Signal chat saga: A matter of security and truth

I am horrified that a group of government officials not only used the messaging app Signal to discuss war plans but included a journalist [“WH: Nothing classified was shared; Democrats call that ‘Baloney,’ ” News, March 27].

President Donald Trump ran his first campaign in 2016 emphasizing the lapses with Hillary Clinton’s emails and its national security implications.

If this happened under a Democratic president, the Republicans might be talking impeachment. At the very least, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, who invited Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic editor-in-chief, to the chat, needs to be fired.

For nearly all my life, the GOP has claimed to be the party of national security and law and order, but this administration seems to care about neither. Trump’s emphasis on loyalty to him from members of Congress over all else makes our nation less safe.

Do GOP members of Congress follow the law and the Constitution or Trump? They cannot do both right now.

— Alyson Chadwick, Stony Brook

I was amazed that Mike Waltz, in charge of our national security, apparently was unaware of the basic vulnerability of texts that many high school students are aware of. Due to his ignorance, a secret mission and lives were put into jeopardy.

Considering his inexperience, it makes one wonder what other blunders await our security forces. If Waltz has any sense of responsibility, he will resign immediately before he does something that his boss can’t use ridicule to minimize.

— Dom Gervasi, Wantagh

Donald Trump has picked such unqualified candidates for the most critical cabinet positions in the U.S. government, of which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is one.

So, it comes as no surprise that an embarrassing and scary breach of security has taken place — sensitive war plans of upcoming military strikes in Yemen were texted in a group chat and no one knew the editor of The Atlantic was one of those invited.

What we need is a defense secretary with the critical skills and knowledge to oversee such a huge workforce and the safety of all Americans. But instead, we are given someone who requires on-the-job training, and that is unacceptable.

If Hegseth doesn’t do his homework soon, lives will be put at risk, and that will be on the president.

— Bob Bascelli, Seaford

This latest news about Donald Trump’s administration shows more and more incompetence. The use of unsecured phones on an unsecured app to discuss war plans is perhaps the most egregious security breach in the past 50 years of U.S. history.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, considered the most competent person in the Cabinet, should have known better. This makes the screaming and yelling about Hillary Clinton’s emails look like a hangnail.

Pete Hegseth’s response that this was fake news from a terrible reporter and blatantly false has already been proved to be untruthful. This chat group placed our nation in danger by not following the rules.

— Jeff Goldschmidt, Stony Brook

All those incompetent Cabinet members should lose their jobs. They put servicemen at risk, and they apparently are unqualified and don’t take their jobs seriously enough.

When Hillary Clinton had emails on her phone, even though they were private emails, the Republicans put her through the mill with hearings, and the issue likely cost her the presidency.

Suddenly, things are different in Donald Trump’s presidency. For his staff to say this is no big deal is so hypocritical that it is mind-blowing.

I don’t know how we are going to get through the next four years.

— Ann Leahy, Wantagh

Former President John F. Kennedy wrote “Profiles in Courage” about eight U.S. senators who defied their party and voted against what their party was trying to promote.

Published in 1956, the book told of their love of country and that they knew there would be consequences for their votes, but they voted with their hearts and the belief that their vote was correct. They had the courage to vote with their conscience.

There is a lack of courage, unfortunately, in today’s Congress, where almost every Republican bows down before Donald Trump and votes for everything he demands. Less than apt Cabinet members offer the same fealty, as we’ve seen this week.

Trump gets some things right, but the wholesale tearing apart of the government is going to weaken and possibly destroy the United States.

— Roger Kaufmann, East Northport

These group text participants are worse than children. You might expect your children to lie or misrepresent the truth, but these people? Cabinet members?

Stand on your own two feet, act like an adult, and accept responsibility for your actions. Grow up.

— Gerard Pelkofsky, Kings Park