US refuse to enter into conversation with WikiLeaks
As WikiLeaks indicated last week that it was preparing to release a new batch of previously classified U.S. military documents. Now the US has rejected talks with WikiLeaks over its planned release of confidential US documents, saying the website was holding them in violation of US law.
“They were provided in violation of U.S. law and without regard for the grave consequences of this action,” the U.S. State Department’s legal adviser said.
The US State Department late Saturday set out its position in a letter to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and his attorney that was released to the media.
State Department legal adviser Harold Koh wrote, “We will not engage in a negotiation regarding the further release or dissemination of illegally obtained US government classified materials.”
“As you know, if any of the materials you intend to publish were provided by any government officials, or any intermediary without proper authorization, they were provided in violation of US law and without regard for the grave consequences of this action, as long as WikiLeaks holds such material, the violation of the law is ongoing.”
Koh wrote that releasing such documents could jeopardize relationships with allies, military actions and anti-terrorism operations.
WikiLeaks was reportedly hours away from releasing millions of confidential US diplomatic cables on Sunday as governments braced for the potential fallout. In October, WikiLeaks released about 400,000 U.S. military reports about operations in Iraq. In July, it released more than 70,000 reports from the war in Afghanistan.
US officials have warned that Afghanistan, China, Russia, Central Asian Republics, Canada, Britain, France, Turkey and Nato by this unprecedented leak they will be affected.
