Pentagon Brass Slam War Logs Leak
MALVEAUX: The leak of tens of thousands of Afghan war documents is getting a very tough response from the Pentagon brass. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the leak could have severe consequences for U.S. troops and allies. And listen to this from Joint Chiefs Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen.</s>ADMIRAL MIKE MULLEN, JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN: I think we always need to be mindful of the unknown potential for damage in any particular document that we handle. He can say whatever he likes about the greater good he thinks he and his source are doing, but the truth is, they might already have on their hands the blood of some young soldier or that of an Afghan family. Disagree with the war all you want, take issue with the policy, challenge me or our ground commanders on the decisions we make to accomplish the mission we've been given, but don't put those who willingly go into harm's way even further in harm's way just to satisfy your need to make a point.</s>MALVEAUX: Many of the leaks war logs suggest that Pakistan is aiding the insurgents in Afghanistan. I spoke about that with Pakistan's ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani.</s>MALVEAUX: Mr. Ambassador, thank you so much for joining us in "The Situation Room." I want to start off with, you know this is 90,000 plus documents. But the main concern here, obviously, is the fact that there's the accusation that Pakistan's spy agency, the ISI, met with the Taliban to plot attacks against U.S. troops and NATO forces is that true?</s>HUSAIN HAQQANI, PAKISTANI AMBASSADOR TO U.S.: Susan, first thing, is the nature of these documents, we haven't seen them all. We haven't read them all. But what we do know is that they are first takes written in the log of war based on unprocessed intelligence. So somebody comes in, tells an officer this is what I'm hearing, that's what is in the documents. The United States government knows better. That is why the White House, the Pentagon, the state department and even congressional leaders have said that these are outrageous perspectives that Pakistan remains an ally of the United States.</s>MALVEAUX: An ally nevertheless, you are saying this is not true? Are these documents forged? Did somebody make it?</s>HAQQANI: No, I'm not saying that. I explained already that these documents deflect the first state n a police station, many 911 calls come, not everyone is true. So a lot of these things are basically people saying this is what we heard. This is the rumor. This is something that I know. It's not processed intelligence. More important than that is what is happening on the ground today and we all know that the Pakistani military and Pakistani Intelligence Service, they are losing men as they fight alongside the Americans. It wouldn't make sense for us to help the Taliban who are killing our own soldiers and our own intelligence officers.</s>MALVEAUX: I don't think that is disputed that things got better and there is progress. We heard from White House spokesman Robert Gibbs who said this information is not new. That this is in part why the Obama administration has changed strategy inside of Afghanistan because there were problems with Pakistan. So he is not saying, he's not denying that some of these allegations may, in fact, be true. Are you saying that categorically that this is not?</s>HAQQANI: I'm saying that as the government of Pakistan works with the United States to fight the terrorists, allegations of any arm of the Pakistani government collaborating or cooperating with the Taliban is absolutely wrong. As far as history's concerned, I'm sure you and I will be around to read various accounts of history as it takes shape in the future.</s>MALVEAUX: Why do you suppose these allegations are in these documents that are classified and now been revealed? Do you think that this is some sort of plot? Do you think it's a strategy?</s>HAQQANI: No, I don't believe in conspiracy theories, Susan. Basically --</s>MALVEAUX: Forged documents?</s>HAQQANI: First of all -- I didn't say anything about forged. All I'm saying is these are snapshots in time at different times how Afghanistan is, you know, has had a lot of difficulties in building the government over there in the last several years since the collapse of the Taliban after 911. And their intelligence service had people until recently who had a certain perspective. We have all heard about intelligence going wrong. Do we all not remember before the war in Iraq? Everybody in the United States thought and believed in the first draft of intelligence that seemed to indicate that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. I think the first unprocessed intelligence is not always correct. That is what this was. That is why the United States has persisted in maintaining the alliance with Pakistan instead of just believing all of this and saying, you know what? Every rumor we believe is true and we should act on it.</s>MALVEAUX: Mr. Ambassador, I want to bring up the response from Afghanistan today. From its own spokesperson for these documents saying the Afghan government is shocked with the report that has opened the reality of the Afghan war. There should be serious action taken against the ISI, who has direct connection with the terrorists. These reports show that the U.S. was already aware of the ISI connection with the al Qaeda terrorists network. The United States is overdue on ISI issue and now the United should answer. How do you respond to your partner, your partner in war, the Afghan government that believes these accusations about the ISI?</s>HAQQANI: We are mature partners. We understand the difficulties faced by our brothers in Afghanistan. We understand the difficulties of a war of the nature of the war that we are fighting against the terrorists. People have different views. There are people with sympathize with the terrorists in Afghanistan. There are people with sympathize with those in Pakistan. We have to make the distinction between rumor and fact. Right now, all of us are working together to defeat the terrorists. The CIA knows what the ISI is doing. The ISI is trying to work together with both the CIA and the Afghany Intelligence Service essentially with one objective, which is to contain and defeat the terrorists. That's exactly what we are going to do.</s>MALVEAUX: Has your government reached out to the government of Afghanistan to reassure them?</s>HAQQANI: The Pakistani government and the Afghan government as you well know have come a long way since the days when the president of Afghanistan and the then president of Pakistan who wasn't an elected leader wouldn't even shake hands on the lawn of the White House. The president of Pakistan and the president of Afghanistan are very close right now. And our intelligence services are trying to work together as well. Look, the misgivings of the past cannot always easily be overcome. But what we can change is the future and that's what we will do.</s>MALVEAUX: I remember that day at the White House when they would not shake hands. So thank you so much, Mr. Ambassador. Appreciate your time here on "The Situation Room."</s>HAQQANI: Pleasure being here.</s>MALVEAUX: Thank you.</s>MALVEAUX: A top Democratic governor speaks out on her party's prospect in the upcoming midterm elections. I'll talk about that. And President Obama's sagging ratings with Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm. Plus, an inside look at presidential treasures. We get a private tour and see some surprises with the White House curator.