[Dems_R_Losers]

This is NOT funny, people. It is unbelievable incompetence.

[dead]

If the information is as sensitive as it sounds, I would hope that each copy distributed is numbered and the recipient recorded.

Assuming that is the case, it shouldn't be long until the careless recipient is identified, and he'll be a careless recipient no more.

[colorcountry]

There's a chance it was a "plant" in order to test someone, or fool someone.

If I was in Washington and my life depended on discretion, I would periodically be planting items of interest, then watching to see just who picked it up and what exactly they did with the information, say for example, run to the press. Aren't they investigating the leaks to the press right now?

[supercat]

This is NOT funny, people. It is unbelievable incompetence.

I do not believe that real records of the indicated types legitimately ended up in the trash without being shredded.

My guess would be that either (1) someone illegitimately placed the real records there, perhaps for pickup by someone, or (2) the government placed falsified records there, in the hopes of having someone pick them up, or (3) the government placed falsified records somewhere, in the hopes that someone would pick them up, and that person placed them in the trash.

Anything else would seem to require not only incompetance but also going against SOP.

[Muzzle_em]

I agree with your statement.
We often make jokes here at FR when we are so baffled by something like this. I was horrified when I read this article.