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Guantanamo Officers Caught Modifying Wikipedia

James Hardine writes "Wikileaks reports that US armed forces personnel at Guantanamo have conducted propaganda attacks over the Internet. (The story has been picked up by the NYTimes, The Inquirer, the New York Daily News, and the AP.) The activities documented by Wikileaks include deleting Guantanamo detainees' ID numbers from Wikipedia, posting of self-praising comments on news websites in response to negative articles, promoting pro-Guantanamo stories on the Internet news focus website Digg, and even altering Wikipedia's entry on Cuban President Fidel Castro to describe him as 'an admitted transsexual' (misspelling the word 'transsexual'). Guantanamo spokesman Lt. Col. Bush blasted Wikileaks for identifying one 'mass communications officer' by name, who has since received death threats for 'simply doing his job — posting positive comments on the Internet about Gitmo.'"

7 of 598 comments (clear)

  1. Minor gripe by Shanoyu · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I would be hard pressed to call editing wikipedia articles to favor oneself "conducting a propaganda campaign", much in the same way that I would feel awkward referring to updating my blog as a press release.

  2. The incompetence of goverment.... by budword · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The incompetence of government is our only real chance at safely. These people are the reason I don't believe the government has covered up UFO's or a massive 9/11 conspiracy. They aren't competent. They can't find their own ass using both hands, much less scratch it without getting caught. The fixed ratio of stupidity to malice being constant means the damage these people can do will be sort term. (Short term being years though.) Much the same way the malice/stupidity ratio lead to the Nazi's being responsible for the very mistakes that lead to their defeat.

  3. Military prisons have a purpose by EmbeddedJanitor · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Yes, the military is a state within a state. There are military laws, military police, military prisons etc. There are even military driver's licenses (I have a tank driver's license even though I've never been in a tank - go figure). For example, there are crimes such as desertion which have no civilian parallel. This pretty much holds for all countries.

    But Guatanemo is being used outside of normal military usage which is probably why they also need spin meisters to make their case.

    --
    Engineering is the art of compromise.
  4. an admitted transsexual? by m2943 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    What is that supposed to mean? Fidel Castro is trying to pass as the bearded lady?

  5. Re:Eerie Similarity Between Washington and Moscow by prof+alan · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Q. Is Russia becoming more like the USA, or is the USA becoming more like Russia?

    A. Yes (to both.)

    As a Briton, caught between the two I am becoming seriously worried, both by Putin's increasingly strident attacks on anyone who opposes him and the USA's seeming inability to elect anyone other than a clown as president.

  6. My clear and unambiguous take by Master+of+Transhuman · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Anybody working at the Guantanamo prison deserves death threats.

    Fuck 'em.

    They deserve to be arrested, charged with war crimes, and sentenced to significant time in a military prison.

    The US is torturing prisoners who have not been formally and legally charged with any crime. That is a war crime. The responsibility goes right up to the Commander in Chief George W. Bush and he needs to be arrested and sent to The Hague for trial as a war criminal along with the complete chain of command down to the prison guards executing the orders.

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    Richard Steven Hack - This sig is TOO GODDAMN SHORT TO DO ANYTHING USEFUL WITH! MORONS!
  7. Just an idea... by Stormwatch · · Score: 3, Interesting
    I just had the craziest idea! How about trying an open, honest approach to it? Rather than mess with the articles, they should write in their "discussion" area. Say, something like this:

    Hello, I am [NAME], [MILITARY RANK AND CURRENT POSITION], and I believe this article is [BIASED / FACTUALLY INCORRECT / WHATEVER OTHER PROBLEM]; I would like to clarify that [STATE YOUR CASE, LIST YOUR ARGUMENTS, PRESENT EVIDENCE IF AVAILABLE]. If any further information is necessary, please feel free to contact the Army's Public Affairs division at [E-MAIL & SNAIL-MAIL ADDRESSES].
    Seriously! Wouldn't that get a lot more goodwill than those recurring fuck-ups?