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The Duffel Brief · the free edition, Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Vol. 15 · No. 120 · Wednesday, 7 October 2026

Pentagon

DTS works properly after hack by rogue AI

Pentagon scrambling to restore slow load times, incomprehensible errors and traditional user experience

Lincoln sailor returning from deployment already broke

Paste-eating Marine praised for unmatched commitment to unit

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Vol. 15 · No. 120 · Deployed worldwide

Wednesday

7 October 2026

0032 Zulu

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· Page 2

H.R. McMaster only authorized to stay in three-star hotels for government travel

Filed · 1535

WASHINGTON – Lt. Gen. H.R McMaster recently learned that even though he is the president's national security advisor, he is only authorized to stay in three-star hotels while on official government travel, sources confirmed today.

McMaster was particularly irked when he learned some other officials, however, such as retired Gen. James Mattis, the Secretary of Defense, and retired Gen. John F. Kelly, the Secretary of Homeland Security, are both authorized to stay in four-star lodgings.

“But I’m on the National Security Council,” McMaster was overhead complaining, after his travel claim for a recent trip to New York City was rejected by the Government Accountability Office. “Mattis and Kelly both stayed at the Central Park Marriott too, so why are you paying their claims and not mine?”

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