Leaking is Wrong

For John, BLUF:  Some people have an ego too big and some have no faith in our American system.  Both need to be reined in.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Leaking Trump's Phone Calls Is 'Shocking and Dangerous'

This is Newser and Reporter Michael Harthorne, of the Newser Staff, today, 3 August 2017.

Here is the lede:

(NEWSER) – The transcripts of President Trump's conversations with the leaders of Mexico and Australia leaked to the Washington Post are giving Americans insight into Trump's negotiating style and how he's relating to America's allies, but David Frum at the Atlantic writes the leak of the transcripts is "unprecedented, shocking, and dangerous."  Frum says it's vital foreign leaders know they can speak freely with Trump without their words getting out.  "No leader will again speak candidly on the phone to Washington, DC—at least for the duration of this presidency, and perhaps for longer," Frum writes.  He says the leaks are evidence of the "cycle of self-destruction" Trump has started in which his misconduct spurs misconduct from the opposition.  Here's what else you need to know about the leaked transcripts:

I pretty much agree with Mr David From, except for where he holds President Trump guilty for being President Trump.&mnsp; I guess is it necessary to say that Mr Trump started it, and others just follow.  I think it is that certain folks just didn't accept the idea of a President Trump and thus felt justified in leaking.

I will say that I am from a different generation.  I thought, and think, classified information is to be protected and not spread out to the Fourth Estate.  My second tour in the Pentagon I have a civilian friend in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) who was smeared for leaking classified information to the Press.♠  It was a bad experience.

If you aren't upset about the Leaking, and the Fourth Estate facilitating it, you should be.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  It was information about a project my office, my Division, was working on.