The US government was forced to release its assessments of the WikiLeaks cables to Bradley Manning’s defense earlier this week, and while they won’t be available to the general public, analysts say that they reflect widespread panic, particularly in the US State Department, over the leaks.
The State Department says that it set up multiple major teams that worked constantly on the leaks from November 2010, and that it believed “several hundred” people had been placed at risk, with damage that could last for years.
The reports will be a major focus in the trial, as the defense will argue that despite all of the panic and rhetoric, there is no evidence that the leaks ever actually did any real harm.
The defense considered the acquisition of the documents a big win, but suffered a setback today when the judge rejected a petition to dismiss 10 of the charges against Manning on constitutional grounds.
I'm happy anytime these cockroaches scramble around in a panic over information that exposes their crimes.
Question: When is it justifiable for a government employee to put US security personnel and their clandestine associates in jeopardy by leaking their identity to journalists for publication?
Answer: When the leakers are working out of the Vice President's office, when the journalist is Bob Novak, when the security officer is Valerie Plame, and when the motive is vengeance and retribution.
You forget to add that those responsible are STILL free and unrepentant…
The real damage is done to the egos of those involved. Displayed is sheer arrogance of power, general stupidity due to the lack of proper education, and bluster that comes with ignorance. Why getting informed about any part of the globe? Why trouble? Just do whatever comes to mind, use information only as it serves the continuance of insane policies, fly by the seat of pants. The venality comes with the priviledge. Having acquired the sweet taste of power, money, perks and prestige — the ignorance and incompetence can remain hidden from the camera lense.
So far, the only people at 'risk' that have been documented have been some ambassadors who had to seek new posts after the people in the country read all the nasty things they say in their emails back to SOS Clinton at HQ. Our government throws this stuff out as 'harm' done, but never provides any backup info. Which to me means it gets filed right next to those weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and Iran's fictional nuclear weapons program. I don't believe a word of it without something more than the word of proven liars.
Meanwhile, Mr. Manning did heroic service to the concept of democracy in America which of course must rely on the citizens actually knowing what their government is doing. Secrecy is a coup against democracy as the voters can't weigh in on what they don't know about.
mickperry
“ When is it justifiable for a government employee to put US security personnel.. in jeopardy?”
Answer, whenever it will reduce corruption in government.