The United States is currently investigating an unauthorized leak of classified documents that reveal Israel’s plans to attack Iran, according to three officials who spoke to The Associated Press. A fourth official confirmed the documents' authenticity, underscoring the seriousness of the situation. These documents, tied to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and the National Security Agency (NSA)—both critical arms of the Department of Defense (DoD)—reveal Israel's mobilization of military assets in response to Iran’s ballistic missile strike on October 1.

This leak not only exposes Israel’s military maneuvers but also signals a deeper, more troubling vulnerability within the DoD. When classified information of this magnitude leaks, it raises questions about the reliability of the very institution responsible for safeguarding America’s national security. However, what may initially seem like a simple breach of protocol could, in reality, be symptomatic of a much larger problem within the department. 

This leak, I suggest, must be viewed within a broader, more troubling context. With revelations of the Pentagon's plan to use artificial intelligence (AI) to create deepfake internet users, the boundary between national defense and covert domestic operations has become dangerously blurred. As I write this, the Pentagon is developing highly convincing deepfake personas—AI-generated individuals capable of manipulating public opinion, spreading disinformation, and engaging in covert actions on an unprecedented scale. These fake personas could infiltrate social media platforms, news outlets, and online forums, distorting the truth and spreading division among the American public. It’s not crazy to imagine that this may very well be the main reason for the initiative. Perhaps the only reason.

Imagine a deeply unsettling scenario where someone on social media—whether they seem like your neighbor, some random activist, or even a government official—is actually a digital phantom. This AI-generated persona, created to promote a specific narrative, would be indistinguishable from real people due to the sophistication of the technology. In a world where digital interactions are central to communication, this technology could severely undermine the public’s ability to engage in honest debate. It could easily push society into a state of mass confusion and mistrust.

This troubling future may seem like something out of a science fiction novel, but it is closer than most people realize. Some readers, I'm sure, think it’s already here. After all, we are already living in an era dominated by bots and fake accounts, where false information is spread through automated systems designed to manipulate opinions and amplify divisive views. Social media platforms are flooded with artificial entities, influencing everything from political discourse to consumer behavior. The implications of the DoD’s deepfake AI developments are even more alarming when one considers the current climate of political and social instability in the United States. Trust in media and government is already at an all-time low, with disinformation campaigns having already muddied the waters of public discourse. College campuses across the country are flooded with terrorist sympathizers, people who would love nothing more than to see America burn.

But this is just the beginning. Hell has a basement.

To fully understand the implications of this downward spiral, we must zoom out even further. The DoD was initially designed with one singular purpose. Quite simply, to protect the American people from foreign threats. Over time, however, the mission of the DoD has evolved (or devolved), and not in ways that align with the founding principles of safeguarding your freedom. Edward Snowden's revelations about the NSA's extensive surveillance programs were just the start of an Icarus-like descent into the ethical abyss. By snooping on its own citizens, the NSA turned its gaze inward, collecting vast amounts of data on ordinary Americans under the guise of national security. Average Americans started being treated like terrorists.

Of course, the NSA’s actions are not isolated. The CIA, another key player within the DoD structure, has a long history of covert operations that completely distort the distinction between foreign and domestic activities. Whether it's through the manipulation of foreign governments or conducting operations that infringe on the rights of American citizens, the CIA has long been accused of overstepping its bounds. And for good reason. The accusations are grounded in objective evidence.

Today, Snowden’s revelations seem like a precursor to a much larger and more nefarious scheme. The surveillance state has morphed into something truly insidious. As the Pentagon develops the ability to create fake internet personas, complete with deepfake videos, photos, and digital environments, the public faces a future where they may never know what—or who—they can trust.