In a striking revelation, a congressman succinctly captured the gravity of the situation with a single word: “FUBAR.” This acronym, which stands for “F*ed up beyond recognition,” reflects the disarray surrounding the recent disclosure that officials from the Trump administration engaged in discussions about military strategies in a group chat on the Signal app. Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor in chief of The Atlantic, found himself inadvertently included in this encrypted messaging group.
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<span class="ui-media-captioncaption-text”>(L-R) US vice president JD Vance, defence secretary Pete Hegseth, and national security adviser Mike Waltz on 13 March. Pic: Reuters
The chat reportedly featured prominent figures such as Vice President JD Vance, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, who were deliberating on sensitive security matters concerning a potential military action against Houthi rebels in Yemen. Goldberg recounted his disbelief, stating, “I didn’t think it could be real… then the bombs started falling.”
Confirmation and Concerns
Brian Hughes, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, verified the authenticity of the Signal group, noting, “This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain.” In response, Democrat Representative Pat Ryan, an army veteran serving on the armed services committee, echoed the sentiment of confusion and concern, stating, “Only one word for this: FUBAR.”
The implications of this leak extend beyond mere embarrassment; they raise significant questions regarding national security protocols. Legal experts have suggested that the establishment of such a group on Signal could potentially violate the Espionage Act, drawing parallels to past controversies involving secure communications. This situation recalls the fervor with which Donald Trump criticized Hillary Clinton for her use of a private email server during her tenure as Secretary of State.
Moreover, the conversation within the group hinted at a broader narrative regarding the Trump administration’s stance on international alliances. Vance expressed his disdain for the decision to engage militarily, stating, “I just hate bailing Europe out again,” to which Hegseth responded, “I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. PATHETIC.” This exchange underscores the administration’s perspective that European nations disproportionately benefit from U.S. military support, particularly in protecting shipping lanes in the Red Sea, a region frequently targeted by hostile forces.
Goldberg’s initial skepticism about the chat’s authenticity was further fueled by the use of emojis—such as praying hands, the U.S. flag, a fist, and flames—during discussions of such a sensitive nature. Senator Ruben Gallego, a Democrat and marine veteran, aptly described the situation as “Amateur hour,” highlighting the unprofessionalism that seems to permeate this high-stakes dialogue.
