> US spies that knew the risks of their profession.

What about their sources?

Multiple human rights organizations criticized the underacted release of information:

* https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39827756

there is something to be said about quoting human rights orgs when the country in question does not agree to hold it's own soldiers and generals accountable under these same orgs

https://ecfr.eu/article/commentary_why_america_is_facing_off...

See also the "Invade The Hague Act": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Service-Members'_Prot...

It also leaked the identity of informants.

When I served in Afghanistan the locals would tip us off about ambushes or IEDs. Should those people be killed for warning us and potentially saving my life?

I think your point is fully valid. I would balance it with the notion that they (people undertaking huge personal risk) would be better protected - if there was less natural pressure to acquire/release info that gets over-classified to protect political interests.¹

Stated otherwise, if US Gov could be relied on to honor it's ethical obligations to taxpayers and release the entirety of info that it ought, I argue that fewer unqualified people would feel responsibility to take that upon themselves.

¹ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War_documents_leak#Civili...