Security Breach: Trump Administration Accidentally Involves Journalist in Sensitive Military Planning
In a surprising turn of events, the Trump administration inadvertently added Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor of The Atlantic, to a restricted messaging group while discussing a planned military operation against Houthi positions in Yemen. The March 15 attack, targeting the Iran-backed militia, was overshadowed by the serious implications of leaked sensitive national security information.
Goldberg recounted the incident in a detailed article published on the magazine's website. He expressed deep concern regarding the breach, especially considering the presence of high-ranking government officials in the chat, including National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and Vice President JD Vance, who seemed unaware of Goldberg's presence. The situation poses critical questions about the robustness of national security protocols in place during the Trump administration.
The incident began on March 11 when Goldberg was added to a group chat on the Signal messaging platform by a user identifying as Michael Waltz. Although he had met Waltz in the past, Goldberg immediately became suspicious, given the notoriously tense relationship between the Trump administration and the press. With the number of high-profile government officials involved, he initially thought he had stumbled upon a prank or a misinformation campaign.
The group chat titled 'Houthi PC' included users whose initials matched those of notable government figures, namely Secretary of State Marco Antonio Rubio and Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard. Despite the implausibility of the scenario, a spokesman for the National Security Council later confirmed the authenticity of the chat.
In the following discussions, the chat delved into the specifics of the military operation, including the timing and weaponry to be used. Vance raised concerns regarding the implications of U.S. military support for European merchant ships, though he was eventually swayed by input from a user identified as Stephen Miller, a prominent advisor to Trump.
Goldberg, wary of the authenticity of the plans, consulted with colleagues while remaining in the group. His apprehensions subsided when, on the date of the attack, celebratory notifications and emojis filled the chat, corroborating the operation's occurrence. It was then that Goldberg exited the group and promptly reported the incident to the government.
Following this, the National Security Council acknowledged the legitimacy of the chat and committed to investigating how Goldberg was integrated into the group. The choice of Signal for such discussions raised eyebrows; while encrypted, it is a platform unauthorized for sharing classified information – particularly sensitive military operations.
Goldberg's findings sparked further alarm as the events could potentially constitute a violation of the Espionage Act, which strictly prohibits unauthorized communication regarding national defense information. In addition to the improprieties of using Signal, the protocol typically forbids officials from using personal devices in discussions involving classified matters.
As he shared pieces of the conversation, Goldberg revealed a concerning lack of adherence to government protocol, which mandates that communications of this nature would typically be conducted through secure government channels, and that messages should be retained, rather than programmed to delete themselves periodically. This incident highlights critical vulnerabilities within the national security apparatus during Trump's presidency, raising necessary discussions about the protocols in place to safeguard sensitive military operations.
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