Jeffrey Goldberg’s Unexpected Access to US War Plans on Yemen via Signal
Donald Trump ordered military strikes on Yemen’s Houthis on March 15, following a Signal connection request that led journalist Jeffrey Goldberg to access military discussions. Michael Waltz, the national security adviser, invited Goldberg to a group chat titled ‘Houthi PC small group,’ prompting concerns due to the secretive nature of the discussions. Goldberg expressed surprise at being included in such a high-level conversation typically reserved for governmental officials, marking a significant moment in his journalistic career.
On March 15, Donald Trump initiated military strikes against Yemen’s Houthi movement, emphasizing the necessity for Iran to cease its support of the group following attacks on Red Sea shipping. A seemingly routine message on the Signal app altered the trajectory for Jeffrey Goldberg, an Israeli-American journalist, when he received a connection request from Michael Waltz, the national security adviser to President Trump on March 11.
Initially skeptical about the authenticity of the request due to the contentious landscape between the Trump administration and the press, Mr. Goldberg considered the possibility of impersonation. Nevertheless, he accepted the request, anticipating discussions on critical topics such as Ukraine or Iran, as he elaborated in his account for The Atlantic magazine, where he holds the position of editor-in-chief.
Subsequently, he was added to a Signal group chat titled “Houthi PC small group,” signifying a focus on sensitive discussions regarding the Houthi movement in Yemen. At 4:28 PM local time, he received a significant message from “Michael Waltz,” indicating an urgent coordination plan regarding the Houthis over the next 72 hours. The communication reflected high-level national security engagements aimed at addressing the evolving situation.
Mr. Goldberg, with extensive experience in national security reporting, expressed astonishment at being privy to this confidential discourse. In his narrative, he noted that the term “principals committee” pertains to top officials in the national security sphere, typically excluding journalists from such high-stakes dialogues. Thus, his inclusion in this secretive conversation marked an unprecedented occurrence in his professional journey.
The ongoing message requested that recipients submit their best staff points of contact to facilitate coordination over the upcoming days and weekend, further highlighting the gravity of the discussions at hand. Mr. Goldberg also acknowledged that he had never before witnessed the organization of a White House principals-committee meeting via a commercial messaging application.
This incident illustrates the intricate interplay between journalism and national security within the context of modern communication technologies. Jeffrey Goldberg’s unexpected involvement in a highly confidential dialogue regarding military strategy towards the Houthis in Yemen underscores the evolving dynamics of information exchange in the political sphere. Additionally, it showcases the importance of transparency and caution when navigating sensitive governmental communications.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
