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Topic: Storage

Defense Dept "demands" Wikileaks return files

Summary: The U.S. Defense Department formally demands that Wikileaks return all classified military records, and leaves open what might happen to the group's principals if they refuse.

Declan McCullagh

By Declan McCullagh |

The U.S. Defense Department on Thursday formally demanded that Wikileaks return all military records that it possesses, saying they are the "property of the U.S. government."

Geoff Morrell, the department's press secretary, said that the military "demands that Wikileaks return immediately to the U.S. government all versions of documents obtained directly or indirectly from the Department of Defense databases or records" and permanently delete them.

In addition, Morrell said, the Wikileaks.org Web site "constitutes a brazen solicitation to U.S. government officials, including our military, to break the law" by claiming that leaking confidential or classified information is legal.

For more on this story, read Defense Dept "demands" Wikileaks return files on CNET News.

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24 comments
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  • The law

    Well, IMHO, the US government has not shown a particularly high regard for its own laws. Is this the pot calling the kettle black? Maybe this is the real problem. If the US government had clean hands, maybe the risks of leaking would be substantially reduced.
    Economister
    Reply Vote

  • outcome

    I wonder how many lives will be lost & saved because of these leaks. I suspect there will be some of both, but by helping bring these pointless occupations to an end earlier, the net effect will probably be lives saved. Good work, Wikileaks.

    gary
    gdstark13
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Defense Dept

      @gdstark13

      You really don't care which lives are lost and saved, do you?

      I say we pull the troops out and nuke the place from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.
      hiraghm@...
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Defense Dept

        @hiraghm@...
        > You really don't care which lives are lost and saved, do you?
        What is the difference between an afghan's life and yours? When you were born you could choose the place of birth?
        > I say we pull the troops out and nuke the place from orbit.
        And then? Who's next? The world is full of bloodthirsty monsters. My suggestion: Nuke the whole world! It's the only way to be sure. Or better pull the troops out and nuke yourself, from orbit or from where you want!
        VMeier
        Reply Vote

  • RE: Defense Dept

    What makes you think these leaks will shorten any "occupations" and which "occupations" are you referring to?
    brichter
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Defense Dept

      @brichter

      Just a hunch on my part. Which occupations? Iraq & Afghanistan. Unless the populace explicitly votes to have you there, it's an occupation.

      gary
      gdstark13
      Reply Vote

      • Tell Al Queda that

        Next time they decide to pop in...
        ahh so
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Defense Dept

        ahh so,<br><br>it's not so easy when you're not dealing with a democracy. You can't punish an entire population for the crimes of a few. That's not the rule of law. And there's that other little problem - it DOESN'T WORK.<br><br>gary
        gdstark13
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Defense Dept

        @gdstark13

        Then it's not occupations.
        hiraghm@...
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Defense Dept

        @gdstark13
        Well you should have told the Taliban to turn over Osama & his crew when they had they chance.<br><br>Now they get to pay the price.
        ahh so
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Defense Dept

        ahh so,

        "They" get to pay the price? Who specifically? Every man, woman, and child in the country? Even those that had nothing to do with it? Even those born after 9/11?

        gary
        gdstark13
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Defense Dept

        @gdstark13 <br><br>Yeah but I don't really give a_sh!t about them. So there.
        ahh so
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Defense Dept

        ahh so,

        You can't argue with that sort of [il]logic, so I won't try.

        gary
        gdstark13
        Reply Vote

      • Good idea

        @gdstark13

        Good boy. Now why don't you run along and go save the world, ok?
        ahh so
        Reply Vote

  • RE: Defense Dept

    What good does it do if they are already released and photocopied thousands of times, they are also likely be getting back a photocopied version! Maybe they want to scan for finger prints.
    m3kw9
    Reply Vote

  • I guess nobody told the U.S. Defense Department...

    Once it hits the internet...its there forever.

    It almost makes you wonder what they actually expect to get handed to them and what they think that will accomplish.
    Cayble
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Defense Dept

      @Cayble
      The heads of the wikileak freaks and the fear of never in other idiots who may be thinking of doin the same thing. How's that for an accomplishment??
      eargasm
      Reply Vote

      • Is that like .....

        @windozefreak

        the Pirate Bay freaking out and running scared because they were sued, and lost, again? ;-)
        Economister
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Defense Dept

        @windozefreak

        Not sure if you're aware, but the founder of wikileaks is not a US citizen, so they can't really touch him. Any attempt will not spread fear, but instead make the military look stupid.

        gary
        gdstark13
        Reply Vote

  • Secrecy and Political Coverups

    I've been fortunate to be in the military at a time when secrets were a disgusting way of hiding blunders. I got to read a lot of them, like wiping out our guys to save a Viet Cong informant. Then, there was the Cuban Missile Crisis, before Viet Nam, that demanded secrets be kept or mankind would perish, period. There has never been a good secret, just like there has never been a good war.
    Doc Disco
    Reply Vote
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