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Posted on 11/29/2010 1:06:45 PM PST by Virginia Ridgerunner
We all applaud the successful thwarting of the Christmas-Tree Bomber and hope our government continues to do all it can to keep us safe. However, the latest round of publications of leaked classified U.S. documents through the shady organization called Wikileaks raises serious questions about the Obama administration’s incompetent handling of this whole fiasco.
First and foremost, what steps were taken to stop Wikileaks director Julian Assange from distributing this highly sensitive classified material especially after he had already published material not once but twice in the previous months? Assange is not a “journalist,” any more than the “editor” of al Qaeda’s new English-language magazine Inspire is a “journalist.” He is an anti-American operative with blood on his hands. His past posting of classified documents revealed the identity of more than 100 Afghan sources to the Taliban. Why was he not pursued with the same urgency we pursue al Qaeda and Taliban leaders?
What if any diplomatic pressure was brought to bear on NATO, EU, and other allies to disrupt Wikileaks’ technical infrastructure? Did we use all the cyber tools at our disposal to permanently dismantle Wikileaks? Were individuals working for Wikileaks on these document leaks investigated? Shouldn’t they at least have had their financial assets frozen just as we do to individuals who provide material support for terrorist organizations?
Most importantly, serious questions must also be asked of the U.S. intelligence system. How was it possible that a 22-year-old Private First Class could get unrestricted access to so much highly sensitive information? And how was it possible that he could copy and distribute these files without anyone noticing that security was compromised?
The White House has now issued orders to federal departments and agencies asking them to take immediate steps to ensure that no more leaks like this happen again. It’s of course important that we do all we can to prevent similar massive document leaks in the future. But why did the White House not publish these orders after the first leak back in July? What explains this strange lack of urgency on their part?
We are at war. American soldiers are in Afghanistan fighting to protect our freedoms. They are serious about keeping America safe. It would be great if they could count on their government being equally serious about that vital task.
- Sarah Palin
((((PING))))
She has the courage to ask the QUESTIONS that the lame media should be demanding!! After all, they are the ones who knew he was a Kenyon and kept it quiet!! we have a traitor in our midst.. big time....
I’ve got it. This Obama incompetence is just for show. He’s really working for Palin 2012.
Does anyone realize that everything this clown-like administration does is on purpose and is designed to level the playing field so to speak!
Drone strike?
Anyone ever hear of encryption?
This was intentional. Our government is the only organization with secret data?
Anyone ever see Obama's birth certificate? If it exists, it's on a computer somewhere. Ditto my bank statement from last month (less interesting), or the stuff I send bank and forth with clients (even less interesting).
ML/NJ
For all those concerned about Palin’s “gravitas” and wondering where she stands on the issues, she has been out front on nearly every issue of importance. My question is where are all the other “so-called” presidential candidates? Now that Sarah has opened the door, we can expect the others to “me too” themselves into the debate. But then, isn’t that what followers do? Follow the leader.
“...How was it possible that a 22-year-old Private First Class could get unrestricted access to so much highly sensitive information? ...”
The answer is POLITICAL CORRECTNESS with a dash of DIVERSITY and SENSITIVITY. In summary, they let a queer have top secret clearance when they knew that those types of people pose a severe security risk because they already have proven that they have MAJOR psychological problems, other wise they would not be queer.
leave the guy alone. He’s back on the B Ball court.
Sarah needs to check her sources before posting this kind of message.
First, Assange is only the figurehead for Wikileaks. There are a number of people behind him doing the heavy lifting, and I'll venture that most (if not all) are outside the US and out of the reach of US law enforcement. And they are careful to protect their identifies.
Second, simply publishing this information is not a crime, unless any participant has a US security clearance. The Pentagon Papers case pretty much established that prior restraint is a moot issue.
Any prosecutions must be made under the Espionage Act, which imposes a pretty high threshold for what constitutes a crime.
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The publications are coming from Iceland.
Iceland is supposed be an ally.
The point is clear, they should have done something with this group.
Like what? It's one thing to say "something should have been done".
But, it's another to actually do something. And there's nothing that US law enforcement or US intelligence could have done, within the law.
No matter how much you want it to be, Wikileaks isn't subject to US law.
Our hands seem to have been tied, but honorable patriots with the proper know how and some mysterious financing, could have taken care of this problem. The Russians have had no qualms about doing it and neither has the Massad.
If you mean the servers themselves, the main servers are reportedly in Sweden in a former nuclear bunker.
But, there are mirror sites in Switzerland and the US.
And the data archive is spread all over the 'Net. Shut down the above sites, and it will pop up somewhere else.
No pressure on our allies could work? No back channels anywhere?
Sorry, that's just plain stupid to continue to allow this kind of leaking of classified info.
Yeah, sure. You don't think that Wikileaks administrators haven't already taken that into consideration? They work behind multiple layers of anonymous proxies.
There was a large multi-gigabyte AES-encrypted file floating around on the 'Net named "insurance":
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/07/wikileaks-insurance-file/
Even if someone managed to "take care" of every Wikileaks administrator, that file was spread everywhere. All it would have needed is the AES key, which would have undoubtedly been published if the fecal matter hit the rotary oscillator. And you would have seen the unencrypted contents pop up everywhere.
I have been wondering if Assange is a protected asset.
Iran is spinning this as psy ops ..they think it really shows that they are protecting Iran against others that want it bombed
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