As I read more than a week of front page stories in the national press about disclosures through diplomatic cables made available through Wikileaks, my feelings are mixed but mainly on the side of Wikileaks. That the release of nearly a quarter million cables has put anyone's life in jeopardy is horrific, but it is rare-- very rare-- that the tectonic plates of modern politics are shifted by information.
Although the content could be gleaned from news reports, the specific points are in fact international news. On Sunday, the New York Times public editor asked the relevant question: would you rather have someone else hold this information from you, or would you rather decide its merits, yourself? Count me in the latter group. I've seen enough of insider dealing-- and withholding of information-- at the local level of Miami-Dade politics to last me several lifetimes.
I don't know Assange, what kind of man he is, or whether any of the mainstream media's descriptions (arrogant, an alleged sex offender, etc. etc.) are true in the whole, in part, or not at all. But I do know: I would much rather have the information from Wikileaks, than not.
Who can be surprised about any of the disclosures or the fact that diplomacy frequently involves a fierce struggle between alternate versions of reality? The most important disclosure of Wikileaks to the American public, is the extent to which our own values and national security has been recklessly squandered on maintaining illusions that our way of life can go on indefinitely, despite our addictions to oil and to US debt purchased by China. That our own diplomacy is complicit in downplaying the risks to us-- to you and to me, taxpayers-- is the bottom line.
I'm not sure that Wikileaks will move American power at all. Mitch McConnell, the US senator from Kentucky (GOP), appears to be the spokeman for the ruling class, calling Assange's work "treasonable" and that if he can't be brought to justice, then the laws much change. McConnell scares me more than Assange. The truth can set you free, if you are willing to hear it. These days, the evidence is not so good. The Governor of Kentucky is planning, as reported by the New York Times, on supporting state funding to build a new tourist attraction: a full-scale Ark. Its purpose: to support jobs.
I suppose that is really where McConnell belongs, hawking tickets. No one needs Wikileaks to make the Kentucky Ark a great success, and even more than God's word, that is their point.
7 comments:
I think we should be embarrassed. I am amazed at the stuff we would put on paper.
It is horrible;I am concerned about how it affects our countries relationships with others.
This move is putting Americans at risk. Don't fool yourself. Do you want to travel to any of those countries that got slammed with an American Passport at the moment? I don't think so.
Where are the secret docs on WikiLeaks from China? Russia? Iran? Or is this only about leaking secrets from Western nations?
While I normally agree with you on most issues and I am a huge believer in government transparency, I have to disagree with your assessment on this one.
There are certain things that need to remain confidential in dealing with our national security. While we may feel like we are 'entitled' to know everything our govenment is doing, there are things that must be done under cloak of secrecy to keep us (and especially our troops) safe.
Obviously we just squandered a chance in Nov, but this is one of the reasons why I feel we have to have trust in elected officials and those that run our armed forces.
While the release of these particular cables might not put anyone's life in jeopardy (yet, or that we know about) I don't believe it's up to a 'civilian' to decide that we whould see these documents. Who's to say the next set of documents he releases won't cause great bodily harm?
In addition, even if you don't agree with classifying the documents and keeping them secret, it's still the law. Breaking the law is not the way to get these released.
SILVER Tarnished "but this is one of the reasons why I feel we have to have trust in elected officials and those that run our armed forces. "
Never Forget......
"The Iran–Contra affair was a political scandal in the United States that came to light in November 1986. During the Reagan administration, President Ronald Reagan and other senior U.S. officials secretly facilitated the sale of arms to Iran, the subject of an arms embargo.[2] At least some U.S. officials also hoped that the arms sales would secure the release of hostages and allow U.S. intelligence agencies to fund the Nicaraguan Contras. Under the Boland Amendment, further funding of the Contras by the Reagan administration had been prohibited by Congress (backed by a strong majority opinion of the American public)." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran–Contra_affair
OPEN the FLOOD Gates of Information, Freedom of Information NEW ACT..... They are Just Laws and Then There are UNJust Laws Politically motivated....
I was very happy to read those documents because it told me that at least our diplomats really know what is going on. I say release them all, except those that will give away the names of our spies or true friends.
If you're not for the US, you're against it...including all American's shivering with pleasure at the salaciousness of it all. Meanwhile, in Afghanistan...Meanwhile, in Iran...Meanwhile, in China...Meanwhile...in North Korea...Foreign relations is serious business about American lives. Ill wishers can kiss my...well, you know!
leave it to the "ruling class" to build an ark for themselves, while burying knowledge and data portending of the climate crisis.
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