Trump Iran photo tweet raises worries about disclosure of U.S. surveillance secrets

By Steve Holland

 

A satellite image shows what U.S. officials say is the failed Iranian rocket launch at the Imam Khomeini Space Center in northern Iran August 29, 2019. Mandatory credit Satellite image ©2019 Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday posted on Twitter a photo of what appeared to be the site of a failed Iranian satellite launch, raising questions about whether he had disclosed U.S. surveillance secrets.

 

The black-and-white photo showed the fire-blasted launch site at a space centre in northern Iran including a damaged gantry service tower and a downed mobile erector launcher.

 

Trump, in his tweet, cited the specific location of the site, saying the United States was not involved in the "catastrophic accident during final launch preparations for the Safir SLV Launch at Semnan Launch Site One in Iran."

 

Speaking to reporters at the White House later on Friday, Trump defended his posting of the photo and reiterated that the United States had nothing to do with the incident.

 

"We had a photo. I released it, which I have the absolute right to do," Trump said.

 

He said the Iranians "were going to set off a big missile and it didn't work out too well. Had nothing to do with us.”

 

The rocket exploded on its launch pad on Thursday, an Iranian official said. A U.S. official also said Iran suffered a satellite launch failure.

 

"I wish Iran best wishes and good luck in determining what happened at Site One," Trump said in his tweet.

 

Patrick Eddington, a former CIA satellite imagery analyst, said the photograph tweeted by Trump appeared to be a classified image taken by a U.S. spy satellite.

 

"If the president simply tweeted out an image from classified briefing that utilizes our most advanced overhead collection capabilities, it is no doubt welcome news to our adversaries," said Eddington, now a research fellow at the CATO Institute.

 

"While he has the authority to declassify any federal document, Twitter is not a legitimate or responsible way to do so."

 

A U.S. defence official told CNBC that the picture, which appeared to be a snapshot of a physical copy of the satellite image, was included in an intelligence briefing on Friday.

 

The Pentagon did not have any immediate comment.

 

The United States has warned Iran against rocket launches, fearful the technology used to put satellites into orbit could enable Tehran to develop the ballistic missile capability needed to launch nuclear warheads.

 

Tehran denies the U.S. accusation that such activity is a cover for ballistic missile development.

 

The Trump administration has ratcheted up economic pressure on Iran this year with economic sanctions to try to force it to renegotiate a pact reached with world powers in 2015 limiting its nuclear program. Trump withdrew the United States from the pact in May last year.

 

Trump has offered to hold talks with Iran but Tehran says first it must get relief from U.S. sanctions.

 

(Reporting by Steve Holland; additional reporting by Jeff Mason, Jonathan Landay and Tim Ahmann; Editing by Mary Milliken and Grant McCool)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-08-31

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Attaboy Donald! , the all seeing eye will get them paranoid as you like. After this revelation they will be afraid to take a pee outside, never mind build any naughty nukes. 

 Don't you just love it how he communicates via Twitter. If you want to know what is actually going on in the world, realDonalTrump is where you will find the facts.

1 minute ago, TopDeadSenter said:

Don't you just love it how he communicates via Twitter. If you want to know what is actually going on in the world, realDonalTrump is where you will find the facts.

Unfortunately most of what he tweets is BS as is almost everything he says every day .

2 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

Attaboy Donald! , the all seeing eye will get them paranoid as you like. After this revelation they will be afraid to take a pee outside, never mind build any naughty nukes. 

 Don't you just love it how he communicates via Twitter. If you want to know what is actually going on in the world, realDonalTrump is where you will find the facts.

And do you actually believe what you have written?

The unofficial Iranian comment;

"MAXAR akbar!"

 

Between the super secret spy satellites and the Predator drones these DJT has their number! 555 

1 hour ago, Boon Mee said:

Between the super secret spy satellites and the Predator drones these DJT has their number! 555 

 

Maybe less "super secret" now, following Trump's Tweet?

I don't think it is smart, but also don't see much harm.

Edited August 31, 20196 yr by stevenl

Every time Donald says something I imagine his nose growing longer.

4 hours ago, TopDeadSenter said:

 If you want to know what is actually going on in the world, realDonalTrump is where you will find the facts.

"Where you will find the facts?"  "FACTS?" 

This, my friends, is what's wrong with America at the moment. 

 

4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Patrick Eddington, a former CIA satellite imagery analyst, said the photograph tweeted by Trump appeared to be a classified image taken by a U.S. spy satellite.

 

4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

A U.S. defence official told CNBC that the picture, which appeared to be a snapshot of a physical copy of the satellite image, was included in an intelligence briefing on Friday.

 

Who says this is classified?  CNN?  CNBC?  MSNBC?  TDS folks?  Who is the U.S. Defence Official?  Our so-called main stream media, as are the FBI, CIA, DOJ, are all controlled by the deep state.  I don't believe any of them.

 

Appeared to be a classified photo?  Shouldn't you confirm in fact that it is a classified photo.....first?

 

Included in an intel briefing.  If the briefing is classified, you are not allowed any cell phones, or note taking materials, nothing is allowed into the briefing.  And.  You cannot to talk about anything discussed, at any level!

 

Another Lawrence O'Donnell?

 

One last thing.  It's well known about our photography from space can go anywhere in the world....  Nothing shocking here.

 

Edited August 31, 20196 yr by JMSIII
add

In the sincere interest of national security, all MSM outlets released full res versions of the same image to the world. Here is the NYtimes' image jpeg qual = 90% filesize be damned. Who remembers the first space shuttle launch in 1981. NASA announced the loss of small tiles on the rear tail section. One alert reporter asked, "How do you know? The astronauts can't see the tail!". Oops.

 

The only national security risk would be if this was the best they can do 38 years later. Could you count six inch tiles¹ in this image? 

 

 

1) https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/shuttle_tiles_2_4v2.pdf

the executive security folks probably already noted these issues 3 years ago and keep a rein on what's really released to his highness to minimize the damage..

54 minutes ago, rabas said:

 

 

 

 

I assume that the words on the ground, in the lower arc of the launch area, are intended for the satellite "eyes" of the US.

 

Translation anyone?

 

 

 

 

6 hours ago, billd766 said:

And do you actually believe what you have written?

I took it as sarcasm. It was, surely?

17 minutes ago, Gandtee said:

I took it as sarcasm. It was, surely?

I couldn't believe it myself, hence the tongue in cheek post.

 

I didn't think it was sarcasm but having read my post again it could have slipped out inadvertently.

Heaven forbid the Iranians should discover that we have satellites spying on them!

Off topic posts and the off topic replies have been removed. 

 

Troll posts and the replies have been removed. 

1 hour ago, timendres said:

Heaven forbid the Iranians should discover that we have satellites spying on them!

The issue is the resolution. Now they know how good the pics can be they can make efforts to hide things better.

 

Good one donald. Let everyone know what u got. Lay the cards down before the game is over.

I’ll try again imo it’s another example of Donald trolling Iran and the rest of us it is also an unessary giveaway of classified information in my opinion it is another example of Donald’s unfitness to serve as potus others may not share my views I defend their rights to do so 

2 hours ago, Sujo said:

The issue is the resolution. Now they know how good the pics can be they can make efforts to hide things better.

I missed the point that this was the crux of the issue. Thank you for explaining that.

10 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

Between the super secret spy satellites and the Predator drones these DJT has their number! 555 

Is this space force technology! 

I seem to recall that when he was electioneering, he said something to the effect of “don’t tell the enemy your plans (secrets, whatever)”.

But now he seems to tell all!

All part of brag I guess. 

 

Does anybody else recall this?

Next week the ayatollah will be his new best friend 

14 hours ago, JMSIII said:

 

 

 

Who says this is classified?  CNN?  CNBC?  MSNBC?  TDS folks?  Who is the U.S. Defence Official?  Our so-called main stream media, as are the FBI, CIA, DOJ, are all controlled by the deep state.  I don't believe any of them.

 

Appeared to be a classified photo?  Shouldn't you confirm in fact that it is a classified photo.....first?

 

Included in an intel briefing.  If the briefing is classified, you are not allowed any cell phones, or note taking materials, nothing is allowed into the briefing.  And.  You cannot to talk about anything discussed, at any level!

 

Another Lawrence O'Donnell?

 

One last thing.  It's well known about our photography from space can go anywhere in the world....  Nothing shocking here.

 

I assume people who used to work in intelligence analyzing these sorts of pictures identified this as a picture taken from a secret spy satellite that's very existence is classified, along with its performance specs.

 

"Included in an intel briefing.  If the briefing is classified, you are not allowed any cell phones, or note taking materials, nothing is allowed into the briefing.  And.  You cannot to talk about anything discussed, at any level!"

 

Right.  And we all know that Trump always follows the rules.  (That is sarcasm, in case it isn't obvious to anyone).

19 hours ago, TopDeadSenter said:

Attaboy Donald! , the all seeing eye will get them paranoid as you like. After this revelation they will be afraid to take a pee outside, never mind build any naughty nukes. 

 Don't you just love it how he communicates via Twitter. If you want to know what is actually going on in the world, realDonalTrump is where you will find the facts.

For all who wondered, TopDeadSenter is a serious "Donald can do no wrong" supporter.  This isn't sarcasm.

So Trump has once again given away information about how the US acquires intelligence on adversaries, this time to the entire world.  Either he is too stupid to realize the damage he is doing, or he is doing it to deliberately undermine the country.  I see it as a bad thing either way, however I'm sure the Trump supporters will twist themselves into logical contortions arguing that what he is doing is fine.

1 hour ago, heybruce said:

So Trump has once again given away information about how the US acquires intelligence on adversaries, this time to the entire world.  Either he is too stupid to realize the damage he is doing, or he is doing it to deliberately undermine the country.  I see it as a bad thing either way, however I'm sure the Trump supporters will twist themselves into logical contortions arguing that what he is doing is fine.

I think you got it right, right here "..... he is too stupid to realize the damage he is doing....." !

His only concern is Trump, not the safety of the "brave men and women who keep us safe" as he likes to say. That's just more Trump BS.

He's also too stupid to realize that he is the laughing stock of the world.

8 hours ago, neeray said:

I seem to recall that when he was electioneering, he said something to the effect of “don’t tell the enemy your plans (secrets, whatever)”.

But now he seems to tell all!

All part of brag I guess. 

 

Does anybody else recall this?

Was that when he was blabbing to the russans in the Oval Office or when he was insulting the cia in front of the wall of stars in quantico?oh yea I rember it was during the campaign 

I cannot understand a noise being made about a satellite photo. You can get almost the same images from google earth. Come on Iran has a missile program and has uttered threats against the US and the west. It'd be moronic to think a satellite isn't stationed above the area. Russia has them around the world China, Israel etc have them. All the communication sats put into orbit aren't for telephone use only. Optics have improved tremendously. Just another jab at Trump when most folks with two or more working brain cells have this already figured out

Edited September 1, 20196 yr by mogoso