Slashdot Mirror


Trump National Security Adviser Michael Flynn Had 'Forbidden' Internet Connection At the Pentagon, Says Report (businessinsider.com)

According to The New Yorker, President-elect Donald Trump's national security advisor, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, installed a secret internet connection into his office at the Pentagon even though it was "forbidden." Business Insider reports: The network connection was among other rules the former chief of the Defense Intelligence Agency broke because he found them to be "stupid," including sometimes sneaking out of a CIA station in Iraq without authorization and sharing classified information with NATO allies without approval, according to The New Yorker. While Flynn -- who was recently tapped to be President-elect Donald Trump's national security adviser -- apparently had his own private connection, the New Yorker profile doesn't provide a clear picture as to why. It's likely his Pentagon office already had an authorized, unclassified connection to the internet called NIPRNet, which is separate from classified networks such as SIPRNet and JWICS, a former DIA analyst told Business Insider. All of those networks are monitored in some way. A separate, unknown network would not have had the same -- or possibly any -- level of monitoring. If it were implemented in secret, it would also not have the same protections from hackers that a known connection would have. It's also possible that Flynn's Pentagon office was known as a SCIF, or sensitive compartmented information facility -- a secure facility in which intelligence can be discussed without fear of it being compromised. Network connections in SCIFs are closely controlled, and outside electronics such as mobile phones are not allowed inside.

5 of 314 comments (clear)

  1. Re:One rule for them and another for us by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    I think you are missing the bit where this was a SCIF. Look it up.

    This might be considered to be just a bit worse.

  2. Re:Not fake news at all. by smooth+wombat · · Score: 5, Informative

    Everything else in the summary is conjecture.

    Exactly, like this gem from the New Yorker article:

    Islam is not a religion, Flynn and Ledeen wrote, but a political ideology bent on destroying Judeo-Christian civilization. Flynn began saying that he had been fired because President Obama disagreed with his views on terrorism and wanted to hide the growth of ISIS. I haven't found anyone yet who heard him say this while he was still in the military. In the past, I've asked Flynn directly about this claim; he has told me that he doesn't have any proof -- it's just something he feels was true.

    Wow! Much insight. So truthful.

    Or this as well:

    The lifelong intelligence officer, who once valued tips gleaned from tribal reporters, has become a ready tweeter of hackneyed conspiracy theories. He reposts the vitriol of anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim commentators. "Fear of Muslims is RATIONAL," he tweeted in February, linking to a false claim that Islam wants eighty per cent of humanity enslaved or exterminated.

    So yeah, I can see how it's all conjecture when it comes straight from the guy's mouth or his own postings. Complete fabrications. Nothing but fake news.

    --
    We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower
  3. Flynn is paid speaker for Russia Today by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    He's a pro-Russian General who ignores the advice of his intelligence people. He's visited Russia repeatedly, sometimes on official duty (e.g. give intelligence briefings), other times not. He was a paid speaker for RT, and insists there's nothing wrong with that.

    He has this weird view on Iran, which is a Russia's allied puppet in the region. Iran is totally evil, and yet Russia is good, and proposes choices which would drive Iran further towards Russia.

    He once suggested giving access to 5 eyes surveillance to Russia to help fight the threat of Islamic extremism. At the time he was pushing a book, but he's since talked up the Russian alliance as means of tackling muslim extremism since, even after being appointed by Trump:

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2016/08/15/trump-adviser-michael-t-flynn-on-his-dinner-with-putin-and-why-russia-today-is-just-like-cnn/

    And wants to undermine NATO:

    "FLYNN: It’s like NATO. Why do three-quarters of NATO [countries] get away with not paying anything? They have to pay their bills. We’ve done a lot, for the better part of half a century, for these countries."

    None of them pay *nothing*, they pay their NATO funding, quite a few have low defense spending which is presumably what he's complaining about in a 'Fox News' sort of hyperbole way, e.g. Germany only spends 1.2% of GDP on defense, France 1.8% of GDP.

  4. I'm out by friedmud · · Score: 4, Informative

    I didn't vote for Trump... but I'm tired of seeing this drivel on Slashdot.

    I've been here a LONG time (~15 years). I've seen tons of _crap_ come through this site in that time... but this stupid political stuff takes the absolute cake.

    This is supposed to be a damn technology site! I come here to get away from the normal news cycle and talk about technology with others who are interested in it.

    I hate to give it up... but I'm out for now. I'm sure I'll check back in a few months... but maybe not.

    Bye guys, it's been fun (mostly).

    (Cue people telling me I won't be missed... which I won't be)

  5. Re:Slashdot keeps running anti trump articles by Zontar+The+Mindless · · Score: 4, Informative

    More like a safe space for hordes of ACs who can't make up their minds whether their stiffies are for Trump or Putin, you mean?

    --
    Il n'y a pas de Planet B.