Wiki leak

[IAN 2411]

A whistleblowing group has insisted its decision to publish secret US military documents was to reveal the truth about the war in Iraq despite criticism it could put the lives of British armed forces in danger.
WikiLeaks posted nearly 400,000 leaked classified reports on the internet which contain accounts of abuse and misconduct by Iraqi authorities and US forces. There are also some allegations of abuse by UK soldiers, the website said.
The reports relate to 109,000 deaths - including 66,000 civilians, of which 15,000 were previously undocumented, it claimed.
WikiLeak's founder Julian Assange told a news conference in central London: "This disclosure is about the truth. We hope to correct some of that attack on the truth that occurred before the war, during the war, and which has continued on since the war officially concluded."
The Ministry of Defence said the website had been reckless and was putting the lives of British military personnel in danger.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki condemned the leak as a political stunt and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also suggested the leaks put lives at risk.
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I think something serious is going to happen to this guy [Julian Assange] and i would think very soon, he seems to be ratling a lot of the wrong cages. In the face of the evidence it is not just the British forces that are in danger it is all forces that are involved out there and that is mostly Americans. I have always been a believer that wars are not won without some sort of atrosities being involved, and anyone that does believe that are very naive.

Regards IAN 2411{lillirose}

[Thorne]

I have always been a believer that wars are not won without some sort of atrosities being involved, and anyone that does believe that are very naive.

Sadly, this is all too often true. As citizens of reputedly free, civilized nations, though, we would hope those atrocities were aberrations committed by bad individuals rather than policies implemented by our leaders. Unfortunately this is not always the case. I think it's important that such policies be brought out into the light, for all the world to see what has happened. Hopefully, intelligent people in our governments will understand that having something happen to Julian Assange would only reflect badly upon those governments at this point. They would do far better to tighten up their security leaks than to worry about vengeance.

As for putting soldiers at risk, while always a concern, we have to remember that it's those leaders who started these wars who are putting them at risk, while taking little or no risk themselves. And since the war in Iraq has been declared to be over, I wonder just what risk there could be? (Yes, I know it's not REALLY over. Only in the minds of politicians trying to soothe angry voters.) I believe it is the reputation of the politicians and government drones which is endangered by these leaks, much more than the welfare of the soldiers. If the release of these documents somehow manages to get our troops recalled from those sinkholes in the deserts, I wonder how many of them would be grateful.

As an aside, these leaks, and others, point out the absurdity of thinking that our government can actually keep secrets. Those who still cling to the absurd notion that the US Government, among others, has information regarding 9/11, UFO's, the Kennedy Assassination and other conspiracies, should see just how ridiculous it is to believe that such information could be kept secret!

[thir]

Sadly, this is all too often true. As citizens of reputedly free, civilized nations, though, we would hope those atrocities were aberrations committed by bad individuals rather than policies implemented by our leaders.

Well said!

As for putting soldiers at risk, while always a concern, we have to remember that it's those leaders who started these wars who are putting them at risk, while taking little or no risk themselves.

If the release of these documents somehow manages to get our troops recalled from those sinkholes in the deserts, I wonder how many of them would be grateful.

That too.