So let me put this whole “WikiLeaks” storyline in cliff notes.
Established in 2006 they have become a clearing house for “top secret” information gathered by world governments. They believe in transparency no matter what the outcome.
PFC Bradley Manning, a 22 year old Army intelligence analyst, was arrested for leaking video and documents classified but for which he had access. The first released included an airstrike in Baghdad (2007) and other various Pentagon documents dated between 2004 & 2009.
Mr. Manning apparently was upset with the military over its (DADT) “Don’t ask, Don’t Tell” policy as he is gay and had been demoted from Specialist and was scheduled to be discharged when the theft occurred.
The latest set of documents indicate that Sec. of State Clinton “directs her envoys at the United Nations and embassies around the world to collect information ranging from basic biographical data on foreign diplomats to their frequent flyer and credit card numbers and even "biometric information on ranking North Korean diplomats." Typical biometric information can include fingerprints, signatures and iris recognition data.”
This directive, which came out in July of 2009 seems more like an “update” of current files then establishing new covert actions. Having just become Sec. of State, I am sure Mrs. Clinton wanted to establish that the information she and her department are working with was up to date and not old information left over from the Bush administration.
The fact that most of the information described could be found after a “Google” search doesn’t make it anymore of becoming an intelligence asset then what this document does on this subject.
It is possible that more information will come out that will that Mrs. Clinton ordered more than just this updating of files but until then we need to give her the benefit of the doubt.
Sources (cnn.com),(wikipedia.org)
