Leaks of Military Files Resume

[Rose Siding]

BAGRAM, Afghanistan — Just ays after U.S. troops were ordered to plug a security breach at their base here, the black market trade in computer memory drives containing military documents was thriving again Monday.

Documents on flash drives for sale at a bazaar across from the American military base over the weekend contained U.S. officers' names and cellphone numbers and instructions on using pain to control prisoners who put up resistance. A study guide on one of the drives describes tactics for interrogating and controlling detainees by pinching or striking nerve and pressure points on their face, neck, arms and legs.

Traders at the bazaar near Bagram's main gate were openly displaying pilfered U.S. military memory drives in their shops Monday, two weeks after the Los Angeles Times reported on the black market in computer equipment, some of which contained American military documents marked "Secret."
...
Several shopkeepers have said in recent days that they are eager for the military to return to the market so they can sell their new stock for premium prices.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-drives25apr25,0,1174262.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[UpInArms]

1. Now isn't that special!

Supporting our troops through the sale of our computer flashdrives.

[elehhhhna]

2. I'd change that headline to :

"Secret US interrogation methods memos for sale"

That's a biggie.

[mopinko]

3. this story smells funny to me.

i can't put my finger on it, but it doesn't add up, imho. for instance, i cannot believe military computers are not equiped with a proper way to wipe a flash. i also cannot believe that we did not shoot a few of this vendors to set an example. i'm not recommending that, just saying i think that is the kind of thing we are doing over there.
so, what is the point of this leak? i don't know, but at this point, i always figure there is one.

[Turbineguy]

5. It seems

the US is outsourcing a lot of work to locals who are stealing these drives. By bidding up the price we further encourage theft. It's how we save lottsa money Rumsfeld style.

I used to work for a company that saved money no matter how much it cost. They went bankrupt.

[endarkenment]

6. "shoot a few vendors"?

Well perhaps in Iraq our mercs might shoot a few vendors to set an example, as there is zero international oversight of our operations there and our mercs are outside of any legal authority including military authority, but our forces in Afghanistan are actually under a Nato command structure and must adhere to normal rules of behavior. I also like to think that our army, that is our regular uniformed military, is in general professional enough to not behave this way, although I may be delusional in this respect.

This could be a big disinformation campaign, or perhaps the flash drives are all bugged up and are being used as bait, or it could just be a huge fuckup. Take your pick.

[mopinko]

7. huge fuckup

is the disguise if choice for this gang, and i refuse to buy it any more.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[SoCalDem]

11. so the soldiers are not being trained properly under Rummy?

[PurityOfEssence]

4. But...but...the United States doesn't DO torture

How can this be? Junior gave us his word.

[Roland99]

8. Included maps showing escape routes of bin Laden?

geez.

[Rex]

10. We don't control Afghanistan at all.

Kinda skipped it over for Iraq. :eyes:

[lovuian]

12. We have let our enemies have access to our databases

FOOLS and you would have thought they would have them secured!!!

[TexasLawyer]

13. U.S. Military Files Sold At Afghan Bazaar (Again)

Last time around, part of the "fix" for this problem was US officers walking around the bazaar with big piles of cash buying back the flash drives. I had the sinking feeling that this was just going to perpetuate the problem. Looks like it is just getting worse.


Tue. April 25, 2006

U.S. Military Files Sold At Afghan Bazaar
by UPI Wire
Apr 25, 2006

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - April 25, 2006 (UPI) -- Tightened security doesn't seem to have stopped the sale of stolen flash memory drives of U.S. military files in the bazaars of Afghanistan. The black market trade of the flash drives taken from the U.S. base in Bagram continued Monday despite earlier efforts to plug a security breach, reports The Los Angeles Times.

The new flash drives at a bazaar across from the base's main gate contained U.S. officers' names and cell phone numbers and instructions on using pain to control prisoners who put up resistance, the report said.

In an earlier story, the newspaper had reported on the black market in computer equipment, some of which contained American military documents marked "Secret." The report said American soldiers spent thousands of dollars at the time to buy up as many of the items as they could find. After an absence lasting several days, the trade appears to have resumed.

At the Pentagon, a spokesman said U.S. forces in Afghanistan are continuing to investigate the theft of the equipment and how to prevent further security breaches at base.

http://www.postchronicle.com/news/breakingnews/article_21215960.shtml

[951-Riverside]

14. Have these files made it to the internet yet?