I agree this is a potential leak by a guy with inside connections. The January 2nd article date is too close to the event date and needs to be investigated.
There is definitely a big problem here.
And there needs to be a high level national security investigation. And heads need to roll.
You are right on!
Noise needs to be loud over stuff like this.
Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGV’s), or hypersonic missiles, are simply not used for HVI’s (High Value Individuals). They are used for nuclear warhead delivery, targeting satellites, and missile shield purposes. They are large and far too heavy for loitering type ISR platforms, and they are some of the most expensive weapon systems ever developed, or being developed.
They would simply not be carried, launched or dropped, or their hypersonic speed useable or attainable, from a small, slow moving plane or networked ISR platform within the few miles of such an HVI target.
To try and hide a warning to our worst and deadliest enemies, behind such utter nonsense is beyond the bounds of “left wing stupid”.
However, such time sensitive (short suspense) travel schedule knowledge of one of the most valuable HVI’s in the world, would require a “read-in” minimum ts/sci/hcs-g individual. On something like this, they would be at least temporarily highly exclusive, but have access to multiple sci compartmented info, and high up the “food chain”.
Again, this NYT ping to our enemy, does indicates to me, whoever did this had knowledge of multiple sci access/knowledge, and is someone substantial.
At the very least, the leaker had HUMINT, GEOINT, and Executive level discussion access.
The phrase referencing a (theoretical) focused targeting of Soleimani on a visit to Iraq, (near BIAP) within a “write-up” of a totally unrelated weapon class system context, yet still clearly speaking of targeting Soleimani in Iraq (at BIAP) with missile targeting, and going further, speaking of the missile targeting within days of the actual missile strike on Soleimani, cannot even be a mistake in my opinion.
Think about this...
It indicates and exposes a known intel Soleimani travel timeline.
By doing so, NYT’s and illegal intel leaker potentially exposes either an Iranian perceived individual, or group of Iranian perceived individuals, who provided the rough Soleimani travel *TIMELINE*, by focussing intense Iranian investigations on who could have known and given up this info ahead of the NYT’s ping!
Iranian officials have to figure this out for their own safety going forward.
Puzzle pieces will be put together by the Iranians with this level of perceived life or death motivation.