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Jeffrey Goldberg, editor of the Atlantic, has disputed the account given by national security adviser Mike Waltz regarding his unintentional inclusion in a group chat related to a Trump administration discussion about a military strike on Houthi positions in Yemen.
Goldberg characterized Waltz’s suggestion that his contact was erroneously integrated into the chat due to “somebody else’s contact” as implausible. In an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press, he dismissed the notion, referencing the science fiction film “The Matrix” to emphasize the absurdity of the situation: “Phone numbers don’t just get sucked into other phones.”
Goldberg further elaborated, stating, “My phone number was in his phone because my phone number is in his phone,” highlighting the straightforward nature of the issue.
The controversy erupted after the Atlantic published details over a two-day span starting March 24, revealing a group chat on Signal that included high-level Trump officials previously discussing a potential US attack on Houthi targets. This incident raised concerns within Washington regarding the administration’s security protocols and whether the messaging could be deemed a breach of national security.
Donald Trump reaffirmed on Sunday that he believed the information leak was a mistake and denied any claims that Waltz had considered resigning, stating, “There was no reason for him to.” He described Waltz as a “very good man” who was doing an effective job.
Goldberg claimed Waltz’s assertions that they had never met or spoken were inaccurate, disputing Waltz’s claim made during a White House meeting that he was unfamiliar with the journalist. Waltz had implied that many journalists had fabricated stories about the president, specifically targeting Goldberg’s credibility, whom he claimed to have never encountered.
The National Security Council acknowledged the validity of the leaked messages and is currently investigating how Goldberg found his way into the chat started by Waltz. Various theories suggest possible causes, including unintentional selection of Goldberg’s number, misidentification of his contact information, or even deliberate sabotage.
Goldberg remarked to NBC News, “This has become a somewhat farcical situation,” clarifying that he was mistakenly added to the group chat and that there was no malicious intent behind it.
Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat, continued to voice concerns about the implications of the Signal breach, stating that it posed risks to American lives. He emphasized the seriousness of mishandling classified information, indicating that conventional military personnel or CIA officers would face termination for such errors.
Warner, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, acknowledged the use of Signal as a safer communication method but stressed that safety does not exempt the platform from the principles of confidentiality regarding classified information.
Congressman Mike Turner, a Republican from Ohio and former chair of the House Intelligence Committee, expressed support for examining the matter, often referred to as Signalgate, to assess the appropriateness of such discussions occurring on the platform. Despite the controversy, he described the operation against the Houthis as “great.”
Susan Rice, former national security adviser under President Obama, criticized the leak as “extraordinarily reckless” and “unprecedented,” noting that the discussions themselves were classified and such behavior would not be tolerated in a typical administration.
Rice stated, “This would never be tolerated in a normal administration. They’d be fired on the spot.”
Source
www.theguardian.com