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‘Seemed very worried’: Kellyanne Conway troubled by Kirby’s presser on ‘highly classified’ leaks

April 11, 2023 | | Print Article

National Security Council spokesman Adm. John Kirby [Ret.] looked nervous and worried as journalists grilled him Monday on Pentagon leaks involving “highly classified” defense material while Democrats deflected and pointed their finger at documents found at Mar-a-Lago.

(Video Credit: Forbes Breaking News)

The Pentagon files were reportedly leaked on social media this week and the White House has been madly trying to get a handle on the situation with little to no avail. The ongoing series of leaks were first reported by The New York Times last Friday. They ostensibly contain intelligence on China, the Middle East, Israel’s spy agency Mossad, and US support for Ukraine’s military.

Our military leaders allegedly have no idea where the leak is coming from, if they have a spy in their midst, or how to stop it. A criminal investigation has been launched into the matter by the Department of Justice, which is odd considering it is a military and national security issue.

As just one example, the documents reveal how Ukraine’s S-300 air defense systems could run out of missiles and ammunition by May 2 at the current usage rate, according to the Daily Mail.

The media outlet reports, “The documents also detailed how Ukraine’s air defenses protecting Ukrainian troops on the front line could be ‘completely reduced’ by May 23 and suggested the US has a better grasp on Russia’s war strategy than ally Ukraine’s.”

When Kirby was asked if the Pentagon was bracing for further leaks, he was blunt.

“The truth and the honest answer to your question is: We don’t know. And is that a matter of concern to us? You’re darn right it is. We don’t know who’s behind this, we don’t know what the motive is,” he added, also admitting that some of the documents released had been “doctored” online.

He also admonished reporters to not splatter classified intel on their front pages, “Without confirming the validity of the documents, this is information that has no business in the public domain. It has no business, if you don’t mind me saying, on the pages of — front pages of newspapers, or on television. It is not intended for public consumption and it should not be out there.”

“In order to protect this country every day the way we do, one of the things that we have to protect is information, not only the information itself, but the manner in which we glean that information,” Kirby stressed.

An initial batch of documents labeled “Secret” and “Top Secret” hit social media that reportedly contained charts on the war in Ukraine as well as the strengths of different battalions. The information, primarily in the form of pictures, was released on Twitter and Russian Telegram channels in March.

Another batch of over 100 Pentagon documents that detailed US national security interests concerning China and Israel’s Mossad spy agency was shared on Twitter Friday, according to the New York Times.

Former Trump White House counselor Kellyanne Conway pointed out that Kirby sounded like he was pretty much clueless about the dire situation.

“There is a man long on words today, very short on information [for the] education of the public. He seemed worried, – like somebody who doesn’t have the answers that we all seek and deserve,” Conway commented.

(Video Credit: Fox News)

She commended the White House press corps for addressing the leak and not letting the Biden administration or the Pentagon off the hook over it. Conway also alluded to the hypocrisy of Democrats being obsessed with former President Trump’s documents at Mar-a-Lago instead of focusing on the Pentagon leak which has real national security repercussions.

“This is an administration and a party that’s been going after the former president, after documents he may or may not have had in Mar-a-Lago for this, that, and the other and we have leaks of classified documents as we speak that affect countries, allies and others around the globe,” she stated also noting that Kirby was unable to answer a number of questions he was asked on the topic.

“[One good question was] Have you notified our allies who are mentioned is this impeding the ability of the US to help Ukraine? And is it impeding Ukraine’s ability to defend its sovereignty, its borders, its people?” Conway recounted.

“It didn’t sound like they had any more information than the rest of us, because key point, John Kirby did not say ‘I can’t comment on that right now’ – as former Pentagon spokespeople and folks at the White House often need to say because information is sensitive and developing – he basically said, I don’t know,” she continued.

“This is unacceptable. He said there’s something like there’s no room for any kind of tolerance here for these classified documents,” Conway added.

She also tore into Biden on “America Reports” after French President Emmanuel Macron cozied up to Chinese President Xi Jinping. He also hinted at allying with the communists, dropping the US dollar, and allowing China to take Taiwan. All of those are national security threats to the US.

Macron said that France cannot become a “vassal” over Taiwan and that his country wanted no part in World War III.

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