Soldier Arrested for Leaking Classified Items onto Wikileaks
Soldier Arrested for Leaking Classified Items onto Wikileaks
Posted 06/07/2010 at 4:12pm
| by Pulkit Chandna
12
Comments
Print
Back in March, the internet's favorite repository of anonymous leaks, Wikileaks, published a classified Army document that labeled the site a security threat. According to the U.S. military, the man responsible for passing along classified information to Wikileaks, which included the above mentioned document and a helicopter video kept classified for its ignominiously incriminating nature, is now in its custody in Kuwait. He is yet to be indicted as the military is still investigating the matter.
Specialist Bradley Manning, a 22-year old resident of Potomac, Maryland , was arrested two weeks ago from Forward Operating Base Hammer, about 40 miles east of Baghdad. According to a Wired report, he had his cover blown by an erstwhile computer hacker named Adrian Lamo. Apparently, Manning blithely identified himself as the source of some key leaks on Wikileaks during their online conversations.
The braggart took credit for four leaks, which included a video showing a U.S. Apache helicopter attacking a group of innocent Iraqi civilians after mistaking a cameraman's camera for a rocket-propelled grenade launcher. The helicopter attack, which included two Reuters employees among those killed, occurred in 2007.
Manning's task was rendered easier by inadequate security measures. “I would come in with music on a CD-RW labeled with something like ‘Lady Gaga,’ erase the music then write a compressed split file,” Manning told Lamo. “Weak servers, weak logging, weak physical security, weak counter-intelligence, inattentive signal analysis … a perfect storm.”
Images Credit: WikiLeaks
More like this
PawBear
June 08, 2010 at 12:16pm
Spies used to get shot during war time; now they get prison. I hope it's a long time.
By the way, anyone viewing the FULL video sees the weapons being carried.
*** "Either we conform the Truth to our desires or we conform our desires to the Truth." ***
Trooper_One
June 08, 2010 at 11:12am
For some of you who were so sure that there were people with AK's, where's the proof?
So far there's only proof that it was a camera man with his alleged "RPG" and innocent folks who were killed.
A second subsequent shot killed many more who were trying to help the wounded. And you people are making fun of this?!?
Had he not uploaded this, this would've been another incident that would've been swept under the rock and the innocents would've been blamed for their own deaths.
FYI: I support the soldiers but the overall mission is a sham and only enriches big oil and military related companies (e.g. Haliburton). The US economy is going to tank and more debt (in the trillions) is being incurred - and there's no money for health care?!? Where are the priorities?!?
Bring 'em home!
quickone
June 08, 2010 at 9:17am
This guy is an idiot. Of course security is weak when you have access. I could copy all day long with my TS clearance but I have that level because they trust me that I wont. This guy deserves a bullet to the head.
I'm all for government oversight and investigative
reporters but use common sense. Why would people publish classified information that is given to them? Undercover agents, military positions, on-going operations. That stuff is classified for a reason, the people who report it are just as guilty as those who leak it
~~The difference between insanity and genius is merely succes~~
Flea
June 08, 2010 at 5:53am
Your report is factually incorrect. Some of those "civilians" were armed with AK47s and RPGs. Regretably, civilians in the company of thosed armed, and the Reuters photgraphers, were killed as well. When reporters embed with any combat force, they risk becoming casualties along with the fighters.
Vegan
June 07, 2010 at 8:40pm
What an idiot. While I appreciate his intent, his actions are nothing short of treasonous. I don't think we should be there, either, but come on.
armyguy298
June 07, 2010 at 7:05pm
Sure, its easy to get access to the information when you are INSIDE the system! Of course there are weak security measures when you have all the access controls and passwords!!! What a dumba$$. I hope he gets the needle.
quickone
June 08, 2010 at 9:09am
THAT gets through the spam filter but half my posts do not? Seriosuly MPC? Seriosuly?
~~The difference between insanity and genius is merely succes~~
Oedipus_Rex
June 07, 2010 at 6:24pm
"Manning told Lamo. “Weak servers, weak logging, weak physical security,
weak counter-intelligence, inattentive signal analysis … a perfect
storm.”"Not to mention a scumbag willing to forswear his oaths and take advantage of the trust placed in him by his superiors and his country. So yeah... perfect storm.
Connect with MaximumPC
Featured Content
We introduce Intel's latest class of tablet killers and review 4 of the first Ultra...
This month's issue
Feature
11 Hardware Hacks
Feature
Overclock Your CPU
How-To
Supercharge Your Smartphone
Build It
A Powerful $830 Rig
Most Commented Articles
Latest Max PC Tweets
- maximumpc: HUD-Sporting "Google Glasses" May Hit Streets This Year http://t.co/TDXjJowZ2 hours 58 min ago
- maximumpc: Nvidia Releases WHQL-Certified 295.73 GeForce Drivers http://t.co/NVMWruHO4 hours 32 min ago
- maximumpc: http://t.co/BVVfRA3B4 hours 32 min ago
