A damaging series of classified leaks has put America’s intelligence agencies on the backfoot. Secret documents relating to the ongoing war in Ukraine as well as Washington’s ongoing global surveillance operations have been found on several social media platforms and forums. Let us know what these documents tell.
- A few days ago the New York Times reported that there were an estimated 100 pages of classified US intelligence information floating around on platforms and forums like Discord and 4Chan. US officials have acknowledged that the documents appear to be genuine and may represent a serious intelligence breach.
- The documents cover a range of topics, such as Russia’s military strategy in Ukraine, surveillance of US allies such as South Korea and Israel, and enduring weaknesses in Ukraine’s military. Most of the documents are from February and March 2023.
- The documents reveal the scale of US intelligence penetration into Russia’s national security system. They demonstrate that Washington was aware of internal debates over Ukraine at the highest levels of the Russian military. The US was also aware of plans by Russian intelligence agencies to launch a soft-power push in Africa to swing public opinion in Moscow’s favor.
- He is not everything. The US military also knew about the planned Russian missile strikes and may have been able to warn the Ukrainian military.
- The documents also contain sensitive details about the Ukrainian military’s preparations for a new counter-offensive against Russia. Kiev has denied the veracity of these leaks, claiming they are Russian propaganda.
- The leaked papers revealed that the US continues to spy on close allies such as Israel and South Korea. In the case of the latter, Washington was able to intercept intelligence relating to Seoul’s deliberations on whether to send lethal military weapons to Ukraine. These revelations have already created an uproar in South Korea.
- The Pentagon and the rest of the US national security apparatus are scrambling to uncover the source of the leak. This is no easy task considering the number of officers and personnel who have access to the said intelligence.
- On one level, the leaks are hugely embarrassing to the US intelligence community. Classified information is shared with the understanding that it will be handled securely and responsibly. According to media reports, the US government was unaware of the leak until the New York Times reported the story.
- However, according to former US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, the incident is not as serious as the one leaked by Edward Snowden in 2013. While this would lead to awkward conversations with allies about intelligence operations on their soil, Clapper believes such activities are routinely conducted by all nations in the service of their national security.
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