Wikileaks Publishes the Afghan War Diary: July 25, 2010

On July 25, 2010, the whistleblowing organization WikiLeaks released a trove of classified documents related to the War in Afghanistan, known as the “Afghan War Diary.” This significant release consisted of over 75,000 documents, providing a detailed, unfiltered view of the U.S. military’s operations in Afghanistan from 2004 to 2010.

Context and Background

The Afghan War Diary was part of a series of leaks by WikiLeaks that aimed to bring transparency to government operations, particularly those related to military conflicts. The documents were obtained from an anonymous source, later identified as Chelsea Manning, a U.S. Army intelligence analyst. Manning was arrested in May 2010 and subsequently charged with several offenses, including violations of the Espionage Act.

Content of the Documents

The documents released by WikiLeaks included:

• Incident Reports: Detailed accounts of military engagements, including firefights, IED explosions, and civilian casualties.
• Intelligence Assessments: Analyses of the Taliban’s strength and strategies, as well as the challenges faced by coalition forces.
• Operational Logs: Day-to-day records of military operations, providing insights into the conduct of the war.

Key Revelations

1. Civilian Casualties: The documents highlighted numerous instances of civilian casualties that were not previously reported, raising questions about the transparency and accountability of military operations.

2. Taliban Resurgence: The logs revealed the extent of the Taliban’s resurgence and the challenges faced by coalition forces in counterinsurgency efforts.

3. Pakistan’s Role: Some documents suggested that elements within Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) were supporting the Taliban, complicating the U.S. and NATO’s efforts in the region.

Reactions and Consequences

• U.S. Government Response: The U.S. government condemned the release, arguing that it endangered lives and national security. Officials emphasized that the documents did not fundamentally alter the public’s understanding of the war.

• Public and Media Reaction: The release sparked widespread media coverage and public debate about the conduct of the war and the ethics of leaking classified information.

• Legal and Political Fallout: Chelsea Manning was court-martialed and sentenced to 35 years in prison in 2013, although her sentence was commuted by President Barack Obama in 2017.

Broader Historical Significance

The Afghan War Diary release was a pivotal moment in the history of whistleblowing and digital journalism. It underscored the power of digital platforms to disseminate information globally and challenged traditional media and governmental control over information. The leak also contributed to growing public skepticism about the Afghan War, influencing debates on military intervention and transparency.

Overall, the release of the Afghan War Diary by WikiLeaks remains a landmark event in the ongoing discourse about government secrecy, freedom of information, and the ethical responsibilities of whistleblowers and journalists.