It might have seemed that the revelations around the Afghan database leak could not get any worse, but that has turned out to be untrue. It has now emerged that along with thousands of Afghan names on the list there are also more than 100 names and details of UK Special Forces and Secret Intelligence Service (SIS, aka “MI6”) staff.
The various formations of the Special Forces include the well-known Special Air Service (SAS) and their maritime counterparts in the Special Boat Service (SBS), as well as other lower profile units such as the Special Reconnaissance Regiment. They and the intelligence officers of the SIS were crucial to operations in Afghanistan and would have worked closely with all British and Afghan forces over a number of years.
Though the Taliban claim to have the data, it is unlikely that they are a threat outside Afghanistan, and unlikely to be able to target the British personnel on the list themselves. However it is all but certain that they or others will pass it on and, as with other previously leaked information, our organisations will have to operate on the assumption that any enemy which wants the list will obtain it. It is believed that up to 600 Afghans named on the list are still in Afghanistan and it will be a huge challenge to protect them and evacuate them.
No doubt, during the last two years that the super injunction has run, the Government, MoD and the intelligence and security services will have done all they can to protect those involved. Secrecy and anonymity are crucial to these organisations, but in our digital world where in some cases the keyboard is more powerful than the sword, complete secrecy is getting more difficult, not easier. One assumes that Government organisations believe that mitigation is now in place to protect all these people, and the damage done by further suppression of the facts in this case would be worse than having them made public.
It is essential that thorough security checks are carried out on those Afghans already here, to ensure that bad actors have not slipped through the net.
Many are calling for the heads of those responsible for this data breach and no doubt it is not all down to one relatively junior Royal Marine, as suggested by some media outlets. This is where those ultimately responsible, higher up the food chain, must stand up and show their mettle and moral courage.
But the most important task now is to ensure our Special Forces and intelligence services can carry on their vital work keeping this country safe, which they do every day of the year. Blame, if needed, is for tomorrow.
It might have seemed that the revelations around the Afghan database leak could not get any worse, but that has turned out to be untrue. It has now emerged that along with thousands of Afghan names on the list there are also more than 100 names and details of UK Special Forces and Secret Intelligence Service (SIS, aka “MI6”) staff.
The various formations of the Special Forces include the well-known Special Air Service (SAS) and their maritime counterparts in the Special Boat Service (SBS), as well as other lower profile units such as the Special Reconnaissance Regiment. They and the intelligence officers of the SIS were crucial to operations in Afghanistan and would have worked closely with all British and Afghan forces over a number of years.
Though the Taliban claim to have the data, it is unlikely that they are a threat outside Afghanistan, and unlikely to be able to target the British personnel on the list themselves. However it is all but certain that they or others will pass it on and, as with other previously leaked information, our organisations will have to operate on the assumption that any enemy which wants the list will obtain it. It is believed that up to 600 Afghans named on the list are still in Afghanistan and it will be a huge challenge to protect them and evacuate them.
No doubt, during the last two years that the super injunction has run, the Government, MoD and the intelligence and security services will have done all they can to protect those involved. Secrecy and anonymity are crucial to these organisations, but in our digital world where in some cases the keyboard is more powerful than the sword, complete secrecy is getting more difficult, not easier. One assumes that Government organisations believe that mitigation is now in place to protect all these people, and the damage done by further suppression of the facts in this case would be worse than having them made public.
It is essential that thorough security checks are carried out on those Afghans already here, to ensure that bad actors have not slipped through the net.
Many are calling for the heads of those responsible for this data breach and no doubt it is not all down to one relatively junior Royal Marine, as suggested by some media outlets. This is where those ultimately responsible, higher up the food chain, must stand up and show their mettle and moral courage.
But the most important task now is to ensure our Special Forces and intelligence services can carry on their vital work keeping this country safe, which they do every day of the year. Blame, if needed, is for tomorrow.