WikiLeaks exposure endangers Afghan lives: Times

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"The leak by the WikiLeaks website of 90,000 secret documents on the war in Afghanistan has put hundreds of Afghan lives at risk because the files identify informants working with NATO forces, the Times reported Wednesday.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said earlier this week that all the documents released through his organization had been checked for named informants and that 15,000 such documents had been held back.

But The Times reported that after just two hours of combing through the documents it was able to find the names of dozens of Afghans said to have provided detailed intelligence to US forces.

Experts warned that the Taliban and Al-Qaeda would already be using the information to identify and target informers in the war zone.

The Times cited one 2008 document that included a detailed interview with a Taliban fighter considering defection.

The man, who names local Taliban commanders and talks about other potential defectors, is identified by name, along with his father's name and village."

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[Scurrilous]

1. Assange may have committed offence: ADA

<snip>

"Wikileaks founder Australian Julian Assange could have committed a serious criminal offence in helping an enemy of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), the lobby group, the Australia Defence Association (ADA) says.

ADA executive director Neil James said much of the 92,201 assorted US military, intelligence and diplomatic documents leaked by Wikileaks would not be new to anyone familiar with the Afghanistan war or wars in general.

But this latest material went well beyond justifiable whistleblowing, he said.

"Put bluntly, Wikileaks is not authorised in international or Australian law, nor equipped morally or operationally, to judge whether open publication of such material risks the safety, security, morale and legitimate objectives of Australian and allied troops fighting in a UN-endorsed military operation," he said in a statement.

Mr James said there were many alternative avenues available for legitimate dissent which did not endanger our troops.

"Moreover, as an Australian citizen, Wikileaks' Julian Assange may also be guilty of a serious criminal offence by assisting an enemy the ADF is fighting on behalf of all Australians, especially if the assistance was intentional," he said."

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[avaistheone1]

2. I support Assange

I hit the wrong key and recommended this thread by accident.

[Chulanowa]

3. Yeah, but who cares?

They're only Afghans, after all.

:sarcasm:

[frylock]

4. war exposure endangers afghan lives..

film at elevens.

[AlabamaLibrul]

5. Either it's old news that makes no difference, or it's a BFD that endangers lives.

Nobody can seem to make up their mind, including the WH.

[bemildred]

6. Like anybody really cares about Afghan lives all of a sudden. nt

[jah the baptist]

7. sadly

that is about the only genuinely new information this kid brought to light

stuff that shouldnt have been

and now he will be spending a goodly portion of his life in a military brig

what a disaster for everyone