The WikiLeaks fallout on the Afghan war intensifies, as enraged Pakistanis react to the report’s allegations that Pakistan intelligence is backing Afghan militants, collaborating with the Taliban against US forces, while still accepting aid money from the U.S. Is this really a surprise?
91,000 pages of leaked secret documents was published by WikiLeaks on Monday and has created a firestorm at the Pentagon, the State Department as the reports also blame U.S. forces for the incidents of Afghan civilian killings and also contained evidence of possible war crimes. The report also details the massive amount of waste, fraud, military miscalculations and failure in the U.S. Afghan operations. Oops.
As usual, the official government response to the damaging document dump is to shoot the messenger. The White House and Congress have called the publication of the report “irresponsible” and a threat to military efforts, security, and human lives. Nevermind the fact that the war itself is the biggest threat to life and security. . . . not the report.
In a related story we’ll also discuss the controversial Congressional decision on war funding at the expense of other necessary legislation.
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I’m glad the documents were released but we all know what will change; NOTHING AT ALL!!
And let me predict what will be going on in 4 years; we will still be in Iraqi and Afgan wars. And it doesn’t matter who had political power either. WAR WAR WAR!! WAR FOREVER!!! ONWARD TO UNDEFINABLE VICTORY!!!!
The only thing comparable to WikiLeaks is the “Pentagon Papers,” involving Daniel Ellsberg, a former employee of the Defense Department, his friend, Anthony Russo, Jr. and the New York Times. The issue involved a breach of national security. The Times, to whom the reports were leaked, appealed to the Supreme Court in 1971. The Court decided in favor of the Times in a 6-3 outcome citing the First Amendment.
Ellsberg and Russo were under indictment for theft of federal property and also charged with espionage. The case was dismissed in 1973.
Assuredly, if the Internet were available during the Vietnam War, something similar to WikiLeaks would’ve occurred… sensitive intelligence reports being posted by military personnel, themselves.
It’s interesting that whenever the TRUTH is revealed, it’s called a “leak.”
The reaction from the White House and Congress proves that they have no interest in withdrawing from Afghanistan or Iraq. In fact, anyone who is still asking themselves, “What is the mission?” is either incredibly naive about the purpose of these occupations (strategic control of resources and political control of the region), or is on-board with the campaign of extermination that we call “the war on terror.”
If the military or the civilian government were really opposed to these occupations, they would celebrate being given an opportunity like this to change direction.
I just heard that there will be a criminal investigation re: wikiLEAKS! Although Obomber himself admitted it was all old news, and the papers took out names, and potentially dangerous details, it is a crime to inform the world about the truth of these occupations! disgusting.
Will Obama water-broad Julian Paul Assange, or just have him assassinated? Either way, the security state will be ramped-up even more. The last thing Obama wants is withdrawal from any nations that border Iran. All the nations in Central Asia that we occupy will become vital front-line operating bases when Obama orders the bombing of Iran. The poorer the Dems poll, the greater the need for an ‘October Surprise.’
You were right the first time, Mike: Vote the Rethugs in. Do you really want to give these pathetic losers another chance?
Kerry dismisses leak papers as largely meaningless
The leak of tens of thousands of classified U.S. military documents on the Afghan war, while illegal, has little significance for policymaking, Sen. John Kerry said Tuesday.
Kerry, D-Mass., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the documents posted on the Internet on Sunday revealed little that was not already known to U.S. officials.
“I think it’s important not to overhype or get excessively excited about the meaning of those documents,” Kerry said at the outset of a committee hearing on prospects for negotiating an end to the Afghan war.
He said the release was unlawful and could potentially endanger U.S. troops in Afghanistan……….
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/9193029
House voting big war funds, despite Afghan leaks
The House prepared Tuesday to send President Barack Obama $33 billion to pay for his troop surge in Afghanistan, unmoved by the leaking of tens of thousands of classified military documents that portray a war effort beset by Afghan shortcomings.
From Obama on down, the disclosure of the documents was condemned anew by administration officials and military leaders, but the material failed to stir new anti-war sentiment. The bad news for the White House: A pervasive weariness with the war was still there — and possibly growing….
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/9193040
@ Matt, If Obama bombs Iran in the next couple of months before the election I’ll buy you a beer. (yeah I’m probably going to buy you a beer the next time you are in Seattle)
@ matt
No, I don’t think Obama will have Assange “water-BROADED,” but the soldiers responsible for the dissemination of classified information will certainly be court-martialed, fined and imprisoned.
only 102 democrats voted to de-fund the insanity today.
102.
obama was happy.
“Arianna Huffington: Fear Factor: What’s Keeping the President From Picking the Best Person…”
Answer—Power and Money. Corporations, Banks. These are the people that are running our government. Those in our government are just the puppets. Wake up America!!
Bo Knows.
How many more must die for GOP lies?
LH, Do you mean citizens at home or our children outsourced “over there” to fight for the wealthy?
in honor of today’s vote by the corrupt and insane
watch oliver stone’s JFK
I just can’t take much more of this insanity. Reality is worse than any kind of fiction I could dream up. Every day it’s more, and MORE of the same old B.S.! Every day it’s more about all the corruption, death, destruction, repression, depression, disaster, etc. Daily doses of this along with the fact that I haven’t had a job in nearly FOUR freaking YEARS, I’m ready to just offer myself up to the Soylent Green factory. J-F-C! I’m starting to think that living in either prison or an insane asylum is about the only option left for an over-educated, unemployed, penniless, connectionless “ordinary” citizen like me.
Let me guess……………… we will capture Bin Laden in Pakistan, thanks to Wikileaks.
Biden will have his “October Surprise”for Repugs when Bin Laden spills the beans on the Bush Crime Family. Dems WIN in November!!! Am I close?
@ Chris
Oh, if it were true…if it were only true. Sigh.