Pentagon: Leaked secrets dangerous

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates calls on reporters during a news
conference at the Pentagon July 29, 2010 in Arlington, Virginia. Getty Images



Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=136728§ionid=3510203


The US defense secretary says the leak of secret documents on the war in Afghanistan could have "severe and dangerous" consequences for foreign troops.

"The battlefield consequences of the release of these documents are potentially severe and dangerous for our troops, our allies and Afghan partners, and may well damage our relationships and reputation in that key part of the world," US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Thursday.

He said the Pentagon "is conducting a thorough, aggressive investigation to determine how this leak occurred, to identify the person or persons responsible, and to assess the content of the information compromised," Gates told reporters at the Pentagon.

Whistle-blower website Wikileaks has released over 90,000 classified records of military conduct in Afghanistan during the period 2004-09.

The White House immediately lashed out at the website and it's founder, Julian Assange saying the top secret material contained in the documents could cause potential harm to US personnel and operatives in Afghanistan.

The files also include the identity of Afghans, who have provided US forces with intelligence or have assisted the foreign forces.

Official believe the lives of individuals who are named in the documents are at risk.

Assange says his main objective in revealing the information to the public was to shed light on events involving the US-led invasion of Afghanistan.