Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed they were digging through the thousands of U.S. classified military documents posted on the Internet by WikiLeaks earlier this week, saying:
"We are studying the report. We will investigate through our own secret service whether the people mentioned are really spies working for the U.S. If they are U.S. spies, then we know how to punish them."
Mujahid told this to a reporter from Britain's Channel 4 TV earlier today, which should be of great concern for those Afghans whose named appears within the 90,000 documents that are free for download from the WikiLeaks website because the Taliban are well known for their revenge killings - especially against informants, which are typically brutal in nature such as the hanging of a 7-year old boy earlier this year. It’s a sure bet those named in the WikiLeaks documents are now marked targets. But Julian Assange scoffed at the notion:
"I think it’s unlikely that this will happen. We’ve worked hard to make sure there’s not a significant chance of anybody coming to harm."
However, Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, responded by angrily slamming Assange:
“Mr. Assange can say whatever he likes about the greater good he thinks he and his source are doing, but the truth is they might already have on their hands the blood of some young soldier or that of an Afghan family."
In his first comments on the massive leak Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said:
“The battlefield consequences of the release of these documents are potentially severe and dangerous for our troops, our allies and Afghan partners, and may well damage our relationships and reputation in that key part of the world. Intelligence sources and methods, as well as military tactics, techniques and procedures will become known to our adversaries.”
Mr. Assange volleyed, telling the BBC:
"One must consider why the Pentagon is focusing on the hypothetical blood that it says might be on our hands - although there is no evidence of that - compared to the 20,000 lives that have been lost in Afghanistan that are documented and exposed by our material. We will not be suppressed. We will continue to expose abuses by this administration and others."
Meanwhile, US Army Pfc Bradley Manning has been accused of leaking video of a deadly helicopter attack in Iraq in which a dozen civilians, including a Reuters photographer, were killed and is to stand trial on charges he gave the footage to WikiLeaks.
A Pentagon spokesman also said Manning is a "person of interest" in their investigation of the leaked files now known as the “Afghan War Diary”. Mr. Manning allegedly had boasted of leaking the documents to the WikiLeaks website and the Pentagon also now suspects Manning has accomplices within the military.
For other Afghanistan Headlines Examiner articles, click here.
For Geopolitics Examiner articles, click here.
Get the latest Afghanistan headlines delivered straight to your inbox. Just click the SUBSCRIBE button located above the article. (You'll never be sent anything you didn't ask for and your information won't be shared with anyone).
Comments
welcome to: w w w.shoesforking.c o m The website wholesale for many kinds of fashion shoes, like the nike,jordan,prada, also including the jeans,shirts,bags,hat and the decorations. All the products are free shipping, and the the price is competitive, and also can accept the paypal payment.,after the payment, can ship within short time. free shipping competitive price any size available accept the paypal jordan shoes $32 nike shox $32 Christan Audigier bikini $23 Ed Hardy Bikini $23 Smful short_t-shirt_woman $15 ed hardy short_tank_woman $16 Sandal $32 christian louboutin $80 Sunglass $15 COACH_Necklace $27 handbag $33 AF tank woman $17 puma slipper woman $30 w w w .shoesforking.c o m
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!