Over 70,000 Secret U.S. Military Records leaked on the Afghan War.

• Falsetto wrote on 2010-07-27 03:44

  On Sunday, Wikileaks, the document-leaking organization which was started with the intention of allowing whistleblowers to anonymously release government and corporate documents, released over 91,000 confidential reports related to the war in Afghanistan. The New York Times, Germany's Der Spiegel, and the U.K.'s Guardian were given the documents in advance, and independently confirmed their authenticity.
  
  Get your TASER C2 Gold Package Today!The Guardian called the reports "one of the biggest leaks in U.S. military history." It also took the incidents and created a downloadable spreadsheet around them.
  
  Most of the files (over 76,000) appeared on Wikileaks website at about 4:00 PM PDT. The remaining 15,000 files, which Wikileaks calls the "Afghan War Diary" were delayed to allow names and other sensitive information to be redacted.
  
  In a statement, White House national security advisor Gen. James Jones criticized the release of the documents. He said:
  
  The United States strongly condemns the disclosure of classified information by individuals and organizations which could put the lives of Americans and our partners at risk, and threaten our national security. Wikileaks made no effort to contact us about these documents--the United States government learned from news organizations that these documents would be posted. These irresponsible leaks will not impact our ongoing commitment to deepen our partnerships with Afghanistan and Pakistan; to defeat our common enemies; and to support the aspirations of the Afghan and Pakistani people.
  
  The last such high-profile leak of military material occurred in April, when Wikileaks posted a video it titled "Collateral Murder." The video showed an incident from July 12, 2007 in which an American helicopter attacked and killed 12 people, including a reporter and photographer from Reuters, photographer Namir Noor-Eldeen, 22, and his assistant and driver Saeed Chmagh, 40.
  
  A former hacker, Adrian Lamo, later turned in an Army intelligence specialist, Pfc. Bradley Manning, as the source of the video, as well as numerous other documents given to Wikileaks. Manning has since been charged with unlawfully divulging classified information and could face a significant prison sentence.
  
  Meanwhile, U.K. public service broadcaster Channel 4 has analyzed the "Afghan War Diary." The documents cover the war from 2004 and the Bush Administration through the end of 2009 and the Obama Administration. Watch the video below.

  
  
  WikiLeaks Founder On Afghan War Diary: Evidence Of War Crimes In Leaked Documents
  
  http://technologyexpert.blogspot.com/2010/07/wikileaks-posts-afghan-war-diary-91000.html
  
  Website listing the Secret Records - Kabul War Diary
  
  One thing recently noted is the vast amounts of civilians causalities that were unspoken for that these documents reveal.
• Phunkie wrote on 2010-07-27 04:02
  I'm glad things like this get revealed.
  
  Sometimes the public needs to know of what isn't disclosed in official documents. Governments like to cover things up.
  
  A lot of officials are pissed off about it though. Figures.
  
  What's your opinion?
• Cucurbita wrote on 2010-07-27 04:12
  One of the reasons why this was government secret, of course, was also to prevent such tactics and "how its done" to be released outside of the USA.
  
  I mean, sure there are the ethics section to be discussed as well, but I think its more so of the reason I mentioned above.
• Zid wrote on 2010-07-27 04:46
  Pretty much a bad idea to withhold critical data from the public, but has to be understand that the opposition can get their hands on it.
• Shironi wrote on 2010-07-27 04:59
  ^^ Exactly. It was CLASSIFIED for a REASON. Common sense, huh?
• Hiccup wrote on 2010-07-27 06:26

  Quote from Margatroid;106132:

  One of the reasons why this was government secret, of course, was also to prevent such tactics and "how its done" to be released outside of the USA.
  
  I mean, sure there are the ethics section to be discussed as well, but I think its more so of the reason I mentioned above.

  
  Don't need terrorists getting our strategies/tactics D:
• BobYoMeowMeow wrote on 2010-07-27 06:51

  Quote from bradstrt;106300:

  Don't need terrorists getting our strategies/tactics D:

  
  
  lol what strategies?
• Hiccup wrote on 2010-07-27 06:51
  WHO KNOWS!?
  
  
  ._.
• Falsetto wrote on 2010-07-27 09:21
  There is a large difference between withholding important intelligence, and withholding intelligence out of pride and propaganda.
  
  Both the Afghanistan and Iraq war are notorious for it's selective reporting and has been a centerpiece in politics as opposed to any self interest in the American people themselves at this point. Good examples are that such as the fact that photography of the caskets of dead soldiers was not even legal until Obama came into office. Another is access of the media, where reporters depend on that access in order to keep coming back, thus they often need to take the 'fed' version of reporting from the military, who need the money to keep the war going. This comes along with numerous more examples after that.
  
  If there is any sign, they had it coming unfortunately. There have been far too many PR stunts in order to give that glimmer of hope that might still exists over there, but it's inevitable. And when you combine secret intelligence with intelligence that just simply embarrasses them or hurts them politically, you have a lack of trust and people catch on sadly.
  
  Still, this is just my opinion on the tid bit, since Phunkie asked. Take what you will of it.