A list drawn up by U.S. officials of companies and installations around the world regarded as "critical" to the security of the United States has been published online by controversial website WikiLeaks.
The list includesfactories, ports, fuel companies, drug manufacturers, undersea cables, pipelines, communication hubs and a host of other "key resources."
A Danish insulin plant, a company making anti-snake venom in Australia and a Cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo are also included.
Video: Assange readies ‘poison pill’ in case of arrest (on this page)Its publication was denounced as "irresponsible" by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Philip Crowley, amid fears it could be used as a list of targets by terrorists, Britain's Times newspaper reported.
- PayPal cuts WikiLeaks from money flow
- WikiLeaks' 'insurance' file to ensure work goes on
- Fed workers told: Stay away from leaked cables
- NYT: Cables discuss vast hacking by China
- Will WikiLeaks fuel old Chinese paranoia?
- Newsweek: Chavez conspiracy theories weakened?
- The who, what and why of WikiLeaks
- More stories, videos about the documents
The document was drawn up after the State Department asked diplomats in February 2009 to identify "systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United States the incapacitation or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination of those matters."
The cable is marked "secret state ... noforn, not for internet distribution." "Noforn" means it should not be shown to foreign governments or other non-U.S. interests.
'Targets for terror'
The Times reported the story with the headline "WikiLeaks lists 'targets for terror' against U.S.""There are strong and valid reasons information is classified, including critical infrastructure and key resources that are vital to the national and economic security of any country," Crowley told The Times.
Updated 47 minutes ago 12/6/2010 11:58:38 AM +00:00 Two suspected suicide bombers killed at least 50 people in an attack at the office compound of a senior government official in an area along Pakistan's Afghan border, officials said. Full story
- Updated 42 minutes ago 12/6/2010 12:03:40 PM +00:00 Continental convicted in deadly Concorde crash
- Low expectations as Iran nuke talks begin
- Updated 77 minutes ago 12/6/2010 11:29:27 AM +00:00 Reports: 140 missing as landslide buries homes
- Remains of missing U.S. balloonists found
"Julian Assange (WikiLeaks's founder) may be directing his efforts at the United States but he is placing the interests of many countries and regions at risk. This is irresponsible," he added.
The U.K. government also condemned the publication of the document. "The leaks and their publication are damaging to national security in the United States, Britain and elsewhere," a spokesman for the Prime Minister David Cameron said in a statement, according to NBC News. "It is vital that governments are able to operate on the basis of confidentiality of information."
Sir Malcolm Rifkind, a British lawmaker who has served as both defense and foreign secretary, told The Times that the publication of the list was "further evidence that they (WikiLeaks) have been generally irresponsible," adding that it was "bordering on criminal."
"This is the kind of information terrorists are interested in knowing," added Rifkind, who now serves as chairman of the British parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee.
Kristinn Hrafnsson, a WikiLeaks spokesman, told The Times that the list had been made available to 2.5 million people including military personnel and private contractors by the U.S. government, saying this was a "very wide distribution for information claimed to be of such high sensitivity."
"In terms of security issues, while this cable details the strategic importance of assets across the world, it does not give any information as to their exact locations, security measures, vulnerabilities or any similar factors, though it does reveal the U.S. asked its diplomats to report back on these matters," he told the paper.
Story: Swiss infrastructure keeping WikiLeaks alive"This further undermines claims made by the U.S. government that its embassy officials do not play an intelligence-gathering role," he added.
A global arrest warrant for Assange was issued last week by Interpol for alleged sex crimes committed in Sweden. Assange has denied any wrongdoing.
In Australia, the government and police have been taking advice on whether WikiLeaks and Assange, who is an Australian, have broken any laws by publishing the cables.
"I think the focus will ultimately be a United States law enforcement action, and if that is the case the Australian government will provide assistance there," Australia's Attorney-General Robert McClelland said.
Other revelations from the WikiLeaks documents included a suggestion by Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that the U.S. should be prepared to use force against China in March 2009.
- Updated 13 minutes ago 12/6/2010 12:32:33 PM +00:00 Is your boss a bully, or just a tough cookie?
- McConnell ‘optimistic’ of striking tax deal
- Best bets: Depp, Jolie team up for 'Tourist'
- Are today’s unemployed tomorrow’s unemployable?
- Afghanistan is not Vietnam, Kerry says
- It's A Snap! Vote for your favorite travel photo
According to the leaked cable, Rudd — who speaks Mandarin Chinese and is regarded as an expert on the country — advised Clinton to try to integrate "China effectively into the international community ... while also preparing to deploy force if everything goes wrong."
He also said China's stance on separatist Taiwan was both "sub-rational" and "paranoid."
Rudd refused to confirm the cable's contents Monday, but added: "The business of diplomacy is not to roll over and have your tummy tickled from time to time, by China or anybody else. This is part and parcel of relations between states."
Monday, December 6, 2010
WikiLeaks reveals U.S. list of 'critical' sites - U.S. news - Security - msnbc.com
via msnbc.msn.com
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment