8 Answers

• Reputation: 4209 Q&A: 121 4 6 1581 87 19 Classifieds: 0 0 what's this? Follow Following 5

  4 0 There was a time when secret documents were kept physically and behind locked doors. Remember the spy images of yesteryear when miniature cameras were used to photograph and copy documents in the typical espionage story. Now everything is digitized and out there floating around behind whatever kind of cyberwalls exist (and much easier to access by hacking). If access can't be controlled, then this is the wave of the future. As with anything, knowing the veracity of information is still a question. Mired in wars that were based on lies, sanitized by keeping photos of coffins from being taken, abusing a fighting force by continual recycling of people back to combat multiple times, billions of dollars being sucked up by Halliburton and others (not to mention pallets of millions of dollars being paid to foreign officials), if this is what it takes to get us back to reality as we are numbed by all of this, then it may be a good thing. Now about those banks, this WILL be interesting. Russ Campbell, NWEBS answered in Intl/Ntl News & Politics about 1 year ago | Report 1 comment by Danger… 0 0 One of the things that has surprised me reading through all of these "SECRET" and "CONFIDENTIAL" documents is how little of it we don't already know. Opinions of foreign leader's are pretty obvious, that nobody wants a nuclear Iran is clear, etc. I certainly hope this kind of transparency is able to cause a sea-change in political accountability, but I fear the only change will be for governments to learn how to keep secrets better. Danger commented about 1 year ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

  Share this answer with a friend:

• Reputation: 650 Q&A: 14 0 3 360 50 0 Classifieds: 0 0 what's this? Follow Following 0 Bauhaus

  3 0 I'm uncertain about how I feel about the diplomacy leaks because diplomacy is crucial to some semblence of world peace and I am unsure about what these leaks will mean in the long term. I don't think any information was released that hasn't been said or widely thought "unofficially." But I am concerned about the State Department's use of language on computer mail. Everyone knows (I think) that you don't put any information in an email or an inter-office electronic correspondence that you don't want the world to read. If I'm an ambassador or a chargé d'affaires or senior staff of any kind, would I ever, ever, ever (outside the privacy of my own den or someone else's) say something like, "Castro's a douche," or "Kim Jung-il is a sick little fuck with penis envy," or "The Prime Minister is such a drama queen?" Well, I wouldn't, but apparently some in the diplomatic service would, and that's what worries me the most. The whole point of diplomacy is not to openly dis (and computer communiques should offer no sense of entre nous). How could they not know that? Bauhaus answered in Intl/Ntl News & Politics about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

  Share this answer with a friend:

• Reputation: 3723 Q&A: 109 0 27 1716 713 0 Classifieds: 0 0 what's this? Follow Following 1 Rev.Enant

  2 0 Love it. Freedom of speech & press at its most challenging and vibrant. The founders created the bill of rights to grant freedoms, not set limits or keep secrets. They built it to create freedom for freedom's sake. Besides, if wikileaks didn't print/publish it, without a doubt someone else would. Politicians could use more honest reporting like this. The state dept and white house's threats to prosecute and/or try and shut down the wikileak site is EXACTLY the kind of behaviour the First Amendment is meant to shield us from. Dear gov/diplomats/defense-dept/everyone else embarrassed by wikileaks: If you did bad things, and then see them in print, the way to fix this isn't to stop the presses... it's simply to STOP DOING BAD THINGS. The editorials the cables include are embarrassing like a bad facebook page. But the actions: Oy vey. In short, Diplomats shouldn't be engaging in spy tactics. It undermines the entire purpose of diplomats (and their immunity). Diplomats are supposed to use above-board, public methods. Spies, on the other hand, do the spit-collecting and sneaky iris-scanning. For everything there is a place... also... Can't be treason, at least, not on the part of the wikileaks staff/site. They ain't american. The pentagon staff who leaked this stuff? They probably will lose their job - but they knew that going in. And figured it was worth it. I tend to agree. Note also the promise from wikileaks that the next release will expose the banking/financial scams ... can't wait! Rev.Enant answered in Intl/Ntl News & Politics about 1 year ago | Report 1 comment by Danger… 1 0 I agree. The onus is definitely on the DOS to 'not be leaked from' rather than on an international sort-of-news organization to self censor. And you're right, if not wikileaks then probably just a torrent dump or something. My one concern is that wikileaks continues to think very carefully about releasing the names of dissidents and sources who's lives would be in danger if revealed. (Names of people who would be embarrassed or politically damaged are fair game.) This is something that 'teh internets' would not concern themselves with and what gives wikileaks a certain measure of respectability. There is definitely too much kill-the-messenger shit going on right now. I really hope the bank documents cause some upsets. Danger commented about 1 year ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

  Share this answer with a friend:

• Reputation: 2266 Q&A: 38 0 8 1724 398 4 Classifieds: 0 0 what's this? Follow Following 2

  1 0 I'm a fan. Basil answered in Intl/Ntl News & Politics about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

  Share this answer with a friend:

• Reputation: 3 Q&A: 0 0 0 4 1 0 Classifieds: 0 0 what's this? Follow Following 0

  0 0 EPIC.org has some good discussion on this issue. As I understand it, the role of Wikileaks is similar to that of the New York Times, when Daniel Ellsberg snuck out the Pentagon Papers. Ellsberg might have been up for indictment, but it is totally against everything the US constitution stands for, to say that the New York Times could be indicted for printing the material. The important thing that's going on in this debate (other than the content of the cables, which I will wait for others to do the analysis) is the question of whether web sites are going to have the same kind of constitutional protections that the printed press and speech have. It is very very very important to the future of our country that we do not allow our overlords and the global corporations who run our government to say that web sites are like licensed radio and TV stations, and need to get government approval for what they post. Again, look at the discussion on EPIC.com. MargaretBartley answered in Intl/Ntl News & Politics about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

  Share this answer with a friend:

• Reputation: 142 Q&A: 3 0 3 68 51 1 Classifieds: 0 0 what's this? Follow Following 0

  0 0 In principal and in practice it is good. I deal with classified material on a day to day basis, almost all of it is completely mundane. I would never leak it personally because I care about my own well being more than the nation. For the few brave souls out there willing to make the sacrifice to leak information in the name of the People, I can do nothing but applaud while admonishing them. Same thing if a Soldier came to me and told me they were gay. By law I would have to initiate an investigation and begin the discharge paperwork. I don't believe in the law, but I am bound by the law. Free Busch answered in Intl/Ntl News & Politics about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

  Share this answer with a friend:

• Reputation: 276 Q&A: 1 0 5 236 85 1 Classifieds: 0 0 what's this? Follow Following 0

  0 0 An informed society is a society with better tools to be more free. Now that we have the information it is up to us to know how to use this information. The media is hyping the story of the leak but not talking about the content of the material revealed in the documents. At least nothing beyond the tabloid elements of person A doesn't like person B and so forth. Ultimately, a fully transparent government is one that is not afraid to be open about all of it's dealings. (And remember, they didn't leak missile launch codes or military strategies despite what Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin would have everyone believe they did). Remember the old adage that the truth will set you free. And so it shall. The Doctor answered in Intl/Ntl News & Politics about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

  Share this answer with a friend:

• Reputation: 1627 Q&A: 33 0 3 1043 136 0 Classifieds: 0 0 what's this? Follow Following 2

  1 2 I would care more if any of it were even half as groundbreaking as the Pentagon Papers. Anyone who's been paying attention already knows the stuff that was leaked (or at least strongly suspected it). Those who haven't been paying attention still don't give a shit. keshmeshi answered in Intl/Ntl News & Politics about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

  Share this answer with a friend: