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CIA Launches WTF To Investigate Wikileaks

krou writes "In an effort to investigate the impact of the leaked diplomatic cables, the CIA have launched the Wikileaks Task Force, commonly referred to at CIA headquarters as 'WTF.' 'The Washington Post said the panel was being led by the CIA's counter-intelligence centre, although it has drawn in two dozen members from departments across the agency.' Although the agency has not seen much of its own information leaked in the cables, some revelations (such as spying at the UN) originated from direct requests by the CIA. The Guardian notes that, 'WTF is more commonly associated with the Facebook and Twitter profiles of teenagers than secret agency committees. Given that its expanded version is usually an expression of extreme disbelief, perhaps the term is apt for the CIA's investigation.'"

15 of 402 comments (clear)

  1. This is what they should start doing by devxo · · Score: 5, Funny

    Personally I'm waiting for CIA to also launch an task force called NWO, just to have some fun with conspiracy theories.

    1. Re:This is what they should start doing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      Or how about powerful american politicians forming an organisation calling for US global dominion? And call it something like "project for the new american century"? That would really wind up those conspiracy jerks. http://www.newamericancentury.org/statementofprinciples.htm

    2. Re:This is what they should start doing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      The will probably do that under the Langley Meeting of Affiliated Organizations (LMAO).

  2. I'm confused by The+Creator · · Score: 5, Funny

    "CIA's counter-intelligence centre"

    I can't decide if this is redundant or an oxymoron.

    --

    FRA: STFU GTFO
    1. Re:I'm confused by by+(1706743) · · Score: 5, Funny

      "CIA's counter-intelligence centre"

      I can't decide if this is redundant or an oxymoron.

      You know, intelligence about marble top counters, hardwood counters, laminate counters, etc.

    2. Re:I'm confused by gadzook33 · · Score: 5, Informative

      There actually is a company in the Langley area called Counter Intelligence that does this. You occasionally see their van driving around.

  3. Daily updates? by OzPeter · · Score: 5, Funny

    Will there also be a website where you can get Daily WTF updates? This could be interesting. Add some crappy user commenting software are you are all set for a fun time.

    --
    I am Slashdot. Are you Slashdot as well?
  4. Well... by d3vpsaux · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm waiting for Operation OMGWTFBBQ myself... Oh My, Government Wikileaks Task Force Better Be Quick!

  5. Re:Idiots by santax · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Yeah I'm sure they have chat-logs. Found those probably next to the WMD's in Iraq.

  6. Re:Really? People are surprised? by Charliemopps · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The only organization that aided Bradley Manning in obtaining classified documents was U.S. army intelligence. He was sitting in Bagdad browsing diplomatic cables from every embassy in the world, none of which had anything to do with the type of intelligence he was supposed to be gathering. There was no hacking involved.

    Bradley Manning:
    “I would come in with music on a CD-RW labeled with something like ‘Lady Gaga,’ erase the music then write a compressed split file,” he wrote. “No one suspected a thing and, odds are, they never will.” “I listened and lip-synced to Lady Gaga’s ‘Telephone’ while exfiltrating possibly the largest data spillage in American history,” he added later. ”Weak servers, weak logging, weak physical security, weak counter-intelligence, inattentive signal analysis … a perfect storm.”

    The US military basically left a $100 bill laying on the bar while they went to the bathroom and some lowly PFC found it and did what anyone would have in his situation. Now they are trying to pretend like this worldwide network of thieves dropped in like ninjas and snatched it from their 3ft thick titanium safe.

    Think for a second on what Mr. Mannings goal was... informing the public. Now think of how easily it would be for a foreign security agency or even a terrorist sympathizer to achieve the same level of clearance. Their goals would be far less noble, and far less public. They'd most likely never get caught. Bradley Manning has probably done more to help secure the US Militarys network than any idiot at the CIA that doesn't even know what the acronym WTF stands for.

  7. Re:Really? People are surprised? by aeroelastic · · Score: 5, Insightful
    I don't understand what you're getting at. First you say :

    An organization aids a person in obtaining classified documents

    then you say

    He had nothing to do with actually getting them

    Which are contradictory. You also said

    They have chat logs implicating Assange in aiding Bradley Manning with submitting the documents. The law is pretty clear about these things

    which clearly isn't true. The law here is very murky, and "aiding in submitting documents" probably isn't a crime. If there was a clear crime comitted here, we'd have heard specifically what it is by now.

    --
    "It doesn't take a rocket scientist" -I guess I should leave then
  8. How it really happened by AgentSmith · · Score: 5, Funny

    We fade in on a low lit smoky government war room.
    Many high ranking CIA operatives are seated around a circular table.

    Task force chairman: Gentlemen, we have our network completely set. Operatives are in place and the funding is acquired.
                                              All we need now is . . .a name.

    [CIA Director walks in]

    Director: Well Hey Howdy boys! What are we all up against this time?!

    Task force chairman: Director, we just learned about the release of numerous secret diplomat cables from a website called Wikileaks.

    Director: WHAT THE F@$K?!! NEOTHEONENSFWBBQ?!!

    Task for chairman: Hmmmm. . . WTF. W. . .T . . .F . . .That's it! Gentlemen, we have our name! Congratulations, Director!

    [Cheers go out. Scotch is poured and toasts are made.
    Screen fades to black.]

    [Fade in on Julian Assange sitting in a British pub. A CIA operative, a couple MI5 operatives with some British Bobbies come
    walking in the door.]

    MI5 Operative: Julian Assange?

    Julian: Yes?

    MI5: You are being held for extradition to Sweden under allegations of rape. Please come with us.

    Julian: WTF?!

    CIA Operative: [Takes off sunglasses] Exactly.

    [Fade to black. Cue Credits. Roll End Theme]

  9. How much more ridiculous does this have to get by Phoenix666 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    before the American people hit the reset button on the country? The government is obviously completely out of control. We have the TSA fondling children and strip-searching innocent citizens who simply want to travel from point A to point B. We have a Congress and Whitehouse who simply can't be bothered to do anything to help the Middle Class, preferring instead to concentrate even more wealth and power in the hands of the ultra-rich, ultra-connected, unaccountable, and demonstrably incompetent (eg. tax breaks for the wealthy and net neutrality). And thanks to Wikileaks the illusion that the government knows what it's doing has been shattered.

    It's almost like those in power are betting each other they can screw the American people indefinitely, unapologetically, right in front of them and no one will do anything. And amazingly, the most heavily armed populace in the world is letting them get away with it.

    Is there no steel left in the American soul?

    --
    Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
  10. Wait, wait, wait. by FreonTrip · · Score: 5, Informative

    Look at the signatories on this page, and tell me with a straight face that none of them have held public office.

  11. Re:Idiots by BobMcD · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Should a drug mule go unpunished because he didn't KNOW he was carrying drugs?

    Yep.

    Should an accomplice in a murder go unpunished because he didn't KNOW that his partner would kill someone.

    Yep.

    Do you see what I'm getting at?

    Sure I do. You're getting at 'vengeance' - same as the CIA.

    Wikileaks doesn't have to KNOW what they were receiving to be guilty of collusion. Does it really matter though?

    Ergo the 'vengeance'. It doesn't really matter if any crimes were committed, they must be made to pay. I get it, I really do.

    It's likely that there wont be any direct evidence linking Assange and Wikileaks to Manning, just circumstantial evidence and testimony. It's very unlikely he'll even face extradition to the US.

    I suppose time will tell. They put that Canadian kid in Gitmo for, what, seven years because they thought someone threw a grenade from his general direction.