Recent Intelligence Leaks Demonstrate Just How Over-Classified Government Docs and Intelligence Have Become
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As a retired U.S. Army intelligence officer, I was struck by three things about the recent Discord leaks of classified information. First, that top secret information is far more widely distributed than it was 25 years ago, and second, that the claim that “our government is lying to us” about the situation in Ukraine is wildly overblown. And lastly, that we barely dodged a bullet.
As with the accused 21-year-old leaker of military secrets, I too had a top-secret clearance at the age of 21 in 1983. I had the clearance because I was an enlisted intelligence analyst in the U.S. Army Reserve. Without qualifying for the clearance, I wouldn’t be able to continue to work in that military occupational specialty (MOS). Once I graduated from college two years later, I was commissioned as a military intelligence officer.
- What are your thoughts on the distribution of top secret information?
- Do you believe the government is lying about the situation in Ukraine?
- What do you think about the recent Discord leaks?
Maintaining my top-secret clearance for 24 years was no easy feat, but it wasn’t until the information revolution and the 9/11 terror attack that securing digital intel became a real challenge. Back in the day, I only had access to highly secure vaults filled with paper, and even then, the information was restricted to my need to know. But as computers became more powerful and affordable, and terror threats became more complex, the need for information sharing among members of America’s intelligence community became apparent. However, classified information is compartmentalized for a reason, and limiting national security damage is of utmost importance. It’s a delicate balance, but one that must be maintained to keep our country safe.With 1.2 million people having access to top-secret information, it’s no wonder that keeping classified information secure is more challenging than ever before. The recent leak highlights how overclassified things have become, with authorities seemingly trying to boost their prestige by producing more top-secret documents. But let’s not get carried away with the leaked information – it’s not as explosive as some would have us believe. For example, the revelation that Ukraine is running low on air defense systems and artillery ammunition is hardly surprising, given that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been vocal about the country’s desperate need for more. And while retired Army Lt. Col. Robert Maginnis’ column at Fox News promises to reveal Biden’s Ukraine war lies, it falls short of delivering any concrete evidence. So, let’s not jump to conclusions and instead focus on finding ways to keep our classified information secure.
Can Ukraine Win the War Against Russia?
From the start of the invasion, many predicted Ukraine’s collapse and Russia’s inevitable victory. However, some are now asking if the Biden administration is purposely draining our weapons arsenals to favor China. The fact is, the U.S. and its Western allies are woefully unprepared for an extended conventional conflict, and so is Russia. But, some of the military supplies America is sending to Ukraine could be useful in deterring China from threatening Taiwan or its other neighbors.
The Conflict of Wills
War is a conflict of wills, and while Russia may have a larger population and economy, it is surrounded by threatening neighbors and beset by internal unrest. With a rapidly collapsing population, most conscripted Russians must be enlisted into the internal security establishment or serve as border guards or troops facing other nations, leaving only a fraction of the fight in Ukraine. And judging by their spotty performance and poor morale, the Russian forces in Ukraine appear to be hapless souls who lacked the means to escape an uneven and corrupt conscription.
The Ukrainian Counteroffensive
The ground in Ukraine is slowly drying out, marking the end of the “rasputitsa,” or mud season. With it may come the long-heralded Ukrainian counteroffensive, borne aloft by providing the Ukrainian armed forces with the hand-me-down tanks and armored vehicles produced by the West to confront the Soviet Union — equipment that was designed to defeat Russian tanks in the first place.
A Ukrainian Victory?
A Ukrainian victory in this next campaign may set the conditions for peace negotiations. However, leaked documents by a low-ranking Air National Guard servicemember could have had a significant negative effect on Ukraine’s pending operations. As such, the leak itself represents another opportunity to get serious about protecting information that truly deserves to be highly classified.
Conclusion
While the outcome of the conflict remains uncertain, it’s clear that Ukraine is not alone in this fight. The world is watching, and the stakes are high. Will Ukraine emerge victorious, or will Russia continue its aggression? Only time will tell.
Discord Leaks of Classified Information: A Retired U.S. Army Intelligence Officer’s Perspective
As a retired U.S. Army intelligence officer, I was struck by three things about the recent Discord leaks of classified information. First, that top secret information is far more widely distributed than it was 25 years ago, and second, that the claim that “our government is lying to us” about the situation in Ukraine is wildly overblown. And lastly, that we barely dodged a bullet.
As with the accused 21-year-old leaker of military secrets, I too had a top-secret clearance at the age of 21 in 1983. I had the clearance because I was an enlisted intelligence analyst in the U.S. Army Reserve. Without qualifying for the clearance, I wouldn’t be able to continue to work in that military occupational specialty (MOS). Once I graduated from college two years later, I was commissioned as a military intelligence officer.
more challenging in the digital age. As someone who held top-secret clearance for 24 years, I can attest to the fact that access to sensitive information was tightly controlled and limited to a need-to-know basis. Even during my most high-level assignments, the information I had access to was restricted to paper documents that never left secure vaults. It wasn’t until the first Gulf War that I was able to process direct intelligence from a classified computer system and create daily briefings for commanders and staff.
However, with the information revolution and the 9/11 terror attack, the landscape of intelligence gathering changed dramatically. The lesson learned was that intelligence agencies needed to share information with each other to create a complete picture of threats. But with over 1.2 million people having access to top-secret information, the challenge of maintaining security is immense. Compartmentalization of information is necessary to limit the damage that could occur if documents fell into the wrong hands. The digital age has made this task even more difficult, but it is essential to protect national security.In this digital age, keeping information classified is more challenging than ever before. The recent leak highlights how overclassified things have become. It seems like the authorities responsible for classifying documents are more concerned with producing a high volume of top-secret documents than with their actual content. It’s almost like they’re trying to pad their publication count like academics.
Moving on to the leaked documents, some claim that they show the US government isn’t being truthful about Russia’s war on Ukraine. However, the leaked information is overblown. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly stated that Ukraine desperately needs air defense systems and artillery ammunition, which the classified leak merely confirms.
Retired Army Lt. Col. Robert Maginnis, a critic of America’s role in supporting Ukraine, wrote an article for Fox News claiming that Pentagon leaks reveal Biden’s Ukraine war lies. However, the article delivers far less than promised. Maginnis cites pre-war lies by past US presidents but fails to identify any lies by President Biden. He does ask some pertinent questions, such as whether the Biden administration is purposely draining weapons arsenals to favor China and whether Ukraine can win the war against Russia. However, he doesn’t provide any answers.
Is the US Prepared for a Conventional Conflict?
It’s a fact that the US and its Western allies are not ready for a prolonged conventional war. Russia is also facing significant shortages of artillery ammunition, missiles, and tanks. This issue is not new, as few were willing to invest in maintaining military-industrial base readiness after the Cold War. However, the US is now ramping up production of missiles like the Javelin anti-armor system to replenish stocks used in Ukraine.
China and Russia: An Authoritarian Alliance?
Some of the military supplies sent to Ukraine could also be useful in deterring China from threatening Taiwan or its neighbors. However, some analysts see China and Russia forming an authoritarian alliance against the West. Ukraine and Taiwan may be separate parts of the same conflict.
Can Ukraine Win the War?
War is a conflict of wills, and Ukraine may have the upper hand. Russia has a larger population and economy, but it’s surrounded by threatening neighbors and internal unrest. Most conscripted Russians must serve in internal security or border guard roles, leaving only a fraction to fight in Ukraine. The Russian forces in Ukraine appear to be hapless souls with poor morale and spotty performance.
The end of the “rasputitsa” or mud season may bring the long-awaited Ukrainian counteroffensive. The West has provided Ukraine with hand-me-down tanks and armored vehicles designed to defeat Russian tanks, which could turn the tide of the war.
A Ukrainian Victory and Peace Negotiations
A Ukrainian victory in the next campaign could set the conditions for peace negotiations. The recent leak of classified documents by a low-ranking Air National Guard servicemember could have had a significant negative effect on Ukraine’s pending operations if they were more recent or of a different nature. This leak highlights the need to protect highly classified information seriously.
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