Wikileaks is just weeks away from posting a huge cache of classified
documents related to the US war in Iraq in what one journalist says will
be history's biggest military leak.

Iain Overton, editor of the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, told Newsweek
his non-profit organization is working with Wikileaks and several TV
and print media outlets in advance of the release. It's not unlike the
time Wikileaks published secret records concerning the war in
Afghanistan, when it gave advanced copies to The New York Times, Der Spiegel and The Guardian on the condition they publish reports on an agreed-upon date.

Wikileaks' posting of some 77,000 documents drew criticism from the
Pentagon and some human rights groups, which complained they endangered
the lives of Afghan civilians who cooperated with the military. Overton
said leaders of the latest project have "significantly learned from past
experiences.” While his organization doesn't plan to post documents in
their entirety, other media partners are "aware of the need to ensure
that information is properly redacted.”

He also said the partners will be making financial contributions to help defray production costs

Newsweek has said the Iraq material "portrays US forces being
involved in a 'bloodbath,' but some of the most disturbing material
relates to the abusive treatment of detainees, not by Americans but by
Iraqi security forces.”

The involvement of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange in the project remains unclear. He recently requested a new lawyer to defend him against rape and molestation charges in Sweden. ®