wikileaks.org · Domains · Slashdot Mirror

Slight correction by Anonymous Coward · 2010-11-29 09:04 · Score: 0 · on Compiling the WikiLeaks Fallout

Khalid El-Masri was kidnapped in Macedonia, not Germany, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khalid_El-Masri and http://cablegate.wikileaks.org/cable/2007/02/07BERLIN242.html

Re:Democrats loved the Pentagon Papers by Kagura · 2010-11-29 08:46 · Score: 1, Insightful · on Compiling the WikiLeaks Fallout

Why should a diplomat's views on the quality of leadership of another country become public info? If everything he says become public knowledge, then the diplomat has to severely censor what he is going to say. For the life of me, I cannot figure out how the public benefits from this release of information

I supported wikileaks up until now... the information they shared this time makes me think they really jumped the shark.

I have glanced at the documents on the WikiLeaks cable release pages, and I can categorically say that these documents should not have been released. This should a huge level of irresponsibility on the part of WikiLeaks for releasing the entire database rather than incriminating files. The files are all SECRET rather than TOP SECRET, but there are very sensitive official files in here that have no business seeing the light of day within their classification timeframe, such as HUMINT documents.

Several years ago I supported WikiLeaks and what they stood for, even donating, but after this latest continuation of their anti-American campaign I cannot support them any longer. These documents are far too strategically damaging to the U.S. and its public/not-so-public allies to have been revealed in bulk.

The Iraq and Afghan dumps were only "a little harmful" and barely worthy of classification. These cables, on the other hand, are strategically damaging the U.S., its interests, and its allies. Wikileaks should be exposing corruption, wrongdoing, and illegality. It shouldn't take what appears to all outside observers as a vendetta against the U.S.

Bradley Manning, the disgruntled private who was demoted from the rank of Sergeant prior to leaking this information, should be given the harshest penalty possible (excessive prison sentence) for the sole purpose of discouraging this type of behavior in the future. An honest whistle-blower who reveals true wrongdoing will lose their job when found out, but they won't be prosecuted for releasing the information. However, deciding to release all classified information you can get your hands on is not whistle-blowing. It is nothing short of a display of reckless disregard for any consequences.

Quartermillion? How about just 243... by santax · 2010-11-29 08:32 · Score: 5, Informative · on Compiling the WikiLeaks Fallout

They only released 243 cables at this point. http://cablegate.wikileaks.org/

Re:Administration has zero credibility by gfreeman · 2010-11-29 05:00 · Score: 1 · on WikiLeaks Under Denial of Service Attack

http://cablegate.wikileaks.org/cable/2010/01/10SANAA4.html

AQAP STRIKES: CONCERN FOR CIVILIAN CASUALTIES

Para4. (S/NF) Saleh praised the December 17 and 24 strikes against AQAP but said that "mistakes were made" in the killing of civilians in Abyan. The General responded that the only civilians killed were the wife and two children of an AQAP operative at the site, prompting Saleh to plunge into a lengthy and confusing aside with Deputy Prime Minister Alimi and Minister of Defense Ali regarding the number of terrorists versus civilians killed in the strike.

Re:These documents should not be released. by Dilaudid · 2010-11-29 01:49 · Score: 1 · on WikiLeaks Under Denial of Service Attack

Perhaps drones are a good thing compared to the Taliban - I don't recall them being great friends of women, they tended to aim their ordinance at them rather than hit them by accident. I do like wikileaks, I think it makes the free west stronger, but it doesn't seem to be possible to leak much information out of regimes like Venezuela, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, North Korea or Iran which I think in some people's minds reinforces a prejudice that somehow America is the biggest villain in the world. America is a great country and wikileaks is built on American (actually - whisper it - DoD) technology. Reading their website, I get the impression wikileaks might agree with me.

Re:Administration has zero credibility by Kagura · 2010-11-28 10:38 · Score: 3, Informative · on WikiLeaks Under Denial of Service Attack

The official Wikileaks release is out. Also, scroll down and mod this comment more highly as it is not a troll, and is simply representative of moderation abuse here on Slashdot. The post is well-written and not inflammatory. Promote other ideas on Slashdot instead of squashing them, even if you disagree.

(SECRET) IRANIAN FRONT COMPANIES IDENTIFIED by Anonymous Coward · 2010-11-28 10:11 · Score: -1, Redundant · on WikiLeaks Under Denial of Service Attack

Here is another example of the information that was absolutely and indiscriminately released by Wikileaks, that does nothing but harm to the international community.

S E C R E T STATE 010900

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/03/2035
TAGS: MTCRE PARM PREL MNUC ETTC KSCA IR CH MY
SUBJECT: (S) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR CHINA ON THE MALAYSIA-BASED COMPANY ELECTRONICS COMPONENT LIMITED

REF: A. 09 STATE 130917
B. 09 BEIJING 003476

Classified By: ISN/MTR DIRECTOR PAM DURHAM, REASON: 1.4 (C).

1. (U) This is an action request. Embassy Beijing, please see paragraph 4.

2. (S) Background/Objective: In December 2009, the United States shared with China information regarding attempts by the Malaysia-based firm Electronics Component Limited (ECL) to buy TRS-500 gyroscopes from the Chinese firm VibTel Industrial Co. Inc. (Ref A). These gyroscopes, which are controlled by the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and China's missile-related export controls, would be suitable for use in the guidance systems of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles. We requested China investigate this information because ECL is associated with a network of Iranian-controlled front companies that procure sensitive goods on behalf of a number of Iranian entities of proliferation concern.

3. (S) Chinese officials agreed to investigate this information, but asked for additional details on ECL's relationships with firms in Iran (Ref B). To support their efforts in this case, we would like to inform them that ECL is part of a network of Iranian-controlled front companies that includes the Iranian firm Shahin Sefid Esta and the Malaysia-based front company Skylife Worldwide Sdn Bhd. This network procures sensitive goods on behalf of a number of Iranian entities of proliferation concern, including the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1737-designated entities Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group (SHIG) and Ya Mahdi Industries. We want to provide this information to Chinese officials and emphasize that we believe the transfer of this controlled equipment to a company linked to UNSCR-designated entities would be prohibited pursuant to UNSCR 1737.

4. (S) Action Request: Request Embassy Beijing approach appropriate host government officials to deliver talking points/non-paper in paragraph 5 below and report response. Talking points also may be provided as a non-paper.

5. (S) Begin talking points/non-paper:

(SECRET//REL CHINA)

--In December 2009, we shared with you information regarding attempts by the Malaysia-based firm Electronics Component Limited (ECL) to buy TRS-500 gyroscopes from the Chinese firm VibTel Industrial Co. Inc.

--TRS-500 gyroscopes are controlled by the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and China's missile-related export controls, and can be used in the guidance systems of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles.

--We also noted that ECL is associated with a network of Iranian-controlled front companies that procure sensitive goods on behalf of a number of Iranian entities of proliferation concern.

--In response to this information, you agreed to look into this matter, but asked if the United States could provide additional details on ECL's relationships with firms in Iran.

--We now want to provide you with additional information indicating that ECL is part of a network of Iranian-controlled front companies that includes the Iranian firm Shahin Sefid Esta and the Malaysia-based front company Skylife Worldwide Sdn Bhd.

--This network procures sensitive goods on behalf of a number of Iranian entities of proliferation concern, including the Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group (SHIG), which is Iran's primary developer of liquid propellant ballistic missiles, and Heavy Metal Industri

WLeaks restore access to files on other countries by poity · 2010-11-26 11:51 · Score: 5, Insightful · on UK Asks News Outlets Not To Publish WikiLeaks Bombshell, US Prepares For Fallout

An agency such as yours must treat all the information it has with equal priority -- it is the only way to be neutral and unbiased. Otherwise you risk undermining the confidence of people everywhere -- the same people you rely on to effect the tangible changes that we all desire. Herein now lies the current problem with wikileaks.org. You have at some point taken your previous database entirely offline. Before you became well known you were a nexus of information on nations around the globe. Now, there is access only to Iraq Diaries and Afghan Logs. A google search on wikileaks for Asia, Africa, and Europe reveals thousands of documents previously linked to that are now inaccessible. These must be restored immediately.

Re:7x0 = by Un+pobre+guey · 2010-11-22 13:26 · Score: 1 · on Wikileaks Vows Release '7x the Size' of Iraq Leak

The mainstream media is not in the business of publishing information that subverts the US Establishment. Quite the contrary. Don't rely on them or trust them, get the file, load it into a database, and start querying it yourself. That's the whole point, the leaks are for you.

Re:Wow by kestasjk · 2010-10-22 16:40 · Score: 1 · on WikiLeaks Releases Cache of 400,000 Iraq War Documents

http://warlogs.wikileaks.org/id/50A2284C-BF55-E1FD-BEA7B6AED9A0AD20/

Good Direct Link by cosm · 2010-10-22 14:34 · Score: 2, Interesting · on WikiLeaks Releases Cache of 400,000 Iraq War Documents

Whoops...updated Link. Here is the most direct link I can find. Iraq War Logs
It is still getting WorldDotted at the moment though.

Re:Pentagon Reaction Was Self Preservation Mode by bananaendian · 2010-10-17 09:25 · Score: 0, Flamebait · on DoD Study Contradicts Charges Against WikiLeaks

In what way is your blurb insightful? What was your point? Other than that the Afghan War Diary didn't surprise you or that you think Pentagon is incompetent?

Perhaps as a 'veteran' you could talk about what you think about the actual intel. You know its all online still. Just waiting for people like for your opinion on it ...

I'd rather than listen to such than endless irrelevant ad hominem comments about Assange.

Surely you know Intelligence management is about compromise. Yes you could have only terminal access and no external data connections and limit them to closely vetted people who sign for each access but that would limit the usefulness of the data too much. You cannot put too much restrictions on data access and distribution if you want to use that data widely and frequently. As a result this kind of low level stuff gets 'leaked' all the time: people working on it have it on their laptops, USB dongles, websites etc. They send it via email attachments to research partners, policy interest groups, friends. It just rarely gets into the news cause no one much cares or gets caught. But if this is news to you ...

Re:Suddenly, it doesn't feel like '1984' anymore! by AHuxley · 2010-10-04 13:18 · Score: 3, Interesting · on GoogleSharing, Now With No Trust Required

Yes its all about the plain text and your use of unique data eg a name on yahoo, facebook, MSN, an email ect.
That will all get noted and linked back to a friend of a friend of a friend who has been flagged as a person of interest.
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:5jex52BhXYEJ:wikileaks.org/wiki/EU_social_network_spy_system_brief,_INDECT_Work_Package_4,_2009+INDECT+Work+Package+4&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk as
http://wikileaks.org/wiki/EU_social_network_spy_system_brief,_INDECT_Work_Package_4,_2009 seems to be down. The NSA/GCHQ ect dont care where/how the text comes from, public/private/mirrored ect, just keep it in flowing in a usable form. Add in voice chat too :)

Re:Oh really by _Sprocket_ · 2010-09-28 03:03 · Score: 3, Insightful · on WikiLeaks Insiders Resign

....there is a plan....

Pop quiz; what is the plan? Have you actually read that document? The most direct "plan" in the leaked document is as follows:

(S//NF) Web sites such as Wikileaks.org have trust as their most important center of gravity by
protecting the anonymity and identity of the insider, leaker, or whistleblower. Successful
identification, prosecution, termination of employment, and exposure of persons leaking the
information by the governments and businesses affected by information posted to Wikileaks.org
would damage and potentially destroy this center of gravity and deter others from taking similar
actions.

In summery, go after whistle-blowers / leaks. That's it. No grand government conspiracy to lean on Wikileaks staff. No grand plan to get Assange personally. Yet every time anything remote touches on Wikileaks or Assange, we get post after post about how it is the latest evidence of powerful enemies pulling strings all in accordance with The Plan.

Seriously folks, where that skepticism that prevents you from swallowing everything fed to you by your government? Does it all go out the window because you're being fed by someone who matches your politics?

Re:Oh really by FriendlyLurker · 2010-09-28 01:58 · Score: 4, Insightful · on WikiLeaks Insiders Resign

My immediate reaction was "they've been leant on". I'd imagine the US government has been putting pressure directly on any individual involved in the hope of a) weakening Wikileaks and b) causing dissent and reducing their credibility.

NYT:'The civilian also said that the Army had offered him “a considerable amount of money if I were to keep my ear to the ground and be an in with them with WikiLeaks.” He said that he had turned the Army down'

So there is some precedence, there is a plan and a 120 strong department working around the clock to make it happen. Does not sound far fetched to me.

Re:To compute what? by thijsh · 2010-09-24 03:03 · Score: 1 · on IBM Warns of China Closing the Supercomputer Gap

They win insurance... Or probably other interesting state secrets that are encrypted. Presuming there are some yet unknown-to-the-public-flaws in AES for example (and like with all algorithms there are) governments could possibly be able to decrypt these kind of files in a matter of years instead of billions. In which case it can be quite beneficial to be a month ahead of 'the other guys' with decryption, with some information a few extra petaflop (or soon exaflop) could mean a world of difference.

Re:Free to leave by evilviper · 2010-09-21 15:26 · Score: 1 · on WikiLeaks Founder 'Free To Leave Sweden'

There is a big difference betweens someones private life and the actions of a government.

There certainly is, BUT Wikileaks doesn't treat them any differently. They treat leaks of private documents from small, private organizations the same as they treat big government corruption leaks.

You'll notice under their categories, they don't just have "government". They have a category specifically for non-governmental organizations. Under that, there are large and small private companies, social organizations, etc.

Care to explain how leaking the manual of female beauty for Mormons, and Alpha Chi Sigma ceremonies, and "subscriptions to Polish extreme-right newsletters" is different than leaking relevant information detailing serious criminal accusations against notable persons?

Re:430? by scotty.m · 2010-09-17 00:28 · Score: 1 · on Conroy Still Hell-Bent On Internet Filter

Government won't publish the list... but WikiLeaks will. This: http://www.wikileaks.org/wiki/Leaked_Australian_blacklist_reveals_banned_sites
WikiLeaks even got several mentions on the list! (though probably not for cp)

Re:Hah! by slick7 · 2010-09-14 05:19 · Score: 1 · on US Gov't Makes a Mess of Classifying Sensitive Data

The United States government can't keep secrets secret.

Sure they can. That's why we are not squawking about real secrets on Slashdot.

Sure they can't. Wikileaks

Re:Luddite victims. by FriendlyLurker · 2010-09-13 04:16 · Score: 1 · on Anti-US Hacker Takes Credit For Worm

I just don't like to be immersed to my neck in the cesspit of SPAM and other duplicity that the internet so uniquely enables.

The real world has crime - even turning a country into some kind of controlled Stazi state in the name of defending against "crime" will not change that. Most of us are not prepared to live in a police state/baby pen internet under the (fake) pretense of knocking a few percentage points off the crime stats or child porn bogymen population.

Apart from that - what makes you think that anonymity makes it possible to hold governments and big business to account? All this is just a dummy; something to keep potential troublemakers occupied with thundering impotently on their soapboxes instead of organizing something more worthwhile.

As for holding governments and big business to account here is one example (Disclaimer: In My Opinion) on an issue that indirectly affects most Americans in a big way : The action, enabled by anonymous open and free internet access. And here we are seeing the reaction: Two influential think tanks have seen the writing on the wall - two think tanks that have a history of being ahead of the curve in changes to government policy. Sure many here will argue that one is not related to the other in any way - that it was always the plan from the start - but that would just be unverifiable opinion, the same as mine is. My money is on the massive amount of new factual data enabling better informed decisions to be made - as should always be the case in a true democracy - something that would not have been possible if we did not have an open anonymous internet. Apparently, I am not alone in the above opinion, professionals who know better than most share it: "Afghanistan intelligence flawed, says ex-CIA man". All due to open anonymous and free internet access. Here's to apposing any attempt to messing with it by grubby little politician hands...

Re:I like the concept, not the implementation by HungryHobo · 2010-09-10 06:54 · Score: 4, Insightful · on WikiLeaks Set To Release Unpublished Iraq War Docs

It could also be the fact that wikileaks and wikileaks philosophy is far more popular in the US.

You assume that all those leaks are things which are bad for the US.

6,717 of the 9,719 documents under the US are in fact from the Congressional Research Service

Read this:
http://wikileaks.org/wiki/Congressional_Research_Service

Although all CRS reports are legally in the public domain, they are quasi-secret because the CRS, as a matter of policy, makes the reports available only to members of Congress, Congressional committees and select sister agencies such as the GAO.

Members of Congress are free to selectively release CRS reports to the public but are only motivated to do so when they feel the results would assist them politically. Universally embarrassing reports are kept quiet.

personally I'd consider that pile of documents to be an unambiguously positive thing for normal americans.
Releasing them was not an anti-american thing to do and it accounts for the majority of the US documents.
After all, you paid for the research to be done, you should get to see it even if it embarrasses some politicians.

Most of the remainder is accounted for in 2 or 3 large document leaks about the iraq war.
for example 1500 in one large leak.

So no.
wikileaks isn't picking on the US in particular just because the number is big and you were too lazy to drill down and see why the number was so large.
The US is somewhat overrepresented but then the US has a large population, leaking documents is respected to a certain extent and when it comes down to it the US is the richest and most powerful nation out there so there's going to be more to leak anyway.

Re:I like the concept, not the implementation by Somewhat+Delirious · 2010-09-10 04:11 · Score: 1 · on WikiLeaks Set To Release Unpublished Iraq War Docs

Yep, very cowboyish them folks at Wikileaks.

After all they are te ones who went in guns blazing using cowboy rhetoric.

They are the ones torturing...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/5395830/Abu-Ghraib-abuse-photos-show-rape.html
Using "National Security" as a guise to protect the guilty and deny justice to the victims...
http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/09/08/obama/index.html
Using political and economic presure to protect American war criminals from prosecution and force foreign governments into compliance with "extra judicial" measures...
http://www.wikileaks.org/wiki/CIA_Red_Cell_Memorandum_on_United_States_%22exporting_terrorism%22,_2_Feb_2010
And killing civilians...
http://cursor.org/stories/civilian_deaths.htm
For sport...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/09/us-soldiers-afghan-civilians-fingers

Wikileaks on INDECT by AHuxley · 2010-09-09 18:09 · Score: 4, Interesting · on EU Surveillance Studies Disclosed By Pirate Party

http://wikileaks.org/wiki/EU_social_network_spy_system_brief,_INDECT_Work_Package_4,_2009
Some deep ip, friend of friend of friend hunting software triggered by phrases, word use and IM connections.

Re:How come no one is so brave against Islamic... by chrb · 2010-09-08 06:49 · Score: 2, Informative · on Assange Asks For New Lawyer, Denies Blaming CIA

Assange is too pussy to ever take on someone like an Iranian mullah, because these guys would simply send someone to slit his throat and not worry about it.

And yet, Wikileaks has already leaked (supposed) secret recordings of Iranian security force discussions and documents from the Iranian Ammunition Industries group. Having said that, there may well be fewer leaks from Iran for several reasons: lower levels of PC ownership, no personal laptops or PCs in the military, increased monitoring of personal internet connections etc.

Re:How come no one is so brave against Islamic... by chrb · 2010-09-08 06:49 · Score: 2, Informative · on Assange Asks For New Lawyer, Denies Blaming CIA

Assange is too pussy to ever take on someone like an Iranian mullah, because these guys would simply send someone to slit his throat and not worry about it.

And yet, Wikileaks has already leaked (supposed) secret recordings of Iranian security force discussions and documents from the Iranian Ammunition Industries group. Having said that, there may well be fewer leaks from Iran for several reasons: lower levels of PC ownership, no personal laptops or PCs in the military, increased monitoring of personal internet connections etc.

Re:*Everybody* is guilty of something ... by base_chakra · 2010-09-06 10:43 · Score: 5, Informative · on WikiLeaks Calls For Assange To Step Down

Having read the article, I see a significant discrepancy between the headline and the text.

Jonsdottir is doing more than "commenting as an... activist". She presumes to speak in behalf of the WikiLeaks network, although her assertions are not corroborated on wikileaks.org.

Wikileaks.org is the mouthpiece of the organization. In the WikiLeaks spirit of full disclosure of primary documents, see the WikiLeaks blog post dated 21 August, 2010 (which, at this writing, remains the most recent).

Also, Jonsdottir cites no empirical "reason to think" the accusation is plausible. When evaluating statements in the media, we must all think critically rather than prejudicially. Look beyond the claims to the evidence.

Re:More important issues by tmk · 2010-09-01 07:09 · Score: 2, Informative · on Assange Rape Case Reopened

I did not find the exact quote I was looking for, but close enough. Here is a press release from 2009:

Wikileaks source documents are received in Sweden and published from Sweden so as to derive maximum benefit from this legal protection. Should the Senator or anyone else attempt to discover our source we will refer the matter to the Constitutional Police for prosecution, and, if necessary, ask that the Senator and anyone else involved be extradited to face justice for breaching fundamental rights."

Newspaper article from 2010:

“We're registered as a library in Australia, we're registered as a foundation in France, we're registered as a newspaper in Sweden,” Mr Assange said.

Links to Wikileaks "U.S. exporter of terrorism" by chrb · 2010-08-26 01:10 · Score: 1 · on Teacher Asks Students To Plan a Terrorist Attack

For those who haven't seen it yet...

Wikileaks - CIA Red Cell Memorandum on United States "exporting terrorism"

Telegraph article - CIA memo on United States as 'exporter of terrorism' published by Wikileaks

Re: by Anonymous Coward · 2010-08-21 05:39 · Score: 1, Informative · on Julian Assange Faces Rape Investigation In Sweden — Updated

It was leaked in Mar 2010: http://wikileaks.org/wiki/U.S._Intelligence_planned_to_destroy_WikiLeaks,_18_Mar_2008

Wikileaks Statement by stepdown · 2010-08-21 02:19 · Score: 1 · on Julian Assange Faces Rape Investigation In Sweden — Updated

From their blog... "We are deeply concerned about the seriousness of these allegations. We the people behind WikiLeaks think highly of Julian and and he has our full support. While Julian is focusing on his defenses and clearing his name, WikiLeaks will be continuing its regular operations." http://blog.wikileaks.org/2010/08/allegations-against-wikileaks-founder-and-spokesperson-julian-assange.html

Re:interesting but by Anonymous Coward · 2010-08-18 02:06 · Score: 0 · on Wikileaks Now Hosted By the Swedish Pirate Party

citation needed

http://wikileaks.org/wiki/Afghan_War_Diary,_2004-2010

How's that for citation?

Re:wikileaks neutrality by Anonymous Coward · 2010-08-17 12:34 · Score: 0 · on Wikileaks Now Hosted By the Swedish Pirate Party

When did Wikileaks ever claim to be "politically neutral"?

Looking at their :About page, the big buzzword is "transparency". Not "neutrality".

Re:Smart strategy, same outcome by M2Ys4U · 2010-08-17 10:37 · Score: 1 · on Wikileaks Now Hosted By the Swedish Pirate Party

This isn't Wikileaks' first leak, although it is the most (in)famous now, nor is it just about leaking documents from the USA. It has leaked documents from many different countries http://wikileaks.org/wiki/Category:Countries

A while back... by Anachragnome · 2010-08-17 09:28 · Score: 1 · on Wikileaks Now Hosted By the Swedish Pirate Party

A while back, in a post on a previous thread regarding Julian Assange shortly after the Afghanistan files were leaked, I posited the question, "Why is Julian Assange still alive?".

I had assumed that if he did indeed have dirt on the US military establishment he would be pushing up daisies in some backwoods of Virginia.

Now I know that he is simply a very cautious, very smart player that is using EVERYTHING at his disposal to protect himself and what he does. The people he is aligning himself with are NOT idiots and they themselves are protected by laws that other nations are somewhat obligated to respect (the repercussions of ignoring these protections would probably be worse then any damage leaks might cause--think Barbra Streisand). He now has political AND journalistic protections. And don't forget about the "Insurance" file. Not a fucking clue, and I am not going to begin to guess.
( http://leakmirror.wikileaks.org/file/straw-glass-and-bottle/insurance.aes256 )

I am starting to like this guy.

Re:Sold Out by Americano · 2010-08-15 15:48 · Score: 0 · on Julian Assange To Write For Swedish Tabloid

A democracy becomes nothing more than a mob if information is not released

And average people who know nothing about the context of a massive steaming dump of information dropped in front of them will often reach the wrong conclusion about the story that data tells. What's your point?

Have you actually looked at the type of documents included? Please explain how something like this gives anybody who isn't in the military or familiar with military reporting formats the ability to understand what's going on in Afghanistan - yes, this is an actual entry, taken from http://wardiary.wikileaks.org/afg/sort/type/enemy_action_0.html

"S3 REPORTS: SUMMIT 09 B CO ELEMENT SALUTE REPORT AS FOLLOWS: S- 3-4 PAX, A- SMALL ARMS FIRE, L-IVO 42 SWB 3910 1617, U-UNK, T-0415Z, E-AK-47."

So, I can tell you that this SALUTE report from the Bravo Company operations officer reports 3-4 enemy personnel targeting the unit with small arms fire at some grid location around 4:15 am GMT, equipped with what appears to be AK-47's.

Now please, tell us - is the war worth continuing? What value does THIS type of data have in civilians determining whether or not the war is worth continuing? What's that? You can't tell from this data?

Then tell me, what's the value of publishing this data, rather than someone who can understand it in context spending time analyzing it, redacting appropriate portions (i.e. informant names,locations,villages...), and writing a thoughful and scholarly article explaining what this data actually means?

Don't bother, honestly. by FriendlyLurker · 2010-08-13 22:04 · Score: 1 · on Having Too Much Information Can Narrow Your Focus

The REAL big picture of this story, from wikileaks: "The proposed PR strategies focus on pressure points that have been identified within these countries. For [Insert Country Here] it is the sympathy of the public for Afghan refugees and women.".

FTFA: "reality of what is happening — and what can happen — in a war that affects and involves all of us. I would rather confront readers with the Taliban’s treatment of women than ignore it.". Time Managing Editor Richard Stengel.

I will come back to the thread later, when there are several hundred comments to read.

Not much to write about an article claiming that we should be looking at the big picture while in reality deviously trying to obscure the real big picture by appealing to our emotions and instincts to care and protect. As many scientists need to know - It's hard to put emotions aside, and look at the raw numbers to see just who is hurting most and why. That is the only way to look at the "big picture", not this crap story which is doing the opposite.

BTW, here is another CIA Red Cell PR campaign, this time directed at Americans more than anyone else, appealing to the almighty $.

Don't bother, honestly. by FriendlyLurker · 2010-08-13 22:04 · Score: 1 · on Having Too Much Information Can Narrow Your Focus

The REAL big picture of this story, from wikileaks: "The proposed PR strategies focus on pressure points that have been identified within these countries. For [Insert Country Here] it is the sympathy of the public for Afghan refugees and women.".

FTFA: "reality of what is happening — and what can happen — in a war that affects and involves all of us. I would rather confront readers with the Taliban’s treatment of women than ignore it.". Time Managing Editor Richard Stengel.

I will come back to the thread later, when there are several hundred comments to read.

Not much to write about an article claiming that we should be looking at the big picture while in reality deviously trying to obscure the real big picture by appealing to our emotions and instincts to care and protect. As many scientists need to know - It's hard to put emotions aside, and look at the raw numbers to see just who is hurting most and why. That is the only way to look at the "big picture", not this crap story which is doing the opposite.

BTW, here is another CIA Red Cell PR campaign, this time directed at Americans more than anyone else, appealing to the almighty $.