WikiLeaks May Release 400,000 Iraq War Documents

The Pentagon is bracing for the possible release of as many as 400,000 potentially explosive secret military documents on the U.S.-Iraq war by WikiLeaks.

The self-described whistleblower website could release the files as early as Sunday.

CBS News national security analyst Juan Zarate says part of the fear about the potential release is the unknown: Defense officials are not sure exactly what documents WikiLeaks has.

In the context of Iraq, they may be concerned that information will include military operations, prior and current sources, people who may have cooperated in the past, and information that may be revelatory about what we know about the Iraqi government as well as other actors within Iraq, such as the Iranians.

Some of the data, gathered from what an official described to Agencie France Presse as a "tactical reports database" based in Iraq, may be SIGACTS (files on "Significant activities") pertaining to major military operations, movement of personnel, alliances with key tribal figures and allies on the ground.

"This comes at a time when there is some political volatility in Iraq," Zarate said. "We still have 50,000 troops [there], and the military should be concerned . . . for the safety of our troops, but also the political stability or instability in Iraq at this moment."

WikiLeaks had no official comment on the reported release.

On "The Early Show on Saturday Morning," Zarate said there is a long-term cost to having military and diplomatic files (such as those pertaining to the war in Afghanistan released by WikiLeaks in July) divulged.

"You have a building of distrust with the U.S. Government" among out allies, he said. "Can you trust the U.S. government to not only hold information but to, you know, keep it safe?

"Internally, this also creates a chill in terms of information sharing within the U.S. government - between intelligence services and the military, for example."

When asked by anchor Chris Wragge if there has been any damage assessed from last July's WikiLeaks leak of Afghan war documents, Zarate said, "I think the military is still trying to determine that. We've seen a letter from the Pentagon, the Congress report, indicating we have not seen evidence of the type of damage we were anticipating," such as reprisals by the Taliban against those who collaborated with NATO forces. "But I think it is too early to tell.

"And I think there is a cumulative effect to all of the leaks that will have an impact long term, as you mentioned, with potential cooperators and those aligned with us."

[ouchitatom]

I think that millions of people as oppsed to a few thousand are ready to find out just how many and what the effect of all the lies the american people have been told by washington and congressional members who are forced to lie to cover the other lies that brought them or thier party profit or favor.The United States fights dirty and fights with a blank check . The problem with 80% of the people who read and comment on the release of classified matieral is they have never been in the military and just live thier everyday life in a false confidence that your government is doing things right instead of doing the right things.

[wyodutch]

Here's the IMPORTANT news about our Iraq debacle.... "October 16, 2010: BAQUBA, Iraq - Members of United States-allied Awakening Councils have quit or been dismissed from their positions in significant numbers in recent months, prey to an intensive recruitment campaign by the Sunni insurgency, according to government officials, current and former members of the Awakening and insurgents.... Although there are no firm figures, security and political officials say hundreds of the well-disciplined fighters - many of whom have gained extensive knowledge about the American military - appear to have rejoined Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia. Beyond that, officials say that even many of the Awakening fighters still on the Iraqi government payroll, possibly thousands of them, covertly aid the insurgency."... Meanwhile, get your panties in a knot about WikiLeaks.

[Huldah5]

They have to recruit more Qaeda because we killed most of them, are killing them in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and will kill them wherever we can. Our military kills them where they are so they don't send them to....YOUR HOUSE. So, if you want to reply to this, please include your address and the time of day you are at home.

[slappy-jones]

Most of these comments make me think everyone assumes this is a US site. Does anyone here realize that Wikilinks is not within the judicial power of the US?

[annh1944]

Yes:

[wyodutch]

Diring the VietNam catastrophe, one man had the courage to blow the whistle on the United States government's lies. Daniel Ellsberg in effect, grabbed the uninformed and intellectually lazy American public by the nose and kicked them in the arse. It came too late for the 58,000 Americans who came home in boxes, but Ellsberg no doubt saved thousands more American libes by his actions.

[rwsmith29456]

If they do this they are complete A-holes.

[VerPo]

I believe people need to take a step back and reevalute their outlook on this dangerous situation. If WikiLeaks really does let out pertinent information in regards to our operations downrange, think about the hands that this information will eventually fall in. For supporters and nonsupporters of our troops or cause alike, this will affect all. If information of our tactics, alliances, personnel activity/movements etc falls into the wrong hands, guess what(?), game over. The opposing individuals will have the fuel to become more than one step ahead of our every move. Control will be lost, a domino affect will begin and hundreds of lives will be lost over there all because a single website thought it necessary to divulge this information to the public to gain popularity by people who want their nose in everything. Way to go.

[patilee3]

Let's see now...treason? war crimes? adding a abetting the enemy? there's so many words. Publicity *****? Pathetic need for attention?

[annh1944]

Endorsing Wikileaks behaviour is aiding and abetting - inflaming an already bad scene into a worse one: Nobody on this planet welcomes war but until we as a planet work out how to co-exist with one another, the ways of war sadly prevail, proof of man's inhumanity to man. If you present a better solution to this problem, I'm sure the peoples of the world will welcome it, as would I.

[annh1944]

My comment above is answering mickmcc October 16, 2010 5:47 PM EDT

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8601-201_162-6964276.html?assetTypeId=30&tag=contentBody;commentsStandAlone#ixzz12ZnHserP

[nbenn514]

treason.

[Huldah5]

For all you nimrods out there who look forward to the exposure of our national defense I suggest you post to wikileaks your address, telephone numbers, social security numbers, bank account numbers and pin numbers, credit card numbers and pin numbers, your moms address and phone numbers, your children's addresses and phone numbers, their elementary schools, their friends, when they go to bed, AND DON'T LOCK YOUR DOORS or WINDOWS. NO security systems, no sign in at the elementary schools, no security guards at your banks, no police in your neighborhoods.

[samXXkiley]

coucou,
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en admettant que wikileaks communique ces documents, je ne vois vraiment pas ce que cela va engendrer, ?a ne changera pas le cours de l'histoire, il y aura comme toujours col?re et indignation, et voila, l'affaire sera oubli?e en moins de deux, au revoir.

[slappy-jones]

Why do you waste everyone's time here?