Submitted by Eric K Chandler, Retired CWO, US Army.
I am a US Army retired Chief Warrant Officer, and for almost 3 years, served with the 513th Military Intelligence (MI) Group, which eventually became the 513th MI Brigade (roughly 2,000 soldiers). It is the primary, multi-disciplined intel unit for the current 3rd US Army (formerly commanded by LTG Patton in WWII). Now known as “ARCENT” (US Army, Central Command). CENTCOM has operational responsibility / authority for the Middle east.
Now comes the nitty gritty on the screw-up of our so-called military and intel “LEADERSHIP”.
When I was with the 513th, back in 1983-86, I was the Manager of the Info-Technology, Life-Cycle-Management, Plans-&-Programming Office. That translated to my office gathering sufficient and accurate information necessary for the intel folks to justify and acquire info-technology capabilities for this multi-disciplined intelligence unit. That necessarily required me to have a Top-Secret, Sensitive-Compartmented-Intelligence ( TS, SCI ) clearance, so that I could meet and discuss the critical info-tech needs of the intel people I was supporting.
FYI….to get a TS, SCI clearance it normally takes a whole-lot-of-preparatory paperwork by the appointee and about 6-months of intense governmental investigations into the appointee’s background. So….for around 6 months I could not do any work regarding SCI material. Even though I already had a Top-Secret (TS) clearance from working at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Belgium.
Now……after getting my TS/SCI clearance…..when we had to get down to the nitty-gritty, Top-Secret, SCI details of the intel-folks needs, we had to hold those kind of discussions in a “special place”….it was called a “Sensitive, Compartmented-Intelligence-Facility” or “SCIF” where we could openly discuss TS, SCI stuff completely without the fear of some “bad guys” hearing what we were talking about.
You see….it is actually a federal / military criminal offense to discuss…..in any way or method or device…..TS/SCI plans, programs/details in an “open, unprotected location”….in other words…..outside a SCIF.
A military person found doing this unauthorized type of heinous discussion would have been “assigned” to several years at the US Army’s prison at Ft Leavenworth, Kansas.
So….when I read/heard about President Trump’s mishandling of TS SCI documents at his unsecured pool-equipment room inside unsealed, unidentified cardboard boxes, I was entirely and rightly flabbergasted, incensed that a former president could so callously disregard proper protections of our government’s most-sensitive documents.
Well….now we have the CURRENT Vice President, the DoD Secretary, and other Top-US-Gov’t-Cabinet members, NORMALLY security-minded, who are openly discussing what is TS, SCI info over an ordinary chat line, one has to question the sagacity, the wisdom, the intelligence, the “brain power” of those individuals who took part in that TS, SCI conversation.
What IDIOTS would do such a harebrained stunt as that?
Only…..IDIOTS….. God help us !!!
Thanks, Eric. I’m also ex-military from many decades ago (two tours Vietnam). I, too, have been flabbergasted by the lack of security discipline at the highest levels of our government. In the case of the Mar-a-Lago documents, I have to believe that there was a more nefarious purpose involved than simple carelessness–one doesn’t just accidentally move transport that many documents of such high classification across the country. In the more recent case, it appears to be a lack of understanding the realities of intelligence and security. The hubris demonstrated in the excuses offered has made it exponentially worse.
Thanks much for sharing your insight!
Describing those individuals as “idiots” is a terrible insult…to idiots.
When top-secret intelligence is leaked, it’s not just a political scandal—it’s a death sentence for U.S. troops in harm’s way. Every careless breach of classified military information hands adversaries a loaded weapon aimed directly at American service members.
Imagine a team of special operators moving under the cover of darkness, their mission dependent on absolute secrecy. Now, picture that same mission compromised because someone in Washington discussed it on an unsecured chat app. The enemy isn’t guessing anymore—they’re waiting.
Troop locations, operational plans, and classified capabilities aren’t talking points—they’re life-and-death secrets. When senior officials treat them like casual gossip, they put every soldier, sailor, airman, and Marine in immediate danger.
The enemy is always watching, always listening. Every leak is an invitation for an ambush, an IED, or a downed aircraft. Secure communication isn’t bureaucratic red tape—it’s the shield that keeps U.S. forces alive. When leadership fails, soldiers pay the price in blood.
The United States Department of Defense (DoD) exists to protect the American people from external threats. It is an institution built on the foundation of discipline, secrecy, and strategic competence. Yet, under the so-called leadership of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, the most fundamental pillar of military operations—operational security—has been shattered, placing the lives of American servicemen and women at unprecedented risk. The grotesque mishandling of classified military information regarding U.S. operations in Yemen is not just a failure; it is an act of reckless endangerment.
An Unforgivable Breach of National Security
The revelation that Hegseth and other senior officials—including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard—allowed highly sensitive military discussions to take place on an unsecured Signal group chat is beyond negligence. It is outright dereliction of duty. The inclusion of a journalist, Jeffrey Goldberg, in these classified discussions demonstrates a staggering level of incompetence. Whether this was an act of carelessness or sheer ignorance does not matter—the damage is done, and it is irreversible.
For years, military leaders have warned about the dangers of improper handling of classified information. Soldiers, officers, and intelligence professionals are held to the highest standards when it comes to protecting national security secrets. They undergo rigorous training and face severe consequences—including court-martial—for even minor infractions related to classified materials. And yet, the highest officials in this administration treated sensitive war plans with the same carelessness as a casual group chat about weekend plans.
This is not just a scandal. This is a national security catastrophe. The men and women serving in the armed forces now face a heightened risk—not because of foreign adversaries, but because of their own leadership’s incompetence.
Hegseth and His Enablers Must Be Removed Immediately
Pete Hegseth has proven he is unfit to hold the office of Secretary of Defense. His recklessness has endangered American lives, compromised military operations, and demonstrated a total disregard for the principles of national security. However, the blame does not rest solely on his shoulders. Every official who was part of this breach and failed to report it is equally culpable.
If this country is to maintain a functional and credible Department of Defense, Department of State, and intelligence community, these individuals must be removed immediately. No excuses. No delays.
For far too long, the real threat to American security has not come from foreign adversaries but from within—leaders who put politics, personal ambition, and incompetence ahead of the duty to protect those who serve. The reckless actions of Pete Hegseth and his enablers prove that they are not only unworthy of their positions but that their continued presence in office is an active threat to the lives of American military personnel and intelligence operatives.
The American people must demand accountability. Congress must launch an immediate investigation into this breach, and those responsible must face the full consequences of their actions. Anything less is an insult to every soldier, sailor, airman, Marine, and intelligence officer who has ever risked their life to defend this nation.
The time for action is now. The lives of our servicemen and women depend on it.
What’s even more insulting and horrifying is that those who should be apologizing and resigning are instead attacking the reporter who was included in the Signal chat in error. Plus to have several people who should know better state that it was not classified information that was discussed is truly frightening. Hegseth has proven himself to be incompetent in his role. The fact he was approved for his role points out the lack of thought and attention to consequences that is in place in current government. We can only hope this is a wake up call but it’s not looking good.
I feel like Pete Hegseth was not chosen for his competence, but rather because he’s willing to push the agenda of those eager for conflict, especially in the Middle East. The way I see it, his selection is part of a broader strategy to blindly support actions that could drag America into a religiously fueled war, particularly one against Iran, on behalf of another nation’s interests.
We’re heading down a dangerous path, and it feels like no one is stepping up to change course. This isn’t about protecting American interests anymore—it’s about serving someone else’s agenda, with no real thought to the consequences for the rest of the world. We’re on the verge of something much bigger than any one conflict, and it seems like the leadership we have is too caught up in the politics to see the disaster looming ahead.
If we don’t change direction, I fear we’re on an irreversible glide path toward a world war. And right now, it feels like there’s no one leading us away from that.
Three months in and President Trump is on his way to trashing the US’s alliances, its economy, civil service, civilian protections, and the Constitution. He’s going after judges that rule against him, is threatening force to acquire Greenland, and has indicated that the US will not meet it’s NATO responsibilities. His national security team is self-destructing, and the education and healthcare systems are being deprived of funds. He says his tariffs won’t hurt the US economy, specifically auto purchases, but the auto industry says it will be forced to increase prices up to $10,000 per vehicle. He says he is brokering a cease fire agreement but only consulting with Russia and has falsely accused Ukraine of starting the war and its democratically elected President of being a dictator. But then, Trump knows something about dictatorship.