WikiLeaks Withheld Hundreds Of Informants Names

Whistleblower site WikiLeaks has reportedly withheld the names of hundreds of informants included in the 400,000 Iraq war documents released over the weekend.

In preparation of the documents’ release, the Pentagon assembled a 120 person review team to identify possible dangers. According to a note sent from Pentagon spokesperson David Lapan, “of the 300+ individuals identified by the Information Review Task Force as potentially being at risk if their identities were made public, the TF has determined that all those names were removed from the Wikileaks posting.”

However, Lapan notes that although the names may have been redacted, sensitive information the could be used to pinpoint the individuals, such as titles and positions, was not.

WikiLeaks initially came under criticism over the summer for allegedly revealing the names of Afghan informants. However, a letter has recently surfaced from Defense Secretary Robert Gates states that “the review to date has not revealed any sensitive intelligence sources and methods compromised by the disclosure.”