@JonahBlank's Threads
A lot of discussion in the press about #CodeWord-level security clearance & whether Presidential phonecalls with foreign leaders should receive it.
A brief thread, to help clear up some inaccurate reporting (and some *very* inaccurate White House messaging: <1/8>
A brief thread, to help clear up some inaccurate reporting (and some *very* inaccurate White House messaging: <1/8>
#CodeWord clearance is a subset of #TopSecret clearance:
-It does *not* require a special codeword to access. That's just what it is called. It is more formally called #SCI, for Sensitive Compartmented Information.
<2/8>
-It does *not* require a special codeword to access. That's just what it is called. It is more formally called #SCI, for Sensitive Compartmented Information.
<2/8>
#CodeWord/SCI-level clearance is held by many people throughout the Executive Branch, Congress, & outside contractors.
There are a number of sub-compartments within SCI, some of which are more tightly held than others.
I am not allowed to tell you what they are.
<3/8>
There are a number of sub-compartments within SCI, some of which are more tightly held than others.
I am not allowed to tell you what they are.
<3/8>
#RobertOBrien, the new National Security Advisor, is virtually unknown within #foreignpolicy circles.
Who is he? @politico has a profile. Brief thread on what it shows <1/8>
politico.com/story/2019/09/…
Who is he? @politico has a profile. Brief thread on what it shows <1/8>
politico.com/story/2019/09/…
New NSA #RobertOBrien has none of the experience typically needed for arguably the most important job in #foreignpolicy/#nationalsecurity.
Here's what he was doing during his only prior stint in govt. I was working in NatSec at the time: These aren't significant posts <2/8>
Here's what he was doing during his only prior stint in govt. I was working in NatSec at the time: These aren't significant posts <2/8>
New NSA #RobertOBrien is described as a "hostage negotiator," but it is unclear whether he has ever negotiated the release of a hostage. For example, he had nothing to do with release of citizens held by #NorthKorea (unlike #JimmyCarter, @BillClinton, Bill Richardson etc) <3/8>
1/6
Latest #SriLankaBlast update:
-A lot of Twitter chatter about possible link to #NationalThowheethJamaath. Here's a story relaying the substance, next tweets provides some analysis.
hindustantimes.com/world-news/sri…
Latest #SriLankaBlast update:
-A lot of Twitter chatter about possible link to #NationalThowheethJamaath. Here's a story relaying the substance, next tweets provides some analysis.
hindustantimes.com/world-news/sri…
2/6
Argument in favor of #NationalThowheethJamaath culpability for #SriLankaBlasts:
-According to @AFP, #SriLanka police sent out a warning on April 11 that #NTJ was planning suicide attacks on churches. If report is accurate, suggests there's actual intel rather than just rumor.
Argument in favor of #NationalThowheethJamaath culpability for #SriLankaBlasts:
-According to @AFP, #SriLanka police sent out a warning on April 11 that #NTJ was planning suicide attacks on churches. If report is accurate, suggests there's actual intel rather than just rumor.
3/6
Argument against ##NationalThowheethJamaath being (sole) culprit for #SriLankaAttacks:
-#NTJ has never conducted operations remotely like this: They've largely limited themselves to vandalism. Have not demonstrated anything like the organizational capacity for major ops.
Argument against ##NationalThowheethJamaath being (sole) culprit for #SriLankaAttacks:
-#NTJ has never conducted operations remotely like this: They've largely limited themselves to vandalism. Have not demonstrated anything like the organizational capacity for major ops.
US Administration tried to de-fund the #SpecialOlympics, seeing it as some sort of charity event.
...Compare that to how #Indonesia treated its hosting of the #AsiaParaGames a few months ago: A source of national pride, and enthusiastic support for great athletes.
<1/4>
...Compare that to how #Indonesia treated its hosting of the #AsiaParaGames a few months ago: A source of national pride, and enthusiastic support for great athletes.
<1/4>
#Indonesia treated the #Paragames not as a charity, but as an opportunity to host a world-class athletic competition. Signs like this one were ALL over #Jakarta-- you could barely turn your head without seeing them. Portrayed the games as a source of pride and excitement. <2/4>
The excitement over the #AsiaParagames was genuinely broad-based: When I tried to take my kids to events like #basketball, #volleyball, and #fencing, I found that the tickets were all sold out. <3/4>
As documented by @TheAtlantic's always-excellent @JamesFallows, one of the underappreciated factors in 2016 election is the failure of #journalism to do its job (one Jim story-- he has many others).
...My thoughts on how to prevent repeat in 2020: <thread>
theatlantic.com/notes/2017/09/…
...My thoughts on how to prevent repeat in 2020: <thread>
theatlantic.com/notes/2017/09/…
In 2016, MSM obsessively covered @HillaryClinton emails, while ignoring the far-more-important story of #FBI investigation of the Trump campaign. This failure had a major impact on the election's outcome. My analysis is shaped by experience in both in #journalism and politics:
We're seeing exactly the same dynamic in the 2020 campaign that we saw in 2016: MSM is focusing on horserace issues & GOP talking points, rather than delving into SUBSTANTIVE differences between the candidates. This could determine outcome of Dem primaries-- & general election.
