Pentagon demands WikiLeaks return files

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- The Pentagon said Thursday WikiLeaks must return the classified documents it is still reviewing and delete the thousands of war documents it posted on the Web.

Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said Thursday that WikiLeaks' actions amount to a "brazen solicitation to U.S. government officials to break the law" and said the "only acceptable course" is for the site to turn over the estimated 15,000 documents it says it is still reviewing and to pull down the estimated 92,000 secret documents posted on the Internet July 25, The Hill reported.

"We are making a demand of them. We are asking them to do the right thing," Morrell said.

"We have delayed the release of some 15,000 reports from the total archive as part of a harm minimization process demanded by our source. After further review, these reports will be released, with occasional redactions, and eventually in full, as the security situation in Afghanistan permits," WikiLeaks said of the not-yet-released documents.

"We hope they will honor our demands," Morrell said, adding, "We will cross the next bridge when we come to it" if WikiLeaks does not comply with the Pentagon's demands.

"If doing the right thing is not good enough for them," other actions will be considered "to make them do the right thing," Morrell said.