More Sensitive Data Turns Up at Afghan Bazaar

[quaoar]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-disks13apr13,0,1166178.story?coll=la-home-headlines

By Paul Watson, Times Staff Writer

BAGRAM, Afghanistan -- A computer drive sold openly Wednesday in a bazaar outside the U.S. air base here holds what appears to be a trove of potentially sensitive American intelligence data, including the names, photographs and telephone numbers of Afghan spies informing on the Taliban and al-Qaida.

The flash memory drive, which a teenager sold for $40, has scores of military documents marked "secret," describing intelligence-gathering methods and information -- including escape routes into Pakistan and the location of a suspected safe house there, and $50 bounties paid for each Taliban or al-Qaida fighter apprehended based on the source's intelligence.

The documents appear to be authentic, but the accuracy of the information they contain could not be independently verified.

On its face, the information seems to jeopardize the safety of intelligence sources working secretly for U.S. Special Forces in Afghanistan, which would constitute a serious breach of security. For that reason, the Los Angeles Times has withheld personal information and details that could compromise military operations.

[gardenista]

1. Haven't you heard? Bush declassified that stuff ages ago. Nothing to see

here.

move along, now...

[BrotherBuzz]

2. Scores of military documents marked "secret" lumped together....

could be considered or even classified "TOP SECRET". That's a fact, Jack! Never in my military days were ANY classified material left about in unsecured areas that civilians visited. NEVER!

[WillyT]

3. MSNBC's Article On This...

Memory sticks like these, on sale at the bazaar
outside the U.S. military base in Bagram,
were found to contain U.S. intelligence data.

Link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12289823/

:shrug:

[anotherdrew]

4. thank god the 'adults' are in charge. This is pathetic, just pathetic.

Of course it's just an IS free-for-all over there. If this 'Intelligence' is so sensitive why in hell is it EVER being put on USB drives? Why isn't it EXCLUSIVELY delivered behind SSH'd web pages at least?

[OKNancy]

5. Kick

[Jacobin]

6. Stolen military data for sale in Afghanistan

MSNBC staff and news service reports
Updated: 10:57 a.m. ET April 13, 2006

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Following a newspaper’s discovery of stolen U.S. military computer drives showing up for sale at local bazaars outside the large base here, the military announced a crackdown but merchants were still selling the digital wares — including what appeared to be information about Afghan spies informing on al-Qaida and the Taliban.

The Los Angeles Times, which first reported the sales on Monday, said that it was still able to find computer drives two days later — the same day that five military investigators, surrounded by heavily armed plainclothes U.S. soldiers, searched many of the two-dozen rundown shops outside the sprawling base.

One flash memory drive, the Times reported Thursday, holds the names, photos and phone numbers of people described as Afghan spies working for the military. The data indicates payments of $50 bounties for each Taliban or al-Qaida fighter caught based on the source’s intelligence.
Story continues below ↓ advertisement

The drive, which a teenager sold for $40, also holds scores of military documents marked “secret” and which describe intelligence-gathering methods and information.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12289823/

:wow:

[Moderator]

7. kick