Most of Washington is focusing on a reckless communications snafu. The real crime is far worse.
Jon Miltimore
March 28, 2025
Jon Miltimore
March 28, 2025
By now, most people have heard of ‘Signal Gate,’ a controversy that emerged when several high-ranking U.S. government officials used the encrypted messaging app Signal to discuss a military attack on Yemen on Sunday.
It’s a bizarre and appalling story for many reasons, not least of which is the fact that it all began when Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was accidentally invited to the chat, where operational details of the impending airstrikes—targets, weapons, and attack sequencing—were openly discussed.
It’s a bizarre and appalling story for many reasons, not least of which is the fact that it all began when Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was accidentally invited to the chat, where operational details of the impending airstrikes—targets, weapons, and attack sequencing—were openly discussed.
It’s bad, and critics are right that the debacle raises significant national security concerns.
So far, most of the criticism has been directed at Secretary of War Defense Pete Hegseth and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, who appears to be the person who inadvertently invited Goldberg to the chat.
The Trump administration’s response so far has been lame but predictable: attack Goldberg and The Atlantic.
Goldberg is a truly awful figure, one who dutifully reported the lies of the US intelligence apparatus for years, including during the Iraq War (see below).
So far, most of the criticism has been directed at Secretary of War Defense Pete Hegseth and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, who appears to be the person who inadvertently invited Goldberg to the chat.
The Trump administration’s response so far has been lame but predictable: attack Goldberg and The Atlantic.
Goldberg is a truly awful figure, one who dutifully reported the lies of the US intelligence apparatus for years, including during the Iraq War (see below).
But let’s be clear. Goldberg was not at fault here. Trump officials and the Pentagon were.
From what I’ve seen, intellectually honest people (those not consumed by tribal politics) recognize this.
Continue reading on Substack.
From what I’ve seen, intellectually honest people (those not consumed by tribal politics) recognize this.
Continue reading on Substack.