During a recent press conference, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth refuted claims that Yemen strike plans were shared with journalists, calling such reports ‘garbage.’ The National Security Council confirmed the authenticity of the text messages and has launched an investigation into how a journalist was included in the communication.

During his first visit to the Indo-Pacific as defense secretary, Pete Hegseth addressed reporters regarding allegations of shared war plans concerning Yemen. He firmly stated, “nobody was texting war plans and that’s all I have to say about that.” In his response, Hegseth aimed to cast doubt on Jeffrey Goldberg, Editor-in-Chief of The Atlantic, who reported on the issue, referring to him as someone who was “peddling garbage.”

The National Security Council (NSC) has confirmed that the text thread in question, hosted on the commercial messaging app Signal, “appears to be authentic.” This development has raised concerns among members of Congress from both parties regarding the potential implications of sharing military plans through a non-classified and unsecured platform, highlighting the need for accountability and transparency in such communications.

The NSC has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the inclusion of a journalist’s number in the group chat. This inquiry aims to determine how sensitive information was allegedly disseminated, which has become a critical issue given the political and security implications of the shared content.

In summary, the controversy surrounding Pete Hegseth’s comments on the sharing of Yemen strike plans emphasizes the importance of secure communication regarding military operations. Both the National Security Council’s confirmation of the authenticity of the texts and the ongoing investigations suggest significant concerns regarding information leaks and the involvement of journalists in official military discussions. This situation exemplifies the delicate balance between transparency and security in defense matters.

Original Source: www.pbs.org

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