Over the past few weeks, some highly classified Pentagon documents have been leaked online. This is a massive security breach for the US and a rare peek into how the US government and military view their allies and enemies.
Some of the more surprising elements of the leaked papers include the details regarding the US’s spying program. The US apparently keeps close tabs on several allied countries, including Isreal, Ukraine, and South Korea. The leak has shaken many US officials, who have told reporters that these documents are genuine.
Documents Put Agents in Danger
The leaked Pentagon papers could put some deep-cover field agents in grave danger. Some documents indicate that the US has deeply infiltrated the Russian Ministry of Defense and a Russian mercenary outfit called the Wagner Group. The details in the leaked files could jeopardize these undercover agents.
Moreover, the files include sensitive data about Ukraine’s military, including the country’s battalions and air defenses. Ukraine is preparing to launch a sweeping counteroffensive against Russia, and these documents could provide Russia with a critical edge in future engagements.
Pentagon Scrambles to Plug Leak
The Pentagon has launched a massive cross-agency search to determine the source of the leak. “The Department of Defense continues to review and assess the validity of the photographed documents circulating on social media sites and that appear to contain sensitive and highly classified material,” says Sabrina Singh, the Pentagon’s deputy press secretary.
“An interagency effort has been stood up, focused on assessing the impact these photographed documents could have on US national security and on our Allies and partners,” Singh noted in a public statement. She also told reporters that the US informed its allies regarding the leak and that relevant Congressional committees have been briefed on the situation.
Damage Control
Some leaked documents are already being used to spread misinformation and propaganda. For instance, some documents that include casualty numbers in the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia have been altered to reduce the number of Russian casualties and make the war look like it’s going better for Moscow.
These documents show that Russia has seen nearly 43,000 troops killed in action. Meanwhile, Ukraine has seen roughly 17,500 soldiers killed in action. Still, the leaked files show that US intelligence agencies expect the situation in Ukraine to devolve into a stalemate, at least through the rest of 2023.
