WaPo columnist calls source for his own paper’s Iran war report ‘a traitor’ who ‘ought to be prosecuted’

NY Post ^ | 08/31/2026 | Taylor Herzlich

[DFG]

A Washington Post opinion writer called a source for his own paper’s newsroom a “traitor,” saying the person “ought to be prosecuted” for leaking confidential US military info to reporters.

Marc Thiessen, a conservative columnist for the broadsheet, was outraged over his colleagues’ reporting that top military brass have warned War Secretary Pete Hegseth that prolonged large-scale operations against Iran risk weakening the US’ ability to confront threats at home.

The article, which was published Sunday, noted the warnings were contained in a classified Aug. 14 edition of the Secretary of Defense Orders Book, citing anonymous sources familiar with the assessment.

“Whoever leaked this is a traitor and ought to be prosecuted,” Thiessen, who previously served as chief speechwriter for former President George W. Bush, wrote in a post on X Sunday evening.

Josh Rogin, another Washington Post columnist, jabbed at Thiessen’s post, responding with a statement from the newspaper that read: “The assertion that such publication is a crime is both incorrect and irresponsible.”

Thiessen clapped back, replying: “I said whoever LEAKED it, Josh. You do get that a government official leaking classified information to the press is committing a crime, right?”

The unusual infighting among columnists on the same paper’s opinion slate caught the attention of Benjamin Mullin, the New York Times’ media reporter.

“This is unusual: a Washington Post columnist is calling for the prosecution of the newspaper’s sources,” Mullin wrote.

Thiessen had a quick retort for Mullin, too, writing that he has always gone after government whistleblowers, specifically noting Edward Snowden and Julian Assange.

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TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: joshrogin; marcthiessen; petehegseth; washingtonpost

[Carriage Hill]

“...called a source for his own paper’s newsroom a “traitor”

Is this a first?

[Libloather]

Vindman? Looks like a weasel.

[traderrob6]

Probably, but he’s 100% right.

[Pox]

He’s 100% right according to who?

Just because our legacy media prints something does not give it automatic authority, particularly any story that is credited to anonymous sources. We’ve been over this time after time on FR yet people still believe this BS is gospel.

Our military resources are being used for the purpose they were created. Whining that we might not have enough to do this or protect that is defeatist and alarmist propaganda that has paralysis as its goal.

Fortunately, we have the correct people in charge at this time.

[grobdriver]

Would be nice if Marc Thiessen turned whistle-blower on the source. I’m sure he could find out.

[traderrob6]

Calm down. Thiessen is 100% correct recommending the source of a classified information leak to the press IF it indeed happened, should be prosecuted.

If the story is erroneous, so be it, then Thiessen WOULD still be right HAD it been accurate.

[nuconvert]

Good on you, Marc

[Pox]

I just see this as a BS story from its inception. It's just the media pushing its narrative and attributing it to anonymous sources. It's not a leak, but just more of the same dog and pony show from our media and fedguv lifers.

Just my opinion, so means little.

[OldGoatCPO]

You are correct research don’t just believe what you read in the press. What percentage of our total strength is currently deployed to the Gulf region. The answer is roughly 4%. That is the percentage of active duty personnel currently in the region. It also includes any Reserve or Guard activated since once on active duty they count towards total end strength.

That means 96% of active duty forces are doing their normal duties, whether stateside or overseas. How, the current deployments are hurting our ability to respond to threats at home is nonsense. You still have over 96% of Guard and Reserve forces still stateside. Unless Mexico and Canada are planning an invasion there is no undo stress on available active duty forces.

There has been stress on munitions, specifically smart bombs, missiles etc. The US has been quietly growing its drone forces, those are not deployed to the Gulf at least not in significant numbers. That is my understanding anyway. Our forces in Asia may be a bit stressed due to the two carrier groups deployed to CENTCOM. One carrier group is in transit through Asia. This is the the real issue, as far as the Navy is concerned we are short in Asia. Not sure on USAF and current USMC strengths in Asia.