WikiLeaks threatens release of newly uncensored US cables

WikiLeaks is once more threatening to release a series of uncensored cables following an online poll it is conducting with its Twitter followers.

A week prior to the announcement, WikiLeaks published 134 000 US diplomatic cables which contained the names and details of protected individuals.

A tweet from the whistleblowing site said:

This is in relation to Cablegate, a collection of cables which is seven times the size of the infamous Iraq War Logs.

The move to release the cables is now being considered following an argument with the UK’s Guardian newspaper. The Guardian was previously a WikiLeaks media partner but is now being blamed by the site for publishing a book that contained a password which unlocked thousands of encrypted cables.

WikiLeaks had spoken to the US State department well in advance, informing them of the impending cable leak. The site chose to ignore the warnings that releasing these documents could endanger the lives of public figures, even cause a breach in US national security. The State department said:

WikiLeaks did advise us of the impending release of information and of its intention to continue to release classified documents. We have made clear our views and concerns about illegally disclosed classified information and the continuing risk to individuals and national security that such releases cause.

WikiLeaks has, however, ignored our requests not to release or disseminate any US documents it may possess and has continued its well-established pattern of irresponsible, reckless, and frankly dangerous actions.

These statements were made after a denial from the Guardian regarding accusations made by WikiLeaks that the newspaper purposefully leaked the passwords. With the relationship now severed, the Guardian has said that it “utterly reject[s] any suggestion that it is responsible for the release of the unedited cables”.

Over the past months, the New York Times, Der Spiegel, Le Monde and El Pais were the publications chiefly responsible for the bulk of stories originating from leaked cables. WikiLeaks continues to defend its release of redacted cables.

Image: Israel Matzav