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Loading...Wikileaks Discloses Thousands of Confidential Afghanistan Docs
As anticipated and despite government maneuvering to prevent otherwise, on Sunday a six-year archive of classified military documents was posted on Wikileaks. The New York Times, The Guardian, and Der Spiegel were also given copies of the documents in what Wikileaks describes as an enormous effort toward transparency and accountability concerning the war in Afghanistan.
The organization had previously released an internal U.S. military video but Sunday published over 75,000 confidential files. While the news outlets who also received copies of the files are still pouring over them, the Guardian, after independently confirming the authenticity of the documents, said the document dump revealed a “devastating portrait of the failing war in Afghanistan.”
Wikileaks has reportedly delayed the release of about an additional 15,000 files to allow names and other sensitive information to be redacted. But in the documents made public today are revelations of how the U.S.-led coalition has killed hundreds of civilians in unreported incidents, Taliban attacks have risen, and NATO commanders concerns that both Pakistan and Iran are helping with the insurgency.
The documents apparently span from January 2004-December 2009, and in its response to the disclosure the Obama administration was quick to point out that this timeframe is before the change in strategy. In fact, according to the administration, some of the grim details in files are precisely why President Obama ordered a review and ultimate change in strategy.
The administration strongly condemned the disclosure of the files and called the disclosure “irresponsible”. White House national security advisor James Jones said the disclosure could put both American lives and national security at risk.
The full impact of the disclosure will probably unfold in the coming weeks and months as the full substance of the files gets digested and reported. In some ways it probably comes as no surprise to learn that the violence in the region was worse than disclosed by the government and our “allies” in Afghanistan have their own shadowy interests in the region. Quite frankly, anyone who believes, uncritically, and of the information concerning the war efforts is doing so out of willful blindness and a total disregard to history. Spinning the war is just one of many Vietnam legacies, and even those roots go deeper in our military history.
Democracies can only function when there is a healthy level of transparency, and on that end I applaud the efforts of Wikileaks. I do so with some reservation though as Wikileaks has made it clear, under no uncertain terms, that it is wholeheartedly against the war in Afghanistan. To that end I think it is important to view the disclosure, and the files disclosed, with the same healthy dose of skepticism as the government’s war narrative. Both have agendas and both have access to and the ability to manipulate huge troves of information.
There is also a real concern that the disclosure will simply result in this and future administrations assigning a higher level of confidentiality to less and less relevant and important information, thereby stymying the very transparency efforts Wikileaks advocates. I’m not sure the answer is to that problem is to avoid disclosure or abandon efforts at transparency, but I think it is a serious challenge and one that needs to be thought through.
Ultimately though I hope the disclosure solidifies and hastens the efforts to exit Afghanistan and end our occupation there before any more innocent lives are lost.
Read more: afghanistan, julian assage, politics, wikileaks
photo courtesy of darkpatator via Flickr
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+ add your ownThe link works, but it was split into two lines. Make sure you select both lines when copying/pasting into the navigation bar.
Thank you Stephen. Interesting response and comments made on this link. I find it unacceptable that those who lose their lives from the release of these documents are considered "collateral damage" Afganastan, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan are not places that you are kindly read your rights and put in a place where you get three squares a day people!
Sorry, Stephen, the link does not respond. Is it correst?
NOTE: THIS LINK IS NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN OR ANYONE WITH A WEAK STOMACH. This is the response of a journalist formerly embedded in military operations in Iraq.
http://www.blackfive.net/main/2010/07/jaccuse-assange-meurtrier.html
Shannon,
He had to go along with Pentagon craziness just to show it for the stupidity that it is.
Even your President is a puppet of Manhattan and its lackeys, a great fault of your "system" of government. Given the inevitable failure of the campaign, though, Obama will then be provided with the necessary evidence to be able to call a halt to it.
If this administration wanted to make a difference and do what they said they would, they would have an IMMEDIATE withdrawel of all troops on foriegn soil and let the world who looks down and sneer fend for themselves. This "administration" would stop violating the rights of their own citizens and repel the patriot act-which they had a chance to do but did not. Why should I give this administration a chance? Instead of change we can believe in we have our own president saying "Oh, well it could be worse" How much worse could it get? Brilliant orators do not brillant leaders make.
Shannon,
However, we have not yet reached the end of the story. Just wait a while.
This administration continues to put more boots on the ground AND has choosen to renew the patriot act with no changes. The only thing that this "administration" can be proud of is their superior manipulation and speaking skills.
Marilyn,
It was not this administration but the previous moronic shambles that deposited this excrement upon the world. This administration inherited the filth and must now try to clean it up.
so glad it happened..maybe it will help bring down this administration
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