After the publication of classified military and intelligence documents on the Internet, the US government is looking for the originator. According to government sources, the variety of issues raised in the papers, which pertain to the war in Ukraine, China, the Middle East and Africa, suggest they were passed on by an American rather than an ally.
“The focus now is that this is a US leak, as many of the documents were in the hands of the US alone,” Michael Mulroy, a former senior Defense Department official, told Reuters. The ministry confirmed on Sunday that it had formally asked the Justice Department to launch an investigation.
According to information from government circles, the investigations are still in the early stages. It cannot be ruled out that pro-Russian elements are behind the leak. It could be the most serious breach of secrets since 2013, when hundreds of thousands of documents, videos and internal information appeared on the WikiLeaks website.
Estimated Russian casualties in the file were unexpectedly small
Since the leak, Reuters has reviewed more than 50 classified and top-secret documents posted on Internet platforms. It is striking, among other things, that the figures on estimated Russian losses in Ukraine were unexpectedly low. It is also not clear why at least one document has been marked “unclassified” even though it contains top secret information. Some documents are marked “NOFORN”, which means they are not to be passed on to foreigners.
US does not rule out manipulation of documents
Two US government officials told Reuters they could not rule out tampering with the documents. In this way, an attempt could be made to mislead investigators about the origin of the documents or to spread false information that could harm US security interests. A document dated February 23 and marked “classified” describes that Ukrainian S-300 air defense systems could only be deployed until May 2 in current use. Such well-kept information could be of great use to Russia.
Another document, dated March 1, said Israeli intelligence agency Mossad had sparked protests against government reform. The US would have learned about this through intelligence services. That would indicate that the US was spying on one of its most important allies in the Middle East. Another document details internal discussions among senior South Korean officials about US pressure on South Korea to supply arms to Ukraine.
Investigators try to understand Mole’s motive
Two US government officials said the US military and intelligence agencies are reviewing their internal information sharing procedures. It also said it was investigating what motives a US official or group of officials might have for sharing such information. Researchers would pursue four or five theories – from a disgruntled employee to the proposition that US national security interests are being actively undermined.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
