15K Wikileaks docs 'potentially more explosive,' US frets

Allies are outted?

The Pentagon says many of the classified documents not yet published by Wikileaks contain material that's “potentially more explosive, more sensitive” than the huge trove of leaked records that has already prompted conniptions in military circles, The Washington Post reports.

Pentagon officials have identified some 15,000 classified Afghanistan war documents believed to be in the possession of Wikileaks but not included in last month's dump of 77,000 records. US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has characterized it as an irresponsible act that potentially puts soldiers and Afghan sources in grave danger.

A task force of more than 100 intelligence analysts has been sifting through the nearly 92,000 documents given to Wikileaks to identify names of Afghan citizens, mosques, and allies in an attempt to identify those that may be put at risk by being outted in public. “We have found many instances in which our allies or their forces are mentioned in these documents,” a spokesman told the paper. The military has then notified the individuals as warranted.

Wikileaks officials have brushed off criticism that the leaking of the documents has imperiled soldiers and Afghan citizens, and in statements included in news reports, they have asked the Pentagon for assistance in reviewing the remaining documents to determine what information should be withheld.

The article is here. ®