In a shocking turn of events, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth disclosed sensitive military plans via a Signal app group chat that included the editor in chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg. This major security breach occurred just two hours before strikes against the Houthi militia in Yemen.
The oversight, caused by National Security Adviser Michael Waltz mistakenly adding Goldberg to the chat, shocked Defense Department officials. They voiced concerns that such disclosures could potentially compromise American military operations and have classified implications under the Espionage Act.
On March 15, Hegseth shared detailed information about upcoming strikes, including target locations and weaponry. Goldberg highlighted the seriousness of the situation, mentioning that adversaries could have exploited this information to harm U.S. personnel.
Interestingly, Vice President JD Vance, a member of the chat, expressed reservations about the military action, highlighting the reliance on U.S. efforts to protect European shipping lanes from Houthi threats. He shared his frustration about European reliance on American support, echoing sentiments that seemed to reflect a broader dissatisfaction within the administration.
This incident has generated discussions surrounding communication protocols in military planning and the responsibilities of officials handling sensitive information, ensuring such breaches do not recur in the future.
