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The Pentagon is trying to persuade the whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks to abandon its planned release of 15,000 more classified files on the Afghan war.
Intelligence analysts have now identified which files are involved and Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell says their release will be even more damaging to national security and the war effort than the thousands already published.
"We are concerned the additional documents they have may cause even greater risks than the ones they released previously," said Mr Morrell.
Defence Secretary Robert Gates warned that the release will put American and allied soldiers at risk with "potentially very severe" consequences.
He says that the documents "convey a huge amount of information about our tactics, techniques and procedures" and may be of great help to both the Taliban and al Qaeda.
Last month WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange – a former computer hacker – released 76,000 secret military files that the US government claims threaten the lives of Afghan civilians who have co-operated with US and Nato forces.
Joining a growing chorus of condemnation, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said that any new release of files would help the enemy.
A new poll shows that 61 per cent of Americans consider the release to be an act of treason.
Reporters Without Borders – guardians of international press freedom – have accused Mr Assange of "incredible irresponsibility."
Clothilde Le Coz, the group's spokesperson, said Mr Assange and WikiLeaks were "going way too far" and putting lives in danger.
In an open letter to WikiLeaks, Reporters Without Borders said: "The precedent you have set leaves all those people throughout the world who risk their freedom and sometimes their lives for the sake of online information even more exposed to reprisals."
Despite the condemnation, Mr Assange says that WikiLeaks "absolutely" plans to go ahead with the new release of secret files.
The release is not expected until next month.
Private Bradley Manning, 22, the US Army solider accused of giving the secret files to Mr Assange and WikiLeaks, remains in custody in Virginia with formal charges still pending.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...ore-files.html
Intelligence analysts have now identified which files are involved and Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell says their release will be even more damaging to national security and the war effort than the thousands already published.
"We are concerned the additional documents they have may cause even greater risks than the ones they released previously," said Mr Morrell.
Defence Secretary Robert Gates warned that the release will put American and allied soldiers at risk with "potentially very severe" consequences.
He says that the documents "convey a huge amount of information about our tactics, techniques and procedures" and may be of great help to both the Taliban and al Qaeda.
Last month WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange – a former computer hacker – released 76,000 secret military files that the US government claims threaten the lives of Afghan civilians who have co-operated with US and Nato forces.
Joining a growing chorus of condemnation, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said that any new release of files would help the enemy.
A new poll shows that 61 per cent of Americans consider the release to be an act of treason.
Reporters Without Borders – guardians of international press freedom – have accused Mr Assange of "incredible irresponsibility."
Clothilde Le Coz, the group's spokesperson, said Mr Assange and WikiLeaks were "going way too far" and putting lives in danger.
In an open letter to WikiLeaks, Reporters Without Borders said: "The precedent you have set leaves all those people throughout the world who risk their freedom and sometimes their lives for the sake of online information even more exposed to reprisals."
Despite the condemnation, Mr Assange says that WikiLeaks "absolutely" plans to go ahead with the new release of secret files.
The release is not expected until next month.
Private Bradley Manning, 22, the US Army solider accused of giving the secret files to Mr Assange and WikiLeaks, remains in custody in Virginia with formal charges still pending.
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