WikiLeaks, Doing the Taliban's Work for Them
WikiLeaks, the site that released about 75,000 secret Pentagon files about US combat operations in Afghanistan, says it has 15,000 more to go.
Not a big deal, yawned the media, when the first trove was posted a week or so ago. Old news. Nothing here.
Maybe not, for the media. But the Taliban seems awfully interested. From the Abu Dhabi English-language paper, The National:
Last weekend, an Afghan friend who lives in Kabul was in Dubai for a short break to get away from the Taliban death threats which he has been receiving regularly ever since the leaked war logs revealed some of the projects he was working on with the US military.
I won’t elaborate on what he does. He is an educated man who believes in a moderate state. He has a wife, two small children and elderly parents to support.
He is convinced that the publication of thousands of documents exposed him because he has never had such security problems before. During the first couple of phone calls, the caller told him to quit his job.
“Why do you work with the foreign infidels? Join the jihad with us.”
The second phone call was more threatening. “We know where you work and what your car looks like,” the man said, then gave a detailed description of his vehicle.
There's not much we can do about a site like WikiLeaks. There's not much we can do to stop them, or punish them -- and maybe there's not much we should do, First Amendment and all that.
But it's clear that when the 90,000+ documents are sifted and combed through by our enemies, it'll be the Afghans working for a better Afghanistan who will pay the price in blood and fear, while WikiLeaks and the media have moved on to newer fads.
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Comments :
May '10
Re: WikiLeaks, Doing the Taliban's Work for Them
I would like to hear John Hinderaker's thoughts. I believe publication of these records may violate federal law. Power Line did an excellent series of posts on this topic when the New York Times and others published classified information during the Bush Administration.
Jun '10
Re: WikiLeaks, Doing the Taliban's Work for Them
I don't have the words to express the contempt I feel for those who leak information that puts our national security, not to mention countless lives, at risk. I felt that way about the New York Times during the Bush administration, as well.
Leaks may have their place, when it comes to the exposure of criminal activity or corruption, but I see a distinction when it comes to the release of combat-related information in a time of war.
That may be a difficult distinction to make in a legal sense (I'm uneducated in that department), but complicit parties ought to pay a hefty price.
Jun '10
Re: WikiLeaks, Doing the Taliban's Work for Them
WikiLeaks belongs in WikiPrison.
Jul '10
Re: WikiLeaks, Doing the Taliban's Work for Them
The people who publish the leaks themselves I'm less sure of what to do with. Legally, it seems problematic, However, anyone in the military who intentionally leaks information that endangers lives should be shot for treason. It's that simple. It's absolutely despicable that someone would sign up for the service, only to turn around and give away as much classified information as possible and endanger fellow servicemen and allies.
May '10
Re: WikiLeaks, Doing the Taliban's Work for Them
Why can't the US Federal Attorney General make life very difficult for these Wiki leakers who threaten the progress of a war, by charging these seditious bastards with serious breaches of relevant war time codes. Then with Interpol alerted, make sure every country with an extradition treaty with the USA be advised that these charges are to be forcefully carried out. This will make life difficult for these precious and vainglory seeking fools, even if they are not actually captured.
As for Iceland hosting the site of these leaks thru their Internet servers,the USA should invoke a Cuba type ban on all companies trading with them, and let see how much Nordic fun can be had eating lutefisk for every meal.
To think this Assange batard is an Aussie, and directly threatening his own troops successes in Afghanistan.
May '10
Re: WikiLeaks, Doing the Taliban's Work for Them
Jim Chase: ....Leaks may have their place, when it comes to the exposure of criminal activity or corruption, but I see a distinction when it comes to the release of combat-related information in a time of war.
That may be a difficult distinction to make in a legal sense (I'm uneducated in that department), but complicit parties ought to pay a hefty price. · Aug 13 at 8:38am
It is a difficult distinction to make in a legal sense, but it is a very easy distinction to make from a moral, ethical and patriotic sense. Ever since the Pentagon Papers, I believe our press has almost universally jettisoned their moral, ethical and patriotic sensibilities in this area. That leaves legal options, and you are right to point out that the legal landscape and penalties for this type of behavior are pretty unsatisfying.
Jul '10
Re: WikiLeaks, Doing the Taliban's Work for Them
It is a difficult distinction to make in a legal sense, but it is a very easy distinction to make from a moral, ethical and patriotic sense. Ever since the Pentagon Papers, I believe our press has almost universally jettisoned their moral, ethical and patriotic sensibilities in this area. That leaves legal options, and you are right to point out that the legal landscape and penalties for this type of behavior are pretty unsatisfying.
Yay, Lawyers!
Jul '10
Re: WikiLeaks, Doing the Taliban's Work for Them
Wait! Isn't this Wikileaks guy the same one who leaked ClimateGate?
Are we giving the government/military a pass on their handling of the information?
In my mind:
The government needs the power to keep state secrets.
The government has this power.
The government failed to use this power effectively.
Any solution which effectively gives the government more power should be resisted.