Congressman twitters secret trip to Iraq

Rep. Hoekstra's Twitter feed.

Update, 2/11/09: Pentagon is "reevaluating current policy," regarding movement of congressional delegations.

For security reasons, the congressional delegation led by House Minority Leader John Boehner to Iraq today was supposed to be secret. Everything had been going fine in that regard. Even media outlets that knew of the trip, like the Congressional Quarterly, kept a lid on the news.

That was, until Rep. Peter Hoekstra twittered his arrival into Baghdad. "Just landed in Baghdad. I believe it may be first time I've had bb service in Iraq. 11th trip here," he sent from his BlackBerry.

I don't know if Rep. Hoekstra broke any laws by revealing the trip, but the political blogs are fond of pointing out that such a security lapse is surprising for the Ranking Member of the House Intelligence Committee.

Also news: Apparently, you can now get BlackBerry data service in Baghdad. Although I doubt anyone will be surprised if that service is taken offline for a bit after this gaffe.

Previous coverage of Rep Hoekstra: McCullagh's Law: When politicians invoke the do-this-or-Americans-will-die argument.

[ssjmichael]

uhhh, He wrote about his trip to Iraq and Afhganistan since the 3rd. Look here:

"Heading to Iraq and Afghanistan weds night.I'll update on twitter and web pg as links are available.I'll ne back in touch mid next week."

If it was so secretive, clearly the messages would have been deleted while he was sitll in the US no? I think this article and any other one covering it from this angle completely blows this out of proportion. A little more investigating like I just did wouldn't hurt either.

[mikestatic1]

My hero

The problem with having a cellphone is that you can be tracked. There are more than a few enemies over there that would love to take a shot at somebody important. Ignoring the fact that the message content can be intercepted, he was carrying a homing beacon.

[Jack K1]

Just think of it in Darwinian terms. It'll all sort out in the end.

[ariemay]

What a brain surgeon.

[Dylan_Wisor]

Christ, even Congressmen type like fourteen year old girls on their phones?

[edlee19]

I had to pause to decipher what, "bb service," meant. I guess it means, "BlackBerry service." Maybe one day we will see another abbreviation, "wauf! I wonder how they knew?" meaning, "We are under fire! I wonder how they knew?"

[PublicUrinator]

Hah, Hoekstra was my highschool teacher. He's such a G.I. Joe I remember we would laught about if there would be a shooting at our school, Hoekstra would crush the bullets with his bare hands.Go Hoekstra go!

[anngw]

who's paying for this "trip" to Iraq?

[Dylan_Wisor]

****

[codynews]

What a moron. I hope he's not a replublican (too lazy to look it up). I mean, twitter? RLY? Losers..

[twitchery]

you lose he is an R. a moron like all R.

[mookey5372]

Let me see if I have this correct. The country is losing jobs at an alarming rate, the economy is crashing, the congress is trying to spend $1T dollars of our tax money. Then some congress members go on a retreat to a museum and to Iraq for a boondoggle (What did this cost us?). Who is working on the stimulus plan???? Who controls where and when congress works? Are they responsible to anyone?? Doesn't look like it to me.
Frustrated, Mad and upset!!

[gggg sssss]

what a twit (ha ha pun)

[cnreader]

wow rediculous
leaders in intel are notorious for forgetting about security
the lower guys get punished badly but these guys are sloppy and get away with it
saw it all the time
they get too relaxed or too excited they know something or have an itch to just share

[sandkicker]

So is anyone really suprised. If that had been a lowly GI, they would have been on the carpet. Security is only something for the peons to worry about.

Have congressional junkets to the Iraq or any other middle eastern countries actually been beneficial or are they just ways for our great leaders to escape the hum-drum of D.C. life.
In Apr 2007 I believe, even our new speaker [pelosi] was photographed in Syria shopping for jewelry and all on the tax payers dime.

Politicians keep going overseas but what have they accomplished.

The Senators and Congressman want the people to support the causes that the country is fighting for and believe that pictures from the countries should be enough, but for them a free trip to any place in the world they want to go is ok. It should be mandated that these politicians should not be able to buy items in these countries for transport back to the United States (remember McCain having staff buy expensive - in the US - Persian rugs. I am sure many of these politicians also buy great gifts while there. More of a shopping trip then a fact finding mission.

In addition if all these Congressional trips are so vital how come they are always done when Congress is not in session? Reason is that they are rewards for party loyalty.

The Senators and Congressman want the people to support the causes that the country is fighting for and believe that pictures from the countries should be enough, but for them a free trip to any place in the world they want to go is ok. It should be mandated that these politicians should not be able to buy items in these countries for transport back to the United States (remember McCain having staff buy expensive - in the US - Persian rugs. I am sure many of these politicians also buy great gifts while there. More of a shopping trip then a fact finding mission.

In addition if all these Congressional trips are so vital how come they are always done when Congress is not in session? Reason is that they are rewards for party loyalty.

[tankilo]

They may not have used twitter, but politicians have been known to disclose visits to "sensitive" areas before or during trips. How else would we get photo ops?
Hoekstra's website gave an official response (in pdf *boo*) detailing specific times when the opposite political party made similar disclosures.
http://hoekstra.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=110668