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In what many are calling the biggest leak in U.S. military history — whistleblower website Wikileaks has published more than 90,000 classified war documents, painting a largely bleak picture of the war in Afghanistan.
Among the documents’ revelations: the Taliban used heat-seeking missiles against allied aircraft, predator drones could be less reliable than portrayed, and millions in humanitarian aid money sent to the region has since disappeared.
But perhaps the biggest bombshell — at least in the American press — is evidence suggesting Pakistan is working with the Taliban in secret strategy sessions against the United States. Pakistan gets $1 billion a year in aid from Washington.
PAT BUCHANNON: “The idea that elements of their government are participating in a war killing American troops when our casualties are rising, and there’s no end in sight, I think that puts a real accent on this war and I think there’s gonna be a rising opposition as a result of this war because of the way this plays out.” (MSNBC)
Many in the international press say all that really isn't surprising, and what’s most shocking is the sheer volume of information leaked. A Russia Today host is critical of colleagues in the media.
“Gutless is what I say. Most of this information you could have found out yourself if you had just tried a little bit, talked to witnesses. The Internet exists. Oh my goodness. These stories are out there. It’s just the government confirming to us that we’ve been lied to about this war and we should listen to the people on the ground.”
Canada’s CBC reports while the documents raise questions about the war in Afghanistan, it also begs the question: Who is Wikileaks, and what's its motivation?
“Wikileaks published a lot of different videos but it is the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that has raised some serious questions about the website. ... Anyone can actually upload video or give Wikileaks documents but not everything is published on the website for general consumption. Essentially a group of people from Wikileaks vets the material as well.”
The Obama administration has condemned the leaks, calling them irresponsible and a threat to national security. As a Washington-based correspondent for the BBC reports, administration officials might be trying to play the leaks both ways by NOT declaring the revelations inaccurate.
“…which were mainly the Bush years. And in the same statement the White House says it was the picture of sort of the chaos that these documents portrayed that led the Obama administration to change strategy in 2009. The picture that these documents paint was a result of the under-resourcing by the Bush administration, which had basically taken its eyes of Afghanistan and focused attention on Iraq.”
Finally, anchors on Providence, Rhode Island’s WNAC agree that the leak isn’t necessarily a bombshell, but suggest it highlights a trend in non-traditional journalism.
ANCHOR: “I think that’s what separates traditional journalist media outlets from bloggers who can kind of have free reign they can post what they want, say what they want. No rules. ...”
ANCHOR: “I think there are some things that us as the public don’t necessarily really need to know. It does jeopardize American safety. ... I think leaking stuff like this is just — I believe we’re on a need-to-know basis."
If you’d like to see the previously-classified documents for yourself, visit the link in our transcript section.
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WRITER: Newsy Staff
PRODUCER: Newsy Staff
