I simply hate to save Europe again
Incredible incident in the USA. President Trump’s national security counselor invited a journalist in a group dedicated to air attack preparations against Houthi rebels, according to Axios.
The journalist in question is even the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, who gave the information. In the article, Jeffrey Goldberg writes:
« The world found out shortly before 2 pm, Eastern Europe time, on March 15, that the United States bombers Houthi targets in Yemen. I knew two hours before the first bombs exploded that the attack could take place. The reason I knew this is that Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of Defense, sent me the Plan at 11:44 of weapons, targets and calendar, ”wrote the journalist Jeffrey Goldbergthe chief editor of the Atlantic.
He continued: “Tuesday, March 11, I received a sign on signing from a user identified as Michael Waltz. Signal is an open source, popularly among journalists and other people who want more confidentiality than other text messaging services. These, I did not assume that the request came from the real Michael Waltz. Somehow in the trap. I accepted the application for connection, hoping that he was the counselor on national security issues and that he wanted to talk about Ukraine, Iran or any other important issue. Two days later-Thursday-at 4:28 pm, I received a notification that I will be included in a Chat Signal group. This was called the « Little Houthi PC group ».
A message to the group, from « Michael Waltz », sounds as follows: « The team-establishing a group of principles (SIC) for the coordination of Houthi, especially for the next 72 hours. My deputy, Alex Wong, prepares a team at the level of deputies/heads of staff of the agencies, as a result in the evening ”.
The message continued: « Please provide us with the best personal POC in your team to coordinate in the next two days and on the weekend. Thank you. »
The term of directors committee refers, in general, to a group of the highest officials in the field of national security, including defense, state and treasury, as well as the director of the CIA. It should be self -evident – but I will say it anyway – that I have never been invited to a meeting of the Directors of the White House and that, in my many years in which I reported on national security issues, I have never heard that such a meeting would be convened through a commercial application.
One minute later, a person identified only as « apple »-the Secretary of State is Marco Antonio Rubio-wrote « Mike Needham for State », apparently designating the current counselor of the State Department as his representative. At the same time, a signal user identified as « JD Vance » wrote: « Andy Baker for VP ». One minute later, « Tg » (probably Tulsi Gabbard, the director of the national intelligence services, or someone who is right) wrote: « Joe Kent for DNI ». Nine minutes later, « Scott B » – apparently the secretary of the treasury, Scott Bessent, or someone who falsifies his identity, wrote: « Dan Katz for treasury. » At 4:53 PM, a user named « Pete Hegseth » wrote: « Dan Caldwell for Dod ». And at 18:34, « Brian » wrote « Brian McCormack for NSC ». Another person replied, « John Ratcliffe » wrote at 5:24 pm with the name of a CIA official to be included in the group. I will not publish this name, because that person is an active information officer.
It seems that the directors met. In total, 18 people were listed as members of this group, including various officials of the National Security Council; Steve Witkoff, the negotiator of President Trump for the Middle East and Ukraine; Susie Wiles, the head of the White House personnel; And a person identified only as « SM », which I considered to be Stephen Miller. I appeared on my own screen only as « JG ». This was the end of the Thursday messages chain.
After receiving Waltz’s text about the « little PC Houthi group », I consulted several colleagues. We discussed the possibility that these texts are part of a misinformation campaign, initiated either by a foreign information service or, more likely, by a media-gadfly organization, the kind of group trying to place journalists in embarrassing positions and sometimes succeeds. I had very strong doubts that this group of text was real, because I could not believe that the management of the national security of the United States would communicate on the signal about imminent war plans. Also, I could not believe that the president’s adviser on national security issues would be so insane that to include The Atlantic editor in such discussions with senior American officials, up to Vice-President.
The next day, things became even more strange.
On Friday, March 14, at 8:05 am, « Michael Waltz » sent an SMS to the group: « Team, this morning you should receive in the high level reception boxes an exhibitions with tasks according to the president’s instructions. » (High side, in government language, refers to classified computer and communications systems).
(…) Later, a fascinating political discussion began. The account labeled « JD Vance » replied at 8:16: « Team, I am leaving for a day to participate in an economic event in Michigan. But I think we make a mistake. » (Vance was really in Michigan that day.) The Vance account continues to declare: « 3% of US trade goes through Suez. 40% of European trade does. There is a real risk that the public does not understand this or why it is necessary. The strongest reason to do this is, as Potus said, to send a message. »
Vance’s account then continues with a statement worth noting, considering that the Vice -President did not deviate publicly from Trump’s position on almost no problem. « I am not sure that the president is aware of how inconsistent this is with his message about Europe at this time. There is an additional risk to witness a moderate to severe increase in oil price. I am willing to support the team consensus and keep these concerns for me. But there is a strong argument for the postponement for a month, to see this etc. ”
A person identified in Signal as « Joe Kent » (the person nominated by Trump to lead the National Terrorism Combat Center is called Joe Kent) wrote at 8:22: « There is nothing sensitive to time to run the time line. We will have exactly the same options over a month. »
Then, at 8:26 am, a message from the user « John Ratcliffe » arrived in my app. The message contained information that could be interpreted as related to real and current information operations.
At 8:27, a message from the « Pete Hegseth » account arrived. « VP: I understand your concerns – and I fully support you in the discussion with Potus. Important considerations, most of which are hard to know how will (economy, peace in Ukraine, Gaza, etc.). I think the messages will be difficult regardless of the situation – no one knows who are Houthis – which is why we should stay on 1).
The message Hegseth continues: « Waiting for a few weeks or a month does not fundamentally change the calculations. Two immediate risks of waiting: 1) We seem undecided; 2) Israel first undertakes an action – or ceasing the fire in Gaza is broken – and we cannot start this in our terms. We have to do it. « I greet other ideas. »
A few minutes later, the « Michael Waltz » account posted a long note about the commercial figures and the limited capabilities of the European naval forces. « Whether now or in a few weeks, the United States will have to be the ones that reopen these navigation. At the president’s request, we work with the Defense Department and the State Department to determine how to compile the associated costs and impute them to Europeans. »
The account identified as « JD Vance » addressed a message at 8:45 am @pe hegseth: « If you think we should do it. I simply hate to save Europe again.« (The administration claimed that American European allies benefit from an economic point of view from the protection by the American navy of international maritime).
The user identified as Hegseth replied three minutes later: « VP: ÎI fully remove your aversion that Europe will take advantage of it for free. Is pathetic. But Mike is right, we are the only ones on the planet (from us) who can do this. No one else is not even close. The question is the right time. I think now is a moment as good as any other, given the Directive of Potus to reopen the maritime paths. I think we should go; But Potus keeps another 24 hours of decision space ”.
At this moment, « SM », until then silent, joined the conversation. « As we have heard, the president was clear: green wave, but soon we will clarify Egypt and Europe what we expect instead. We must also think about how to implement such a requirement. Eg, if Europe does not remunerate, then what? If the US manages to restore the freedom of high cost navigation, there must be an additional economic profit extracted. ”
The security breach thus exhibited classified information and private deliberations between the highest rank officials in the US government and raised serious questions about the lax management of America by Trump’s office.
Vice-President Vance, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, deputy office head Stephen Miller, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA director John Ratcliffe were among the 18 officials who participated in the chat.
The White House confirmed the authenticity of the messages reported by the Atlantic editor, Jeffrey Goldberg, and said he launched a review of the « how the phone number was added to the group. »
Trump himself told reporters at a press conference on Monday that he was not aware of the story. « I don’t know anything about it. I’m not a big fan of The Atlantic, » he said.
