Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
U.S. officials privately say WikiLeaks damage limited
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
U.S. officials privately say WikiLeaks damage limited
Reuters - Wednesday, January 19
Send
IM Story
Print
By Mark Hosenball
WASHINGTON - Internal U.S. government reviews have determined that a mass leak of diplomatic cables caused only limited damage to U.S. interests abroad, despite the Obama administration's public statements to the contrary.
A congressional official briefed on the reviews said the administration felt compelled to say publicly that the revelations had seriously damaged American interests in order to bolster legal efforts to shut down the WikiLeaks website and bring charges against the leakers.
"I think they just want to present the toughest front they can muster," the official said.
But State Department officials have privately told Congress they expect overall damage to U.S. foreign policy to be containable, said the official, one of two congressional aides familiar with the briefings who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity.
"We were told was embarrassing but not damaging," said the official, who attended a briefing given in late 2010 by State Department officials.
WikiLeaks caused a media and diplomatic uproar late last year when it began to dribble out its cache of more than 250,000 U.S. diplomatic cables.
Major headlines were generated by some of the cables, which revealed that Saudi leaders had urged U.S. military action against Iran and detailed contacts between U.S. diplomats and political dissidents and opposition leaders in some countries.
"From our standpoint, there has been substantial damage," State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley told Reuters.
"We believe that hundreds of people have been put at potential risk because their names have been compromised in the release of these cables," he said.
YEMEN TIES STRAINED
National security officials familiar with the damage assessments being conducted by defense and intelligence agencies told Reuters the reviews so far have shown "pockets" of short-term damage, some of it potentially harmful. Long-term damage to U.S. intelligence and defense operations, however, is unlikely to be serious, they said.
Some of the cases of more serious damage have occurred in countries where WikiLeaks' revelations have publicized closer ties with Washington than local officials publicly admit.
For example, a cable released by WikiLeaks quoted Yemen's president saying he would allow U.S. personnel to engage in counter-terrorism operations on Yemeni territory even as he said publicly that the operations were being handled by domestic security forces.
U.S. officials say the continued media attention on such revelations has made it difficult for Washington to repair relations with governments critical to its counter-terrorism operations, such as Pakistan and Yemen.
Two U.S. intelligence officials said they were aware of specific cases where damage caused by WikiLeaks' revelations have been assessed as serious to grave, though they said they could not discuss the subject matter because it remained highly classified.
Crowley said the State Department had helped move a small number of people compromised by the leaks to safer locations.
Damage assessments by the State Department, Pentagon and U.S. intelligence community are still continuing, so the current view of many officials that damage has been limited could change if and when WikiLeaks and its media partners publish more documents.
The assessments also cover the leaking of tens of thousands of military field reports from Iraq and Afghanistan.
WIKILEAKS "RECKLESS, IRRESPONSIBLE
Special investigative teams are also combing through unpublished material which U.S. investigators believe is in the hands of WikiLeaks.
U.S. officials and sources close to WikiLeaks have said the website is sitting on a cache of documents related to the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, which includes intelligence-based risk assessments of detainees.
A spokeswoman for the office of Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, which oversees all U.S. intelligence agencies, said, "The irresponsible and reckless behavior of WikiLeaks has of course caused damage and will continue to be damaging in the months and years to come."
But current and former intelligence officials note that while WikiLeaks has released a handful of inconsequential CIA analytical reports, the website has made public few if any real intelligence secrets, including reports from undercover agents or ultra-sensitive technical intelligence reports, such as spy satellite pictures or communications intercepts.
Shortly before WikiLeaks began its gradual release of State Department cables last year, department officials sent emails to contacts on Capitol Hill predicting dire consequences, said one of the two congressional aides briefed on the internal government reviews.
However, shortly after stories about the cables first began to appear in the media, State Department officials were already privately playing down the damage, the two congressional officials said.
The U.S. government is examining whether criminal charges can be brought against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Assange is in London fighting extradition to Sweden for questioning in a sexual misconduct investigation.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Google software for the masses lands in Iran AFP - 37 minutes ago
US-TECH Summary Reuters - 1 hour 56 minutes ago
Sprint raises smartphone monthly fee by $10 Reuters - Wednesday, January 19
TSMC may spend $8 billion on investment this yearp: report Reuters - Wednesday, January 19
Analysis: Goldman's Facebook retreat reflects new normal Reuters - Wednesday, January 19
News Search
Top Stories
Sargent Shriver, Peace Corps founder, dies at 95
Steve Jobs surrenders reins as Apple thrives
Rape laws blurry for Israelis: researcher
Lebanon tribunal charges under wraps as tensions rise
Apple share price drops on Jobs health fears
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Researchers aim to resurrect mammoth in five years
Apple's Steve Jobs taking new medical leave
Russian women 'dress like strippers': church spokesman
Smart US dog learns more than 1,000 words
Steve Jobs surrenders reins as Apple thrives
More Most Viewed »
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo!
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Entertainment
Photos
Yahoo! News Network
Copyright © 2011 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Wednesday, 19 January 2011 Lebanon tribunal charges under wraps as tensions rise
Suicide bomber kills 50 at Iraq police centre
Haitian authorities detain Baby Doc Duvalier
|
Apple share price drops on Jobs health fears
Two charged over iPad hacking on AT&T network
Magnitude 7.4 quake hits Pakistan: USGS
|
Qatar, Turkey hold talks on Lebanon crisis
Police take Duvalier from Haiti hotel
American Airlines, Priceline in distribution deal
Italian soldier killed in Afghanistan
Citigroup posts first year of profit since crisis
Egyptian dies after Tunisia-style torching
Sharks are colour-blind: study
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban welcome new baby
Egyptians set themselves ablaze after Tunisia unrest
Boeing delays first Dreamliner delivery to autumn
Mutilated bodies found near Mexico's richest city
|
Russian women 'dress like strippers': church spokesman
Suicide bomber kills 45 police recruits in Iraq
Iran bans production of Valentine's Day gifts
Bosnian turned Israeli held for Srebrenica massacre
US strike kills five in NW Pakistan: officials
UK royal succession challenge passes first test
|
Man torches himself in Alexandria: official
Hu heads to U.S. as China pushes back on currency
White House: "more must be done" on China currency
Jedinak sends Australia into Asian Cup quarters
S. Korea sink India in Asian Cup, now face Iran
Vietnam reshuffles leaders, but policy seen consistent
Wall Street ponders Apple without Steve Jobs
|
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Dairy prices rise in latest auction
Regis Philbin retiring from "Live with Regis and Kelly!"
Nobel laureate Yunus in Bangladesh court
Helsinki explores building Guggenheim museum
China's Lenovo creates unit for tablets, mobiles
Supreme Court affirms gay marriage law
Nissan Leaf deliveries 'see slow start'
Venezuela, Cuba outfox U.S. with fiber optic cable
|
Thousands of polygamous marriages in Turkey: study
Pakistan stocks ease on profit taking; rupee down
Facebook new frontier in parent-teen relationship
|
Blacks and greys dominate Milan men's catwalks
Berlin festival honors jailed Iranian filmmaker
Clearwire names John Stanton as chairman
|
Spacey, Moore and 3D in focus at Berlin film fest
Pubs praised in 100th Michelin guide
'Toylet' games make a splash in Japan urinals
California high school shooting wounds 3 students
Supreme Court denies conservatives' appeal in D.C. gay marriage case
Regis Philbin retiring from Live with Regis and Kelly!
|
"Dynasty" soap series coming to the big screen
Ricky Gervais says won't host Golden Globes again
|
North Dakota Sen. Kent Conrad retiring to avoid 'distracting' campaign
Piers Morgan gets big CNN debut, but beaten by Palin
|
Hard Rock employees launch class action lawsuit for minimum wage
Elton John determined not to spoil new baby
|
Facebook delays plan to share contact information
Delta Air Lines earns $19 million In 4Q
US-TECH Summary
Family of Mexican boy sues U.S. government for border death
Facebook new frontier in parent-teen relationship
Chinas president to meet with Obama on tough issues
Two charged over iPad hacking on AT&T network
Hu wants to keep U.S. attention away from Beijings aspirations
N. Korea hackers attack defector website: report
Trans Alaska pipeline set to resume full service
Clearwire names John Stanton as chairman
US filing charges on hack affecting iPad users
Sprint ups fees for smartphone users by $10
Afghan business lobby stops Iran trade
Berlusconi weakened by latest sex scandal
French teen sets himself on fire: officials
Swiss banker linked to WikiLeaks on trial over secrecy
|
Suicide bomber kills up to 60 police recruits in Iraq
IBM quarterly results top forecasts
Sargent Shriver, Peace Corps founder, dies at 95
Russia's Medvedev pushes peace in Jericho
Steve Jobs surrenders reins as Apple thrives
Apple share price drops on Jobs health fears
Rape laws blurry for Israelis: researcher
US green light for Comcast buy of NBC Universal
Lebanon tribunal charges under wraps as tensions rise
Mutilated bodies found near Mexico's richest city
|
U.S. officials privately say WikiLeaks damage limited
Big quake shakes Pakistan; no casualties, minor damage
|
Internet time tied to teen depression symptoms
Russia puts brakes on further nuclear cutbacks
Sprint raises smartphone monthly fee by $10
Minimum and maximum temperatures in Celsius
Wall Street ponders Apple without Steve Jobs
Afghan refugees on hunger strike in Australia
S. Koreans urged to stay put for Lunar New Year
Nobel laureate Yunus faces charges of defamation
Big quake shakes Pakistan; no casualties
"Hannah Montana" finale sets ratings record
Taiwan ex-military police chief jailed for 16 years
Ricky Gervais says won't host Golden Globes again
Panic as major quake hits Pakistan
Google investors to look beyond search
|
One dead, 15 injured in Pakistan cart bomb: police
Apple's bright view outshines Jobs's plight
|
Myanmar rights report says minority group killed, raped
Analysis: Goldman's Facebook retreat reflects new normal
|
Cavendish crashes as Swift swoops at Tour Down Under
Russians seek omens and foretell husbands in winter ritual
China vows cheaper roads after toll dodger outcry
'Pango and Wally': the new faces of urban Africa
U.S. officials privately say WikiLeaks damage limited
|
Sprint raises smartphone monthly fee by $10
|
"Green Hornet" eyes strong Asian box office
"Idol" semifinalist homeless, or maybe not
TSMC may spend $8 billion on investment this yearp: report
|
"Hannah Montana" finale sets ratings record
Internet time tied to teen depression symptoms
|
Seoul shares open up lifted by tech plays
China TV shows grisly deaths as driving lessons
NZ guest nights rise in November
Bolivia launches fizzy drink made from coca leaf
Conservatives rally behind Ricky Gervais
Alcoa signs $7.5 bn deal with China's CPI
Tyler has "bunch of songs" for new Aerosmith album
Conservatives rally behind Ricky Gervais
|
Idol semifinalist homeless, or maybe not
|
Hannah Montana finale sets ratings record
|
Green Hornet eyes strong Asian box office
|
Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban welcome new baby girl
|
Tyler has bunch of songs for new Aerosmith album
|
Apple share price drops on Jobs health fears
Venezuela, Cuba outfox U.S. with fiber optic cable
Somali attacker 'only aimed to scare Danish cartoonist'
China 2010 rare earth exports slip, value rockets
Hundreds rally against Tunisia's new government
Germany hikes growth forecast for 2011
TSMC may spend $8 billion on investment this year: report
Protests as Tunisia's new unity cabinet meets
|
Brazil judge: Italian fugitive could be sent home
Saudi ends Lebanon mediation, says country at risk
|
Google software for the masses lands in Iran
Haiti charges returned ex-dictator Duvalier
|
Dr. Conrad Murray finds support in Michael Jackson video dancer
Analysis: Goldman's Facebook retreat reflects new normal
Eurozone balance of payments worsens in November
Odinga says Ivory Coast mediation fails, blames Gbagbo
|
Regis Philbin announces retirement from "Live with Regis and Kelly"
Bomb blast kills 20 Afghan civilians in southeast
|
Former Swiss banker linked to WikiLeaks goes on trial
|
Nokia's market share troubles to hit profits
Four troops killed in Thai rebel ambush
|
Afghan official sees big hurdles to capable army
|
South Sudanese in most states back independence: poll
|
U.S. push for Israeli, Palestinian intelligence: WikiLeaks
|
India aims for Asia's biggest tidal power plant
'Lucky' Federer survives Aussie Open thriller
US prepares for difficult talks with China
China 'logs double-digit growth in 2010'
Indonesia's 'poster child for institutionalized corruption' gets 7 years
Korea to offer online lectures on pop culture in Southeast Asia
Alibaba, partners to spend up to $4.5 billion on logistics
|
Man arrested in Indonesia for running prostitution ring through Facebook
Misbah stars as Pakistan seal NZ Test series win
Baidu edges ahead in Chinese online market
SAP sets ambitious goals, faces restructuring: report
|
Thai police charge two Malaysians for drugs
China's online population rises to 457m in 2010
Nokia's market share troubles to hit profits
|
China's economy grows 10.3% in 2010: report
In the chatroom with the cyber guerrillas
|
Former Swiss banker linked to WikiLeaks goes on trial
|
World Bank to help Philippines fight floods
Ericsson faces margin squeeze as sales improve
|
Twitter opens Korean-language website
Sanctions no obstacle as Iranians get their iPads
|
Seoul shares rally as Samsung Elec hits record high
RPT-UPDATE 1-Boeing, Korean Air in talks on 787 delivery
China's Hu: currency system 'product of the past'
Game over for corrupt, wig-wearing Indonesian tax official
Boeing in talks on 787 delivery timeline with Korean Air
Indonesian taxman jailed in massive graft case
Ex-Japan Airlines pilots, cabin crew file lawsuit
Sen. Joe Lieberman expected to announce retirement
Dr. Conrad Murray finds support in Michael Jackson video dancer
Bomb discovered along Spokane MLK parade route
Antidepressants may help treat hot flashes
Obama urged to raise laundry list of grievances and issues with Chinese Prime Minister
U.S. Attorneys Office files charges against 2 men for getting and distributing email addresses of iPad owners
Washington accuses Ottawa of violating 2006 softwood agreement
U.N. plans more troop deployments in Ivory Coast
House Republicans to vote on repealing Obama's health care reform
Obama tries to streamline regulations in his latest executive order
Revamped American Idol looks to regain its mojo
|
Universal to partner new TV singing show The Voice
|
Former Swiss banker linked to WikiLeaks goes on trial
Nokia's market share troubles to hit profits
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights