Officials describe WikiLeaks crisis response

The State Department went into crisis mode to reduce the diplomatic fallout after an Army private allegedly leaked 250,000 classified diplomatic cables to the whistleblower website WikiLeaks, agency officials said at a court-martial hearing Thursday, the Associated Press reports.

Up to 25 senior officials worked to strategize before WikiLeaks first published the cables on Nov. 28, 2010. Another working group tried to identify people, such as dissidents, who might be put at risk by the disclosures. A third team took steps to bolster computer security and implement new policies to limit unauthorized leaks and the use of USB flash drives.

Army Pfc. Bradley Manning, 24, reportedly downloaded the cables while working as an intelligence analyst in Baghdad in 2009 and 2010. He is charged with 22 offenses, including aiding the enemy. A military judge is scheduled on Friday to rule on motions to dismiss 10 of the 22 charges.

Manning’s defense is likely to argue that fallout from the leaks was limited. The defense also has contended that the government used unconstitutionally vague language in charging Manning on eight of the counts.