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Qaeda Goes Dark After a U.S. Slip (ABC leak damage)
The Sun ^ | Oct. 9, 2007 | Eli Lake

Posted on 10/09/2007 2:21:58 AM PDT by jsh3180

WASHINGTON — Al Qaeda's Internet communications system has suddenly gone dark to American intelligence after the leak of Osama bin Laden's September 11 speech inadvertently disclosed the fact that we had penetrated the enemy's system.

The intelligence blunder started with what appeared at the time as an American intelligence victory, namely that the federal government had intercepted, a full four days before it was to be aired, a video of Osama bin Laden's first appearance in three years in a video address marking the sixth anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001. On the morning of September 7, the Web site of ABC News posted excerpts from the speech.

But the disclosure from ABC and later other news organizations tipped off Qaeda's internal security division that the organization's Internet communications system, known among American intelligence analysts as Obelisk, was compromised. While intranets are usually based on servers in a discrete physical location, Obelisk is a series of sites all over the Web, often with fake names, in some cases sites that are not even known by their proprietors to have been hacked by Al Qaeda.

One intelligence officer who requested anonymity said in an interview last week that the intelligence community watched in real time the shutdown of the Obelisk system. America's Obelisk watchers even saw the order to shut down the system delivered from Qaeda's internal security to a team of technical workers in Malaysia. That was the last internal message America's intelligence community saw. "We saw the whole thing shut down because of this leak," the official said. "We lost an important keyhole into the enemy."

(Excerpt) Read more at nysun.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: 20070911; 911; abc; abcnews; alqaeda; gwot; internet; leakers; looselips; malaysia; mediatraitors; obelisk; obl; sedition; siteintelligencegrp; surveillance; treason; videotape; wot
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To: xzins

A leaker


41 posted on 10/09/2007 4:26:19 AM PDT by Dog
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To: jsh3180

The article is confusing, but in this case I find it hard to blame the media. There is no reason that anyone should hand over sensitive information to the media that would compromise our intelligence gathering.

If this was given or leaked to the Drive-by Media, it is the fault of the one that gave them the info knowing they are partisan, anti-American appeasing traitors.


42 posted on 10/09/2007 4:28:35 AM PDT by RobFromGa (It's the Spending, Stupid! (not the method of collection))
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To: jsh3180

The official that disclosed this to the media should be executed.......ABC, NBC, CBS should be ignored.


43 posted on 10/09/2007 4:32:31 AM PDT by cbkaty (I may not always post...but I am always here......)
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To: jsh3180

Had ABC and the other anti-American msm outlets been around during WWII, Hitler would have won.
ABC should be banned from the White House Press Corps for compromising our security in this disgraceful way.


44 posted on 10/09/2007 4:35:19 AM PDT by kittymyrib
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To: jsh3180

This article is pretty much 100% incorrect in it’s timeline and assessment of the situation.


45 posted on 10/09/2007 4:36:47 AM PDT by JerseyHighlander
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To: JerseyHighlander

What do you base that statement on?


46 posted on 10/09/2007 4:38:06 AM PDT by listenhillary (millions crippled by the war on poverty....but we won't pull out)
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To: Perdogg

It is ironic!

Eventually, these America-hating leakers and the media are going to get a lot of people killed. More likely than not, it’ll be in some big-city bastion of liberalism where people just like them live.


47 posted on 10/09/2007 4:38:26 AM PDT by Nickname
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To: Dog; RedRover; P-Marlowe

It sounds as if an independent, for-pay business provided the US Government with intelligence. That is fascinating in itself. As soon as it got to the Fed it was compromised.

As we’ve long suspected, that strongly suggests there is a network or aggregation of individuals in our intelligence community who work against our government.

This also highlights why the “journalist protection” act is a mistake. Anyone wishing to disclose intel info could do so with impunity simply by passing it to a journalist who would then reveal it.


48 posted on 10/09/2007 4:42:40 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain And Proud of It! Those who support the troops will pray for them to WIN!)
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To: Nickname

” Eventually, these America-hating leakers and the media are going to get a lot of people killed. More likely than not, it’ll be in some big-city bastion of liberalism where people just like them live. “

The first indication we’re going to get of the inevitable mushroom cloud over New York —

Will be all of the “Morning Shows” going black simultaneously....


49 posted on 10/09/2007 4:44:00 AM PDT by Uncle Ike (We has met the enemy, and he is us........)
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To: listenhillary

http://news.aol.com/story/ar/_a/mom-finds-osama-video-before-release/20070920210609990001

Mom Finds Osama Video Before Release
By SAGAR MEGHANI,
AP
Posted: 2007-09-20 22:50:06
WASHINGTON (Sept. 20) - Once her son is off to school, Laura Mansfield settles in at her dining room table with her laptop and begins trolling Arabic-language message boards and chat rooms popular with jihadists.

This woman was giving interviews, she was also the first person to report the video to US intelligence authorities. She then went and did itnerviews that blew her cover and implicitly mentioned her M.O. to gain access. now Rita Kaitz’s company and other for profit groups also did interviews giving away info.

Google “Laura Mansfield” “Bin Laden” to find more info.


50 posted on 10/09/2007 4:45:28 AM PDT by JerseyHighlander
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To: jsh3180

I’m confused, how’d ABC get it?


51 posted on 10/09/2007 4:47:40 AM PDT by Vor Lady (Through the gates of Hell, as we make our way toward Heaven....Primo Victoria!)
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To: RobFromGa
The article is confusing, but in this case I find it hard to blame the media.

Both the leaker and the media share the blame equally.

When placed in this sort of situation, the media should get independent confirmation that the information they have received is suitable for public release (that is, unclassified). If they don't do this (and I know they don't), then by releasing it they share in the crime committed by the leaker.

Funny, isn't it, how the media sees this situation so much differently than when the release of Valerie Plame's "covert" status was the issue.

52 posted on 10/09/2007 4:48:34 AM PDT by Fresh Wind (Visualize the Clintons in jail.)
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To: jsh3180

Nice work once again from the useful idiots. And once again, they ARE the story, not reporting it.


53 posted on 10/09/2007 4:52:07 AM PDT by SueRae
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To: jsh3180

This will likely be the most talked-about news item on FreeRebpulic.com today. The most talked-about item in all the news? meh.


54 posted on 10/09/2007 4:52:15 AM PDT by GreenAccord (Bacon Akbar!)
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To: freekitty
Do the lives of innocent Americans mean so little to ABC or any other like news organization?

Yes.

This is not the first case of the US MSM sabotaging our security.

55 posted on 10/09/2007 4:52:48 AM PDT by TheBattman (I've got TWO QUESTIONS for you....)
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To: Brilliant
"And if we did, then maybe we’ve got traitors in the CIA, as well."

Whar do you mean...."maybe"???

56 posted on 10/09/2007 4:53:11 AM PDT by XenaLee
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To: jsh3180

Wartime press censorship has it’s purpose.


57 posted on 10/09/2007 4:54:29 AM PDT by Rb ver. 2.0 (Che was a racist.)
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To: jsh3180
Our media traitors tip off the enemy again.

I'd hang'em in the rotunda of the Capitol... and l'd seat the Democrats right up front so that it would be SEARED in their memory.

58 posted on 10/09/2007 4:54:47 AM PDT by johnny7 ("But that one on the far left... he had crazy eyes")
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To: jsh3180

” I loath the military” Hillary Clinton


59 posted on 10/09/2007 5:00:24 AM PDT by bert (K.E. N.P. +12 . Moveon is not us...... Moveon is the enemy)
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To: JerseyHighlander

Isn’t ~that~ lovely?


60 posted on 10/09/2007 5:03:09 AM PDT by Rb ver. 2.0 (Che was a racist.)
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