump's short tenure in office.
The intelligence, shared at a meeting last week with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak, was supplied by a U.S. ally in the fight against the militant group, both officials with knowledge of the situation said.
The White House declared the allegations, first reported by the Washington Post, incorrect.
[...] One of the officials said the intelligence discussed by Trump in his meeting with Lavrov was classified "Top Secret" and held in a secure "compartment" to which only a handful of intelligence officials have access.
After Trump's disclosure of the information, which one of the officials described as spontaneous, officials immediately called the CIA and the National Security Agency, both of which have agreements with a number of allied intelligence services around the world, and informed them what had happened.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-idUSKCN18B2MX
Also at The Washington Post and The New York Times.
[Update.] According to Ars Technica, President Trump then proceeded to Tweet information about this meeting:
Statements from President Trump on Twitter and from White House National Security Advisor Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster did not directly contradict details initially reported by the Washington Post late on Monday. McMaster said that no sources or methods were exposed in the conversation. However, the unnamed officials cited in the Post report were concerned that Trump's citing of the exact location "in the Islamic State’s territory where the US intelligence partner detected the threat" could expose the source. Tuesday morning, Trump tweeted:
As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 16, 2017
...to terrorism and airline flight safety. Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 16, 2017
Trump also lashed out at the intelligence community for leaking about his actions:
I have been asking Director Comey & others, from the beginning of my administration, to find the LEAKERS in the intelligence community.....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 16, 2017
(Score: 0, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 17 2017, @11:26AM (30 children)
From TFA we find out what this classified information was:
So it is classified that the president is "briefed on great intel every day". I assume there must be a classification above top secret for the real stuff then? A top secret classification has apparently become meaningless.
(Score: 2, Troll) by kaszz on Wednesday May 17 2017, @11:36AM (28 children)
You got the hint right here:
about a planned Islamic State operation
The question then becomes if it's about something USA planned to do towards IS, or if it's something that IS planned to do. Secondly did it expose some event or source. Loosing information on a event is a one time. Loosing a source is way worse.
(Score: 5, Informative) by zocalo on Wednesday May 17 2017, @12:36PM (10 children)
Losing *a* source is bad enough, but the potential here is for entire *countries* to consider whether it might be a good idea to start being more careful about what information they share with the US, particularly if it might put their sources and methods at risk, and that applies whether there is any truth to the story or not. The most likely result is that the US will now have an even less complete picture of what's going on on the ground, which in turn makes it more likely that someone will be able to pull off something that might otherwise have been prevented.
UNIX? They're not even circumcised! Savages!
(Score: 2) by AnonTechie on Wednesday May 17 2017, @12:58PM
Israel Said to Be Source of Secret Intelligence Trump Gave to Russians:
The classified intelligence that President Trump disclosed in a meeting last week with Russian officials at the White House was provided by Israel, according to a current and a former American official familiar with how the United States obtained the information. The revelation adds a potential diplomatic complication to an episode that has renewed questions about how the White House handles sensitive intelligence.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/16/world/middleeast/israel-trump-classified-intelligence-russia.html [nytimes.com]
Albert Einstein - "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
(Score: 0, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 17 2017, @03:43PM (2 children)
Losing *a* source is bad enough, but the potential here is for entire *countries* to consider whether it might be a good idea to start being more careful about what information they share with the US,
Its not just Israel that might shutdown sharing. Its every single ally because they have no reason to think it won't happen to them too.
Meanwhile, back in Moscow, Putin can't stop doing his Mister Burns imitation, rubbing his hands and saying "Exxxcellent."
(Score: 3, Informative) by zocalo on Wednesday May 17 2017, @04:17PM (1 child)
As for Moscow and Putin; yeah, I'll bet they're loving this. If there's even the slightest clue in their transcript that could lead someone to deduce something about the source of the intel and they disclose it publically... The US needs to get on top of this ASAP, because depending on what was actually said (or not) Trump may have inadvertantly provided Moscow not just with the means to drive a wedge between the intelligence communities of the US and its allies, but to do so over Syria; an area where the US and Moscow have major differences of opinion. What's not for them to like?
UNIX? They're not even circumcised! Savages!
(Score: 2) by davester666 on Friday May 19 2017, @07:41AM
Given how Trump is reported to demand information, namely, it must be boiled down to a single page of bullet points, how can you give him enough information to even remotely do his job in any sort of reasonable way?
(Score: -1, Troll) by Ethanol-fueled on Wednesday May 17 2017, @05:32PM (3 children)
Fuck Israel. They should be next on the nuking block.
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Wednesday May 17 2017, @05:44PM (2 children)
Do we have the right nuke granularity, thought?
You need to decide if you want to nuke the 20% of Israeli Palestinians, the 80% of Israeli Jews, both, or the 50-50 including the Occupied Territories and colonies.
Would you rather nuke Greater Israel or just Green-line Israel? How about Gaza and the Golan Heights?
Nothing's ever easy down there. We need better Apartheid and formal Bantustans, so we can carpet-bomb more efficiently.
(Score: 1) by butthurt on Wednesday May 17 2017, @06:19PM
The West Bank and Gaza have sturdy walls to separate them from Israel.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel%E2%80%93Gaza_barrier [wikipedia.org]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_West_Bank_barrier [wikipedia.org]
Ciskei had a mere fence.
https://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,976551,00.html [time.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 17 2017, @07:02PM
Run a few simulations using NUKEMAP [nuclearsecrecy.com].
I detonated [nuclearsecrecy.com] an Ivy Mike (10.4 Mt) airburst above Tel Aviv. 1,520,940 dead and 1,227,590 injured. Unfortunately had some 3rd degree burns out in the West Bank, but we've got smaller nukes than an "Ivy Mike" we could use for more precise targeting like say lobbing a W80 (150 kt) over there.
(Score: 2) by linkdude64 on Wednesday May 17 2017, @10:05PM (1 child)
Yes, Israel may get mad at us and stop accepting billions of dollars in defense money and equipment.
(Score: 2) by zocalo on Wednesday May 17 2017, @10:27PM
UNIX? They're not even circumcised! Savages!
(Score: 3, Disagree) by Phoenix666 on Wednesday May 17 2017, @12:59PM (14 children)
Loose information and loose sources are almost as bad as loose women.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 17 2017, @01:15PM (3 children)
Loose information and loose sources are almost as bad as loose women.
Is this the kind of loose women [youtube.com] you're talking about?
(Score: 4, Informative) by Phoenix666 on Wednesday May 17 2017, @01:28PM (2 children)
No, not really. But every time I see "loose" used when "lose" ought to be, I want to reflexively yell, "So practice tying better knots!"
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 17 2017, @04:51PM (1 child)
Pro-tip: When making a spelling flame, quote the damn spelling error so people can realize you are just being a spelling nazi and not waste their time trying to divine meaning from your pedantry,
(Score: 2) by NotSanguine on Thursday May 18 2017, @03:41PM
Pro-tip: When making a spelling flame, quote the damn spelling error so people can realize you are just being a spelling nazi and not waste their time trying to divine meaning from your pedantry,
Pro-tip: When complaining about pedantry, complain about the *correct* issue (in this case, usage rather than spelling).
No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical. --Niels Bohr
(Score: 2) by Whoever on Wednesday May 17 2017, @03:23PM (9 children)
WTF are you saying here? Are you saying that Israel is the villain here, not the victim?
Or are you just a waste of oxygen?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 17 2017, @03:41PM
What if Israeli Secret Intelligence Service [veteranstoday.com] are both the villain and deserved victim?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 17 2017, @03:46PM (5 children)
> Or are you just a waste of oxygen?
If you read his posts it becomes clear P666 just as idiotic as any pepe.
The guy did vote for trump after all.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 17 2017, @04:54PM (2 children)
Ditto. His story about being a Clinton staffer in the 90s is great. He's just shilling.
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Wednesday May 17 2017, @08:41PM (1 child)
Clinton Foundation employee, in the 00's. I've been inside Bill's super-secret love nest on the roof of the Clinton Presidential library in Little Rock. True story.
You're just jealous.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 17 2017, @09:13PM
So first you were a employee on clinton's campaign and now an employee of the clinton foundation.
The story keeps getting better and better!
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Wednesday May 17 2017, @08:39PM (1 child)
That's true. Every word. I think. Do you mean "pepe," as in "Mexican?" Or do you mean, "pepe," as in, "Hello, my peeps!"?
Anyway, I am stupid. Dumb as a post. I should be smart, like you, and post AC. Then nobody will know my secret shame, that I am truly, truly stupid.
That is a fact. I did. Smart people voted for Hillary. Surpassing people voted for Stein. That neither of those candidates won proves for all time that their voters are smart, and everyone else is dumb, dumb, dumb. And, while we're at it, pantsuits are cool. They're very cool. Everyone who doesn't wear them is terribly unfashionable, and uncool. And a misogynist. QED.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 17 2017, @09:15PM
> That's true. Every word. I think. Do you mean "pepe," as in "Mexican?" Or do you mean, "pepe," as in, "Hello, my peeps!"?
https://encrypted.google.com/search?q=pepe&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&gbv=1 [google.com]
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Wednesday May 17 2017, @08:30PM (1 child)
? None of the above. I was pulling an oblique grammar nazi by pointing out "loose" should have been "lose" in the Parent.
Sorry.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 2) by shortscreen on Wednesday May 17 2017, @10:56PM
where's the -1 whoosh moderation?
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Thursday May 18 2017, @08:58AM (1 child)
Incredible that pointing out information inside the article and clarify what permutations that are possible is being "Troll". The article is or was very sparse on details. And the only piece of real information is easier to discuss when it's pointed out specifically such that the actual circumstances may be evaluated properly.
One can get the feeling some people are actually trolls themselves for trying to derail factual information on current events.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 18 2017, @11:52AM
Partisan uses selective citation of facts to imply misleading conclusions and is surprised its misleading implications are considered misleading.
News at 11!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 17 2017, @06:33PM
Top Secret Graphic Novels?