Bahu Virupaksha

Join Date 09/2004

Wikileaks and the Conduct of American Diplomacy

There is no reason to panic

The flurry of activity in the US State Department, with the Secretary of State Hilary Clinton making a brave attempt to explain to the world that US policy remains on course in spite of the free wheeling nature of the documents outed by Wikileaks. Though I have not gone through more than a small fraction of the documents, I cannot imagine any real probblem emanating from the publication of the embassy records. Of course there is that odd bit of political gossip, a carping comment, a biting sacrastic off the record humour etc. Why should the Secretary of State apologise to the world for the blunt assessments made by her embassy staff to the State Department as these records were meant only for the consumption of the State Department. After 30 years historians would have seen them any way and I cannot imagine any delrailment of US policy or interest as a consequence of the Wikileaks. Examples: North Korean strongman described as a "flabby old chap", the Iranian President described unflatteringly as hitler" and India as a "self appointed front runner for the UNSC seat" are all pretty staid stuff. The last remark also has the virtue of being absolutely and brutally honest. So why this fuss/

Having said that the Wikileaks do not inflict any major damage to US credibility or interests, I must add that I do oppose any attempt to suppress Wikileaks as an organisation or try to bring Jackie Assange to trial on trumped up charges. Freedom of the Press includes all forms of dissemmination of news and views and the internet server should also be covered by the logical extension of the freedom of expression. Freedom of the Press marches in step with technology otherwise the concept will haVE to be restricted to the letterpresses of the 18th century when this concept was formulated and enacted into law.

The reaction of the US Government seems to be driven more by a lust to suppress Wikileaks than any real concern over the damge done. In fact little damge has been done and the whole world understands that diplomatic pillow talk is not for the world to eves drop. So get on with your job and leave Jackie alone.

wikileaks jackie assange freedom the press

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#1 - Politics is poker. Assange just exposed the US hole card. That is what is angering most people. Of course "they all do it", but in politics, you never admit you do it, and you never reveal your hole card until the pot is all in.

#2 - The reaction of which US government? Obama? He is not saying a word (probably because he has no clue on what is happening). Hillary? She is playing the victim - in preparation for 2012. She is doing a good job too. I almost feel sorry for her. Congress? There is feigned outrage, but nothing more than pontificating for the constituents.

#3 - receipt of stolen goods is a crime, especially if you abetted the theft. If my friend robs a bank and then proceeds to give me a share of the loot, I cannot legally keep it. if I do, I am guilty of abetting the crime. It is not a freedom of the press issue. But as Assange is not American, I doubt the US will do anything in any event. After all, the Obama justice department will not even prosecute Americans that break the law.

As for Sweden's charge. You have to ask yourself - when was the last time Sweden knuckled under to the US on anything? No, if he is in trouble with the law there, it may be a frame up, but it is not at the request of the US.

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What wiki leaks is not covered by the freedom of the press/speech, and they are a pretty spinless lot as they tend to pick fairly soft targets like the US, when they actually take on someone like China or Iran or Nth Korea I might be impressed, but these jerks are just your typical USA haters. Personally I would like to see the whole lot locked up and left to rot. As well as the people supplying them with the leaks, and the Pommy Bastards who give them somewhere to continue their spinless operation.

One right between the eyes would be the best way, but it won't come from the US, which is why he picks countries like Australia & USA, he knows they will do everything by the book, where somewhere like Iran would be after him like a shot if he did this to them.

He is your typical Melbourne Uni Lefty, obnoxious prats, mostly members of the Ecological Marxists, (The Australian Greens), a name coined by one of the early members, not me.

We can only hope he does piss off one of these countries, and that will be the end, no more wiki leaks

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No, if he is in trouble with the law there, it may be a frame up, but it is not at the request of the US.

[quote]

That is the point. Do not frme people just because one does not approve of their politics.

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The irony of this issue is on the one hand us Americans are mad because we are being exposed to the world as we really are behind closed doors (which is why the Gov't is not really happy about all of this) while at the same time this is a good thing because our Gov't does waaaay to many things behind closed doors that even we, the people, don't even know whats going on.

I don't like this guy Assange because he's doing it without any care of the consequences and simply because he's looking for his 15 minutes of fame, which he got, at the cost of Americans. On the other hand if people like him did not exist, Gov't likes our, who in the face of the world act like the good guys but behind closed doors are just as crooked as some dictators, would get away with just about anything because they seem to think they are above everyone and anyone and our ignorance is what gives them this belief.

That is the point. Do not frme people just because one does not approve of their politics.

Let's keep in mind that there is a reason behind these leaks, it's obvious our Gov't does not want the world to see it for what it really is even though every knows how it really is, corrupt, so they will keep being corrupt in order to stop the exposure.

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Quoting CharlesCS,

reply 4

Kind of a Jekyll and Hyde answer, but I think accurate. I would go further. We may appear to be an idyllic couple that everyone loves and always does good things for neighbors and friends. But no one would want to hear what they talk about behind their bedroom door. These cables are not showing anything that is "illegal, immoral, or unethical". Instead they are the secret nothings couples talk about when no one else is listening. In that, Assange is merely a cheap voyeur, and not a whistle blower. He has done something that no others have been able to do. Made me like Hillary (or at least fel sympathy for her).

Quoting CharlesCS,

reply 4

His existence (and that of his ilk) is immaterial. He did not get the stuff, Bradley Manning did. Your sympathy is misdirected. After all, the real hero of Climategate has never come forward - but many published the emails. Assange is like the clown who stands outside of the Whitehouse fence and criticizes the president, while refusing to go to Tienanmen square and do the same with Premier Hu. in other words, he is a coward, nothing more.

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Assange is like the clown who stands outside of the Whitehouse fence and criticizes the president, while refusing to go to Tienanmen square and do the same with Premier Hu. in other words, he is a coward, nothing more.

Exactly.

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Quoting Nitro Cruiser,

reply 6

dudies, he only got usa cables. he'll release chinese cables too, if he gets them. and finds a translator.

besides, usa has to live up to a higher moral standard than the chinese. the chinese don't claim to be defenders of democracy, free speech and human rights while usa does.

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Quoting heil_stardock,

reply 7

dudies, he only got usa cables. he'll release chinese cables too, if he gets them. and finds a translator.

besides, usa has to live up to a higher moral standard than the chinese. the chinese don't claim to be defenders of democracy, free speech and human rights while usa does.

Talk is cheap - and worthless. So your defense of the punk, while noble for one of the script kiddies coming to his defense, is also dead wrong.

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Quoting Dr Guy,

reply 8

Quoting heil_stardock, reply 7dudies, he only got usa cables. he'll release chinese cables too, if he gets them. and finds a translator.

besides, usa has to live up to a higher moral standard than the chinese. the chinese don't claim to be defenders of democracy, free speech and human rights while usa does.

Talk is cheap - and worthless. So your defense of the punk, while noble for one of the script kiddies coming to his defense, is also dead wrong.

huh? i'm wrong because talk is cheap and worthless?

dude, you're talking confused.

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