Last updated: August 07, 2010

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Pentagon to Wikileaks: 'Give documents back'

FILES-US-INCIDENT-PENTAGON

The Pentagon has demanded that Wikileaks return its "stolen property".
Source: HWT Image Library

THE Pentagon has demanded whistleblower website Wikileaks give back all classified documents it has not yet published.

Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell emphatically denied reports that the website solicited the Pentagon's assistance in reviewing 15,000 pages of unreleased classified documents and demanded the website "do the right thing".

Mr Morrell urged the site to return all information that was illegally passed to them and delete all traces of the messages online.

The "very clear and explicit demand" comes in the wake of the release of thousands of classified documents relating to the war in Afghanistan.

The Pentagon has "some idea" of what they think is contained in the 15,000 documents Wikileaks has yet to release, but it does not "know for sure".

"We are asking them to return stolen property. And to no longer publish stolen property," Mr Morrell said.

"That will help minimise harm that has already been created," he added.

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said earlier this week he was "mortified" and "appalled" by the leaks.

Mr Gates added that Wikileaks was at least morally, if not legally, culpable for leaking the documents and putting US and Afghan troops as well as Afghan civilians at risk.

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  • Rob of Melbourne Posted at 2:35 PM August 06, 2010

    Jamesk of Perth, You are kidding me right! Those documents could contain vital information about routine and other activeties that put soldiers lives at risk mre often then is already erquired. Freedom of press can get stuffed! I was in the middle east 3 years ago this is the kind of info that gets good people killed.

  • John Connor of Mars Posted at 2:10 PM August 06, 2010

    Seppos worried about their war crimes being exposed Why war in Afghanistan? Just Google "Unocal Pipeline" All aboout OIL

  • David of Sydney Posted at 1:53 PM August 06, 2010

    An easier way to avoid bad press is to avoid doing the wrong thing in the first place. All the US has to do is stop forcing their views on other sovereign nations and stop claiming to be the moral guardians of the free world. There is nothing free about a country that is so rich yet fails to provide basic care for the poor people in their community. When America can look after their own people, perhaps the rest of the world might take some advice from them. Until then the US needs to take a good hard look at itself and deal with all the problems back home before trying to fix problems in other countries where those citizens didn't vote for Obama or Bush or any other US administration. Exactly what sort of democracy does America believe in? Is democracy only valid when it represents the views of American people? What about the majority views of people in other countries?

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