So much for keeping a secret...

[brooklynite]

The Guardian:

When Donald Trump flew to Iraq on Christmas Day for a top secret visit, the US government took every precaution to avoid the news leaking out. Journalists were sworn to secrecy, while Air Force One flew with its lights off and was accompanied by fighter jets for part of the journey.

The US military had not reckoned with a planespotter from the suburbs of Sheffield, who took a photograph of the president’s plane in the sky over Yorkshire and inadvertently helped to break news of the flight to the Middle East while Trump was still in the air.

Alan Meloy, a semi-retired former NHS IT manager with an interest in aircraft and railways, was standing outside his house on Boxing Day when he spotted a jumbo jet.

“It’s one of those weird moments where you’re right place and right time,” he said. “Boxing Day dawns clear and bright, the next thing there’s an interesting airplane.”

Meloy took out a camera with a long lens he uses for birdwatching and took a picture, planning to add it to the thousands of aircraft photos he has uploaded to the internet over the years. Then he noticed this one had a distinctive livery.

[USALiberal]

1. Cool story. Great photo. nt

[Renew Deal]

2. Some great British humor by the photographer

“When asked whether it was worth Trump keeping the window blinds down during the trip, Meloy delivered a straightforward verdict: “Well that made a big difference. And he’s not seen Yorkshire.””

[Haggis for Breakfast]

6. Well, the upside is that Yorkshire didn't have to see him.

[littlemissmartypants]

7. +1000 nt

[DFW]

3. There was one very well-kept secret

Trump told the troops they got a 10% pay raise that they have not seen, and will not see. When he will give it to them is a very well-kept secret. No one knows when that will be, including Trump who is keeping it so secret, even Trump himself has no idea when it will come!

[Haggis for Breakfast]

8. Talk about NOT keeping secrets . . .

That FUCKING MORON in the WH published - on twitter of ALL places - the members of SEAL TEAM FIVE. It's not unusual for these pictures to be take, but usually, for obvious reasons, their faces are blurred or pixilated, before publication. NOW their identities have been splashed all over social media for everyone (including our enemies) to see, compromising their security, their anonymity, the work they do and and the networks they establish. Never in history has a CinC ever been this careless and reckless.

Way to go "Spanky." You are one stupid mother-fucking shit hole. You are going to get people killed with your incompetence. If anything happens to these men, their blood will be on your hands.

Please resign. Now.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

9. and their families

He's an idiot and he wallows in it.

[Grasswire2]

4. There were people who noted on twitter that the requisite Marine guard was not in place at the WH...

...as is always the case when POTUS is there. And so many people knew he was missing and said so publicly.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

5. Yes, it like the Queen and the Union Jack.

A friend of mine took a picture of Balmoral Castle and told me that the Queen was there at the time. No, she was not. The Scottish Lion was flying from the yardarm. When the Queen is in residence, it is the Union Jack that flies.