An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
British Weasel
Secret al-Qaida report found on London train
Highly classified intelligence documents relating to two of the most sensitive issues involving Britain’s security interests – al-Qaida in Pakistan and the situation in Iraq – have been found on a train near London, it was disclosed last night.
The documents, including one marked Top Secret, are believed to be detailed and up-to-date assessments by Whitehall’s Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC).
They were found on Tuesday and handed to the BBC’s security correspondent, Frank Gardner, who reported the loss. The BBC said the documents were left on the train by a senior intelligence officer.
A “senior intelligence officer”? What kind of yahoo is that dadburn careless?
The envelope was picked up by a fellow passenger, who found a seven-page document inside setting out the latest government assessment on the Islamist terror network al-Qaida, along with a “top secret and in some cases damning” assessment of Iraq’s security forces, said Gardner.
Well, at least it found and turned in by a semi honorable type. The fact the she opened it gives me pause.
The BBC said the two reports were JIC assessments. A British intelligence assessment of the strength of al-Qaida in Pakistan would be sensitive and potentially damaging if read either by hostile interests or the Pakistan government. An assessment of the efficiency of the Iraqi security forces could be embarrassing if seen by the Iraqi government or insurgents.
Way to go genius!
The fact that the investigation is in the hands of the police rather than MI5 suggests the documents were lost or mislaid and the official had not been targeted. The officer was still at work, Whitehall sources said. The loss is the latest in a string of recent data security lapses.
They didn’t can him? “…latest string”? Criminy. Who the hell is in charge? A bunch of kindergardeners?
Update: Ya gotta see this one at Basti Says!
Thanks Fred!
If you think the Brits are a bunch of incompetent assholes from this article, check out this from Basti:
http://bastisays.info/?p=1760