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LAST UPDATE | 24 Mar
A US JOURNALIST was inadvertently included in a group chat in which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance and other top American officials discussed upcoming strikes against Yemen’s Huthi rebels, the White House confirmed Monday.
President Donald Trump announced the strikes on 15 March, but in a shocking security breach, The Atlantic magazine’s editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg wrote that he had hours of advance notice via the group chat on Signal.
“The message thread that was reported appears to be authentic, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain,” National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said.
The White House said Trump “continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team,” after the US president earlier said he did not “know anything about” the issue.
The leak could have been highly damaging if Goldberg had publicized details of the plan in advance, but he did not do so even after the fact.
He did, however, write that Hegseth sent information on the strikes, including on “targets, weapons the US would be deploying, and attack sequencing,” to the group chat.
“According to the lengthy Hegseth text, the first detonations in Yemen would be felt two hours hence, at 1:45 pm eastern time,” Goldberg wrote – a timeline that was borne out on the ground in Yemen.
Goldberg said he was added to the group chat two days earlier, and received messages from other top government officials designating representatives who would work on the issue.
On March 14, a person identified as Vance expressed doubts about carrying out the strikes, saying he hated “bailing Europe out again,” as countries there were more affected by Huthi attacks on shipping than the United States.
Group chat contributors identified as National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Hegseth both sent messages arguing only Washington had the capability to carry out the strikes, with the latter official saying he shared Vance’s “loathing of European free-loading. It’s PATHETIC.”
And a person identified as “S M” – possibly Trump advisor Stephen Miller – argued that “if the US successfully restores freedom of navigation at great cost there needs to be some further economic gain extracted in return.”
The security breach provoked outrage among Democrats, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer describing it as “one of the most stunning breaches of military intelligence I have read about in a very, very long time” and calling for a full investigation.
Senator Jack Reed also slammed the leak, saying: “The carelessness shown by President Trump’s cabinet is stunning and dangerous.”
And Hillary Clinton – who was repeatedly attacked by Trump for using a private email server while she was secretary of state – posted the Atlantic article on X along with the message: “You have got to be kidding me.”
The Huthi rebels, who have controlled much of Yemen for more than a decade, are part of the “axis of resistance” of pro-Iran groups staunchly opposed to Israel and the United States.
They have launched scores of drone and missile attacks at ships passing Yemen in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden during the Gaza war, saying they were carried out in solidarity with Palestinians.
The Huthis’ campaign crippled the vital route, which normally carries about 12 percent of world shipping traffic, forcing many companies into a costly detour around the tip of southern Africa.
The US began targeting the Huthis in response under the previous administration of president Joe Biden, and has launched repeated rounds of strikes on Huthi targets, some with British support.
Trump has vowed to “use overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective,” citing the Huthis’ threats against Red Sea shipping, and US strikes have continued over the past 10 days.
“Always two there are, no more, no less: a master and an apprentice.”
Some of the comments are just idiotic. This is a hugely important historic meeting. Irregardless of your religious standpoint, the leader of the catholic church is a major political powerhouse. This will go down in history and its importance shouldn’t be underestimated.
Catholic Church irrelevant in most people’s lives even Catholics don’t follow it’s rules especially where it don’t suit their lifestyles contraception being just one example .
Maybe in this Bill, but therin is the problem. We think we are so important in this country. Catholic church still massively influential all around world. Even in this country once you leave the pale their influence increases.
*regardless
@ pol, yes, I grant you that the Pope is a political powerhouse, a position of pomp, privilege and immense power but it is certainly not a Christian office or ever performed as such.
What’s the opinion from this political powerhouse on the financial stability in the eurozone?
It’s not just in Ireland that catholic teaching is ignored by catholics though. All over Europe it’s the same. Even in his native South America/ Argentina the church is an irrelevance
Not the first time two Popes have met. Poor old Pope Formosus’s remains were dug up and placed on a chair so that he could face Pope Stephen V1 in the fmous Cadaver Synod. The corpse was even dressed in Papal vestments for the occasion.
Don’t know why the red thumbs just for stating a fact.
Facts don’t sit well with the religious.
The are gonna try to sort out which of them is gonna be inflammable .
I dunno what the average age most posters here are. I am guessing mid 20′s which would mean all they have heard in relation to Catholics are child abuse allegations and cover ups.
Well i am in my early 40′s. My childhood memories are all good thank God. Going to Mass with my Dad, off to the shops for sweets after. Saying family Rosary and getting the giggles. Singing in the choir. Singing for Pope John Paul at the youth mass in Galway and it was cool to be Catholic.
The Church is in a bad state now i know and it has no one to blame but itself and its dishonesty. I am utterly disgusted and ashamed.
I just wanted to let people know that being a Catholic has been positive for me and my family. Not all stories are negative. Its just something for people to ponder about.
I think Pope Benedict has done the right thing by retiring. I pray to God that Pope Francis can inspire people to explore their spiritual side and show the young people the love and compassion of God and return to a different church. I am very proud of him so far.
Well excuse me! The family rosary is no giggling matter.
The sweets were bad for you and were an incentive to you just as a large financial donation to a politician is an incentive to make the right decision.
Ahhh, I fell so nostalgic for the old Ireland and the love of children by the clergy.
Everything in the garden was rosy but nostalgia is not what it used to be.
I’m rapidly approaching my 30s Deirdre though a lot of what you say resonates with me too. I grew up respecting our local priests but it wasn’t the scandals that put me off catholicism because I know abuse happens in all religions and in non religious organisations. It was the arrogant response. The cover ups, lies, denials etc. Nothing at all in the church hierarchy response to it all showed any christianity at all. I’m still a spiritual person but I’m quite content to explore my own path to God now outside of church buildings
Peter. I am very aware that things were not so rosy in Ireland
Ireland was shit in the 70′s. School was a nightmare. Teachers beat the shit out of u. U were given a dunce hat if u got a question wrong. Paedophilles in the street were referred to as dirty old men and no one ever reported them. The ignorance back then is astounding.
I am delighted things have changed esp re the Church.
Our parents generation were silent on a lot of things. Much the same as my generation now. People in massive debt getting screwed by the banks and government alike. And what are we doing about? Not much. In fact we letting em screw us.
So before we judge the previous generation, we should look at our own.
Dean. I agree with all of what u say. The Churches response was more sinful than the abuse itself. I hope that Pope francis can make the church a more humble church and try to make good the harm it had done. Its a long road.
I am pleased to hear u are still a spiritual person despite everything.
Keep the faith….
Well, for the record Deirdre, I’m in my mid-30s. I’m not an atheist because of church scandal. I’m an atheist because I don’t believe in any gods.
I parted with religious irrationality at the age of 14.
If there were no child abuse cover-ups implemented by the church, I’d still be speaking out against the indoctrination of children, the abuses of filling a child with guilt, telling them they’ll go to hell if they’re bad and generally lying to them about the nature of reality.
With or without the abuse, the church is not a force for good.
I cant understand it. If Benedict got a calling from God, how can he just suddenly pack it all in, just like a supermaket job!
Also, how was he infalllible and then suddenly he wasnt fallible
It’s like jazz music, they make it up as they go along.
… or like the plots in Fair City!
The thumbnail looks like a weigh in before a boxing match.. c’mon franky hup hoy
Yes an “encounter” alright…..
I got you a present. Soap on a rope pope.
Lets get ready to ruuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmmble !
God is outnumbered.
Add Bono, the trio of two popes and Bono, and God will have to pay obeisance.
Arghhhh! Two popes! Say it is not so. One is bad enough!
Such a momentous occasion,maybe the big man up stairs will even show up for it.
George Hook?
It would make a wonderful photo for doing the speech bubble over them. One is asking the other a question. Guess what the question is?
” Do you love children?”
What’s this infallibility shit ?
@ Slugger, liking it!
Francis – what of the reports of the rebel fleet?
Benny- it is of no concern, soon the rebellion will be crushed.
@Peter, that made me laugh.
Two for the price of one.
Bogof.
You’re a weirdo
@ Terry, thanks. You make a good argument, nice use of reasoning. Chuckling!
Are you hey gonna swap Primary school numbers?
Wonder pope powers activate….
Perfect grenadier opportunity.
A conclave of Cardinals. A pairing of Popes. But there is only one Bono.
I’ve got a great feeling about this new Pope
Are they*
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