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DDoS Attack On Wikileaks Increasing

tetrahedrassface writes "According to the Twitter feed for Wikileaks, the attack on the controversial site is increasing and is now at 10 Gigabits per second. In light of the recent release of highly sensitive documents and calls by many lawmakers around the world to swiftly find, extradite, and try suspected rapist Julius Assange for breaches of national security, one nation, Ecuador, has offered asylum."

919 comments

  1. If you didn't do anything wrong, by Ismellpoop · · Score: 4, Insightful

    then you have nothing to hide.
    At least isn't that what the government tells us?

    1. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by girlintraining · · Score: 5, Funny

      At least isn't that what the government tells us?

      The government also tells you to hide under your desk in the event of a nuclear attack.

      --
      #fuckbeta #iamslashdot #dicemustdie
    2. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Duck and cover.

    3. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by countertrolling · · Score: 1

      Well, if it's made out of lead, you should be safe, right? Desks are amazing. They also protect you from tornadoes. Of course that was back in the 60s. These new wimpy ones will crumple if you drop your pencil.

      --
      For justice, we must go to Don Corleone
    4. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Barrinmw · · Score: 1

      Which makes sense if you are on the outskirts of the blast radius because the flying debris is more dangerous than anything else at that moment.

    5. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Haedrian · · Score: 2, Insightful

      That depends, you also need to not share the name of someone who did something wrong. Otherwise you may end up on a no-fly list, or kidnapped from your country and taken to Afghanistan for torture.

    6. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by MightyYar · · Score: 4, Insightful

      At least isn't that what the government tells us?

      Right, because you don't have any embarrassing secrets. You don't tell friends things in confidence.

      Thanks to this leak (and to the idiotic flubbing of security in the first place), it will be at least a little bit harder for American diplomats to make friends who will tell them things in confidence.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    7. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by paiute · · Score: 1

      Well, if it's made out of lead, you should be safe, right? Desks are amazing. They also protect you from tornadoes. Of course that was back in the 60s. These new wimpy ones will crumple if you drop your pencil.

      Hell with that. I'm getting in the old Frigidaire.

      --
      If Slashdot were chemistry it would look like this:Cadaverine
    8. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Barrinmw · · Score: 1

      But what if it is filled with snakes?

    9. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      can you tell me your ssn, salary, bank details? how big is your penis and when was your last sexual experience?

    10. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by rwa2 · · Score: 1

      The government also tells you to hide under your desk in the event of a nuclear attack.

      The way my dad remembers, it went something like this: "In the event of a nuclear attack, at the sound of the klaxon please line up and proceed to the hallway in an orderly fashion, place your jacket on the floor, sit on your jacket, put your head between your knees, and kiss your ass goodbye"

    11. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by GigsVT · · Score: 2, Informative

      If you have enough time to get under a desk after you see the flash, you are on the outskirts, so it makes good sense to attempt to do so.

      --
      I've had enough abrasive sigs. Kittens are cute and fuzzy.
    12. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by cjcela · · Score: 1

      well, maybe the issue is that what is defined as 'wrong' changes with the particular interests of elected politicians at a particular time...

    13. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The best part about arguing with yourself is the make-up sex afterward.

    14. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Gerzel · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Suspected rapist? I thought they dropped that charge? Jeeze this article seems a little biased.

    15. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by dogsbreath · · Score: 1

      Snakes? You insensitive clod!
      Why did it have to be snakes?

    16. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by TheCarp · · Score: 4, Insightful

      And rightfully so!

      Would you tell something "in confidence" to someone who you expected to write down a detailed report of your statements, and send them into a system to analysed and passed around? Anyone speaking to a diplomat and expecting confidence was naive from day one.

      I might have some sympathy here if it wasn't for the fact that the same people who are bitching about privacy are the ones who would think nothing of the invasion of other peoples privacy for their own ends. Somehow spying is better when its public? Better when its the people who pretend to represent us?

      Turnabout is fair play, and thats all that happened.

      -Steve

      --
      "I opened my eyes, and everything went dark again"
    17. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by dogsbreath · · Score: 1

      We were told to get on the floor with our head at our knees and hands behind the head.

      This was grade 3 for me. Even at that age, kids are smart enough to question things. One wiseacre who piped up with KYAG was sent to the office for the dreaded strap as punishment for impertinance and use of the word "ass". Another brick in the wall.... ;->

    18. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Quiet_Desperation · · Score: 2, Insightful

      That joke is older than anyone posting here.

    19. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Frantix · · Score: 0

      Enough is enough! I have had it with these motherfucking snakes in this motherfucking fridge!

    20. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by TheVelvetFlamebait · · Score: 1

      No. It's what people tell us that the government tells us. I haven't seen one such message from the government saying otherwise. Feel free to show me otherwise if you can, but I highly doubt it's possible.

      --
      You know, there is a difference between trolling and pointing out the flaws in your reasoning. Just saying.
    21. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by GNUALMAFUERTE · · Score: 1, Funny

      No, the government tells you to hide under your desk in the event of a NUCULAR attack. Ain't the same.

      --
      WTF am I doing replying to an AC at 5 A.M on a Friday night?
    22. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      and if you aren't on the outskirts then it's just as well, you put your head between your legs and kiss your ass goodbye.

    23. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by mcgrew · · Score: 1

      You're correct; I remember "duck and cover drills" in grade school.

    24. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by slick7 · · Score: 1

      At least isn't that what the government tells us?

      The government also tells you to hide under your desk in the event of a nuclear attack.

      They also made sure that the bodies of boys would be piled on top of the bodies of girls, like bubble-wrap, sort of.

      --
      The mind conceives, the body achieves, the spirit manifests.
    25. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Richard_at_work · · Score: 4, Insightful

      And rightfully so!

      Would you tell something "in confidence" to someone who you expected to write down a detailed report of your statements, and send them into a system to analysed and passed around? Anyone speaking to a diplomat and expecting confidence was naive from day one.

      So you would have no issues with your medical records being made public then?

      There are plenty of reasons for diplomats to commit potentially inflammatory statements to paper and have them passed around - detailed foreign staffing reports on who they met, their personalities, comments made and perceptions drawn all help other diplomats to handle foreign contacts better and most certainly will contain information you would never, ever say to that persons face, despite it being 100% true.

    26. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by rakuen · · Score: 1

      There's a surprising amount of ground covered in the outskirts of a blast radius too. In the book Hiroshima, 5 of the 6 people the writer followed were within 1 mile of ground zero, the closest at about 4000 feet. You might develop health defects from being that close, but you can live with those. You can't live with a shard of glass sticking out of your throat.

    27. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      then what should we infer from the lengths to which government goes to fight transparency?

    28. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think you're missing his point. The justification for more invasive security has been exactly what he said, if you didn't do anything wrong, you have nothing to hide, and therefore no reason to want privacy. Our government insists they do nothing wrong, therefore they shouldn't have anything to hide. If they hadn't done anything wrong, this wouldn't be an issue.

    29. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by davev2.0 · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I will just make all those nasty comments you have made about your family, friends, co-workers, boss(es), and companies publicly available and email everyone you know , have ever worked for or with, work for or with now, or may work for in the future links to said comments.

      You have no problem with that, right?

    30. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      if you're lucky. it tells the majority of us to "duck and cover".

    31. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by couchslug · · Score: 1

      "The government also tells you to hide under your desk in the event of a nuclear attack."

      Do note that "nuclear attack" doesn't always mean "world-ending cataclysm". If you don't happen to be too close, "duck and cover" made perfect sense because doing nothing would get you a face full of shrapnel from the pressure wave. :)

      Atmospheric testing proved that limited nuclear exchanges are quite survivable. Countries can sustain tens of millions of dead and still survive, as demonstrated by conventional wars in the last century. Having just fought WWII, NATO Civil Defense types knew very well what mass death looks like.

      --
      "This post is an artistic work of fiction and falsehood. Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact."
    32. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Lilith's+Heart-shape · · Score: 0

      TheCarp isn't in a position of authority, and thus harms nobody by keeping secrets. Diplomats, on the other hand, make decisions that effect the lives of thousands, if not millions, while acting in their official capacity. As far as I'm concerned, public officials should not be permitted to keep secrets of any kind.

    33. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 1

      Would you tell something "in confidence" to someone who you expected to write down a detailed report of your statements, and send them into a system to analysed and passed around? Anyone speaking to a diplomat and expecting confidence was naive from day one.

      Which is exactly why the release of these diplomatic cables really isn't that big of a deal, IMHO. Most of them involve loose transcripts of diplomatic meetings that took place; these diplomatic meetings always have minute takers on both sides. The parties fully expect that each respective government apparatus is going to dissect and analyze everything that was said

      Go ahead. Read them. What you'll find should be no surprise: One cable talks about General Petraeus' meeting with Egyptian Intelligence Chief Soliman in Cairo, who told all present at the meeting that he would do everything he could to help Iraq's new government be welcomed into the Arab world and that his goals regarding Palestine were to undermine Hamas, support Palestinian Prime Minister Abbas, and that Egypt would be working closely with the Israelis to send humanitarian aid to Gaza. I'm sure no one expected anything different coming from Egypt. Duh. Nor did it seem to me that Soliman told Petraeus anything particularly secret. Nevertheless, this cable is classified as SECRET/NOFORN. Why? It reveals nothing that anyone couldn't find out by watching CNN or Al Jazeera, or, indeed, listening to the public statements of the Egyptian government.

    34. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by wealthychef · · Score: 2, Informative

      Little talked-about fact: Hiroshima was targeted to maximize civilian casualties. Our government said it was to take out factories, but we intentionally aimed at civilians, killing hundreds of thousands of noncombatants. It was not a new tactic -- before then, we aimed at civilians with firebombs. Terrorism is only terrorism when non-state actors do it, I guess! Yes, I know I'm off-topic.

      --
      Currently hooked on AMP
    35. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by nomadic · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Anyone speaking to a diplomat and expecting confidence was naive from day one.

      You're completely missing the point. When one diplomat tells another something, the expectation all around is that it will get written down and passed to the recipient's superiors. It is NOT expected that it will fall into the hands of someone like Assange who will release it to the world.

    36. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by mooingyak · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Diplomats, on the other hand, make decisions that effect the lives of thousands, if not millions

      Even with a harem I'd be surprised if any diplomats are effecting the lives of more a hundred or so.

      --
      William of Ockham had no beard. The most likely explanation is that it was chewed off by squirrels every morning.
    37. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by eviljolly · · Score: 1

      My secrets don't involve tax dollars and the welfare of a nation. If I was a public servant, I would expect my work to be public as well.

    38. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Ihmhi · · Score: 1

      Hide yo cablez, hide your dox, 'cause they leakin' errbody out here...

    39. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Local+ID10T · · Score: 1

      Suspected rapist? I thought they dropped that charge? Jeeze this article seems a little biased.

      The charges were dropped, and then reinstated... It seems Assange didn't get the hint to back off. Of course it is possible he is guilty, but that should not impact what Wikileaks (an organization he leads) does. Wikileaks is bigger than one person.

      --
      "You want to know how to help your kids? Leave them the fuck alone." -George Carlin
    40. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Suspected rapist? I thought they dropped that charge? Jeeze this article seems a little biased.

      Um. Last I checked, he has an ACTIVE ARREST WARRANT over that charge. That doesn't sound like 'dropped' to me...

    41. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by imakemusic · · Score: 2, Funny

      Indie was a slashdotter?

      Indiana Jones and the Basement of Gloom

      --
      Brain surgery - it's not rocket science!
    42. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      When you speak to a diplomat, you are speaking to a nation's Government as a whole. It isn't fair to expect that diplomat to NOT share what you've told him with the rest of the government. What you can expect is that your statements won't be shared with other governments.

    43. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Yaa+101 · · Score: 1

      I would go further and say: government, by eroding every day people's privacy for your little games you lost your right to have any privacy yourself. Now get over it and stop complaining.

    44. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Lilith's+Heart-shape · · Score: 1

      You underestimate the reach of diplomats: when they fail in their work, the politicians usually say, "Fuck it. Send in the Marines."

    45. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Phil(i+think) · · Score: 1

      wait.. so if i say man #2 in a police line up committed the crime i can be taken to Afghanistan of torture?

    46. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      The government never, ever claimed that the diplomatic corp did nothing "wrong". US diplomacy would be completely ineffective if they did not have to encourage close relationships with really nasty people. I dare say most world leaders are not nice people, but you still have to treat them as royalty.

      These people won't necessarily talk to you candidly if they think the conversation will show up on the web.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    47. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Tim+C · · Score: 1

      That only works when it's the good guys; some people will kill you for doing the right thing.

      Note that I am not asserting that the government is the good guys, just pointing out that e.g. undercover cops infiltrating gangs, agents infiltrating terrorist cells, etc most certainly do have something to hide.

    48. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by IndigoDarkwolf · · Score: 1

      Well I know that's what Facebook tells us...

    49. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Richard_at_work · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Yeah, good luck with that, its a ridiculous stance to take.

      You have essentially just said that diplomats should not be making any full and frank assessments of foreign diplomats, countries or situations. Assessments that may aid others in their work, but may equally insult the subject, or cause the subject to legitimately show insult or withdraw cooperation if said assessment became public.

      Take for example the revelation that China is growing weary of North Korea and could soon be in a position to cease supporting the countries government - that has the potential to seriously damage the current relationship between North Korea and China, causing North Korea to stop listening to Chinese suggestions or even back away from the negotiating table completely. In turn, China could make trade negotiations that much more difficult for American diplomats, because of the position they have been put in.

      The revelation can be entirely true, but it can still cause severe problems on many sides.

      Your stance of "that shouldn't have been kept secret" would have resulted in one of two scenarios - either the assessment from the front line diplomat doesn't get written because they don't want an international spat on their hands, thus analysts and diplomats further up the chain have less information to go on, and future negotiations are that much more difficult or alternatively the assessment gets written, becomes public knowledge and that diplomat gets expelled from China, or all further meetings are cancelled with that diplomat, and you have the aforementioned spat.

    50. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by mooingyak · · Score: 4, Funny

      You underestimate my grammatical pedantry.

      --
      William of Ockham had no beard. The most likely explanation is that it was chewed off by squirrels every morning.
    51. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by iluvcapra · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I think the real problem with the "Nuclear Drill" concept isn't that they make you do rather flimsy things that aren't liable to save your life -- even though it might. The problem was that a lot of people in society, in government and out, were content to live with the fact of a future nuclear war, believed in it as a necessary and practical means of offense against aggression, and used "drills" to try to normalize the expectation in young people and convince everyone that a thermonuclear war was just a really bad air raid and was a practical form of warfare, and not what it really was: mass genocide.

      --
      Don't blame me, I voted for Baltar.
    52. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Samantha+Wright · · Score: 1

      The definition of terrorism is a lot more consistent than that, methinks: it's not terrorism in the eyes of the people doing it, no matter who those people are.

      --
      Bio questions? Ask me to start a Q&A journal. Computer analogies available for most topics!
    53. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      As far as I'm concerned, public officials should not be permitted to keep secrets of any kind.

      On a theoretical and ideological level, I agree with you.

      As a practical matter, we (in the US) have no way to enforce this on foreign politicians. Forcing our diplomats to work out in the open while allowing others to work in secret puts us at a significant disadvantage.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    54. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by wvmarle · · Score: 1

      The latest that I know is that Assange currently is being prosecuted for rape charges. He was accused, then charges were dropped, later charged again. So as far as I know he is currently a formal suspect, even accused of the crime.

      And his defence: he says he has had consensual sex with the two women involved, however the women turned against him when they found out about each other. Sounds to me like a love triangle, the only special is that one of the people involved has a pretty high profile.

      This I read about in the newspaper quite recently, but info may be outdated again. I'll leave it to the relevant authorities to figure out who's right and who's lying. No matter what it's something that of course plays right in the hands of Assange's enemies.

    55. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by peragrin · · Score: 1

      If you read the situation and all the information out there apparently Julian dated a woman, slept with her. She thought there was a relationship there. a few days later he does the same with another woman, she too thought there was a relationship. They met each other a few days later and both realised they had been had.

      Not sure if it counts as rape under swedish law. However even if it doesn't it shows that Julian is a jackass who uses people for personal gain.

      If WikiLeaks kept up as it's name suggested and leaked corrupt documents then I would agree. There is very little in anything released that shows direct corruption only communications between governments. If those documents don't show corruption then why were they released? To satisfy Julian's own ego. Since it is his ego doing the driving then it dies when he can no longer keep it going.

      The Idea was good, the ego and money got in the way of doing good.

      --
      i thought once I was found, but it was only a dream.
    56. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by TheCarp · · Score: 1

      Us? I don't, personally, have any diplomats. The US government, which makes a show of stealing my money every April, may, but I don't. I also prefer not to use the term "We" to mean myself, and anyone in that group of people. They represent me, no more than I represent them.

      They are not my friends, not my representatives, and their interests and advantages or disadvantages are not my problem. However, I do applaud anything that helps me keep tabs on what they are doing with the money that they steal from me, but, mostly, because I wish they would stop doing much of it.

      Would that they abandon all this, and go back to paving my roads, I might change my tun on some of these positions. They show no signs of that intention. These cables definitely show that.

      -Steve

      --
      "I opened my eyes, and everything went dark again"
    57. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Haedrian · · Score: 1

      No no. Share the name as in "Have the same (or similar) name with someone who's wanted".

      Just ask this gentleman -

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khalid_El-Masri

    58. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Surely, it reveals that they were not lying...?

      I mean, I assume that my own government is lying to me much of the time and would be pleased to find out that actually they conducted themselves honourably when nobody was watching..

    59. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by u-235-sentinel · · Score: 1

      At least isn't that what the government tells us?

      Right, because you don't have any embarrassing secrets. You don't tell friends things in confidence.

      Thanks to this leak (and to the idiotic flubbing of security in the first place), it will be at least a little bit harder for American diplomats to make friends who will tell them things in confidence.

      Well with friends like that....

      --
      Has Comcast disconnected your Internet account? Same here. You can read about it at http://comcastissue.blogspot.com
    60. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Wyatt+Earp · · Score: 3, Insightful

      By that point in the war the Japanese government had outsourced most of the small arms, ammunition, explosive and tool production to homes.

      Hiroshima was headquarters of the Fifth Division and the 2nd General Army Headquarters which was the command of all of southern Japan, in addition to being a communications center, storage depot and troop assembly area for 2nd General Army Headquarters.

      So how exactly was it not a legitimate military target?

    61. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Telling your friends in confidence" is a really bad analogy for the present situation. This leaking has nothing to do with telling your friends something in private. If you want stuff to remain confidential, you make sure you always know who knows. You sure as hell don't put it in writing! The present situation, on the other hand, is the direct result of stupid policy. These are OFFICIAL documents. In other words, just plain old stupid civil servants screwing up. To blame Wikileaks for this is just hypocrite.

    62. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by TheCarp · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Well... how about this. If I went around breaking into other peoples medical records, reading them, and passing the info around to the friends of mine who I think could benefit from reading them....

      then I wouldn't expect any sympathy for me when mine are stolen and published.

      That is more what I am saying. These people use spies, work with spies, and sometimes simply are spies themselves. They engage in it left and right, I see no reason to have any sympathy for them when the tables get turned.

      Turnabout is fair play.

      --
      "I opened my eyes, and everything went dark again"
    63. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by gfreeman · · Score: 4, Insightful

      However even if it doesn't it shows that Julian is a jackass who uses people for personal gain.

      Even if he was married and cheating on his wife, he' still done no worse than many US politicians of the past decade. As a single guy, not in a relationship, I couldn't give a flying fuck who he sleeps with, and I scoff at any US politico who would make something of it.

      --
      Ceci n'est pas un sig.
    64. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by nabsltd · · Score: 1

      Frigidaire doesn't make airplanes or ancient temples, so you're safe.

    65. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Barrinmw · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I wonder if Japan was given the choice between falling into Soviet Russia's hands or the United States, which would they have chosen?

    66. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by gfreeman · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I will just make all those nasty comments you have made about your family, friends, co-workers, boss(es), and companies publicly available and email everyone you know , have ever worked for or with, work for or with now, or may work for in the future links to said comments.

      You have no problem with that, right?

      None whatsoever. But then again, I don't have a nuclear arsenal, I'm not beholden to 300+million people, and I don't have an annual budget of over $3.5 trillion.

      --
      Ceci n'est pas un sig.
    67. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by wealthychef · · Score: 1

      I don't know, but it's not relevant, because you know what, they weren't given that choice, and to them both would have sucked at the time. In retrospect, I'm sure they'd choose the US, who wouldn't? Russia is almost a failed state. I'm not saying we are a bad country, whatever that means, we have a lot of freedoms and greatness in our culture and our history. One of our national principles I think is not to murder innocent people. But sometimes we have done exactly that, and there has been no opportunity to review those actions in a clear fashion. We need to be cognizant of that fact and own up to it or we will lose credibility with the world and with ourselves.

      --
      Currently hooked on AMP
    68. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by superdave80 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      ...but we intentionally aimed at civilians,...

      I read through the section you linked to, and I saw nothing to back up your assertion. In fact, I found quite the opposite. Maybe you should read your own link:

      Leaflets were dropped over cities before they were bombed, warning the people and urging them to escape the city.

    69. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      To blame Wikileaks for this is just hypocrite.

      I can't blame both?

      It is irresponsible that such a leak happened, and it is an attack on the US that the information was published publicly.

      Obviously, we need to fix the broken "secure" system. We also need to arrest and try the people who stole and published the information.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    70. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, if it's made out of lead, you should be safe, right?

      That’s why Chinese-made school desks are a must-have in the event of a nuclear holocaust.

    71. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by commodore64_love · · Score: 1

      >>>we aimed at civilians with firebombs.

      The Japanese could have easily avoided those casualties. With one simple act. Don't attack the State of Hawaii. Every Japanese death from bombs was a direct result of that one stupid decision, therefore they have no one to blame but themselves.

      As for wikileaks:

      "If you have nothing to hide, you shouldn't mind cops searching your car, or your homes, or monitoring your internet/cellphone usage." - Congresscritters and presidents. Well the wheel has turned, has it not, and now WE are spying on you..... if you have nothing to hide Mr. Representative then you should not be fearful.

       

      --
      "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
    72. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by russotto · · Score: 1

      The government also tells you to hide under your desk in the event of a nuclear attack.

      The way I learned it in school was to get under your desk, put your head between your legs, and kiss your ass goodbye.

    73. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by dpilot · · Score: 1

      The flash is the last thing you'll see, so you'd better be able to find the desk or fridge by feel.

      It would be much better to see the flash lighting up the wall - over there.

      --
      The living have better things to do than to continue hating the dead.
    74. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by peragrin · · Score: 1

      Who says that the USA is behind it dumbass. Unless proven otherwise Julian just slept with two women who happened to get pissed off at him for what they believed was cheating on them.

      It very easily explains the on again off again prosecution.

      Oh wait it is innocent until proven guilty unless your the USA then your guilty of doing every bad thing in the world because no one else has the balls to stand up to bad guys.

      --
      i thought once I was found, but it was only a dream.
    75. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > So you would have no issues with your medical records being made public then?

      Stop saying this, it is not the same thing you liar.

    76. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      I might change my tun on some of these positions.

      You sound like the people in San Francisco when Bush was President - they all called him "your President" rather than "our President". But I digress.

      You aren't as in control of your life as you think. You were born purely by chance into the US. You ARE represented by these diplomats, whether you like it or not. Their success or failure directly impacts your life. You could have been born into Sudan, Afghanistan, or a number of other places where the local warlord would be "your" warlord, so it could be worse.

      That aside - conduct this mental experiment: Would you protect yourself at the expense of a stranger? Would you protect your family at the expense of another family? Would you protect your friends at the expense of other people? Would you protect your town at the expense of another town? Would you protect your county at the expense of another county? Would you protect your state at the expense of another state? Would you protect your country at the expense of another country? Would you protect your alliance at the expense of another alliance?

      At what point in that sequence did I lose you? I'm suspecting somewhere around protecting your state or county, right? You see how that line is arbitrary and different for everyone?

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    77. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by commodore64_love · · Score: 2, Informative

      P.S.

      Also it's pretty clear the Japanese never cared about limiting killing to just deaths. They killed lots of civilians during the war. It's a bit hypocritical for the Japs to criticize us for killing innocents in fire-bombings, when they killed about ten times that amount during the war. The name "Rape of Nanking" isn't just a colorful expression.

      --
      "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
    78. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by lgw · · Score: 1

      It's not just the flying glass: the heat from a larger nuke will vaporize flesh, but cardboard or whte clothing is a good defense (brief exposure to an amazingly high temperature radiant source). Duck and cover protects completely against that, and for a big nuke you'd have a second or two between the visible flash and the infrared flash.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    79. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by russotto · · Score: 1

      Not specifically in relation to nuclear war it isn't; I'm sure we have posters older than the A-bomb here.

    80. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by gorzek · · Score: 1

      Non-military personnel engaging in violent acts against civilians to bring about social or political change is terrorism.

      Non-military personnel engaging in violent acts against a foreign occupier or their own government is insurgency or rebellion (though will usually be called "terrorism" by the state.)

      Military personnel targeting foreign civilians during a period of open hostilities is considered warfare. Dead civilians are considered "collateral damage" if we are interested in paying lip service to the notion that civilians shouldn't be targets.

      Military/police personnel targeting their own citizens under government orders is state terror.

      There are situations where things get really hazy but I try to use the above as general guidelines to determine what is and isn't terrorism.

    81. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by gfreeman · · Score: 1

      Who says that the USA is behind it dumbass.

      I have no idea - certainly not me. But thanks for the ad hom.

      Unless proven otherwise Julian just slept with two women who happened to get pissed off at him for what they believed was cheating on them.

      It very easily explains the on again off again prosecution.

      Oh wait it is innocent until proven guilty unless your the USA then your guilty of doing every bad thing in the world because no one else has the balls to stand up to bad guys.

      And which part of that rant backs up your assertion of JA being a "jackass who uses people for personal gain"?

      --
      Ceci n'est pas un sig.
    82. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by wealthychef · · Score: 1

      I read the link. Nothing there disputes my assertion, it simply establishes that our bombings there killed hundreds of thousands of civilians. You know, even if you drop leaflets asking people to leave their homes (and go where exactly?), when push comes to shove you are still at best knowingly killing hundreds of thousands of innocents as "collateral damage" or worse, "means to an end." In fact, however, the cities were carpet bombed and the civilian casualties seemingly were intentional, they were means to an end, to "break the will of the enemy." Through terror. Well, I guess war is hell.

      --
      Currently hooked on AMP
    83. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by commodore64_love · · Score: 1

      >>>We also need to arrest and try the people who stole and published the information.

      I'd rather arrest and try the president (current and past), the congress, the various unelected administrators, et cetera. They have committed FAR more crimes than that one person who fed documents to wikileaks.

      --
      "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
    84. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Magic5Ball · · Score: 1

      > Turnabout is fair play.

      That argument morally permits any action by the US government, as long as it was previously used by another government against the US. In other words, there would be no grounds on which to condemn the US for anything disclosed about its war crimes, nor any would any shenanigans disclosed by the present disclosure justify any criticism since every other diplomat does the same things.

      You cannot just assume away a contradiction in that manner to justify a simplistic blanket rule for a complex situation.

      --
      There are 1.1... kinds of people.
    85. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by MichaelKristopeit201 · · Score: 0

      eye for an eye and everyone is blind.

    86. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by russotto · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Which is exactly why the release of these diplomatic cables really isn't that big of a deal, IMHO. Most of them involve loose transcripts of diplomatic meetings that took place; these diplomatic meetings always have minute takers on both sides. The parties fully expect that each respective government apparatus is going to dissect and analyze everything that was said

      Sure, most of them. But on the other hand, Arab countries urging the US to bomb Iran probably are quite upset that Iran now knows they did so.

    87. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Americano · · Score: 1

      Interestingly, that's also the premise behind the existence of wikileaks, isn't it?

    88. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by commodore64_love · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      >>>Not sure if it counts as rape under swedish law.

      No sleeping with two women is NOT rape. If a woman consents to sex, she consents to sex. It's not a crime when the woman is a wiling participant.

      >>>dumbass.

      You too.

      >>>Julian is a jackass who uses people for personal gain.

      No it doesn't. You are assuming guilt but the State has not proved it. All we have is a story about one guy hooking-up with two women..... basically the same thing millions of people do (especially in college). You reach a false conclusion based on nothing.

      >>>dumbass.

      Yep.

      --
      "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
    89. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by CrimsonAvenger · · Score: 1

      Our government said it was to take out factories, but we intentionally aimed at civilians, killing hundreds of thousands of noncombatants.

      Well, no. We caused about 66,000 noncombatant casualties at Hiroshima.

      And this must be offset by the fact that Hiroshima was removed from the list of possible conventional bombing targets so that we'd be able to get a better estimate of the effects of the atomic bombing (if your city has been bombed regularly for two years, it's hard to tell whether any given pile of rubble was caused by the A-bomb or one of the other bombs dropped there). Which means Hiroshima was spared probably half a dozen B-29 raids that would likely have caused moderately massive casualties (little know detail outside students of WW2 - there were more people killed in a single firebomb raid on Tokyo than in BOTH atomic bombings combined)..

      --

      "I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
    90. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sorry but you're equating a government/corporation/faceless entity with an individual. Are you just a cog in their machine?

    91. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Pentagram · · Score: 1

      Take for example the revelation that China is growing weary of North Korea and could soon be in a position to cease supporting the countries government - that has the potential to seriously damage the current relationship between North Korea and China, causing North Korea to stop listening to Chinese suggestions or even back away from the negotiating table completely.

      On the other hand, it could make Kim Jong-Il sit up and realise how little support he has from China and think more seriously about pissing any more people off. It might improve China's relationship with the rest of the world as they recognise that China, despite its own human rights violations, are not prepared to prop up a regime as unpleasant as North Korea's. "Damaging the current relationship between North Korea and China" might well be a good thing; it is difficult to predict.

    92. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by CrimsonAvenger · · Score: 1

      So as far as I know he is currently a formal suspect, even accused of the crime.

      No. What he is is wanted for questioning by the prosecutor. It seems he was told to stay in touch with the prosecutor in case they wanted him to answer more questions. Alas, it also seems he left the country instead. So now the prosecutor wants Interpol to arrest his ass and bring him back to Sweden to (a) answer some more questions, and (b) probably be arrested for fleeing the country....

      --

      "I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
    93. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Scarletdown · · Score: 1

      But what if it is filled with snakes?

      Simple. You just befriend the snakes by feeding them the mushrooms in the fridge you are sharing with them.

      Just hope that the badgers didn't get to them first.

      --
      This space unintentionally left blank.
    94. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Magic5Ball · · Score: 1

      That position legitimates government's erosion of the people's privacy.

      If that is your true belief, then please do not fight for privacy on my behalf.

      --
      There are 1.1... kinds of people.
    95. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's about living to your own standards. I don't agree with "Innocent people have nothing to hide" and so I'll try not disclose my every personal detail. But the people who tell us "Innocent people have nothing to hide" - they better f*cking start by being okay with all their laundry in full public view.

    96. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Bill,+Shooter+of+Bul · · Score: 1, Informative

      With a nuke's blast range, almost nothing is a legitimate military target. The initial damage is too great, the lasting effects too devastating. If it was purely a millitary objective ( which historical accounts assure us it was definitely not), then they would have been better off continuing the conventional bombardment.

      The use of nukes was really to cause massive casualties to demonstrate the inevitability of defeat if an all out assault with nukes were to be launched. It was aimed at getting them to surrender, not to disable the 2nd army headquarters, or reduce the small arms production.

      --
      Well.. maybe. Or Maybe not. But Definitely not sort of.
    97. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Jah-Wren+Ryel · · Score: 1

      Furthermore, like most things in the current data dump, well informed observers were already aware of it. Hell, even casual observers knew something was going on. After N Korea launched that missile over japan a couple of years ago there was a LOT of talk about how the whole event had seriously strained relations with China and lots of speculation that China might even take direct action - like assassinating some of the power players in the N Korean government that may have been responsible (yes, even in a dictatorship there are plenty of internal power struggles and political games).

      --
      When information is power, privacy is freedom.
    98. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by SETIGuy · · Score: 4, Interesting

      You're completely missing the point. When one diplomat tells another something, the expectation all around is that it will get written down and passed to the recipient's superiors. It is NOT expected that it will fall into the hands of someone like Assange who will release it to the world.

      If these were Iranian diplomatic cables would you still have a problem with this release by WikiLeaks? If the answer is yes, congratulations, you're not a hypocrite!

    99. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well don't worry - if you ask Hilary nice enough, you can just bug our fucking apartments and offices instead!!

    100. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      If I was a public servant, I would expect my work to be public as well.

      I have no problem with their work becoming public eventually - but many of the issues in this leak have to do with current events and negotiations that are in-progress.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    101. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      But the people who tell us "Innocent people have nothing to hide" - they better f*cking start by being okay with all their laundry in full public view.

      Okay, when did you hear a diplomat tell you this?

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    102. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      Are you serious? Can't a corporation have secrets? Or should the entire public know the contents of every email passed between engineers or every negotiation with a supplier?

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    103. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Wyatt+Earp · · Score: 2, Interesting

      If one is looking at Operation Downfall in the long term, and you can't assume that Little Boy or Fatman will cause the Japanese to surrender, then yes, destroying 2nd General Army Headquarters ahead of the planned invasion on 1 November 1945 is both a viable military target and aimed at getting them to surrender before you lose hundreds of thousands of men and kill millions of civilians invading.

      The lasting effects of Hiroshima were not that devastating, within a decade the city was rebuilt and was an industrial city, hell Mazda's Hiroshima plant survived the attack and was back to truck production by December 1945.

      So Little Boy destroyed alot of in home light industry, the 2nd General Army Headquarters, Fifth Division, but wasn't able to destroy all of the city's heavy industry.

      I recall in Richard Rhodes's Arsenals of Folly: The Making of the Nuclear Arms Race, that Hiroshima was calculated as needing 4-5 150 kt devices by US SIOP calculations.

    104. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by _Sprocket_ · · Score: 1

      Nevertheless, this cable is classified as SECRET/NOFORN. Why? It reveals nothing that anyone couldn't find out by watching CNN or Al Jazeera, or, indeed, listening to the public statements of the Egyptian government.

      At one point in my life, I was working with classified electronics gear. The frequencies the gear handled was classified SECRET/NOFORN. One could likely puzzle out those frequencies by analyzing the purpose of the gear and doing some signal intelligence while the gear operated (and hoping on operator error whlie you were listening). But none the less, the technical documentation that I had access to would outline the details in no uncertain terms and therefore were classified.

      Just because it's possible to figure out classified information doesn't mean the information shouldn't be classified (although the level of classification may be in question and SECRET isn't that high in the chain). I also like to point out that the US Military deals with a concept called EEFI (Essential Elements of Friendly Information) which is essentially operational security awareness that non-classified activity / information may reveal classified information.

    105. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The charges were dropped, and then reinstated... It seems Assange didn't get the hint to back off.

      The charges were dropped, and then reinstated... and then the cables got released. Assagne didn't get the hint? It seems to me that the government didn't get the hint to back off.

    106. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by TheCarp · · Score: 1

      You do have a real point here.

      That said, I am merely talking about what I applaud or what I have no sympathy for. Not everything that I applaud is necissarily, morally awesome. Not everything that I have no sympathy for is a horrible crime against humanity.

      As a general rule, I don't support compromising secrets and disseminating them.

      However, as a general rule, I don't support people going around and claiming to, represent huge numbers of people and make back room deals that affect millions.

      I don't consider the US government to be on "my side". They are the aristocracy of my country, and generally act to the detriment of me, and the people around me. (with few exceptions, like paving the roads, prosecuting fraud and violent offences)

      When Jeff Dahlmer died in prison, I wouldn't say that his violent death at the hands of other inmates was a righteous or good thing but... it was nothing that I was going to cry over either.

      -Steve

      --
      "I opened my eyes, and everything went dark again"
    107. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      People have a right to privacy. Governments don't.

    108. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by fyngyrz · · Score: 1

      No one has demonstrated that our country needs "protection" in the modern sense. We don't need to be in Iraq or Afghanistan; we don't need military bases in any country but the US itself; our navy doesn't need to be anywhere outside of 50 miles from our coast with the exception of Hawaii.

      If someone crosses our borders, they are our concern. If they don't, they aren't.

      Also, we should definitely stop attempting to be the world's "daddy."

      --
      I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
    109. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by secondhand_Buddah · · Score: 1

      The part of the story about the rape that has been conveniently left out, is that the woman was a journalist with an online rag. The online rag (I forget which one offhand - but google it if you are curious enough) subsequently was the publication to break the story and get all of the publicity.

      --
      Participatory Governance : The only feasible option for a real democracy, where everyone really does have a say.
    110. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by fyngyrz · · Score: 1

      Yes, but two eyes and two kneecaps for an eye, and the enemy is screwed, and you aren't. This is the argument for never aggress, but deal out overwhelming responses that are financially affordable. It is the justification for 99.99% of the sentences passed out by the US justice system as well. The harm done by years in prison far exceeds the harm done by most crimes. Not all, but most.

      --
      I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
    111. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by wealthychef · · Score: 1

      I gather from your post that you believe that military personnel targeting foreign civilians during open hostilities is a moral and justified act? That we should not pay lip service to the notion that civilians should not be targets?

      --
      Currently hooked on AMP
    112. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by fyngyrz · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It is NOT expected that it will fall into the hands of someone like Assange who will release it to the world.

      Well, you know, when I wrote my emails, I didn't expect them to be read by the government. But they did it anyway. Since they violated my trust and privacy and the 4th amendment without any legitimate authorization, I'm for pulling their pants down around their ankles in public and laughing at their shrunken little parts. Respect is not given, it is earned. And the USG has not been earning in this regard, it has been spending.

      So three cheers for Julian, and here's hoping for some real embarrassments in the cables. I mean, besides the ones already known, like the idiocy about trading Guantanamo prisoners for an audience with El Presidente.

      --
      I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
    113. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by wealthychef · · Score: 1

      I love your wikileaks comment. I am in favor of all leaks, revelations, and dissemination of truthful information. Yes, it means my privacy is shrinking, but as long as my leaders' privacy shrinks commensurately it's a net benefit. Cockroaches like to hide in dark crevices.

      --
      Currently hooked on AMP
    114. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by wealthychef · · Score: 1

      The Japanese are not criticizing us, I don't think. I'm calling the practice of killing innocents in warfare into question. If you think it's legitimate for us to firebomb the Japanese women and children to end the war quickly, then it's hard to argue persuasively that others should not bomb civilians for their own purposes, which seem equally compelling to them. At any rate, it's an important question, whichever way you believe.

      --
      Currently hooked on AMP
    115. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by wealthychef · · Score: 1

      there were more people killed in a single firebomb raid on Tokyo than in BOTH atomic bombings combined

      I doubt if the victims cared whether it was an atomic bomb or another bomb that killed them. Either way we targeted civilians, whatever the reason.

      --
      Currently hooked on AMP
    116. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Reziac · · Score: 1

      I think the OP is missing the inverse point --

      If I've done nothing wrong, why is what I did any of your business in the first place??

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
    117. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by kevinNCSU · · Score: 1

      Riiiiigght, because it was in the country's best interest to get people to be OK with nuclear war? That makes zero sense. Nobody in power gave a shit about school drills. The drills were the populaces way of feeling like they were somehow prepared to deal with a very real threat that they truly could do nothing about. When people are threatened they don't like to feel helpless, so if there isn't something they can do to meaningfully prepare they will often make meaningless preparations. Especially when it's local and state officials who are being asked to do something to prepare. The destructive power of the weapons were not secret, people knew exactly how terrible they were. But when your talking about one hitting you, you want to believe that maybe you can do something to survive.

    118. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Removing people from office who make orders breaching international law should be one of the top priorities at the moment. It will be interesting to see if Hillary will be successful in deflecting enough attention away from herself to escape unscathed. Then again, at best she'll fool the general public. I'm sure world governments will be less easily distracted.

    119. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Lilith's+Heart-shape · · Score: 1

      I would settle for an end to secrecy in the US government, since the US government claims me as a citizen and demands taxes of me. I'm not sure how they expect a cat living in a DARPA lab to pay taxes, though.

    120. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by minion · · Score: 1

      That may be, but just because the genie is out of the bottle, doesn't mean you can ignore that fact. You may wish nuclear weapons were never invented, but they have been, and we can't un-invent them, so now we have to prepare for their potential usage.

      --

      -- If we don't stand up for our rights, now, there will be no right to stand up for them later.
    121. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by GottMitUns · · Score: 0, Troll

      And Jews owned 90% of stores on Unter den Linden(Berlin's main street). Jews were 70% of lawyers and doctors. Owned disproportionate amount of property. Exploited German workers. So how exactly ridding Europe of Jews was not legitimate and beneficial?

    122. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Wyatt+Earp · · Score: 1

      And they were responsible for Germany's defeat in the First World War! They stabbed Germany in the back!

      Whatever, take the "Jews exploited good Germans" back to 1935.

      A German Jew owning property was simply a German owning property.

    123. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Tuoqui · · Score: 1

      Yep, hypocritically too... because governments exist only to make themselves more powerful thus they will do whatever possible. That 'whatever possible' is often reprehensible to the normal citizenry.

      --
      09F911029D74E35BD84156C5635688C0
      +2 Troll is Slashdot's way of saying groupthink is confused
    124. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by superdave80 · · Score: 1

      ...Nothing there disputes my assertion...

      Well, hell, Google's homepage doesn't "dispute your assertion" either. You might as well have linked to that instead of the Wikipedia page. The point was that your link didn't provide any proof to your "assertion" (which you had earlier claimed was a "little known fact")

      ...but we intentionally aimed at civilians...

      Quickly becomes...

      ...the civilian casualties seemingly were intentional...

      Looks like a whole lot of backtracking to me.

      ...even if you drop leaflets asking people to leave their homes (and go where exactly?)

      Well, here's a crazy little guess: OUTSIDE OF THE CITY UNTIL THE BOMBING IS OVER... EXACTLY!

      God, I love when people can't admit when they are wrong, even when their own quotes/links prove them wrong.

    125. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by The+Mighty+Buzzard · · Score: 0, Troll

      It's absolutely a moral and justified act. It isn't a government's job to protect the people of the world, it's their job to protect their people. If killing foreign civilians leads to a lesser loss of life on their own side and/or a quicker ending to the war, political leaders would be foolish in the extreme to not order them killed. Frankly, I want a leader who's willing to be a completely amoral fuckwad towards any outside entities in defending my nation and way of life. I want Vlad Tepes externally and Abraham Lincoln internally.

      --
      Violence is like duct tape. If it doesn't solve the problem, you didn't use enough.
    126. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by superdave80 · · Score: 1

      Either way we targeted civilians...

      No, we targeted military assets and war production. Unfortunately, those are generally in the area near civilians, and we didn't have fancy laser guided bombs in WWII. We were literally dropping explosives out of planes thousands of feet in the air and hoping that they hit something. It was the only option we had at the time.

      Do you really think that Generals were sitting around figuring out how to kill civilians? Or do you maybe think they were trying to figure out how to destroy Japan's capability to produce more planes and tanks? Which seems more likely to you?

    127. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What do you think diplomats do, you schmuck? I have no problem with people who want to believe in nonexistent utopian worlds in which we do not live. It bugs me when people prefer to assume the very worst of the USA and simultaneously assume that other governments are somehow more moral.

    128. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Malenx · · Score: 1

      See, that statement is really stupidly wrong.

      Respect can never be earned, it can only be given. Even if Mother Terresa herself walked up to you and told you in great detail everything she's ever done, it's still your choice to give her respect or not. You can never earn respect, that statement is worthless garbage.

    129. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So, your saying that the other million people that have and had clearance to access these "secret" documents were all superiors?

      Please provide proof of this.

    130. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by JoeBrockhaus · · Score: 1

      but that is all under the presumption that honest and open discourse should be dis-encouraged because someone not used to that is gonna get their panties in a bunch.

      what you're saying is that there is no point in trying to reconcile the consequences of something which ruffled the feathers of someone who should never have let their feathers be rustled in the first place.

      so you are defending people who are indoctrinated in the system of bullshit, to argue that the system of bullshit should stay in place, because at least we have 60+ years of reacting to said bullshit?

      "Hey, i know you don't want to cut off your arm for that broken fingernail, but this is what we've done for years. look at the plus side: at least we know how to cauterize your arm where we chop it off just above your elbow!"

    131. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by JoeBrockhaus · · Score: 1

      except you're telling an American. The superiors of American diplomats report to the people. At least they should. And THAT is the point.

    132. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by iluvcapra · · Score: 1

      Just because nuclear weapons are invented it doesn't naturally follow that kids should practice hiding under their desk every month. This was about making people feel comfortable with the idea of war, and giving them a way of telling themselves that a nuclear exchange was conscionable, because if they knew the complete truth of the force of the weapons, they might have never supported the Cold War.

      It was a way of giving people a thread of hope where none existed, and in that way it was wrong. If the Cold War had to be fought, better to fight it with the people being clear of the risks, and not by generals who talked in megadeaths and "acceptable losses."

      --
      Don't blame me, I voted for Baltar.
    133. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by iluvcapra · · Score: 1

      I don't see where we disagree.

      --
      Don't blame me, I voted for Baltar.
    134. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Right, because you don't have any embarrassing secrets. You don't tell friends things in confidence."

      Are you serious?
      You equate governance to relationships between citizens?

      Transparency of government (one of the pillars of democracy) does not apply to citizens, because they do not govern.

      Anyone who tells any diplomat anything because they think they're their "friend" is an idiot anyway.

    135. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by fyngyrz · · Score: 1

      If you think you "give" respect, you don't understand what it is. Respect arises internally as a consequence of your preconceptions, manifesting as an opinion of what another entity has done; it's not something you choose, it's something another entity engenders. This is what is meant by saying respect is "earned."

      Demonstrating respect is something else; but it's still tied to this: If your feelings are as I describe above, then you are, in fact, demonstrating respect. If your feelings are other, but you go through the motions of demonstrating respect anyway, you are engaging in sycophancy. Sometimes sycophancy may be forced upon you, as in a courtroom, where failing to display respect may result in violence against your person in the form of loss of liberty.

      In the case of the USG, many of the things it stood for that were respectable, it clearly does not stand for now. Personally speaking, I no longer feel any respect for it. And I'm not inclined to sycophancy. I associate that with politicians and lawyers... and I would consider it a tragedy if I was honestly mistaken for one of them.

      --
      I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
    136. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by DrSkwid · · Score: 1

      You stopped pretty early in the assessment.

      Rinse that situation through a few hundred iterations.

      --
      There are places where the networks are not touching,and there are places where they are-Boeing's Lori Gunter
    137. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      Transparency of government

      I'm all for that - just not in the middle of negotiations. Controlled disclosure of information after the fact is preferable to showing your hand.

      Anyone who tells any diplomat anything because they think they're their "friend" is an idiot anyway.

      Nevertheless, it seems to be a useful tactic. Idiots are found in government, apparently.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    138. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by wealthychef · · Score: 2, Insightful

      My link does not "prove me wrong," you hairbrained twit. It shows that we firebombed that city and killed many innocent people. I agree we sent them leaflets first, how nice of us. Then we dropped bombs on them because they had the audacity to ignore our leaflets. This killed them, which was intentional on our part. We are responsible for that. Your argument is that if I point a gun at you and tell you to move aside and you don't, then you get what's coming to you. Sure, maybe you're an idiot for not movie, but if I pull the trigger, then I murdered you. Now, we now must talk about whether my murder of you was justified, but it certainly was an intentional murder, right?

      --
      Currently hooked on AMP
    139. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Scrameustache · · Score: 1

      So you would have no issues with your medical records being made public then?

      If you'd been reading this site, you'd know it's frequented by a lot of people who do have a problem with the fact that our medical records are being traded and intercepted by corporations and governments.

      But this would be a red herring, if not for the fact that the cables show that it is an official government doctrine to try to obtain the medical records of people.

      Get it? We have a problem with this shit, but not with exposing it so that we can, as free people, do something democratically about it. Shadow governments and invisible rules aren't the world I want to leave to future generations. Stand up for your rights instead of defending the secrecy of those eroding your rights away.

      --

      You can't take the sky from me...

    140. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Scrameustache · · Score: 1

      Suspected rapist? I thought they dropped that charge?

      The thing about throwing dirt is: Dirt sticks.

      --

      You can't take the sky from me...

    141. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Patch86 · · Score: 1

      Just for the record, those cables have a normal circulation of over 3 million recipients (according to Channel 4 News tonight).

      That is, anything contained in those cables was already available to be read by more than 3 million people within the US government/civil service/military/etc.

      They were never meant to be "private". They just weren't meant to be read by us mere plebs for fear of a PR nightmare.

      I'm sure N. Korea is under no illusion as to their relationship with China. And China is under no illusion as to their relationship with N. Korea. But when they want to publicly back N. Korea, they can't afford for their non-public criticisms to be out in the public domain.

    142. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by internewt · · Score: 4, Insightful

      There's a phrase that one should never stoop to the level of an idiot, because they will go on to beat you with experience. So I am going to try and resist saying something about wishing the foreign civilians that you and your family are to most of the world are killed by not your government or military. You wouldn't be concerned of course, because it is moral and justified.

      Or is it that as long as it isn't your tribe being hurt, it is moral and justified?

      Attacking civilians is not justifiable. And once you do justify it to yourself, it is easy to just declare a section of your society some kind of non-citizen and wage a war on them. I wonder if you can think of any events in history that might correspond with the kind of thing you are advocating?

      --
      Car analogies break down.
    143. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Anubis+IV · · Score: 1

      Hear hear! An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth! Hammurabi said it best!

      ...

      Before we all start setting the limbo bar of morality lower to see who can stoop down to whoever else's level, maybe we should instead take the high road and ask ourselves what the best course of action is, rather than being so quick to cheer at their loss.

    144. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by internewt · · Score: 1

      Do you really think that Generals were sitting around figuring out how to kill civilians? Or do you maybe think they were trying to figure out how to destroy Japan's capability to produce more planes and tanks? Which seems more likely to you?

      It must be nice to only be able to see the world in black or white, where complex situations are either one thing, or one other.

      Such a flawless logic system wouldn't ever open you up to being manipulated into supporting certain things that might not actually be in your or your peers' interests, either. Oh no.

      --
      Car analogies break down.
    145. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by superdave80 · · Score: 1

      ...you hairbrained twit.

      Ah, the act of the truly desperate: name-calling.

      Hiroshima was targeted to maximize civilian casualties.

      but we intentionally aimed at civilians

      I'm still waiting with great anticipation for you to prove (or at least show some corroborating evidence) for these two "facts"

      if I point a gun at you and tell you to move aside and you don't, then you get what's coming to you.

      Your analogy is deeply flawed. I think the analogy you are looking for goes something like this:

      Police officer: Take cover, there is a deranged killer behind you with a gun shooting innocent people!

      You: What? I don't have to move! Screw you.

      [police officer opens fire to take out killer, and accidentally (note that it wasn't intentionally) hits and kills you]

      Was the officer guilty of murder because you didn't get out of the way? Of course not, you were an idiot for not heeding his warning.

    146. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by superdave80 · · Score: 1

      It must be nice to only be able to see the world in black or white, where complex situations are either one thing, or one other.

      How was that a 'complex situation'? How would you like me to simplify it?

      Such a flawless logic system wouldn't ever open you up to being manipulated into supporting certain things that might not actually be in your or your peers' interests, either. Oh no.

      What in the holy hell are you talking about, and how does it apply to anything we are discussing?

    147. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by kevinNCSU · · Score: 1

      That you think it was designed to make people feel the use of nukes is normal so politicians/army were free to USE nuclear weapons offensively vs people doing it to not feel helpless about the fact that an enemy state could easily do so to them. I'm disagreeing with your supposition that the government wanted to normalize the expectation of using nuclear weapons because they were just so gun ho about popping them off and seeing how the cards fell.

    148. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by cayenne8 · · Score: 1
      Well, no problem.

      We ALL know that after a nuclear holocaust there will only be two things left....

      Cockroaches and Keith Richards...

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    149. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by TheCarp · · Score: 1

      No, friends family is where you lose me. If you are going to put state and country in there, then you may as well add sports teams, and favorite colors.

      The problem I have is that "protect" is very vague and dubious. If it comes down to it, yes. You give me a binary decision and my wife lives over yours. My family survives over yours. I would expect you to make the same decisions. Not out of rationality or out of "rightness" but, out of the basic human impulse.

      I could never blame a man whose family is held hostage for anything that he does to save them (like the Irish banker whose family was held while he was sent in to work to withdraw money... leading to the largest Irish bank robbery in history), however, that doesn't make his actions right, it just makes them excusable, understandable. Its mitigating circumstances.

      In the end, most such arguments are just BS. If you make everything about protecting you and yours, then you can justify anything. What are you "protecting" from? We could protect our country from invasion with 50 well regulated militias with plans to go underground and form an insurgency if needed.

      Protecting yourself against a clear and present existential danger is one thing, aside from that, I find "protection" to be a rather flimsy argument.

      --
      "I opened my eyes, and everything went dark again"
    150. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Foobar+of+Borg · · Score: 2, Informative

      The Japanese are not criticizing us, I don't think.

      Actually, they are. The problem is that Japanese don't learn their own history, so most don't even realize that their army massacred and raped so many civilians in WWII.

    151. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by internewt · · Score: 1

      It's not just the flying glass: the heat from a larger nuke will vaporize flesh, but cardboard or whte clothing is a good defense (brief exposure to an amazingly high temperature radiant source). Duck and cover protects completely against that, and for a big nuke you'd have a second or two between the visible flash and the infrared flash.

      Really? IR from a nuclear blast doesn't travel at c, whereas the visible light does? Does this make the UV faster than c, and the gamma radiation arrive before the bomb has even been dropped?

      Your declaration of "fact" that doesn't correspond to physics seems to substantiate other comments in this discussion that drills like duck and cover were propaganda to make nuclear war more palatable by the general public.

      When a government starts to listen to its people about nuclear weapons, and hasn't and isn't trying to convince the people that the weapons are necessary, the weapons tend to go away. cf South Africa, post apartheid.

      --
      Car analogies break down.
    152. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by TheCarp · · Score: 1

      I never said other governments were more moral. I think they are all pretty worthless, I think that they all don't represent anyone but their respective countries aristocrats.

      Turnabout is fair play. It would be fair play if it was done to Iran, fair play if it happened to the DPRK, England, France, or, my very own US of A.

      --
      "I opened my eyes, and everything went dark again"
    153. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by gorzek · · Score: 1

      Don't read too much into it. I wasn't trying to place a value judgment on anything I stated, just trying to pinpoint how these words are normally used and in what context.

      I wasn't saying we should only pay lip service to the minimization of civilian casualties, just that it's the reality. We don't care if innocent bystanders get killed as long as we get the bad guys, too.

      Personally, I find war abhorrent and I certainly don't want to see any country's people get targeted or killed. But the world we live in doesn't permit such absolutes.

    154. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by wealthychef · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Yes, I spent two years in Korea and the brutality of the Japanese towards the Koreans was appalling.

      --
      Currently hooked on AMP
    155. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by lgw · · Score: 1

      Your declaration of "fact" that doesn't correspond to physics

      Nuclear explosions are complicated, and you don't seem to have the full story.

      The nuclear reaction in a big nuke doesn't last long, and most of the energy is released as X-rays and gamma rays. In a vacuum that's the end of the story: a nuke is mostly a hard X-ray source. But in an atmosphere, that radiation is absorbed by the air before it travels very far. The gamma rays make the air "smokey" and the X-rays actually make it reflective (at least to X-rays), so you see "the flash" while the thermal portion of the bomb energy is quite low, for a very brief time (a few ms) until a reflective sphere forms, and the temperature of the source is "only" a few thousand degrees.

      All of that trapped radiation then becomes thermal radiation. The time for this vaires from a few hundred ms for a small nuke to a couple of seconds for a big nuke. At that point the energy of the bomb is a more even mix of radiative and thermal, so there's a lot of infrared, and the tempature has spiked to millions of degrees. That apparant temperature falls very quickly as the blast grows, but during that brief time it's so intense that it can flash-boil the water in flesh, even though the total energy delivered that is a small portion of the energy of the nuke.

      So, yes, you see the flash before the nuke transforms into a multi-million-degree thermal source, which then cools as it expands and beyond a certain radius most of the energy is transported as an overpressure wave. Most of the damage a (large, airburst) nuke does is indirect - it knocks down houses, and then the debris catches fire and the fire causes most of the death, as well as destroying most of the buildings that survied the overpressure.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    156. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by BobMcD · · Score: 1

      However even if it doesn't it shows that Julian is a jackass who uses people for personal gain.

      Even if he was married and cheating on his wife, he' still done no worse than many US politicians of the past decade. As a single guy, not in a relationship, I couldn't give a flying fuck who he sleeps with, and I scoff at any US politico who would make something of it.

      Ted Kennedy, for example, was cheating on his wife, driving drunk, killed his mistress in a wreck and fled the scene - and he was a Democratic hero up until his death.

      Assange didn't use a condom. It rather pales in comparison.

    157. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      Protecting yourself against a clear and present existential danger is one thing, aside from that, I find "protection" to be a rather flimsy argument.

      And yet earlier you acknowledge that it is a basic human impulse.

      I'm not claiming that "state secrets" are right - I'm claiming that they are necessary. Excusable is the word you used. Yes, we could probably make the US impossible to occupy with your strategy. Would that provide a suitable deterrent, though? Would people still try even if it seemed impossible to us? Are you prepared to wage a gorilla war just on the off chance that someone miscalculates and attacks us even though it seems like folly?

      I don't have that risk gene. I like having a military large enough that countries don't dare even try - but if they did, they'd lose in a couple of hours or, at worst, weeks.

      Do I think we should be on these overseas adventures, protecting the world's oil supplies? No. I think we should try to become more self-sufficient, even if we have to pay more for things. But that doesn't mean we need NO diplomatic corps or that they don't have to play just as dirty as everyone else.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    158. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      Also, we should definitely stop attempting to be the world's "daddy."

      Alright, how far back do you want to go?

      Should we abandon Japan? Should we abandon Korea? Should we give back our Pacific territories? What about Hawaii - that was ill-gotten. So was most of the American West. Give that back to Mexico. Really we took most of the continental US from the natives - that should go back as well.

      Seriously. The reason we are all over the world is due to past actions - some bad, some laudable. If you want to increase our self-sufficiency and isolationism, I think I can get behind that. But that doesn't happen overnight, and it'll require a hell of a lot of diplomacy since we'd need to abandon our friends in Japan, Europe, and Korea. I can't believe that you think we'd be able to extract ourselves from the rest of the world without any secrecy at all.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    159. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by pev · · Score: 1

      Does this mean that you'll have no issue with me turning up at your house and punching you in the face if I notify you in writing first suggest leave your house to avoid this occurring first? Following your comment, if you dont leave that means that I didn't intentionally do anything and its your fault for not leaving?

    160. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by anonymousNR · · Score: 1

      Would you tell something "in confidence" to someone who you expected to write down a detailed report of your statements, and send them into a system to analysed and passed around?

      isn't that what facebook and twitter are for ?

      --
      -- It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. -- Aristotle
    161. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      I'll go further: People do not have a natural right to privacy either.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    162. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by ultranova · · Score: 1

      Would you protect yourself at the expense of a stranger? Would you protect your family at the expense of another family? Would you protect your friends at the expense of other people?

      Maybe. It depends on circumstances. And it could be argued that if you're protecting anything at someone elses expense then you've already lost, since they and their friends will certainly want vengeance.

      Would you protect your town at the expense of another town? Would you protect your county at the expense of another county? Would you protect your state at the expense of another state?

      No, why would I? It isn't "my" town/county, it's simply a town/county I happen to live in currently.

      Would you protect your country at the expense of another country? Would you protect your alliance at the expense of another alliance?

      Depends. Is the country I live in, or the alliance it belongs to, better - such as more free or more open, for example - than the other side? If not, why would I hamper the development of human race, when it's so much easier to simply move there?

      At what point in that sequence did I lose you?

      Right at the beginning, where you began making enemies for short-term gain.

      I'm suspecting somewhere around protecting your state or county, right? You see how that line is arbitrary and different for everyone?

      Not really: once you're beyond "your friends" we're talking about taking sides in a fight between two bunch of strangers.

      But do you see how one might question the underlaying assumption of this thought experience?

      --

      Forget magic. Any technology distinguishable from divine power is insufficiently advanced.

    163. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by ocdscouter · · Score: 1

      Sounds to me like Duck and smother.

    164. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by The+Mighty+Buzzard · · Score: 1

      As long as it is necessary for the safety and well-being of any group I am a member of, scaling from family all the way up to nation, I'm fine with whatever will best solve the problem. Best meaning quickest, most thoroughly, and with least harm to my group. And yes, if instilling terror into the opposition will break their will to fight, I'm fine with however it's best accomplished.

      Yes, the long list of exactly that working over the history of the world is precisely why I'm fine with it. Not attacking civilians is an extremely modern notion and it's made wars drag on far longer than they should have had to. The earlier mentions of the nuclear bombing of Japan are an excellent example. Estimated casualties for having to force them to surrender with conventional warfare were over a million. Bomb casualties were under half of that. So what if they were civilians? Their deaths saved hundreds of thousands of lives on both sides, ours most importantly. I wouldn't lose a moment of sleep ordering the exact same thing again in Truman's position.

      --
      Violence is like duct tape. If it doesn't solve the problem, you didn't use enough.
    165. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by msi · · Score: 1

      Bollox all the latest wiki leak tells us is that diplomats are doing their jobs and they are not the most polite when drafting reports.

    166. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      No, why would I? It isn't "my" town/county, it's simply a town/county I happen to live in currently.

      Many, many people feel that their town is a part of them. Hell, ever meet anyone from Texas? They feel that way about their high school football team. Southerners once took up arms just to defend "the South". I dare say you are an outlier.

      Right at the beginning, where you began making enemies for short-term gain.

      And yet your impulse would be to do so, even if you knew intellectually that it wouldn't necessarily work out.

      But do you see how one might question the underlaying assumption of this thought experience?

      It's something that I struggle with, so I'm not particularly fond of this thought experiment. On the one side, I feel like I'm a humanist and everyone should have the same rights. On the other hand, I won't defend people's rights in other countries for no reason other than they are in another country. People live in conditions that we simply would not tolerate in, say, Sudan, and yet we just watch. Asking "why" leads to no consistent or comfortable ideology - it runs into pragmatism and our ability to toss ideology aside. It becomes a game of "where do you draw the line"?

      Think about it - if a Warlord was operating in New Mexico, we would have no qualms whatsoever sending in armed forces to restore democracy. Yet this happens right across an imaginary line we call a "border"... a border which we moved with probably illegitimate force in the 19th century. Why is this border so significant? How does that work into any consistent ideology? Are the people 500 yards away less human? I can't be a humanist, can I? Is the concept of property so powerful that it overrides our natural rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    167. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by c0lo · · Score: 1

      At least isn't that what the government tells us?

      Thanks to this leak (and to the idiotic flubbing of security in the first place), it will be at least a little bit harder for American diplomats to make friends who will tell them things in confidence.

      And because of this, what wrong will happen? Diplomats not being able to effectively spy on UN officials?

      And please don't try to say "You don't understand a shit about the diplomacy". It just may happen that I know enough to think: "I don't like it and it is not how I think the diplomacy need to be done in the third millennium"

      --
      Questions raise, answers kill. Raise questions to stay alive.
    168. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't know why they didn't teach even more important survival tactics, like how to scavenge for rats and properly cook human flesh after there's no food left.

    169. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by c0lo · · Score: 1

      Yeah, good luck with that, its a ridiculous stance to take. You have essentially just said that diplomats should not be making any full and frank assessments of foreign diplomats, countries or situations. Assessments that may aid others in their work, but may equally insult the subject, or cause the subject to legitimately show insult or withdraw cooperation if said assessment became public.

      And this is maybe how the world may get better, by stating clear what positions you stand for? Maybe it won't necessary follow as an outcome, but I think is not impossible... But it is undeniable that if you don't try, you need a sheer luck for this to happen.

      Take for example the revelation that China is growing weary of North Korea and could soon be in a position to cease supporting the countries government - that has the potential to seriously damage the current relationship between North Korea and China, causing North Korea to stop listening to Chinese suggestions or even back away from the negotiating table completely.

      May happen, may not. Would it happen, what do you suppose North Korea will do?

      In turn, China could make trade negotiations that much more difficult for American diplomats, because of the position they have been put in.

      Should I understand the existence of the "2 dollars shop" (or Wall-Mart) is more precious to you than what the people of North Korea experience now? If positive, forgive me if I'll to reject the moral grounds you use to justify the needs of secrecy in diplomacy, while still admitting that some pragmatic basis may exists.
      Would you advice the diplomats in China to put this pragmatic justification on the negotiations table? If not, why not?

      Your stance of "that shouldn't have been kept secret" would have resulted in one of two scenarios - either the assessment from the front line diplomat doesn't get written because they don't want an international spat on their hands,

      Might or might not happen. Suppose the report from the diplomat would not have been written, how is this situation worse/better than the one we are already in?

      or all further meetings are cancelled with that diplomat, and you have the aforementioned spat.

      With US the highest buyer of wholesale cheap work-hours? Somehow, I don't think the spat is inevitable... but I admit I may be wrong.
      However, can you demonstrate it will inevitable happen, or it is you just fear it would happen?

      --
      Questions raise, answers kill. Raise questions to stay alive.
    170. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by c0lo · · Score: 1

      Which is exactly why the release of these diplomatic cables really isn't that big of a deal, IMHO. Most of them involve loose transcripts of diplomatic meetings that took place; these diplomatic meetings always have minute takers on both sides. The parties fully expect that each respective government apparatus is going to dissect and analyze everything that was said

      Sure, most of them. But on the other hand, Arab countries urging the US to bomb Iran probably are quite upset that Iran now knows they did so.

      So that Iran may now think twice before being so defiant on their position?

      --
      Questions raise, answers kill. Raise questions to stay alive.
    171. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Anonamused+Cow-herd · · Score: 2, Insightful

      And 90% of stores in America are owned by Americans. 90% of lawyers and doctors in America are American. Americans own a disproportionate amount of property to non-Americans in America, and exploit non-Americans.

      So how exactly is ridding North America of Americans not legitimate and beneficial?

      Brilliant logic, Watson.

      --
      -----[0_o]-----
      We are not amused.
    172. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Anonamused+Cow-herd · · Score: 1

      Nevermind the fact that they dropped leaflets daily all over war zones to try to incite the populace to riot, leave, etc.

      If you had 40 leaflets dropped on you in a month telling you to surrender, do you think the 41st one telling you to leave your home would convince you to do just that?

      --
      -----[0_o]-----
      We are not amused.
    173. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you're indoors, you won't be blinded by the flash. Glass blocks UV.

    174. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by skotay · · Score: 1

      At least isn't that what the government tells us?

      The government also tells you to hide under your desk in the event of a nuclear attack.

      It's easier to count the bodies if they're all under desks.

    175. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Jarik_Tentsu · · Score: 1

      One of the government's jobs is to protect its citizens. It's very possible that in doing this job, they've also done various things that they *do* want to hide. It's not surprising that they want to cover it up, nor do I blame them for trying to (of course, I also give two thumbs up to WikiLeaks for exposing it).

      Another thing to note is there is also data there that will give advantages to other nations too. Of course they have something to hide. It's not *always* a terrible thing.

    176. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by fyngyrz · · Score: 1

      If you want to increase our self-sufficiency and isolationism

      Yes, I'd very much like that. I'm all for trade. I'm not for military pacts. You want to buy weapons, maybe we'll sell them to you, if we like you. Maybe we won't. You don't want to buy what we have to offer? Fine. You want to buy non-weapons (wheat, for example), we'll sell it to you no matter who you are, presuming we have it to spare and your price is adequate. That kind of thing. Likewise, when we buy stuff, we should pick and choose our vendors carefully. This is the *most* pressure we should be putting on anyone at this point in time, unless, of course, they attempt to cross our borders or directly attack our military, in which case that's why we have a military in the first place, to deal with such events. I'm not against bombing he living hell out of someone if they attack us, either, but I do think that land wars are a very bad idea, and the only land that is worth such an effort to us is this land right here.

      Alright, how far back do you want to go?

      I don't want to "go" anywhere. I want our service people to come home and defend the lands we now own. I don't want them defending Taiwan or Japan or Iraq or Sudan or Kuwait. Those countries need to come to terms with others on their own merits, or lack thereof. You can make the point that China is *really* not happy with Taiwan. In return, I would make the point that I *really* don't care. We need to get our own house in order, and spending the enormous amount of money we do on foreign military support and aggression, as well as foreign aid, is not helping. The more isolationist we are, the more jobs we'll generate; the more jobs we generate, the healthier our economy will become; the healthier the economy becomes, the healthier, wealthier and better educated the citizens will become. That's the USG's only valid job aside from border defense: seeing to it that this country, not other countries, is run as well as possible.

      I can't believe that you think we'd be able to extract ourselves from the rest of the world without any secrecy at all.

      I think that we should try to extract ourselves, that's all, secrecy not really being an issue in that regard. I think that as long as we don't try, the country is operating in a highly immoral and unethical fashion. But my primary concern is that we are operating in a way that is severely disadvantageous to our citizens, particularly with regard to the constitutional basis for government and liberty. My general point about secrecy is that since the USG doesn't respect the privacy of its citizens, I am only amused when it characterizes a breach of its own privacy as an "attack." I always think it's funny when deep hypocrisy is so blatantly exposed.

      --
      I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
    177. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      Extracting ourselves from our obligations in Japan, Korea, and Europe might be harder than you think. We signed up to treaties, so some serious diplomatic wrangling would be needed to extricate ourselves.

      And you can't really have free trade without a strong military. We can't have merchant ships just getting hijacked - we have to be able to project power to protect our commerce. Then you need diplomats to negotiate ports for your ships and such... Free trade agreements need to be actively negotiated, and you might be negotiating with people who are disingenuous. Then there are things like fishing quotas, where things that happen in foreign or international waters can affect your ability to fish. Pollution controls... the list of needs for diplomacy goes on an on, even in the total absence of military power. It's just not possible to completely shrink from the world.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    178. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by mldi · · Score: 1

      It should be noted that the bomb dropped on Hiroshima was a pea shooter compared to something that would be used today. If you were within 1 mile of a blast from one of today's nukes, I doubt you'd have much to say about it afterward.

      --
      If you aren't suspicious of your government's actions, you aren't doing your job as a responsible citizen.
    179. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by mldi · · Score: 1

      At least isn't that what the government tells us?

      The government also tells you to hide under your desk in the event of a nuclear attack.

      They also made sure that the bodies of boys would be piled on top of the bodies of girls, like bubble-wrap, sort of.

      Sounds like a good time to me!

      --
      If you aren't suspicious of your government's actions, you aren't doing your job as a responsible citizen.
    180. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      And because of this, what wrong will happen?

      I think it is pretty clear that their jobs will be harder if they cannot speak frankly with foreign diplomats and leaders. If China won't confide in us that they would like to see Korea united, then we have to guess. If the Arab leaders won't be frank about Iran, then we have to guess.

      Guessing leads to mistakes. Diplomatic mistakes can lead to war.

      It sure is going to be hard to close Guantanamo now, that much is probably certain.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    181. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      At least isn't that what the government tells us?

      Right, because you don't have any embarrassing secrets. You don't tell friends things in confidence.

      Thanks to this leak (and to the idiotic flubbing of security in the first place), it will be at least a little bit harder for American diplomats to make friends who will tell them things in confidence.

      These kinds of secrets aren't exactly like the time you masturbated to tranny porn.

    182. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by c0lo · · Score: 1

      I think it is pretty clear that their jobs will be harder if they cannot speak frankly with foreign diplomats and leaders. If China won't confide in us that they would like to see Korea united, then we have to guess. If the Arab leaders won't be frank about Iran, then we have to guess.

      Guessing leads to mistakes. Diplomatic mistakes can lead to war.

      (Is it that you are really afraid or just spreading fear? Never mind, I'll assume the first)

      If China wants really bad really bad to see Korea reunited, they may make their opinion public and see who jumps in to help them, I'm sure UN will be pleased to hear. Why would US need to make mistakes for something that China wants but it doesn't say? (or, why would US need to bomb Iran because the Arabs wants so?)

      Take the above as a counter-example for not accepting your post as a real demonstration that leaking diplomatic documents necessary leads to war. In the third millennium one can hope the war is a matter serious enough to be actually considered and discussed before going into (even GWB and his COW have - at least formally - done so; true with the - most probable phony - argument of WMD in Iraq, but nevertheless even they have done it).

      It sure is going to be hard to close Guantanamo now, that much is probably certain.

      And that's somehow related with Wikileaks and/or Assange... Hmmmm... I might be exceedingly obtuse today, I don't follow. Can you please elaborate?

      --
      Questions raise, answers kill. Raise questions to stay alive.
    183. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If the Arab leaders won't be frank about Iran, then we have to guess.

      Oh mighty USA... are they going to bomb Iran now only because the Arab leaders frankly admitted so?
      Somehow, methinks the contrary... they'll be more reticent now, on the fear that the world will think them as being the Arab leaders puppet.

      Possibly... just possibly... this is how an invasion of another country was averted? (can't stop to wonder, wasn't the leak on purpose, then? Just to make the world aware of the awful net of irreconcilable interest? And cool the overheated minds for a while? Now, this would be a real piece of diplomacy!)

    184. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by RewriteQuran · · Score: 0

      So you would have no issues with your medical records being made public then?

      Who would be interested in my medical records unless I wanted to cheat somebody e.g. Insurance companies

      --
      Govt must constitute a panel to rewrite US Constitution and Quran
    185. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Attacking civilians is not justifiable.

      Might makes right. If anything it should be even nastier. The murdering and raping of civilians should be not only common, but expected. And taxes should be near 90%. A "nice" war will be fought often. Unless total annihilation is a probability, people will still call for their children to go wage it.

    186. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      An interesting read.

      I first heard about Truman's diary containing references to 'Jap please for peace' back in high school. Imagine my surprise when I got my hands on reproductions showing exactly that awareness before the bombs were dropped.

      The link above includes information on the criteria for choosing a site, the fact that many parties were aware Japan wanted to negotiate terms of surrender, and the fact that certain leaders were afraid that the conventional bombing campaign would rob The Bomb of its full glory by causing civvies to flee ahead of time.

      Granted, there are certainly many more details that we cannot know at this late date, but it looks pretty damning for the official story of why we did the deed.

      IIRC the Japanese were willing to completely disarm if we would only guarantee safety and a ceremonial title for the Imperial family. We could have worked with that... if that was in fact the case.

    187. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Please just dont kill Pakistanis :(
      We are normal humans, living and eating like you.
      We have children just like you do
      We have dreams just like you do
      We are not terrorists, we are not terrorists :(

    188. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by vegiVamp · · Score: 1

      You'll be finding very soon that your Abraham Lincoln is really Vlad Tepes with a stovepipe hat and a fake beard.

      --
      What a depressingly stupid machine.
    189. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by RockDoctor · · Score: 1

      Which makes sense if you are on the outskirts of the blast radius because the flying debris is more dangerous than anything else at that moment.

      Having grown up in the outer parts of the blast radius for a megaton strike on one foreign missile base, and well within the comparable blast radius for another foreign missile base, we always expected (still do expect, when I visit the family) that if we registered our flash-shadow being burned into the wall in front of us, then we'd got a couple of seconds before the next bomb went off in front of us, and that we were about to see what evaporating concrete looks like. In either case, we'd be dead from the radiation, but just waiting to drop.

      These days I only really have to worry about a blast from one direction. Unfortunately that blast will be trying to dig out a military station that was built into a 30m deep granite quarry, then roofed over. That's going to be a big one.

      Nuclear war doesn't worry me - it's not going to hurt much or take very long to die.

      --
      Birds are not dinosaur descendants;birds are dinosaurs, for all useful meanings of "birds", "are" and "dinosaurs"
    190. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      Possibly... just possibly... this is how an invasion of another country was averted?

      In Bush's new book, he implies that a military attack was averted because the best intelligence of the time said that Iran had halted their nuclear weapons program.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    191. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by slick7 · · Score: 1

      At least isn't that what the government tells us?

      The government also tells you to hide under your desk in the event of a nuclear attack.

      They also made sure that the bodies of boys would be piled on top of the bodies of girls, like bubble-wrap, sort of.

      Sounds like a good time to me!

      It's no fun under tons of concrete.

      --
      The mind conceives, the body achieves, the spirit manifests.
    192. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      In the third millennium one can hope the war is a matter serious enough to be actually considered and discussed before going into

      Hold on while I get off the floor. I've seen no indication that people are more reluctant to go to war, just because Christ died 2000 years ago. People are exactly the same as they were back then. The US alone is fighting one war and wrapping up another. In Iraq, we went to war because of faulty intelligence. We had to rely on intelligence because they weren't putting their cards on the table - very similar to the problem I was describing.

      Can you please elaborate?

      Yes. You can't close Guantanamo until the prisoners are all gone. Some countries don't want their foreign nationals back. Diplomacy was being used to try to find homes for these prisoners, and now that the negotiations have been laid bare it will be harder to strike deals with countries to take these prisoners.

      And no, they can't live in the US. That would be political suicide for Obama, and I'm not sure what it would accomplish other than narrowly honoring a campaign promise.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    193. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by rwa2 · · Score: 1

      ... Don't forget the jackets...

      my aunt always wondered what was so important about the sitting-on-the-jackets part of the drills. Even when she was little, she didn't think the nuclear winter would be that kind of winter. But hey, she was more than ready to shield them with her life for The Cause.

    194. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by TheCarp · · Score: 1

      That risk gene? See, I just don't see why just anything you can imagine is suddenly a credible risk. Who is going to invade? Canada? China?

      Meh, I don't think its actually that likely to happen. It just seems like a stupid thing to worry about to me. Certainly a stupid thing to let bankrupt the country spending 1/3 of the yearly budget (not accounting for the active wars) on.

      You want to talk about risks, I think having the "National Retirement Fund" (thats social security) be a "Trust Fund" that consists of a few IOUs from the people who are supposed to be keeping it... now thats risk.

      --
      "I opened my eyes, and everything went dark again"
    195. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So you have no issue with the government reading your medical records, email, bank statements, and anything else personal that you have sent over the Internet without a warrent. They are everyday reading your personal shit.

      Yes I have a problem with the government and I am glad these documents have been leaked. The government was never granted privacy, WE THE PEOPLE were!

      You young folks forget how the Pentagon Papers helped bring an end to the war in Vietnam and helped bring the People to see that their government wasn't to be trusted. We needed this leak.

    196. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      See, I just don't see why just anything you can imagine is suddenly a credible risk.

      Human history is full of examples. We really shouldn't be having this discussion. Twice in just the last century, the US went into isolationism only to end up participating in a world war.

      It just seems like a stupid thing to worry about to me. Certainly a stupid thing to let bankrupt the country spending 1/3 of the yearly budget (not accounting for the active wars) on.

      See, I think differently. Defense is one of the few uncontested roles of a federal government. We really NEED a government for defense. It's up there with the civil and criminal judicial systems. Everything else (regulations, social welfare programs, etc) is a matter of preference of the electorate.

      You want to talk about risks, I think having the "National Retirement Fund" (thats social security) be a "Trust Fund" that consists of a few IOUs from the people who are supposed to be keeping it... now thats risk.

      It's not a risk - it's a scam :)

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    197. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by TheCarp · · Score: 1

      However examples don't prove anything. If anything, the examples show that the fighting man on each side has more in common with the men he is tasked to murder than for the officer corps above him. Just because something happened a certain way in the past, doesn't mean that we are destined to see it again in the future, or that the sequence of events past shows any sort of causation.

      As for defense being an uncontested role, sure. We may even (I am not convinced) need a government for defense (existence doesn't prove necessity) however, that doesn't mean that anything you want to do to defend from whatever imagined threat your tin foil hat tells you to be afraid of. We have been letting the tin foil hats set policy since the beginning of the cold war.

      Now maybe SS is more scam than risk, but its a scam being run by the same people that you seem to think should be defending us. I say, SS is hardly their only scam. The military is their biggest and most prolific scam.

      --
      "I opened my eyes, and everything went dark again"
    198. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Mindcontrolled · · Score: 1

      Your meds. Take em.

      --
      Ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant.
    199. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by nomadic · · Score: 1

      I don't necessarily have a problem with the fact in general that THESE cables were released, I was just pointing out the idea that a diplomat should expect whatever he tells another diplomat to be released to all 6 billion people on earth is an inane idea.

    200. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      Just because something happened a certain way in the past, doesn't mean that we are destined to see it again in the future, or that the sequence of events past shows any sort of causation.

      Yes, it does. Because when you see the same thing happen over and over and over you need to come to realize that what you are seeing is human nature. We study history to learn lessons from it, and "Oh, I'm sure it will be different now that time has passed," is not a lesson. It's a gamble, and one that has never paid off.

      We have been letting the tin foil hats set policy since the beginning of the cold war.

      Goodness, what about the Soviet Union seemed like an imagined threat to you? They expanded their sphere of influence everywhere they could, and Stalin was a downright bloodthirsty, paranoid nut. The reason it was a cold war and not a shooting war was primarily MAD, but also both sides had formidable conventional armies. Even then, there was plenty of shooting during the cold war, just through proxies - often at or near the borders of the US and it's allies.

      Now maybe SS is more scam than risk, but its a scam being run by the same people that you seem to think should be defending us.

      Ahh, but there is a difference. In defense, our interests align a lot more than in social policy. Most of us have some interest in defense, but many of us will never see any SS money... nor do I plan on needing it - but one never knows.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    201. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by TheCarp · · Score: 1

      History only repeats for people who ignore the details. It is not that time has passed, time, in and of itself, does little. I think its really that technology has changed to favor small, decentralized insurgencies over large armies. I really think the days of "Invade and take over and call it ours" as an expansionist strategy are pretty much over.

      Not because people are somehow better, not because time has passed, but because information technology has changed the game. From 5000 years ago to 100 years ago, the technological advancement on those fronts was so small compared to what has come since, that it is barely worth considering the difference. The past 100 years have seen so much.

      Frankly, I think Viet Nam was the best war in history. Not because it was so moral (it wasn't), not because it was a good idea (it wasn't), not because it was needed (it wasn't) but because it showed us that when you actually display war before people, in all its gory detail, it does exactly what we need it to do, turn people against war.

      More and more we have the technology to bring people right to the front lines and show them how bloody and horrible it is, we should do that, as much as possible, and as widely as possible, all over the world. Because... people actually dislike war when they have to see what it really means.

      --
      "I opened my eyes, and everything went dark again"
    202. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Bill,+Shooter+of+Bul · · Score: 1

      You're reinventing the reasoning of the people in charge a the time. The motivation and rationale behind the attacks are well documented. It was not a military objective. You can argue all you want what motivations they should have had, or you would have had, but you can't argue what motivations the people in charge had at the time. They documented it. So by your calculus a neutron bomb has no devastating effects, as it only targets humans and other living creatures, leaving infrastructure intact?

      --
      Well.. maybe. Or Maybe not. But Definitely not sort of.
    203. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by Wyatt+Earp · · Score: 1

      No, actually there were multiple reasons for the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, there were various military reasons like...

      Strategic bombing advocates of terror bombing wanted to see what it'd do to a civilian target.
      Strategic bombing advocates of industrial and supply chain bombing wanted to see what it'd do to a rail and road net.
      Tactical and strategic ground commanders wanted to see what it would do to military targets.
      Politicians wanted to know what it'd do nationally to Japan's will to fight and internationally as to relations with the Soviet Union.

      And finally, the planners of Operation Olympic were getting very worried about the November 1 invasion of the southern Japanese Home Islands and wanted the atomic bombs used tactically before the invasion on military nodes.

      I did a ton of research on this at the end of my undergrad time, mostly focusing on the intelligence gaps in Allied understanding of Imperial Japan's military buildup on the Japanese Home Islands and Japan's ability to inflict more casualties on Allied forces.

      The Final Months of the War With Japan: Signals Intelligence, U.S. Invasion Planning, and the A-Bomb Decision is an incredibly rich and neutral resource on Allied planning and Japanese troop movements in late '44 and '45.

    204. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      its really that technology has changed to favor small, decentralized insurgencies over large armies.

      I disagree. Afghanistan would not still be going on if not for outside support - same thing that happened to the Russians 25 years ago. The same was true in Iraq. The American revolution was an insurgent war, but it only succeeded because of French support. I don't really think anything has changed.

      but because information technology has changed the game.

      This is a wash in an insurgency. The insurgents can communicate better, but their communication can betray them. Also, the occupying force also has better communication.

      but because it showed us that when you actually display war before people, in all its gory detail, it does exactly what we need it to do, turn people against war.

      It certainly was the first multimedia war, but it was hardly a sea change. Afghanistan is the longer war from the perspective of the US, and this despite even more images being available.

      Because... people actually dislike war when they have to see what it really means.

      There is some truth in this, but people generally don't like war - even without the gruesome images. And I don't see a reduction in the duration of conflicts that you would expect if your thesis were correct.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    205. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by fyngyrz · · Score: 1

      maybe we should instead take the high road and ask ourselves what the best course of action is, rather than being so quick to cheer at their loss.

      My suggestion would be to (1) fire the entire current congress and the judiciary and cancel their retirement benefits for cause (breaking the oaths required to accept their jobs) and (2) instantly repeal every law that violates the letter of the constitution, which would include the patriot act, just about every weapons possession/carry law on the books (probably every, but there might be some exceptions even if I can't think of any), all the ex post facto laws, all the intrastate commerce laws (anything that even looks like it depends on indirect reasoning re interstate), all the search and seizure laws that apply to citizens and try to get around warrants and/or probable cause and/or affirmation, stop printing money that has religious slogans, change the national motto, remove the religious nonsense from congressional sessions, etc.

      Then the first thing we need to do after that is establish a real punishment for congresscritters and judges and the executive if they are found to have violated that oath in the future. mandatory fines, prison, loss of benefits.

      The next time someone gets the idea that "shall make no law" means "hey, bubba, let's make a law!", or "shall not infringe" means "let's infringe!", and it can be shown in court that they tried to translate these errors into law or regulation, they're done.

      From there, if the government feels it needs additional powers to those enumerated as granted to it, they follow article V, as was intended from day one.

      As near as I can tell, there is no other path to recovery -- we're well into the establishment of a wealth and power based oligarchy, and very, very far from our legitimately authorized constitutional roots. If it isn't fixed, and fixed soon, we will devolve into this permanently, where rights and freedoms are at the whim of corporations and the rich who dictate all conditions to the government. I repeat: We are very close to this condition now.

      --
      I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
    206. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by TheCarp · · Score: 1

      The American Revolution succeeded? According to who? I would say that the average man never stopped being taxed without representation. Thats the problem I have, you can put a bunch of victory conditions up and say that a war met them, but, its all very arbitrary.

      In the end, it is all just another theater for political fights and political fights are about the interests of the aristocrats, not the interests of the average person. Wars are not fought, now or ever, for my benefit or yours. They are fought for the benefit of men like George Washington or Dick Cheney: The already wealthy who have a big stake in the outcome.

      The American revolution is a perfect example. What good did it do the common man? The black slaves? The Indians? Little to nothing. Plenty of the former colonies didn't need wars to gain independence.... and ended slavery long before we did.

      Overall, I would say, even that wasn't worth fighting.

      --
      "I opened my eyes, and everything went dark again"
    207. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      The American Revolution succeeded?

      LOL, we're talking past one another. In terms of a military victory, yes it succeeded. Did it dramatically change "our" lives? No, probably not. But then the colonists were on balance pretty happy or ambivalent about English rule, so dramatic change wasn't really the goal. Hell, we even kept British common law...

      They are fought for the benefit of men like George Washington or Dick Cheney: The already wealthy who have a big stake in the outcome.

      Yup.

      Overall, I would say, even that wasn't worth fighting.

      I wasn't making any kind of a value judgment... just pointing out that asymmetric warfare worked even way back when, and actually looked more or less the same. Which shouldn't be a surprise, since people are more or less the same.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    208. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by DeVilla · · Score: 1

      You said "Hiroshima was targeted to maximize civilian casualties." To maximize civilian casualties, you would not warn them. It's the difference between walking into a room with a gun and shooting everyone and walking in, saying "Leave if you want to live", waiting a few minutes and then shooting everyone.

      Without any other statement about what the US were targeting or if there were assets of military significance in Hiroshima, assuming the US were attempting to "maximize civilian casualties" as you said, they were doing it wrong and making absurd mistakes.

    209. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by TheCarp · · Score: 1

      Right, but I am making a value judgement...and saying the nation that claims the land I live on spends so much on military when, in reality, the very aims of such a large military, and especially its offensive capabilities, are dubious at best.

      I am not so much interested in convincing large states that it is in their interests to never have wars or to dismantle their military capabilities. I don't think that is ever going to happen, war is in the nature of those beasts.

      Fighting is in our nature as people too. I don't think we can entirely and forever, banish all violence. However, centralizing it is a monumentally bad idea. I would much rather convince people to dismantle large states, and decentralize power, so as to diffuse the misuse of power.

      A general of the Mass Militia can perhaps cause much harm and problems in MA, RI, and ME, but, his extent is limited, as it should be. I see no reason to empower a few men to screw up entire regions all at once.

      Especially since, them doing so, doesn't actually benefit the people who are paying for it. Never has. We need to, as much as possible, remind people of this fact and stop with the tacit acceptance of war that is embodied in calling soldiers honorable or lieing and saying that its "our freedoms" and not "corporate profits" that they defend.

      In terms of the long game, I throw my preference against the nation state in its entirety. It is time to start working on an update.

      --
      "I opened my eyes, and everything went dark again"
    210. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      In terms of the long game, I throw my preference against the nation state in its entirety. It is time to start working on an update.

      I think I agree, just because it would neatly tie together my humanist tendencies. However, I can't imagine what scenario could occur in which the nation-state is replaced. The whole concept of a state is pretty young, though, so perhaps I just lack imagination.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    211. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by wealthychef · · Score: 1

      You and I have a different view of the meaning of the word "working."

      --
      Currently hooked on AMP
    212. Re:If you didn't do anything wrong, by TheCarp · · Score: 1

      Man if you agree with me, you must be a win

      --
      "I opened my eyes, and everything went dark again"
  2. Ut Oh! by PORNorART · · Score: 5, Funny

    /. is in trouble now for leaking the US's inability to conduct a succesful DDoS campaign.

    1. Re:Ut Oh! by GrumblyStuff · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Are they doing it? Have they announced where the majority of the attacks are coming from or is like a /. effect?

      (They can't lose! Either they're being attacked for revealing the truth and/or they're super popular!)

    2. Re:Ut Oh! by Monkeedude1212 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      A DDoS is more than a simple /. effect.

      Only when your servers are not designed for massive amounts of traffic at a time will you be harmed by the slashdot effect. Usually it happens on /. because we link to some university Website, who is only used to maybe a couple thousand students and not millions of internet viewers.

      Wikileaks is in the business of being read by as many people as possible - You'll notice Wikileaks is still UP during all this. This suggests they expected this kind of stuff and likely they have a sophisticated firewall capable of blocking DoS attacks and seperating the legit requests from the bad.

      It's not just a popularity thing.

    3. Re:Ut Oh! by girlintraining · · Score: 1

      /. is in trouble now for leaking the US's inability to conduct a succesful DDoS campaign.

      I believe that if the US Government wanted to stop Wikileaks, they'd simply bomb the data centers. Electronic attacks like this are not what this government does; It's what its citizens do.

      --
      #fuckbeta #iamslashdot #dicemustdie
    4. Re:Ut Oh! by Chrisq · · Score: 1

      /. is in trouble now for leaking the US's inability to conduct a succesful DDoS campaign.

      No - posting on slashdot is the US's DDoS campaign. Go on can you resist going to wikileaks to check it for yourself?

    5. Re:Ut Oh! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How in the hell would a firewall help with a DDoS? The attack is due to an overload of traffic, surely this would affect the fw as well?

    6. Re:Ut Oh! by oldspewey · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Electronic attacks like this are not what this government does

      Re-read that a few times and give it some thought, then let us know if you'd like to amend that statement.

      --
      If libertarians are so opposed to effective government, why don't they all move to Somalia?
    7. Re:Ut Oh! by Haedrian · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Two problems with this:

      1. The data centers are in another country - and bombing other countries is an act of war
      2. The data center is in a disused nuclear bunker. So you're going to need a hell of a lot of bombing.

    8. Re:Ut Oh! by PORNorART · · Score: 1

      There are a number different types of DDoS attacks that don't overwhelm the website per se but attack the lower level networking layers.

      I've always been curious though.. who pays for the bandwidth? 10Gbps doesn't sound cheap.

    9. Re:Ut Oh! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The packets get dropped before being sent to the server. If you send me too many packets eventually im just gonna throw out whatever you send me. Kinda like junk mail, junk mail is a ddos to keep me from my daily activities.. I refuse to read the junk mail knowing its junk, and I "drop" the "packet" into the trash:)

    10. Re:Ut Oh! by bsquizzato · · Score: 1

      Firewalls can optionally drop packets from a source IP without really even processing the packet or sending back any kind of "service unavailable/connection refused" reply -- saves on CPU consumption there.

    11. Re:Ut Oh! by JavaBear · · Score: 1

      Correct, the DDoS attack is all about saturating the site's connections and ports, preventing (or severely reducing) legitimate users' access. Sadly, a DDoS like this doesn't just harm the target. To reduce the effectiveness of an attack, you have to filter the traffic before it hits the (comparatively) narrow connections to the end customer.

    12. Re:Ut Oh! by $RANDOMLUSER · · Score: 1

      Electronic attacks like this are not what this government does; It's what its citizens do.

      You must mean unsophisticated electronic attacks. This is what governments do. DDoS is for the Pirate Bay and their ilk.

      Wait a minute - isn't WikiLeaks TPB's ilk? Maybe we should be looking more closely at Assange's "LOOK AT US, THEY'RE TRYING TO SILENCE US!" claims. Just sayin'.

      --
      No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
    13. Re:Ut Oh! by Barryke · · Score: 2, Informative

      Theres a pattern in DDOS traffic.
      http://www10.org/cdrom/papers/409/

      --
      Hivemind harvest in progress..
    14. Re:Ut Oh! by ffreeloader · · Score: 1

      A lot of the defense of large scale DDoS attacks is done at the router level. You want to drop as many malicious packets as you can before they hit anything to do with your site or your network, and your border router is the first line of defense. Even if you're using a hosted server you can ask your provider to help stop the attack at the border of their network, as it's as much in their interest to stop the attack as it is in yours.

      --
      "while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude." de Tocqueville
    15. Re:Ut Oh! by jgagnon · · Score: 1

      The they should just send Punky Brewster over there to teach them a lesson.

      --
      Remember to maintain your supply of /facepalm oil to prevent chafing.
    16. Re:Ut Oh! by Bert64 · · Score: 1

      A firewall actually typically makes a DDoS more successful because you now have an additional device which must do more processing of the data. Most commercial firewalls will die much quicker than typical modern server hosts under typical DDoS attacks (such as comparing each packet against its ruleset, and trying to keep track of connection states etc)...

      What you really want, is dedicated DDoS mitigation hardware, preferably connected to multiple upstream providers so the traffic can be filtered in multiple places and before it gets anywhere near your servers.

      --
      http://spamdecoy.net - free throwaway anonymous email - avoid spam!
    17. Re:Ut Oh! by lingon · · Score: 1

      Our (Swedish) government is famous for bending over for the US -- the Swedish police could invent any charges (Child Porn(tm), International Terrorism(tm) comes to mind) and seize Wikileaks' computers. The Pirate Bay raid comes to mind ...

    18. Re:Ut Oh! by lingon · · Score: 1

      They're sponsored by Bahnhof -- the same provider that hosted the Pirate Bay previously during the raid.

    19. Re:Ut Oh! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But bandwidth is not unlimited just because you aren't reading what is being sent. Connections are still connections, connection attempts are still connection attempts. The pipe in to the servers can be saturated by noise.

    20. Re:Ut Oh! by Haedrian · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Rape?

    21. Re:Ut Oh! by steveb3210 · · Score: 1

      Two problems with this: 2. The data center is in a disused nuclear bunker. So you're going to need a hell of a lot of bombing.

      Power has to come from somewhere. cutting power plus bombing the road to the datacenter should kill any site being hosted down there sooner or later...

    22. Re:Ut Oh! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's why we have MOAB!

    23. Re:Ut Oh! by Haedrian · · Score: 1

      So you're going to go on a bombing run blowing up Swedish infrastructure?

      Think of all the Moose you're going to kill.

    24. Re:Ut Oh! by hedwards · · Score: 1

      Indeed. The summary fails to mention whether or not the servers are even bothering with a proper response. If they know what they're doing, the server admins are probably stuttering the responses from the machines that are engaged in the DDoS. Which would be a smart move as it takes up little of their resources while using a great deal of the resources that the attacker has available.

    25. Re:Ut Oh! by dogsbreath · · Score: 1

      The firewall just drops the SYN when the ip is recognized and does not make an entry in any table; it just ignores any traffic from that ip.

      This at least keeps your servers up and healthy but the problem is that firewalls themselves are typically more easily overrun than the servers behind them.

      Usually you want to get your network provider involved so that the filtering can be done as close to the peering gateways as possible. The ISP will want to keep the DDoS traffic off of their network as it will have side effects on other traffic not related to the target. Passing 10Gb/s of traffic through routers and switches only to have it dropped at the destination is not happy making for the ISP.

    26. Re:Ut Oh! by blackraven14250 · · Score: 1

      Yes, but you stop the server itself from crapping out. That just means slow load times for people trying to get to the site.

    27. Re:Ut Oh! by milkmage · · Score: 1

      yep. suxtnet is a bunch of script kiddies hacking between WoW raids.

    28. Re:Ut Oh! by Ihmhi · · Score: 1

      And I imagine like The Pirate Bay they have redundancy all over the world in both private and public locations, secret and not secret...

      I doubt chucking a few Tomahawk missiles are going to solve the WIkileaks problem.

    29. Re:Ut Oh! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No thanks. I just had lunch.

    30. Re:Ut Oh! by unity100 · · Score: 1

      as long as morons like you are around, bastards will be able to perpetrate filth behind the easy cover of 'national secret'. thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for helping make the world a shittier place. you deserve it.

    31. Re:Ut Oh! by gfreeman · · Score: 1

      That's økay. A møøse ønce bit my sister.

      --
      Ceci n'est pas un sig.
    32. Re:Ut Oh! by Idbar · · Score: 1

      I was just wondering.
      Did they seriously added the link to a DDoS victimized site to the summary of /.? Great idea!

    33. Re:Ut Oh! by Jugalator · · Score: 1

      1. The data centers are in another country - and bombing other countries is an act of war

      Yeah, we'll send furious moose in the general direction of anyone attacking us and Wikileaks' servers in Bahnhof's data center!

      (I'm afraid we can't do much more, with our military... oh wait, we'll talk with NAT... no we aren't members there. Damn!)

      --
      Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
    34. Re:Ut Oh! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Clueless legitimate users with bot-infected Windows PCs pay for the bandwidth.

      10Gbps isn't actually expensive (in ISP terms - of course, us average citizens would get raped if we tried to amass that kind of bandwidth through residential connections, unless you live in Sweden), but an attack from a single source (or just a few) would be trivial to block upstream. Just about all real DDoS attacks come from Windows zombies.

    35. Re:Ut Oh! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Are they doing it? Have they announced where the majority of the attacks are coming from or is like a /. effect?

      (They can't lose! Either they're being attacked for revealing the truth and/or they're super popular!)

      The attacks were outsourced to China.

    36. Re:Ut Oh! by Aldenissin · · Score: 1

      All they'd need is 4 wheel drive and some length of copper wire to restore the power. What, then you gonna bomb it again? And again? What about the civilians that may camp out to protest? Sorry, not likely ever gonna happen.

      --
      Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.
    37. Re:Ut Oh! by nosferatu1001 · · Score: 1

      Sweden would probably complain, just a tad, over such an egregious act of war.

      This is why an electronic attack is more likely. Easier to hide the origins of the C&C

    38. Re:Ut Oh! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Our (Swedish) government is famous for bending over for the US -- the Swedish police could invent any charges (Child Porn(tm), International Terrorism(tm) comes to mind) and seize Wikileaks' computers. The Pirate Bay raid comes to mind ...

      Rape?

      Not the same thing at all!

      If the rumours are true, we have a situation where one girl accuse Julian Assange for squirting in her mouth and then laughing in hear face and teasing her about it, when the girl prior to the blow job had made him promise he wouldn't come in her mouth. That charge has already been dropped and that girl didn't start a legal process until she heard what happened to the second girl. The charges made by the second girl, that hasn't been dropped, is, according to rumours, that he sneaked of the condom during sex. Regardless if the accusations are true or not, how has this anything to do with the police fabricating charges and evidence, or the Swedish government bending over for USA (and a Swedish minister (and on top of that he is a lawyer who should know better) breaking laws to please(**) a representative sent by the US president). That was what happened during the Pirate Bay mess.

      As it is, there is no fabricated physical evidence, basically just word against word. Of course, rumour has it that some other girls, outside Sweden, have come forward and claimed that they too has been mistreated in a similar manner by Assange, establishing a pattern and strengthening the the prosecutors version of what happened.

      But of course all the women involved could be lying and even be paid to lie. But I seriously doubt the Swedish government, or even the US government, would come up with such a fragile scheme.

      As for the the credibility of the two original witnesses. The two girls who make the accusations are young CHRISTIAN(*) carrier politicians, making a carrier within a CHRISTIAN political network and with a CHRISTIAN base of future voters. Most Swedish Christians isn't as judgemental as US Christians, but those who are, are the most important to get support from (and the ones voting on politicians profiling themselves as Christians). These girl strive to build a carrier out of their Christian faith, they have nothing to gain from this, only to lose.

      (**) The US government promised to order the Eritrean government/warlords to free a Swedish journalist that is unlawfully held in Eritrea since 2001, in exchange the Swedish minister pushed the police to act against the Pirate Bay (and that is illegal to do for a minister in Sweden). Of course, the journalist is still imprisoned.

      (*) The dominant (>40%) religious faith in Swedish is atheism or "don't give a fuck about religion" (the difference is rather blurry; most atheists in Sweden are born in a "don't give a fuck about religion" family and they don't turn into true atheists until they are confronted with Christianity). The historically dominant faith in Sweden is Christianity (at least until the 1960's and Sweden officially remained a Christian state until year 2000). If you ask Swedes if they are Christians, slightly less then 40% will claim that they are, but half of those will also claim, if asked, that they don't believe in a God and/or Jesus as a saviour (this group of Christian-traditionalists has actually a larger fraction that believe Jesus has never existed as a historical person (or persons) then the atheist group). So slightly less then 40% Swedes identify themselves as Christians and that group are split in two roughly equally large groups of Christians believers and non-believing Christian traditionalist.

    39. Re:Ut Oh! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Coral cache.

    40. Re:Ut Oh! by c0lo · · Score: 1

      What do you mean "unsuccessful DDoS campaign"? I'm trying to download the .torrent file for 2 days now.

      --
      Questions raise, answers kill. Raise questions to stay alive.
    41. Re:Ut Oh! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, someone wasn't following the agenda of NATO Summit - not the missile stuff, the cyberwar stuff. That's what I call timing!

    42. Re:Ut Oh! by Sean · · Score: 1

      tidy:~/wikileaks/cablegate.wikileaks.org$ ls
      articles/ classification/ index.html reldate/ tag/
      cable/ date/ origin/ static/

      I was able to get a complete copy.

    43. Re:Ut Oh! by magux · · Score: 1

      but what I do know -- as John Cole notes -- is this: as soon as Scott Ritter began telling the truth about Iraqi WMDs, he was publicly smeared with allegations of sexual improprieties. As soon as Eliot Spitzer began posing a real threat to Wall Street criminals, a massive and strange federal investigation was launched over nothing more than routine acts of consensual adult prostitution, ending his career (and the threat he posed to oligarchs).

  3. At least someone has balls (and common sense) by MmmmAqua · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Bravo, Ecuador. Though I do wonder how long he will be welcome once Wikileaks outs something big about Ecuador.

    --
    Arr! The laws of physics be a harsh mistress!
    1. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by grub · · Score: 3, Insightful


      His plane will have "engine trouble" on the way to Ecuador and crash. Just watch.

      --
      Trolling is a art,
    2. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by spazmonkey · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Wikileaks doesn't out anything anymore, unless its US intelligence. Haven't you noticed they pulled all private corporate leaks and European and other countries leaks? It's not a generic leaks site anymore or I would still support it. They are solely an anti-US espionage org now. They lost any credibility, and any respect, at that point. I say hang him.

    3. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by PseudonymousBraveguy · · Score: 4, Informative

      Ecuador ranks a whooping 101 on the press freedom index, with an annually deteriorating index value. I'm not quite convinced it's the best country to exile to for people publishing inconveniant documents.

    4. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by mysidia · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Assange is out of control. Wikileaks needs to oust him and go back to their original mission, of actually being a whistleblower, rather than just leaking things and hurting national and global security.

      Julian Assange should go to jail for a very long time.

    5. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by geegel · · Score: 1

      How do you separate one from another? Really, how do you? And who should judge which is which?

      --
      right...
    6. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by icebraining · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Jail for what? Guess what: US law doesn't apply worldwide! Incredible, I know!

    7. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Jedi+Alec · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Julian Assange should go to jail for a very long time.

      For what exactly? Has he broken any laws you can name *and* been convicted? And no, just because Palin called him a terruhrist doesn't count, that's actually an endorsement in my book.

      --

      People replying to my sig annoy me. That's why I change it all the time.
    8. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by geegel · · Score: 1

      I think it has more to do with information availability (most of the data was obtained through SIRPNET) and the bias of news organizations towards US. Nonetheless, I don't dismiss your theory either. The data is simply incomplete to draw any reasonable conclusions

      --
      right...
    9. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by mark72005 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Worldwide intelligence services have more than enough information about him to move whenever they wanted.

      If this was something they were considering, having him whacked, why wouldn't they have done it before this past leak which was the largest ever?

      The reason he's still living is that he hasn't exposed anything embarrassing enough to Russia, or another country that doesn't have any problem getting their hands dirty.

    10. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by elrous0 · · Score: 1

      How exactly are you be a whistleblower and not leak things that governments are going to claim hurt national security? If you're not pissing off some government or company somewhere, you're NOT a whistleblower.

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    11. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by airfoobar · · Score: 1

      Perhaps the Wikileaks documents revealed some interesting truths to the Ecuadorian administration, and that's why they are being nice?

    12. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If only that was true, you will note just how many western states just hand people over to the US government because it decides it wants to convict them.

    13. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by A.+B3ttik · · Score: 1, Offtopic

      I don't buy that freedom index at all. Not only is the US #20, it's actually BELOW the UK. A girl was recently arrested for burning a Koran in the UK, and I remember some kids getting arrested for flying a certain flag. In the US, however, NeoNazis and Hippies and Fred Phelps and Gay Pride Parades are all PROTECTED by Police Officers. The US is the only place I know of where an officer of the Law will put his life in the way of your Freedom to speak, even if he and everyone else think that what you are saying is the most hateful, disgusting drivel on the planet.

    14. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by kaptink · · Score: 1

      Jail for telling the truth, exposing the reality of whats going on with the people we pay to run the planet? And how they lie repeatedly with often there own interests as a priority? Wikileaks is just a messenger for those who want transparency and justice with only the liers and dodgy bastards with anything to worry about. Have you seen any information in the leaks that could actually help the bad guys pin down troops. Do you think the Taliban in Afganistan are all frantically browsing wikileaks on there stone carved laptops?

      --
      Those who can, do. Those who cannot, sue.
    15. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It just shows you why the USA is #99 on the same index ...

    16. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Gerzel · · Score: 1

      He's not the only one. I remember a certain VP that leaked certain details for political gain. One is terrorism the other above the law.

    17. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Gerzel · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It does if we label it "terrorism"!

      It's a magical word that will NEVER EVER EVER backfire on US!

    18. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Issarlk · · Score: 1

      But then the key of the "insurance file" would be published.

    19. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by anss123 · · Score: 1

      girl was recently arrested for burning a Koran in the UK, and I remember some kids getting arrested for flying a certain flag.

      Burning the Koran would only be relevant if they weren't allowed to report it as it's an index for the "freedom of the press".

    20. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by MRe_nl · · Score: 1

      I've seen these arguments repeatedly, and i think they're a load of bollocks.
      Yeah, the CIA would never assassinate anybody.
      And if they really wanted to it would be like "hey, presto". And if they don't the target must be a CIA operative (UBL, Fidel Castro).
      How do you know the last leak was the largest ever? My guess would be a crystal ball with the "seeing the future" option.

      "another country that doesn't have any problem getting their hands dirty". Haha bloody ha.
      Although i'm afraid you're serious.

      --
      "Kill 'em all and let Root sort 'em out"
    21. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by mark72005 · · Score: 1

      I agree with this. While I don't appreciate what they have done lately for compromising the balance of diplomacy in the world, I agree with the concept in principle.

      But they have gone from supposedly wanting to expose any kind of corruption to exclusively battling to undermine the United States which is not an admirable and utilitarian force for good that assange and slashdotters believe it to be.

    22. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by hedwards · · Score: 1

      True, but how much has wikileaks dealt with Ecuador? It's a relatively small and unimportant nation in general, and when it comes down to it the host nation is never going to be as open minded about leaks involving itself than it is about leaks involving other countries.

      It could also be a bid to artificially boost it's position.

    23. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by XxtraLarGe · · Score: 3, Informative

      Has he broken any laws you can name...

      Most likely the Espionage Act of 1917. Not judging the merits of the case, but that's what immediately comes to mind.

      --
      Taking guns away from the 99% gives the 1% 100% of the power.
    24. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Talderas · · Score: 1

      Or organized crime.

      --
      "Lack of speed can be overcome. In the worst case by patience." --Znork
    25. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by nschubach · · Score: 1

      "Terrorism" is the new "Wolf." ;)

      --
      Every time I start to have faith in humanity, I ruin it by driving to work between 7 and 8 am.
    26. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by hedwards · · Score: 1

      Assange isn't the problem. As some of the more astute members of the US government have figured out, the material was leaked by some of their personnel, individuals who have clearance to access the materials.

      As I've said before, this only hurts their image with morons that think that the US government would never be engaged in secret dealings of dubious moral character. The materials themselves were hardly earth shattering, very little of it wasn't publicly known previously or at least suspected.

    27. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by nschubach · · Score: 1

      Same here. Heck, "The Founding Fathers" of the country were terrorists.

      --
      Every time I start to have faith in humanity, I ruin it by driving to work between 7 and 8 am.
    28. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by mysidia · · Score: 1, Troll

      Jail for what? Guess what: US law doesn't apply worldwide! Incredible, I know!

      International treaties say otherwise.

      And US law was violated by people in the United States, who were aided and abeted by Assage.

    29. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      just because Palin called him a terruhrist

      I though she called him the TerruChrist.. Funny how Clinton said the leaks where "an attack on the international community" when reading a few pages here and there just improves the US image globally. Which kind of powerful organization is more likely to create enmities around the world, the one which is secretive and which motives are hidden and actions are violent, or the one of which motivations are clearly understood and violent actions reasonable or at least understandable from a their perspective even if trivially misguided, or evil, in the light of common sense and reason? Lack of understanding causes fear, fear causes.. and so on.

    30. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by nschubach · · Score: 1

      #20... #99 is (extra-territorial) ... which is what information press experiences in other countries. (Think, Press in China for instance... they abide by local law so it stands to reason that US journalists in China would have less freedom.)

      --
      Every time I start to have faith in humanity, I ruin it by driving to work between 7 and 8 am.
    31. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Mongoose+Disciple · · Score: 1

      Really, if the contents of the insurance file are real, it would probably still be smarter to kill him while it's small and before other people decide that pulling the same thing is a good idea.

      Although engine trouble is too tame a way to do it -- you'd want him to, say, be captured by "terrorists" who put up a long, long video of torturing him to death in the most demeaning ways possible. Kill Julian Assange and you probably create ten more Julian Assanges. Let the world see Julian Assange be violated by goats for days at a time and people will think twice about it.

      Assuming I was an evil government out to stop Wikileaks, of course -- I'm not advocating for that as the morally correct response.

    32. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Mister+Whirly · · Score: 1

      She actually called the actions "treasonous" (while also taking a shot at Obama's administration) - which is hilarious considering Assange is not a citizen of the US, does not live there, and is not running a web site from there. Looks like it is time for a big refudation on her part. I guess if she can't see a country from her house, she doesn't know it is a foreign country.

      --
      "But this one goes to 11!"
    33. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's not a freedom index, it's a press freedom index.

    34. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I would imagine that Iran will have him killed and attempt to blame the US CIA.

    35. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Ecuador · · Score: 1

      Bravo, Ecuador.

      You're welcome!

      --
      Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent. Polar Scope Align for iOS
    36. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by jambarama · · Score: 1

      The reason he's still living is that he hasn't exposed anything embarrassing enough to Russia, or another country that doesn't have any problem getting their hands dirty.

      That and no one knows what is in his insurance policy.

    37. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Spad · · Score: 4, Insightful

      One might argue that doing anything overt to him would only reinforce the belief that the government(s) in question are actually scared of Wikileaks rather than just angry with them; the last thing they want to risk doing is martyring him.

    38. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Spad · · Score: 1

      The Espionage Act of 1917 was a United States federal law

      I hate to trot out the old cliché, but as much as people might want it to, US law doesn't actually apply outside of the US.

    39. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Compaqt · · Score: 1

      Would it be OK with you if they also exposed the nefarious deeds of Britain, France, Russia, China, Japan and India? (Actually the deeds of the board members and CEOs of those countries, not the countries themselves.)

      I think that would partially depend on whistleblowers in those countries being willing to provide Wikileaks with the raw data.

      --
      I'm not a lawyer, but I play one on the Internet. Blog
    40. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by XxtraLarGe · · Score: 1

      I hate to trot out the old cliché, but as much as people might want it to, US law doesn't actually apply outside of the US.

      You forgot about extradition, in which case he can be brought here so he can be charged...

      --
      Taking guns away from the 99% gives the 1% 100% of the power.
    41. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I challenge you to wear a shirt with the words "child porn is okay and so is terrorism" and ask a random officer to protect you. MOST speech is protected in America but not all.

    42. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by nedlohs · · Score: 1

      freedom of speech is not the same as freedom of the press.

    43. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The "Espionage Act of 1917" as in "a United States federal law passed on June 15, 1917" (wikipedia)?

      Being neither a United States citizen, not a resident there, nor present in the US when he may or may not have committed whatever the law prohibits, why should Assange care about a federal law in the US?

      I sure as hell don't care about US federal law, unless I'm actually in the US.

    44. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Ihmhi · · Score: 1

      Did they really? I'm genuinely asking here. Could you provide some examples?

    45. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by imakemusic · · Score: 1

      What has any of that got to do with the freedom of the press?

      --
      Brain surgery - it's not rocket science!
    46. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by DavidTC · · Score: 1

      The materials themselves were hardly earth shattering, very little of it wasn't publicly known previously or at least suspected.

      Although it's very nice to have documentation that, for example, the US is threatening Iran at Saudi Arabia's request.

      --
      If corporations are people, aren't stockholders guilty of slavery?
    47. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      major news organizations have printed the same stuff and done the same things in the past.. so yea

    48. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by unity100 · · Score: 1

      that happens with united states' allies. like, 3/4 of poland's government dying in a crash, when they dare went to russia for friendly talks over us.

    49. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Shivetya · · Score: 1

      Charge him or the leaker? The Marine they have in jail is who should be charged. Yet what was his motive? Buyer's remorse (possibly voting for change but not liking what he saw) or hater who doesn't like who he works for (truther/birther/etc)?

      Yes, I think Julian Assange is grand standing now, he seems hell bent on going after only the US and its interests. Conveniently ignoring countries far worse than the US. Yes the US does some things that are deplorable, but it is far far from the worse game in town. What it does have is an accessible number of people who feel no threat in acting on their beliefs. Other countries, not so much. So it is expected the leaks hit the US first, however Julian Assange focus only on the US exposes his actions as one sided to the point of going for fame over doing what his site was originally targeted too.

      Charge him? For what? Being biased? Sure, but how do you charge a non citizen with our laws? I guess if he is stupid enough to end up in a US territory we can could find something to get him on. Then again, with our new found willingness to kill our own citizens abroad maybe he should be worried.

      --
      * Winners compare their achievements to their goals, losers compare theirs to that of others.
    50. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by asvravi · · Score: 1

      Whatever they are leaking, are still facts, still credible. Respect is a different matter.

    51. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Tell that to Manuel Noriega.

    52. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by peragrin · · Score: 2, Informative

      The CIA does do assassinations but they realized logn ago it isn't as effective as they want it to be.

      Russia, Isreal, do assassinations but they have both been bitten back by them when they got messy.

      The CIA uses more dicrediting techniques, over the long term. In 5 years people will go Julian who? Wiki What?

      --
      i thought once I was found, but it was only a dream.
    53. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      I sure as hell don't care about US federal law, unless I'm actually in the US.

      Or if you live in a country that has an extradition treaty with the US.

    54. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by milkasing · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I was going to mod you down, but I am giving you the benefit that you are misinformed, rather than a troll.
      So here, this should make you happy
      http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1334432/WikiLeaks-boss-Julian-Assange-goes-US-bank-explosive-new-dossier.html

      Agree or disagree with his process, but Assange makes some very reasonable points in the full interview. Judge for yourself here:
      http://blogs.forbes.com/andygreenberg/2010/11/29/an-interview-with-wikileaks-julian-assange/

      Sure, if the US govt's actions were not important more private information would have come out, but right now the US, is by far the most dominant world power, and it is fairly assertive in using its power, so documents revealing its workings carry a corresponding importance. So it seems that Assange has his priorities right.
      Also, one thing that I have noticed is that Wikileaks does seem to be listening to criticism, and every release seems to incorporate lessons learned from the previous ones. Wikileaks is certainly worth supporting.

    55. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I was on the jury. We acquitted him. It was a secret trial and secret procedure, but you know, that just means you'll have to take my word!

      Also, we found President Bush guilty, but for some reason he pardoned himself. I didn't know he could do that.

    56. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by wasabii · · Score: 1

      To convey information with intent to interfere with the operation or success of the armed forces of the United States or to promote the success of its enemies. This was punishable by death or by imprisonment for not more than 30 years or both.

      I know this is semantic bullshit, but I don't think his intention is to interfere with the operation of the US, or help it's enemies. I think his intention is simply that the information should be leaked, come what may.

    57. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Nite_Hawk · · Score: 1

      I imagine it especially comes to mind since that's what all the poltical blogs have been talking about for the last 24 hours. ;)

      Salon even has a piece up talking about the difficulties involved in prosecuting under the Espionage Act!

      http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/11/30/wikileaks_espionage_act

    58. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The reason he's still living is that he hasn't exposed anything embarrassing enough to Russia, or another country that doesn't have any problem getting their hands dirty.

      Russia certainly has some history with that, but this is by far more harmful to the US diplomacy than it could possibly be to Russia. Even if it did have any information that was harmful to the Russian, they could simply say it was planted, there are American transmissions.

      This is a huge bonus to the diplomatic corps of Russia, China and the EU. Leaks like these will make wars much more risky also, it would be devastating if one of these diplomatic messages actually mentioned, even passingly, about a deal to attack a specific country.

    59. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Bigjeff5 · · Score: 1

      It does if US allies want it to. It's called extradition, you should look it up.

      That's the only real limitation.

      But honestly the US hasn't indicted him on anything, because he hasn't broken any laws. The guy who gave the info to Wikileaks has, but as far as I can tell nobody with Wikileaks has done anything illegal (in the US anyway).

      They're just dirtbags, and the US Govt. is encouraging anyone who's laws Assange may have broken (like that rape charge) to hurry up and extradite and try the son of a bitch.

      --
      Security is mostly a superstition... Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. - Helen Keller
    60. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He's not a US citizen, so in what manner could he break this act.

      Please look up the meaning of jurisdiction.

    61. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by SmlFreshwaterBuffalo · · Score: 1

      Maybe I'm just paranoid, but I expect Ecuador's offer is only so that they can lock him up themselves and see what additional information they can get out of him.

    62. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He isn't a US citizen and he didn't commit espionage in the US (if showing diplomatic cables that he cleared with the US before releasing is considered espionage). If a foreign citizen getting the dirt on the US is a crime you can be extradited for then every single intelligence agent in pretty much every country could be extradited (and the same for every US agent to them).

    63. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by mspohr · · Score: 1
      Looks like their next target will be Bank of America (which is a private corporation).

      http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6AT40520101130

      --
      I don't read your sig. Why are you reading mine?
    64. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Most likely the Espionage Act of 1917. Not judging the merits of the case, but that's what immediately comes to mind.

      I'm pretty sure that law only applies to Americans.

    65. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by BitZtream · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      that's actually an endorsement in my book

      That makes you effectively even more retarded than she is.

      When you base things on doing the opposite of someone else rather than thinking for yourself, it makes you look like an ignorant fuck, just letting you know.

      --
      Persistent Volume manager for Kubernetes - https://github.com/dwimsey/openshift-pvmanager
    66. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Most likely the Espionage Act of 1917. Not judging the merits of the case...

      The merits of the case would include him not being a U.S. citizen, and not residing in the U.S. while supposedly committing those crimes. Not to mention that the Espionage Act was passed to allow throwing American Socialists in prison for their speeches, the U.S.P.S. to refuse to mail their newsletters, and generally to prevent peaceful dissent during WWI and WWII.

      Why are people so interested in the "crimes" he has committed? Unless he's committed treason or otherwise violated the laws of Sweden, which he clearly hasn't, or those rape accusations would not have been necessary, he's in the clear. Do people need to believe his actions are illegal in order to justify their dislike? Grow up, people. Not everything good is legal, and not everything bad is not. We get 500+ comments on every WikiLeaks story because Julian Assange is both a sinner and a saint, and it has nothing to do with the law.

    67. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Magic5Ball · · Score: 1

      The great thing about a dead man's switch is that you can remove the man from maintaining the switch without first having to kill him.

      --
      There are 1.1... kinds of people.
    68. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Julian Assange should go to jail for a very long time.

      For what exactly? Has he broken any laws you can name *and* been convicted? And no, just because Palin called him a terruhrist doesn't count, that's actually an endorsement in my book.

      You know, you're absolutely right. Rather than going to jail, we should simply declare him a wanted enemy of the US and militarily attack anyone who hosts him. Declare war on them. You got a problem with that, come try to beat us up.

    69. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Crudely_Indecent · · Score: 1

      they pulled all private corporate leaks

      Says the man despite the announced leak of banking documents

      --


      "Lame" - Galaxar
    70. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Magic5Ball · · Score: 1

      Leaking random documents provides as much transparency as x-raying random passengers at airports.

      --
      There are 1.1... kinds of people.
    71. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by CrimsonAvenger · · Score: 1

      Although it's very nice to have documentation that, for example, the US is threatening Iran at Saudi Arabia's request.

      Post hoc ergo proper hoc is a fallacy. Assuming that because the Saudis asked for something that that's why we're doing it is idiotic. Especially given our long-standing opposition to anyone who isn't a nuclear power becoming one.

      Or did the Saudis make this request in 1959?

      --

      "I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
    72. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by MobyDisk · · Score: 1

      [citation required]

      Haven't you noticed they pulled all private corporate leaks and European and other countries leaks?

      No actually, I hadn't. Neither has anyone else, because they are getting DDOS'd. I have not heard or seen anything indicating that they pulled leaks. To the contrary: Just today he announced that they are releasing leaks for a major US bank. Wikileaks releases whatever they are given.

    73. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Which would be a US federal law yes? How exactly does that apply to anyone outside the US that is not, nor ever has been a US citizen?

    74. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by secondhand_Buddah · · Score: 1

      Julian Assange has released a highly encrypted 2GB file out on the torrents as insurance (its pretty easy to find as well) . The decryption information will be released if anything happens to him. There are enough people scared of that package to keep him alive.

      --
      Participatory Governance : The only feasible option for a real democracy, where everyone really does have a say.
    75. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by blair1q · · Score: 1

      There are also laws in Australia that make it a crime for Australians to do this sort of thing to Australia's allies, of which the US is one.

    76. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by blair1q · · Score: 1

      No doubt the moment he lands he'll be presented with a document to sign promising never to mention Ecuador in any release.

    77. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You wouldn't be arrested for wearing the shirt, which is what "protected speech" is. Also, a police officer witnessing a crime committed against you wouldn't pay attention to the words on your shirt, but rather to who the victim is. You are right though. some speech is not protected. But the limits on freedom of speech are clearly defined: Commercial, "Yelling fire in a theatre", etc.

    78. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by TheTurtlesMoves · · Score: 1

      And where is the US on the scale? 21? Yea, Right.

      --
      The Grey Goo disaster happened 3 billion years ago. This rock is covered in self replicating machines!
    79. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by chrb · · Score: 2, Interesting

      International treaties say otherwise.

      Which treaty, exactly, says that U.S. law applies worldwide?

      And US law was violated by people in the United States, who were aided and abeted by Assage.

      Even assuming that this is true, then it says nothing about Assange's guilt under international law, or the law of any other nation. If it was illegal under international law for a non-U.S. resident to communicate with U.S. resident dissidents who then went on to break U.S. law, then, under a reciprocal treaty, it would also be illegal for the reverse to happen - for U.S. residents to communicate with dissidents in other nations such as China and Iran. Do you really think that there are international treaties in place to deport U.S. citizens, on U.S. soil, for breaking no laws in the U.S., but who do talk to dissidents in other nations who are breaking laws by protesting against the government of those foreign nations? If not, then why do you think any other nation would be crazy enough to enact such laws?

    80. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by thoromyr · · Score: 1

      Actually, killing him would be very bad for the US gov't which is why they haven't done it. If they kill him then it is a black mark, the US partaking in obvious, public, assassination. That isn't good and those in charge know it.

      They do not want to create a martyr, they want to destroy the man. Ever notice how political campaigns rarely focus on the positive, instead painting their opponent in dark, nasty colors? The rape charges, and a complete misrepresentation of them (such as repeated in the summary), are how they are attacking him.

      The only reason for the gov't to do a denial of service would be to try and prevent people from viewing and mirroring the content. There might be some value in that, especially if they are needing to try out their ability to DDoS against what is, ultimately, not a significant target.

      Not only is it certain that worldwide intelligence services can track him (to whack him), they can also pick him up. If the US *really* wanted him arrested the UK (where he was last rumored to be anyway) would pick him up and have him extradited here (for terrorism charges) or to sweden (for the rape charges). But that might provide some conclusion to the mess.

      I expect the character assassination to continue. They want him, and Wikileaks by extension, to be dirtied in everyone's mind forever. They don't want anyone to even think of daring to pick it up knowing their life will be utterly ruined if they attempt to do so.

    81. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by mark72005 · · Score: 1

      This isn't a case where martyrdom is an issue or like taking out a head of state. He has no followers or government protecting him. His only leverage is the release of additional information, and he's still living solely on the trove of documents that Manning gave him.

      If, say, he had something that the Russian government considered especially damaging, he'd have gotten the Litvinenko treatement. Look at that case - only minimally deniable, the world knows who did it and why, and there weren't really any consequences.

      I'm not advocating this. I'm simply asking, if he's such a threat and if the US government routinely does this kind of thing, it would be easy to do and easy to cloud or deny enough to avoid consequences, so why haven't they done it?

    82. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by mark72005 · · Score: 1

      Encryption can be broken eventually. If this exists I'm confident it's been heavily worked on and the interested governments probably know what is in it already, either through force or sources within the wikileaks circles.

    83. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Dretep · · Score: 1

      US intelligence? Does such a thing exist??

    84. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by X.25 · · Score: 1

      Wikileaks doesn't out anything anymore, unless its US intelligence. Haven't you noticed they pulled all private corporate leaks and European and other countries leaks? It's not a generic leaks site anymore or I would still support it. They are solely an anti-US espionage org now. They lost any credibility, and any respect, at that point. I say hang him.

      Really? So, after US attacking WikiLeaks in any/every way possible, you are surprised that WikiLeaks is releasing data about US in any way they can?

      I am shocked.

    85. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by X.25 · · Score: 1

      Assange is out of control. Wikileaks needs to oust him and go back to their original mission, of actually being a whistleblower, rather than just leaking things and hurting national and global security.

      Julian Assange should go to jail for a very long time.

      And he should go to jail because... ?

      I know - because you'd like him to, right? That is a good enough reason to put someone into jail.

      Way to go.

    86. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by X.25 · · Score: 1

      If this was something they were considering, having him whacked, why wouldn't they have done it before this past leak which was the largest ever?

      Nothing WikiLeaks have "leaked" so far is of any interest to anyone, but to people who are bored. Tell me anything major that WikiLeaks has released?

      I mean, Cryptome releases much more interesting stuff

      The reason he's still living is that he hasn't exposed anything embarrassing enough to Russia, or another country that doesn't have any problem getting their hands dirty.

      And US government has problems with getting their hands dirty?

      Hahaha, this was fun, really.

    87. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by NotBornYesterday · · Score: 1

      Do you think the Taliban in Afganistan are all frantically browsing wikileaks on there stone carved laptops?

      Actually, yes. I expect that they (and every non-US government in the world) are combing through the documents to find a) embarrassing information about the US, and b) to discover if anyone they know passed along any sensitive information about them. Despite what you may think about Afghanis, they are more than capable of using the same technology you and I do.

      --
      I prefer rogues to imbeciles because they sometimes take a rest.
    88. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Scrameustache · · Score: 1

      Worldwide intelligence services have more than enough information about him to move whenever they wanted.

      If this was something they were considering, having him whacked, why wouldn't they have done it before this past leak which was the largest ever?

      The reason he's still living is that he hasn't exposed anything embarrassing enough to Russia, or another country that doesn't have any problem getting their hands dirty.

      He's the lightning rod. Strike him down and he shall become more powerful than you could have possibly imagined: his insurance file will be decrypted (ominous and fud-like), but more importantly his colleagues will keep working with just this much more motivation.

      --

      You can't take the sky from me...

    89. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're assuming Assange is an American citizen. Got news for you. He's not.

    90. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wikileaks doesn't out anything anymore, unless its US intelligence.

      Wrong. Big bank is next. It's a US bank, though, so you still get to call them un-American if you find it productive.

    91. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by qmaqdk · · Score: 1

      Has he broken any laws you can name...

      Most likely the Espionage Act of 1917. Not judging the merits of the case, but that's what immediately comes to mind.

      You might be right, except for this little technicality: US federal law is limited to ... the US.

      --
      My UID is prime. Hah!
    92. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      how do you know he hasn't been?
      I for one have no idea what he looks like, and haven't seen him around lately.

    93. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by daveschroeder · · Score: 1

      Not only that, but for all the people applauding Ecuador, have they noticed that Ecuador declined to renew the US lease at its Manta air base, and turned around and offered it to China? Here's a story from two years ago predicting this, something that has gotten utterly overlooked in this debate.

      Does anyone really believe that as China presses its advantage in these areas that the Chinese Communist Party is going to be a better steward of the interests of freedom and democracy, even in light of anyone's opinions on US errors and missteps in foreign policy?

    94. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by mysidia · · Score: 1

      And he should go to jail because... ? because you'd like him to, right?

      Personally, I would see Assange banished to Siberia. He is a threat to the future rights and protections of real whistleblowers. He is a threat to the free flow of information on the Internet. He is a threat to the continued existence of the internet as a place relatively free from government censorship and entanglements.

      Over the next 10 years there is going to be a major crackdown and massive new regulation on the internet and ISPs. And Assange will be the primary person we have to thank for that. Assange is taking government on the road to destroy the internet, because now they see it as a threat due to him and people like him, world governance will become mandatory.

      But that is aside from the reason Assange should go to jail.

      Whether I like him or not is irrelevent, his latest actions are a greater danger to society than any benefit, and are sufficient to change him from an innocent bystander into an enemy spy. Governments reserve the right to put people in jail under such circumstances; just ask some Guantanamo bay detainees, and POWs from any war.

      He deserves rebuke by the community because he has brought Wikileaks away from being a real whistleblower reporting on illegal and unconscionable acts, and towards an organization that just publishes the latest illegally leaked gossip of the day and finds things merely designed to embarras individual officials and diplomats.

      The moment a leaker starts leaking and spreading materials only for political interest, to satisfy a personal grudge, without a justifiable beneficial purpose, the leaker becomes just a common criminal.

      It seems like Assange is on the road towards getting himself a terrorist classification. The reaction can be massive.

    95. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by mysidia · · Score: 1

      Which treaty, exactly, says that U.S. law applies worldwide?

      Aiding and abetting a criminal in another state (or through mail or interstate commerce) can be a crime, even if the person conducting the crime was not present in the country where the crime occured. In this case, Assange can be alleged to have aided and abetted, and conspired with various people to leak documents, based on the information published about Wikileaks itself.

      Australian Treaty Series 1976 No 10

      :

      Article I

      Each Contracting Party agrees, under the conditions and circumstances established by this Treaty, reciprocally to deliver up persons found in its territory who have been charged with or convicted of any of the offences mentioned in Article II of this Treaty committed within the territory of the other Contracting Party, or outside that territory under the conditions specified in Article IV of this Treaty.

      ....

      18. Receiving any property, money or valuable securities knowing the same to have been unlawfully obtained.
      ...
      (3) Extradition shall also be granted for any offence against a federal law of the United States of America of which one of the above-mentioned offences is a substantial element, even if transporting or transportation or the use of the mails or of interstate facilities is also an element of the specific offence.

      (4) Extradition shall also be granted for aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the commission of, being an accessory before or after the fact to, or attempting or conspiring to commit, any of the offences mentioned in the preceding paragraphs of this Article.

      Article IV

      When the offence for which extradition has been requested has been committed outside the territory of the requesting State -

      (a) if the United States of America is the requested State - the executive authority of the United States of America; or
      (b) if Australia is the requested State - the Attorney-General of Australia,

      shall have the power to grant the extradition if the laws of the requested State provide for jurisdiction over such an offence committed in similar circumstances.

    96. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by chrb · · Score: 1

      reciprocally to deliver up persons found in its territory

      Assange isn't on Australian territory, and hasn't been for some time. That puts him outside of Australian law. Unless the Australian courts claim jurisdiction over alleged crimes in Iceland and the European Union...

    97. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by mysidia · · Score: 1

      Unless the Australian courts claim jurisdiction over alleged crimes in Iceland and the European Union...

      It won't matter if he's in the EU. It looks like a European Arrest Warrant is going out for him.

      Julian is a wanted man.

    98. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by nanoakron · · Score: 1

      Hang him because he's anti-US?

      Perhaps the irony of your statement has gone 'whoosh' over your head if you can't see it's that arrogance and dismissal of others that /makes/ people anti-US in the first place.

      tl;dr You've got about 3,000,000,000 others to wade through first.

    99. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wikileaks doesn't out anything anymore, unless its US intelligence.

      Haven't you noticed they pulled all private corporate leaks and European and other countries leaks? It's not a generic leaks site anymore or I would still support it. They are solely an anti-US espionage org now.
      They lost any credibility, and any respect, at that point. I say hang him.

      http://mirror.wikileaks.info/

    100. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Wikileaks doesn't out anything anymore, unless its US intelligence. Haven't you noticed they pulled all private corporate leaks and European and other countries leaks? It's not a generic leaks site anymore or I would still support it. They are solely an anti-US espionage org now. They lost any credibility, and any respect, at that point. I say hang him."

      http://blogs.forbes.com/andygreenberg/2010/11/29/wikileaks-julian-assange-wants-to-spill-your-corporate-secrets/

      are you stupid? (rhetorical question.)

    101. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The fact that NO nasty info has come out about Israel, despite the MASSIVE amount of diplomatic back chatter about issues there, is a pointer to who controls Assange.
      It's not always what IS disclosed, but often more about what is NOT disclosed that shows who the real controllers are.

    102. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by bhiestand · · Score: 1

      One might argue that doing anything overt to him would only reinforce the belief that the government(s) in question are actually scared of Wikileaks rather than just angry with them; the last thing they want to risk doing is martyring him.

      Eh, if I were Ecuador I'd have the guy killed then blame the CIA.

      At this point, China, Russia, the US, most of the middle east, and probably every other state actor out there has a motive. Naturally, most people will blame the CIA if Assange dies because they watch too many movies and feel the CIA is the only group that would do this.

      --
      SWM seeks new sig for a brief fling
    103. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by Dilaudid · · Score: 1

      Ecuador recently unilaterally defaulted on their own debt. It's one of the crazy club with cuba, venezuela and argentina. They might offer Assange asylum and then make an offer to the Americans to lock him up - either when the government changes, or before.

    104. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by secondhand_Buddah · · Score: 1

      Well, that even more reason to keep him alive.

      --
      Participatory Governance : The only feasible option for a real democracy, where everyone really does have a say.
    105. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by icebraining · · Score: 1

      That's for his alleged crime committed in Sweden against Swedish laws, and only has a witness - he hasn't even been charged yet, let alone trialled.

    106. Re:At least someone has balls (and common sense) by mysidia · · Score: 1

      That's for his alleged crime committed in Sweden against Swedish laws, and only has a witness

      You really think that his alleged crime is completely unrelated to what he has exposed on Wikileaks?

      I am willing to suggest the real reason Assuange is wanted for that crime is he has angered the powers that be.

      Even if what Wikileaks itself did and what Assuange did isn't against any written laws, does not mean he will not be brought to justice on another basis.

      What he winds up getting charged with is ultimately just a formality

  4. Gov't Sponsored DDoS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Seems very likely the US Gov't, through one of it's shadowy connections, hired and paid for this DDoS attack. Interesting trend. I wonder what's next.

    1. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by SuricouRaven · · Score: 1

      I doubt it - just because they'd know the DDoS wouldn't work. Wikileaks has mirrors, and given their reputation for (perhaps justified) paranoia, probably a hundred or so volunteers around the world hanging on to backups.

    2. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      From what I've read on Slashdot for the last 10 years, this is perfectly acceptable as long as you believe your motives to be just.

      Ironic that Wikileaks should be whining about something like this.

    3. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by geegel · · Score: 1

      That's a bit of a stretch. Plenty of right wingers are pissed on WL and DoS attacks can be easily set up without much geeklore.

      --
      right...
    4. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      They also know that body scanners and related security theatre doesn't work, yet... :)

    5. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by wjousts · · Score: 1

      Seems very likely the US Gov't, through one of it's shadowy connections, hired and paid for this DDoS attack. Interesting trend. I wonder what's next.

      Seems very likely to you maybe, but those of us in the non-tin foil hat crowd are less inclined to jump to such a ridiculous conclusion.

    6. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by countertrolling · · Score: 1

      I wonder what's next.

      Just like any other terrorist organization, it's more like what's now...

      --
      For justice, we must go to Don Corleone
    7. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by copponex · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The US government has overthrown democratic governments, it's FBI has assassinated American civilians, the CIA is currently torturing someone to death in a secret prison somewhere in the world, and right now it has the right to extra-judiciously assassinate any person, even US citizens, that it believes to be involved in terrorism.

      With these facts, I hardly think an orchestrated DDoS attack seems unlikely.

    8. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by Chrisq · · Score: 1

      Seems very likely the US Gov't, through one of it's shadowy connections, hired and paid for this DDoS attack. Interesting trend. I wonder what's next.

      Why do they need shadowy connections? Surely they can decent broadband.

    9. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Yes, of course. People would be foolish to think otherwise.

      There is zero possibility that it could be:
      1). Wikileaks creating their own publicity by staging a "DDoS Attack" on their own. They *NEVER* play the victim card, *EVER*.
      2). Every single person on the planet trying to "see what the fuss is about".
      3). Some indignant hacker with access to a botnet delivering his/her own form of "justice".
      4). Some other government (China, Iran, etc...) not wanting their dirty laundry aired.
      5). Slashdot.

      Only the pure, raw, satanic evil of the US Government - through one of it's "shadowy connections", of course - could ever deliver the sheer bandwidth of *TEN WHOLE GIGABITS* against a website. Why, that's almost one server with a CNA or ten average desktop computer's worth of bandwidth there - or 666 Internet connections at 15mbps... yeah... /sarc

    10. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by alta · · Score: 1

      geeklore? Is that like some sort of spell casting thing? We playing a MMO here?

      I'm going to cast a lvl 7 extended ddos of destruction against your eth0.

      Now, for an AoE it's going to be the expanded godly packets of purity against your entire netmask!

      --
      Do not meddle in the affairs of sysadmins, for they are subtle, and quick to anger.
    11. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by LordLimecat · · Score: 1

      likely

      You have evidence that makes it "likely", or is it better termed "a hunch"?

    12. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by geegel · · Score: 1

      I humbly apologize for my unorthodox use of metaphors. All my posts shall contain hereon only /. Approved(TM) memes.

      --
      right...
    13. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by LordLimecat · · Score: 1

      it's FBI has assassinated American civilians, the CIA is currently torturing someone to death in a secret prison somewhere in the world, and right now it has the right to extra-judiciously assassinate any person, even US citizens, that it believes to be involved in terrorism

      You have any sources for any of that? Id be especially interested in the "currently torturing someone to death"... is that rhetoric, or should you be posting AC?

    14. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by CraftyJack · · Score: 1

      The US government has overthrown democratic governments, it's FBI has assassinated American civilians, the CIA is currently torturing someone to death in a secret prison somewhere in the world, and right now it has the right to extra-judiciously assassinate any person, even US citizens, that it believes to be involved in terrorism. With these facts, I hardly think an orchestrated DDoS attack seems unlikely.

      Given that list, an orchestrated DDoS attack seems incredibly restrained.

    15. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Blame Canada

    16. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by airfoobar · · Score: 3, Informative

      Those things are widely-known facts. Ever heard of Guantanamo bay? Check the previous Wikileaks releases for torture accounts, which are now being investigated by the UN.

      Post as AC? Are you really THAT afraid of your government?

    17. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by copponex · · Score: 5, Informative

      FBI assassinating American citizens
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COINTELPRO

      Deaths due to torture
      http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2009/06/30/accountability

      Extra-judicial assassinations (not including daily drone bombings)
      http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/07/world/middleeast/07yemen.html

      Of course, no one really knows what The Agency is doing right now. What is known is that the secret prisons still exist, and that the legal process of "extraordinary rendition", known to the rest of the world as kidnapping, still occurs. Our terrorism suspects are regularly flown to dictatorships like Egypt and tortured with our approval.
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraordinary_rendition_by_the_United_States

    18. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Prove it.

    19. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by hedwards · · Score: 1

      A DDoS seems unlikely primarily because it's just going to get sympathy for the people involved with Wikileaks.

      Now, having an associate meet and greet them and perhaps arrange for an unfortunate accident, would be far more effective. Do it right and people dismiss it as paranoia and an amazing coincidence outside Wikileaks, while scaring the crap out of the people in it.

    20. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by wjousts · · Score: 1

      And what does ANY of that have to do with a DDoS attack on Wikileaks? A bunch of unrelated stuff isn't evidence of anything. Hence why I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that the US government is engaged in a juvenile and ineffective DDoS attack on Wikileaks. Unless they plan on continuing a DDoS forever (and on ALL mirrors) they know it won't stop Wikileaks and besides, the information in this particular leak is already out, so what's the point?

    21. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by copponex · · Score: 1

      The US government clearly has a motive. The US government clearly has the resources. The US government has clearly committed far worse crimes in order to eliminate enemies of the state. If you have a more likely candidate that has the same amount of resources, motive, and previous activity, I'd be interested to hear about who that is.

      This is elementary deduction. It's very likely that this is being done by the US government, even if just as convenient practice for the new Cyber Warrior program.

    22. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by wjousts · · Score: 1

      Rubbish. The US government has no motive (the information is already out there), they have the resources but so does a 15 year old in their mothers basement. The DDoS attack is ineffective and the US government has much better tools for blocking access to websites.

    23. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by kevinNCSU · · Score: 1

      Did you notice all of those things you claimed as indicators would have achieved some sort of goal and required some form of finesse, whereas a DDoS attack on a site with many mirrors AFTER the leak and weeks after the documents had already been given to the press would not? I mean you're pointing to someone that you believe is capable to overthrow entire democratic governments from the shadows and claiming they're behind a pointless DDoS attack, the same type of thing people do when they are pissed off that Minecraft isn't getting updated by Notch fast enough. It's like pointing to a professional assassin's long list of contract killings and saying CLEARLY he's exactly the person who would sneak into my elementary school and steal my lunch money for no reason. Talk about suspending disbelief.

    24. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The US government clearly has a motive.

      So do countless other governments, private individuals who don't like wikileaks and let's not forget Assange himself.

    25. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by geekoid · · Score: 1

      IT's very unlikely.

      A) The press has had this information for months. This is just a release to the general public. So a DDoS attack would be pointless.

      B) While this diplomats whine about this, it's actually very good news in a lot of respects. The leaks basically show tat the US has been trying very hard to actually maintain stability, keep other countries from going off the handle.

      The US has nothing to gain from a DDoS. The countries that have been lying to people, and acting in private in a manner opposite of their public stance are the ones that have lost here.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    26. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by nschubach · · Score: 1

      US Gov't, through one of it's shadowy connections

      Why do they need shadowy connections? Surely they can decent broadband.

      I thought it was common knowledge that decent broadband is only available in a few major cities...

      --
      Every time I start to have faith in humanity, I ruin it by driving to work between 7 and 8 am.
    27. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by DavidTC · · Score: 4, Informative

      Id be especially interested in the "currently torturing someone to death"... is that rhetoric, or should you be posting AC?

      You really don't know about any of the examples?

      Wow, our media has utterly failed us.

      --
      If corporations are people, aren't stockholders guilty of slavery?
    28. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by BitZtream · · Score: 1

      I hardly think an orchestrated DDoS attack seems unlikely.

      Actually, those things are exactly why an orchestrated DDoS attack is highly unlikely.

      If they wanted it to stop, the people involved would simply disappear.

      You start your post off with 'the US just kills people that do far less damaging things' and end it with 'because they kill people for less, they would totally be pussies and just slow this down rather than ending the lives of those doing it'.

      Seriously, if they REALLY wanted to stop it, they would have.

      You should probably loosen your tinfoil a bit.

      --
      Persistent Volume manager for Kubernetes - https://github.com/dwimsey/openshift-pvmanager
    29. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by spacefiddle · · Score: 1

      Rubbish. The US government has no motive

      Right, because we never punish anyone after the fact to make an example out of them...

    30. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by ubermiester · · Score: 1

      it's FBI has assassinated American civilians, the CIA is currently torturing someone to death in a secret prison somewhere in the world

      Where is the evidence for this exactly? Are you talking about various conspiracy theories or are you talking about accepted fact? The CIA using water-boarding is well known, but what evidence can you cite of either someone dieing from it or any other interrogation technique? Can you die from lack of sleep? Can you die from the embarrassment of being questioned while naked? And I cannot find any evidence of even an investigation of an FBI agent carrying out an assassination. Please provide more detail for your rather serious indictments. And the theories of some blogger who talked to "anonymous sources within the security establishment" does not count.

      I understand that there is a great deal of mistrust of governments in general and the US in particular, but the idea that the FBI and CIA are serial human rights abusers on the level of the Russian or Chinese secret police is simply wrong. The easy retort is of course that they shouldn't do anything to hurt anyone (physically or psychologically), anywhere, ever. This is both naive and dangerous.

    31. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by wjousts · · Score: 1

      Some punishment. Moron. So the site is briefly taken offline and runs a bit slower. Oh, that'll show them.

    32. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by blair1q · · Score: 1

      elected doesn't always mean democratic

      American civilians can be foreign spies

      under this president, the CIA is not likely to be torturing anyone

      terrorists deserve it

      your facts are suspect

      if this DDoS is the US government's doing, they're not doing very good at it, but then, they likely don't engage in spamming for profit so they wouldn't have that much practice at running a botnet

    33. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Erh... if the more recent history should tell you something it is that governments all over the planet don't give half a shit about the "sympathies" their actions create in a small fringe group that is demographically insignificant. And, let's face it, geeks are not really a large group that potentially follows some political leader who tells us which way to vote. And nobody but geeks cares too much about whether Wikileaks is online and available. They have much different and, to them, more important agendas to decide by which party they vote for.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    34. Re:Gov't Sponsored DDoS by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      You mean, like, pretty much every other country on this planet, sucking up to the US officially while secretly wishing the US would vanish overnight? Wow, that's some list.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  5. I think by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I think the charge for rape is just to get him to a country that the US can extradite him from after they change the laws so it will be illegal to rat on the politicians.

    1. Re:I think by elrous0 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You mean that Assange *didn't* suddenly become a child molester and rapist exactly two weeks after releasing a cache of classified documents that embarrassed the most powerful country in the world? Are you implying those charges might be TRUMPED-UP as part of an attempt at character assassination?!?!? The hell you say!

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    2. Re:I think by poity · · Score: 1

      You mean a sudden jolt of ego from world-wide fame *wouldn't* lower a man's private inhibitions and cause him to behave inappropriately, even illegally? Hey, as long as we're speculating...

      --
      your thin skin doesn't make me a troll
    3. Re:I think by elrous0 · · Score: 1

      Yes, because at the age of 39, after leading a life completely devoid of any crime worse than hacking, he suddenly decided to become a violent sexual predator on the same week he started releasing caches of classified U.S. government documents. There is nothing even remotely suspicious about that or its timing. And anyone who says otherwise is clearly a tinfoil hat conspiracy theorist who probably thinks we never landed on the moon either.

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    4. Re:I think by elrous0 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Yes, that's why every famous person becomes a rapist immediately upon achieving fame. No matter how many decades they spend as an innocent person, never hurting anyone; every guy just needs a slight dash of fame to become a sexual predator.

      Besides, if the CIA had just trumped this up, surely someone would have seen it coming beforehand.

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    5. Re:I think by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Michael Jackson is not amused.

      LOL captcha: grabbing, god bless you MJ

    6. Re:I think by Talderas · · Score: 1

      In the sense that Sweden has a ludicrous level of rape charges as is.

      It's possible that the US used it, given Sweden's rape charge level, as a smoke screen for trumped up charges. My bet is on it being a coincidence.

      --
      "Lack of speed can be overcome. In the worst case by patience." --Znork
    7. Re:I think by Bigjeff5 · · Score: 1

      It happens quite often, actually. There are a plethora of examples of fame going to people's heads.

      One famous example is R. Kelly.

      --
      Security is mostly a superstition... Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. - Helen Keller
    8. Re:I think by BitZtream · · Score: 1

      Whats more likely is that his head got so fucking big after the first leak and he became so self absorbed that he thought he could get by with something.

      He's an attention whore, last time he got a bunch of attention, he got a raging hardon and had to go get laid. Judging by his personality, he probably hasn't had too many women in his life and didn't really know what he was doing.

      He certainly isn't very intelligent or he would have realized that fucking around with a couple whores was a REALLY BAD IDEA at that point in time.

      Pretty much no matter how you look at it, he did this to himself. He might have raped some girls, but he most certainly acted irresponsibly by whoring around with them in the first place when the eyes of the world were on him. This again goes back to his need to be the center of attention.

      EVERYTHING this guy does screams socially inept douche bag ... yet you guys keep praising him. He's not your roll model, you really don't want to be like him.

      --
      Persistent Volume manager for Kubernetes - https://github.com/dwimsey/openshift-pvmanager
    9. Re:I think by BitZtream · · Score: 1

      While it may not be typical for them to become 'rapist', you're a complete and total idiot if you don't realize fame brings out the stupid in people. Maybe you're not American and you've not seen what happens in Hollywood?

      --
      Persistent Volume manager for Kubernetes - https://github.com/dwimsey/openshift-pvmanager
    10. Re:I think by blair1q · · Score: 1

      The fame gave him access to unfamiliar women and turned him into a self-justifying douchebag. His protestation that the charges are false is not inconsistent with his pattern of antisocial behavior. The Swedish authorities have followed the letter of the law, protecting his rights while he cooperated then escalating their official interest in him when he skipped out. I doubt the CIA could have made it this seamless. Assange created that mess for himself, and it belies his pretense of being one of the good guys. That you're falling for it just proves why people like him can get away with things like that.

    11. Re:I think by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In the sense that Sweden has a ludicrous level of rape charges as is.

      My understanding is that the initial charge was sex without a condom when the consent the evening before was understood (put possibly not stated) by the woman to include the use of a condom.

  6. Julius Assange by ardmhacha · · Score: 1

    "Julius Assange"

    Is he related to Julian Assange?

    1. Re:Julius Assange by gibbsjoh · · Score: 1

      Maybe they confused him with Julius Malema?

      --
      -- "...I'm a bad guy because I, well, I sing some rock-and-roll songs." M. Manson
    2. Re:Julius Assange by Culture20 · · Score: 1

      "Julius Assange"

      Is he related to Julian Assange?

      Now I finally know what rhymes with Julius Orange

    3. Re:Julius Assange by M.+Baranczak · · Score: 1

      Who cares? Arrest both of em!

  7. Assange should feel lucky... by edremy · · Score: 1

    ...that he decided to spread US diplomatic cables. Imagine if he had gotten a hold of a similar set of Russian ones and publicized them. His site wouldn't be DDOS'ed, he'd be dead.

    --
    "Seven Deadly Sins? I thought it was a to-do list!"
    1. Re:Assange should feel lucky... by Malc · · Score: 1

      Or rather: dying slowly, as an example to others.

    2. Re:Assange should feel lucky... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      ...that he decided to spread US diplomatic cables. Imagine if he had gotten a hold of a similar set of Russian ones and publicized them. His site wouldn't be DDOS'ed, he'd be dead.

      This is why I consider Assange to be nothing more than an asshole at best (or a terrorist at worst) with an axe to grind against the US, not some messaih out to save the world from Evil(tm) Secret Governmnets(tm). Unless he honestly expects us to believe absolutely no other government in the world has skeletons in its closet, the fact that he only picks on the country least likely to send assassins after him* puts a huge "coward" label on him.

      If he had the chutzpa to do this with any other country on the planet in addition to the US, maybe I'd have more respect for the guy. But now? He's just an asshole.

      *: Like it or not, America IS most likely the most diplomatic country out there in issues like these.

    3. Re:Assange should feel lucky... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In his recent interview with Forbes, he speaks about how what they release is based on what will have the biggest impact (and is why they're going to be releasing information on banks soon). From the sound of it, it just happens that this is the biggest stuff they've got.

      Look at the state of the world; they would have to have something really, REALLY big if they had something juicier than the US in Afghanistan, Iraq and international relations.

    4. Re:Assange should feel lucky... by geekoid · · Score: 1

      except this cables make other countries look pretty bad.
      If the world was as you imagined it, he would already be dead.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    5. Re:Assange should feel lucky... by nedlohs · · Score: 1

      Don't let the fact that wikileaks has published things from various countries in the past get in the way of your ranting.

      Or that Assange basically threatened Russia that he's got some stuff on them - asking to be murdered according to the wisdom here (heck even if he has nothing, the mere threat should be enough to see him offed).

      Obviously the US is going to be over represented:

      * It's a huge country in terms of what it is involved in and the data it collects.
      * It's a Democratic Republic with ideals of freedom, and hence an American is far more likely to leak something than a Russian.
      * Wikileaks receives data from others, it isn't a spy agency that intercepts it itself, some of wikileaks sources can be expected to be have your huge "coward" label, so you'll get more data from US sources.
      * The US is the "good guys". That "good guys" do "bad things" is interesting, that "bad guys" do "bad things" is boring.

    6. Re:Assange should feel lucky... by anonymousNR · · Score: 1

      I think you are missing the point, I know I am gonna get modded down to hell, the is point that Russia and all other horrible countries don't pretend to be the savior of the day, and do deadly things behind the backs, pretty much everyone knows Russia, China, India and many other significant powers have corrupt and handicapped governments, which can't do shit if their military or intelligence went rouge, but USA the great advocate of freedom of speech and openness and all the other "good" things doesn't seem to do anything about the horrible things done by a minority of bastards in their country.

      --
      -- It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. -- Aristotle
    7. Re:Assange should feel lucky... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And you think Moscow is happy that Iran knows why the S-300's were delayed as long as they were? I'd be a little pissed off if I knew a promise was made just to be used as a bargaining chip with Netanyahu...

      And I think it's a good thing that the entire middle east is terrified of the threat of a nuclear Iran and now they all know it. The security council can now sit and go "ok yeah, we know it's a problem so what kind of sanctions can our governments support?" Rather than pretend they don't know about the problem to each other publically.

      I am personally not looking forward to another nation holding nuclear arms, especially one that refers to America as the "Great Satan" in foreign policy documents.

    8. Re:Assange should feel lucky... by babblefrog · · Score: 1

      You realize that he can only publish stuff that other people give him, right? So you think he is sitting on a huge stash of secret Russian documents that he is afraid to publish?

    9. Re:Assange should feel lucky... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I know you're saying that tongue in cheek. But it really isn't luck but a calculated decision to spread that certain information. What happened to all the original information and leaks that wikileaks used to host? It's gone now. They've strayed far from their original mission. Heck, the name even has "wiki" in it. It's far from a wiki these days.

    10. Re:Assange should feel lucky... by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Dirt that's gonna axe one of the biggest banks in the US, likely to tear down quite a few others in its crumbling... big enough for you?

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  8. Can't be The Jester then. by SuricouRaven · · Score: 1

    That's one theory set aside. A hacker called The Jester had claimed credit for the attack, using some sort of uber-DoS tool he wrote that looks suspiciously like a slickly-GUIed implimentation of the old octopus attack as used in anoctupus and varients of slowloris. This, however, ie *far* beyond his level of ability - revealing him to be just yet another script kiddie claiming credit for something he had nothing to do with.

    1. Re:Can't be The Jester then. by geegel · · Score: 1

      It can be a lot of jesters though. There is strength in numbers you know?

      --
      right...
    2. Re:Can't be The Jester then. by multipartmixed · · Score: 3, Funny

      Have you watched Saturday Night Live in the last ten years?

      It is very rare for multiple jesters to be as effective in a group setting than a talented hack working alone.

      --

      Do daemons dream of electric sleep()?
    3. Re:Can't be The Jester then. by geegel · · Score: 1

      DDoS actually involves very little hacking. There are plenty of tools in the wild which are remarkably effective. With enough script kiddies you can actually accomplish something like this. And to answer your question: No, I've never watched that show, I don't live in US.

      --
      right...
    4. Re:Can't be The Jester then. by dropadrop · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Does it have to be an uber-dos tool? My employers services have been hit by 10gbit/s dos attacks for no obvious reason, and later studies have shown somebody initiated them for fun (and it was cheap).

    5. Re:Can't be The Jester then. by hedwards · · Score: 1

      This, however, ie *far* beyond his level of ability - revealing him to be just yet another script kiddie claiming credit for something he had nothing to do with.

      What makes you say that? You're defining his skill level without knowing whether he really wrote it or not. Then you go on to beg the question defining him as unskilled and referring back to that as evidence that he lacks the skills.

      Admittedly, I don't know this individual, but I'm not so sure that one can be so sure that he isn't able to do it. Sure you're likely correct, I just don't think you can say that based upon the available evidence.

      Unless of course you're the Jester and are just trying to confuse us.

    6. Re:Can't be The Jester then. by butalearner · · Score: 1

      Does it have to be an uber-dos tool? My employers services have been hit by 10gbit/s dos attacks for no obvious reason, and later studies have shown somebody initiated them for fun (and it was cheap).

      I imagine they just have to figure out what attack vectors wikileaks is vulnerable to. From what I've read, relatively few machines exploiting the slow POST vulnerability (Note: *not* the same as Slowloris) might do some damage.

    7. Re:Can't be The Jester then. by dropadrop · · Score: 1

      There's a lot of different ways to do an attack. Pushing 10gbit/s traffic is what you use when you don't want to bother figuring out what vectors something is vulnerable to.

  9. In Soviet Russia by Picardo85 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Wikileaks DDoS the USofA

  10. Biased summary by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "...suspected rapist..."

    way to give subtle bias in favor of the world's superpower against one person...

    1. Re:Biased summary by nomadic · · Score: 1

      Were you also criticizing most of the slashdot stories on Assange which have been overtly biased in favor of Assange?

  11. I confirm the asylum offer. by Ecuador · · Score: 5, Funny

    He will be quite comfortable and safe in my mother's basement.

    --
    Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent. Polar Scope Align for iOS
    1. Re:I confirm the asylum offer. by girlintraining · · Score: 1

      He will be quite comfortable and safe in my mother's basement.

      My basement is far better equipped, and is not in my mother's basement. Though... if you want, I could dress up like your mom. Everybody's got their kink you know.

      --
      #fuckbeta #iamslashdot #dicemustdie
    2. Re:I confirm the asylum offer. by Maxo-Texas · · Score: 1

      Mmm. That depends on how "well equipped" your basement is. Do you have a St. Andrew's Cross?

      --
      She was like chocolate when she drank... semi-sweet at first and then increasingly bitter.
    3. Re:I confirm the asylum offer. by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 1

      I heard that your basement is cramped

      --
      Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
    4. Re:I confirm the asylum offer. by Bigjeff5 · · Score: 1

      It rubs the lotion on its skin...

      --
      Security is mostly a superstition... Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. - Helen Keller
  12. Personal Attacks & Defamation by MBHkewl · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "suspected rapist Julius Assange"

    Their attempt at discrediting the accuracy of the info by repeating the word "suspected rapist" is a bit of an old cliche, don't you think?

    Also, does this still work, even with so much data available?

    --
    Mod points are a dangerous tool. Abuse them wisely.
    1. Re:Personal Attacks & Defamation by spazmonkey · · Score: 1

      But isn't he currently a rape suspect? As well as being a fugitive, and engaging in flight to avoid prosecution? All of these things are true, and all your fond hopes and wishes that it was all trumped up to stop him are just that - you don;t know if they are true or not. you just want it to be a conspiracy so you can continue to worship the guy regardless of fact.

    2. Re:Personal Attacks & Defamation by wjousts · · Score: 1

      Although technically true, "Julius" [sic - his name is Julian] is accused of rape, so he qualifies as a "suspected rapist", I agree that throwing that into the summary is irrelevant to the story and unnecessarily prejudice.

    3. Re:Personal Attacks & Defamation by countertrolling · · Score: 1

      Also, does this still work, even with so much data available?

      Yes! of course. Every election result with their 95% reelection rate of corrupt politicians is proof that it works extremely well.

      --
      For justice, we must go to Don Corleone
    4. Re:Personal Attacks & Defamation by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      "suspected rapist Julius Assange"

      I'd have gone with Anti-American douche-bag, myself.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    5. Re:Personal Attacks & Defamation by Haedrian · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Oh come on, we all know its poisoning the well - example

      "Man steals car"

      "African American aslyum-seeker steals car"

      "Black illegal immigrant steals car"

      All three of those can describe the same story. Do you notice the bias towards the end?

      Sure they're all true, but are they linked to the story? Does him being a rape suspect, in any way contributes to this story? Of course it could be "Mothers Against Rape Suspects" DDOSing him, but that's unlikely.

    6. Re:Personal Attacks & Defamation by elrous0 · · Score: 5, Funny

      I think possible dog molester MBHkewl is right. Much as I disagree with MBHkewl's alleged disgusting lifestyle, I think it's possible, just possible, that we're seeing an obvious case of character assassination here. And I urge readers to overlook the fact that MBHkewl purportedly rapes innocent puppies long enough to consider that he may have a point.

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    7. Re:Personal Attacks & Defamation by ObsessiveMathsFreak · · Score: 1

      I suspect CmdrTaco took one look at the scale of the DDOS attack currently pummeling Wikileaks, wailed in abject terror, then decided not to tempt fate and play the card less likely to draw the botnet owners ire.

      Either that or 'Taco has been drinking the American Patriot cool-aid. Given his age, origin and marital status, it's probably the latter.

      --
      May the Maths Be with you!
    8. Re:Personal Attacks & Defamation by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 1

      Calling him a rape suspect is a bit like calling someone caught urinating in public a "sex offender". The charges are for sexual assault, or molest, or whatever the legal term is, and in many countries (Sweden included) this can range from actual rape down to "looking at women in a funny way". The charges brought against him in Sweden are of the latter category as far as I know, although perhaps the women involved have amplified their original charges to include something more serious, which would explain the decision to issue an arrest warrant after all.

      --
      If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
    9. Re:Personal Attacks & Defamation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Although technically true, "Julius" [sic - his name is Julian] is accused of rape, so he qualifies as a "suspected rapist", I agree that throwing that into the summary is irrelevant to the story and unnecessarily prejudice.

      No, he qualifies as an "alleged rapist". To say he is "suspected" is an evaluation of the quality of the allegations and evidence against him.

    10. Re:Personal Attacks & Defamation by hedwards · · Score: 3, Interesting

      He offered them the opportunity to question him before he left Sweden, and inquired as to whether or not he was free to leave the country. They allowed him to leave the country and avoid being questioned.

      They have apparently subsequently changed their minds, and I can't blame him for fighting it. He made a good faith offer to come in for questioning, now they're wanting him to fly back on his own dime to do it. Something about this appears to be very, very wrong, beyond the initial charges looking like complete bunk. There is no ex post facto rape, either it was rape at the time or it isn't rape, you can't change your mind after the fact. Or at least you can't in civilized countries.

    11. Re:Personal Attacks & Defamation by mcgrew · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It doesn't matter whether or not it's true, it's still an ad hominem attack and shitty journalism.

    12. Re:Personal Attacks & Defamation by jbeaupre · · Score: 1

      You misunderstand. This is to avoid confusing the Wikileaks guy with "convicted rapist Assange" and "suspected lunch stealer Assange." Got to be specific.

      --
      The world is made by those who show up for the job.
    13. Re:Personal Attacks & Defamation by blair1q · · Score: 1

      You're right. He's not a suspected rapist. He's an alleged rapist who is named in an arrest warrant. Oh wait. That makes him a suspected rapist. You're wrong.

    14. Re:Personal Attacks & Defamation by betterunixthanunix · · Score: 1

      But isn't he currently a rape suspect?

      Last I checked, he was accused of having consensual sex with a woman, and failing to stop after the condom he was wearing broke. Calling that rape is a serious stretch.

      --
      Palm trees and 8
    15. Re:Personal Attacks & Defamation by SETIGuy · · Score: 1

      I believe that makes him an "accused rapist" or an "alleged rapist" rather than a "suspected rapist." The accusers are pretty sure to have identified him correctly. "Suspected" would only be best if there was some doubt as to his identity as the perpetrator or if he had not yet been accused or indicted. The only doubts are whether he did what he is accused of and whether what he is accused of qualifies as rape.

      It's important to be precise with our language.

    16. Re:Personal Attacks & Defamation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In Sweden it's legal to have sex with animals. Rape isn't.

    17. Re:Personal Attacks & Defamation by RealGrouchy · · Score: 1

      It may be technically true, but that doesn't make it relevant to an article about Wikileaks. It's also true that he's allegedly blonde, but the article doesn't mention that either. I think it's also true that he has never publicly denounced killing of all smurfs. Should that be mentioned? It's technically true.

      Usually when an article is written about, say, the latest top 10 list on David Letterman, he wouldn't be introduced as "Comedian and admitted adulterer David Letterman"

      - RG>

      --
      Hey pal, this isn't a pleasantforest, so don't waste my time with pleasantries!
    18. Re:Personal Attacks & Defamation by wjousts · · Score: 1

      Fair enough, but beside the point. The point is that throwing in this stuff about rape is irrelevant to the original story. Nobody is calling to extradite him for rape (except maybe the Swedish), they want to extradite him for espionage.

    19. Re:Personal Attacks & Defamation by blair1q · · Score: 1

      It is relevant. He's not Robin Hood, and there's proof.

      As for Letterman, it's his show and his top-10 list. It's not Assange's newspaper. Letterman is likely to have the authority to edit an introduction if his writers included something derogatory against him (though he rarely does, which is part of his schtick; in fact he clearly goads and rewards that sort of thing from his staff). Assange, not so much.

    20. Re:Personal Attacks & Defamation by deapbluesea · · Score: 1

      Sure they're all true, but are they linked to the story?

      Although many of the illegal alien headlines involve illegal aliens with a history of arrests and releases, but no deportations. So, yes, in some cases, that race, gender, and/or status of the individual is pertinent. In this case - not so much.

      --
      Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.
    21. Re:Personal Attacks & Defamation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes it does.

    22. Re:Personal Attacks & Defamation by X.25 · · Score: 1

      Although technically true, "Julius" [sic - his name is Julian] is accused of rape, so he qualifies as a "suspected rapist", I agree that throwing that into the summary is irrelevant to the story and unnecessarily prejudice.

      So, why don't people refer to George W. Bush as "suspected war criminal", then?

    23. Re:Personal Attacks & Defamation by wjousts · · Score: 1

      Some do, some don't even bother with the "suspected" part, but it's off-topic.

    24. Re:Personal Attacks & Defamation by NotBornYesterday · · Score: 1

      Regardless of which way the press slants, the fact is that provocative headlines draw in readers. I'd sooner believe that was the reason for the chosen wording than any anti-Assange bias in the press. Heck, the press must love the guy, after what he's done for them.

      --
      I prefer rogues to imbeciles because they sometimes take a rest.
    25. Re:Personal Attacks & Defamation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He's more american than you are. Wikileaks is upholding the american spirit (despite not being US-based), unlike the disgrace that the americans, at least those with power, have become.

    26. Re:Personal Attacks & Defamation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The difference between before and after is the threat of the CIA to widthdraw all U.S. intelligence data given to this country.

      It was written in the press.

      Now, of course, the prosecutor has changed for another one not too shy about how to fuel its carrier.

      And, ahem, did anyone notice the 'holes' in the disclosed reports? Why, for example, the 2001-2002 period is (still) not published?

      If Assange is still free, that may be only for this kind of reason.

      The article published by The Guardian will stay as a reference.

    27. Re:Personal Attacks & Defamation by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Yes. So? How is this charge in any way connected to the problem at hand? If he was accused of, say, hacking, stealing a computer or executing a DDoS himself, it would be relevant and mentioning it would have some connection to the DDoS currently underway. But how is him being suspected of rape in any way connected with an organization he belongs to being the target of a DDoS?

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    28. Re:Personal Attacks & Defamation by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      upholding the american spirit

      What the hell is that? Define that and then we'll talk.

      If you mean "rugged individualism", then you are right - I can't even grow a beard.

      Apparently women ask him to stop in the middle of intercourse - not a problem I've ever had, but we can go back there if you want.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
  13. Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by spazmonkey · · Score: 2, Insightful

    They pulled all corporate and other countries leaks. Now they are simply an anti-US organization. They lost all claim to moral superiority or credibility at that point. Its simply a politically motivated espionage group now with an axe to grind against one country. Treat them like it. When he disappears, or accidentally falls down an elevator shaft on to a pile of bullets, no one will cry.

    1. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by dragonhunter21 · · Score: 1

      I've heard rumors that the next leak is US Bank.

      Can they help it that the United States is the juiciest target?

      --
      Sent from my CR-48
    2. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But Slashdot will cry.

    3. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by Bobakitoo · · Score: 0

      Oh look! Someone drank all the kool-aid.

    4. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by spazmonkey · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Where did all the other leaks, private and government go then? Why did they pull even the old ones from their archives? Justify that.

    5. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by IgnoramusMaximus · · Score: 1

      When? If just now then the most likely scenario is that they pulled everything but the latest stuff in an effort to minimize the size of the pages and the load on the servers in face of the DDOS. A common practice in such cases.

    6. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by thehostiles · · Score: 1, Insightful

      ... Now they are simply an anti-US organization. ....

      This has been brought up before. Claiming that something is "anti-US" is a weightless statement.
      Anti American is whatever politicians want it to be. It's whatever's convenient. There's no definition, no rules and no reasons for it... except for use as a crutch when all other arguments fail.
      Certainly, Wikileaks has done a lot of US based leaks, but that doesn't make them "anti-US". It's like saying that pizza hut is an italian resturant because it has pizza.
      Actually, that's not even a very good analogy because wikileaks itself doesn't leak the information. It recieves leaks, compiles them and publishes them online.
      Wikileaks is a primarily English website. Of course there's not going to be many foreign leaks, the managers don't speak every language in the world. It takes longer for foreign issues to surface.
      And of course you're not going to hear about them because you watch news from sources that are English. Go figure, your news reports on issues that are relevant to your country!

      So the next time you go complaining that there's no big leaks about Russia or China, go to Russia and China, find some juicy details and send them to Wikileaks yourself.

    7. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by daveschroeder · · Score: 5, Insightful
      Are you serious?

      ...

      The US is the "juiciest target" in the entire world?

      Or are you one of those people who erroneously believes that the free and democratic nations of the world are actually the world's most egregious oppressors and abusers, and the US sits at the pinnacle of the abusers?

      If you think the US is the "juiciest target", I wonder what you'd think if we saw the same level of leaks of communications from, say, Chinese corporations, the Chinese government, and Chinese "diplomatic" efforts...

      At its launch, WikiLeaks said it was "founded by Chinese dissidents, journalists, mathematicians and start-up company technologists, from the US, Taiwan, Europe, Australia and South Africa", and that its "primary interest is in exposing oppressive regimes in Asia, the former Soviet bloc, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East". Instead, WikiLeaks publishes mostly classified information from democracies.

      So now, nations like China and Russia have an advantage over the US in the conduct of their international affairs, intelligence, and defense. I can only imagine China's delight with each new release from WikiLeaks.

      Steven Aftergood, a veteran crusader against excessive government secrecy and director of the Federation of American Scientists' Project on Government Secrecy, notes, "WikiLeaks must be counted among the enemies of open society because it does not respect the rule of law nor does it honor the rights of individuals." WikiLeaks doesn't care whether information it obtains is legitimately classified, nor whether it may cause grave harm if released. Indeed, the only thing exempt from this reckless behavior is WikiLeaks itself.

      What is interesting to me is that many observers of this phenomenon in free and democratic societies seem to believe it is their own governments that are hiding the most egregious information, which deserves to be exposed via channels like WikiLeaks.

      I would submit that individuals who live in the US and other Western nations who believe their governments are "oppressing" them have no idea what "oppression" is.

    8. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are missing the point. It's not the fact that recently they have only been leaking US related documents. It's that ALL of the other leaks that used to be up (from private firms, as well as government documents) have been pulled down.

      If its just a response to the DDoS then thats understandable, otherwise it seems kinda suspicious.

    9. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The US is the world's top dog, and their political decisions affect everyone without exception. Wikileaks would be stupid to concentrate their efforts on the small-fry, if the aim of their leaks is to produce maximum societal impact. The question we should be asking ourselves is, even though the leaks may be harming the current US administration because their dirty laundry is put on display, are they anti-US and against the ideals the USA was founded on? In my opinion, Wikileaks is exactly the medicine this very ill nation needs, and I cheer for them to keep it up.

    10. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by IgnoramusMaximus · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      Where did all the other leaks, private and government go then? Why did they pull even the old ones from their archives? Justify that.

      Justification A: in case of a DDOS one tries to minimize the load on the servers and to do that you have to make the website as small as possible. This usually means that all archives go offline and only the last, most current info stays.

      Justification B: You are a petulant whiner, whose mentality is that of a criminal who being hauled away by a cop will moan and bitch that the drug dealer on the next street is getting away from the same cop and therefore you, in your twisted mind, deserve to be let go also. Never you mind that you happen to be the most obnoxious, violent and best armed - by far - thug in the whole neighborhood. In your view either all other criminals have to be caught before you or all must be let go - well you don't really give a shit about them but you must be immune - and if the cop focuses on you first, that is "anti you" and "immoral" and somehow "evil". He must catch every pickpocket, burglar and bicycle thief first - before you, the mass murderer, can be brought to justice or the cop is just your personal enemy otherwise and has "no moral high ground". This "logic" is prevalent amongst the "patriots" in any debate involving USA and Israel and any sort of accountability for any actions of the citizens of these places abroad.

    11. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 3, Insightful

      So, to hear you tell it, letting the US citizens know what kind of underhanded behavior their government is engaging in is anti-US? I hate to break it to you bud, but you aren't one of US, you are one of them.

      --
      Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
    12. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by crow_t_robot · · Score: 1

      Now they are simply an anti-US organization.

      Does that make the documents they post invalid or untrue? Who cares if they have an axe to grind? If they are posting factual information about wrongdoing then it's a good thing.

    13. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by schnikies79 · · Score: 1

      I checked the site weeks ago and it only had the war documents. Everything else was pulled long before that.

      --
      Gone!
    14. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by JTsyo · · Score: 1

      I agree, this set of cables really didn't expose any coverups or such. It just released government documents for the sole purpose of embarrassing the US State Department. If there was something they wanted to get out it was only needed to release that particular cable with the pertinent information.

    15. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Haha, if you knew how pathetic those "anti-US" commentaries look for those of us who live outside of the US...

    16. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't really think they sought out this information... they publish stuff they are given, how dumb are you? self-centered american... take it off the chin and move on, any educated individual knows about these communications, it's a bad PR thing but at least there's so much information that nobody will ever understand all of it. Maybe it might clean up some areas once they realize how non-secret some of these bozos are.

    17. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by melikamp · · Score: 1

      Ooookay. And El Pais, Le Monde, Der Spiegel, The Guardian, and The New York Times, who published the same documents at the same time, are not simply anti-US organizations? Why?

      The leak probably came from a US government employee whose only goal was to publicize as widely as possible. If Wikileaks was not there to provide its journalistic services, someone else would step in. The information would still leak and get copied over the net. All the interested parties would already have it: governments, criminals. In short., everyone but the US public would already have it. And without editorial services currently provided by Wikileaks, the data blob would be unedited and verbatim. Does this look like a better outcome?

      Stop pretending that Wikileaks does anything important beyond editing. They do not leak: they don't have to. It is ABSOLUTELY TRIVIAL to transfer 100 GB of arbitrary digital data between any two internet-enabled countries, and do so in a way that is undetectable. Want to get rid of journalism? Go ahead, it won't stop leaks, it will simply make them raw, since you removed the only party that gives a damn about editing. We can see right now how much the US government—which happens to be the likely source of the leak—cares about these documents hurting people. They simply don't. For all they care, these documents were already leaked and in the wild by the time Wikileaks got them, so whitewashing them now for the general public won't make any difference. Anyone with an interest already purchased a raw version.

    18. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by ObsessiveMathsFreak · · Score: 1, Flamebait

      Now they are simply an anti-US organization. They lost all claim to moral superiority or credibility at that point.

      This view is no doubt a common one in some quarters, but ultimately stems from the unstated and absolutist belief that the United States is intrinsically a force for good in the world. Noam Chomsky mentions this, in relation to the Vietnam War, where even the most left wing of commentators described the war as "[US] blundering efforts to do good". The unquestioning narrative presented was that "US==GOOD, always". I'm sure a lot of Americans even believe it.

      Suffice to say this is not the case. Wikileaks has exposed the underlying hypocrisy, corruption, deceit and outright lies behind the public relations veneer. That's real journalism, not the obsequious boot-licking of the shills you call journalists.

      And now, having gorged yourself on the swill of lies presented by the mainstream interests, you have the nerve to object--to even be offended--when someone offers you a glass of truth. Go back to your trough; you're not fit to raise your head from it.

      --
      May the Maths Be with you!
    19. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by TheVelvetFlamebait · · Score: 1

      Justification B

      Read spazmonkey's posts again. There is a subtle but vitally important distinction between whining that a cop only arrested you, and wining that a cop is corrupt, as evidenced by their reluctance to even turn their attention to any other criminal except you. Well, except that spazmonkey here isn't even a criminal in this analogy...

      --
      You know, there is a difference between trolling and pointing out the flaws in your reasoning. Just saying.
    20. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by TheVelvetFlamebait · · Score: 1

      I can only imagine China's delight with each new release from WikiLeaks.

      Ha! They may be delighting now, but wait until tomorrow! I hear that wikileaks is publishing a classified document by an american diplomat, in which he calls all of china's leadership "poopy-pants". That'll show 'em!

      --
      You know, there is a difference between trolling and pointing out the flaws in your reasoning. Just saying.
    21. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by clyde_cadiddlehopper · · Score: 1

      According to an interview with Assange in Forbes JA: We have one related to a bank coming up, that’s a megaleak. It’s not as big a scale as the Iraq material, but it’s either tens or hundreds of thousands of documents depending on how you define it. Forbes: Is it a U.S. bank? JA: Yes, it’s a U.S. bank. Forbes: One that still exists? JA: Yes, a big U.S. bank. Forbes: The biggest U.S. bank? JA: No comment. Forbes: When will it happen? JA: Early next year. I won’t say more.

      --
      Obi-Wan: "I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were sudden
    22. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by hedwards · · Score: 1

      Can't help but notice that you didn't include any actual citations. If you're going to bother quoting, then the least you could do is provide links.

      And for your information, pretty much everybody knows the degree to which China stinks in terms of corruption, human rights abuse, but that doesn't really mean that there's the interest there to leak the information. Nothing you've claimed they said deals with that at all. Wouldn't a far simpler explanation be that most of their efforts have been focused on the US lately because of the volume of materials involved? And that perhaps the older material was pulled because they needed to tighten up their archive for when somebody came to pull it down?

      Seems completely reasonable to me. But then again I'm not a right wing nutjob.

    23. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by davev2.0 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The U.S. is the juiciest target?
      What about Russia and its corruption and political oppression?
      Mexico and its corruption and drug cartels?
      What about Ireland and its corporate tax giveaways? Why aren't they looking at how that continued?
      How about the collapse of Ireland's banking system? Or, the collapse of Iceland economy?
      What about human trafficking in China, mostly female North Korean sex workers.
      Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries covering up physical and sexual abuse of foreign workers, including murder?
      Sexual abuse of female workers in Chinese factories?
      Tacit government approval of child sex workers and tourism in Thailand, Viet Nam, and Cambodia?

      Yeah, you are right. The U.S. has all the juiciest stories. In fact, there are no other stories worth pursuing any where else.

    24. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Setup your own site and only accept leaks for non-anti-US material.

      We're waiting.

      It's their site, they get to decide what to do with it. The only other consequence of that is they are responsible for what gets published there.

      Distribution of information that is inconvenient or harmful to the powerful just has higher consequences than funny pictures of your cat. By definition the powerful can make a lot of other people do a lot of work for them, including keeping inconvenient or harmful information undisclosed. Of course, any fool with a botnet of poorly patched Windows PCs can DDOS a site, too.

    25. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Try going to a library and reading a few books on dependency theory.

    26. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by corbettw · · Score: 1

      What about the leaks detailing the views of the Saudis, Egytians, and others towards Iran? How are those "anti-US"?

      --
      God invented whiskey so the Irish would not rule the world.
    27. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by poity · · Score: 1

      No, the issue is they had documents from other countries before, and now they are no longer available.
      Some here bring up the excuse that it saves bandwidth, but they only had maybe 10000 articles, a few hundred pdf and jpegs.
      The bandwidth requirement on that is maybe 1/100th of what is required for the hundreds of thousands of documents now available.
      There is no excuse to not keep those documents around.
      As for the language issue, wikileaks says they were founded by Chinese dissidents, so there should be no issue.
      I am Chinese-American, and I can and have read all the Chinese files that were previously available, as I'm sure many Chinese-Americans have done.
      There is no issue of language. It's not an excuse.

      --
      your thin skin doesn't make me a troll
    28. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by IgnoramusMaximus · · Score: 1

      Except of course that the "cop" in question did in fact pay attention to many others, but his desk does not at present have the old files on it. This alone is a sufficient cause for spazmonkeys of the world to screech, jump up and down and fling feces. But then again, that's monkeys for you.

    29. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by poity · · Score: 1

      No.
      Leaking US documents is not anti-US
      However, pulling documents leaked from other governments in favor of more US documents is evidence of anti-US agenda.
      If all the past leaks were still available, no argument could be made against Assange.

      I'm surprised at how many people have not been keeping up with the wikileaks site, and yet speak so supportively

      --
      your thin skin doesn't make me a troll
    30. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by IgnoramusMaximus · · Score: 1

      Who knows what the cause was. The fact remains that the documents were on the site for a long time and were first available on that site and nowhere else.

      But even if Wikileaks focuses all of its attention on the most juicy chunk of meat they managed to snatch, it still does not validate all the whining that's coming out of all the US "patriots", whose idea of "justice" and "accountability" is that every country in the world must first become the very paragon of perfection before the US can even be insinuated of having being somewhat less then supremely benevolent and divinely selfless, not to mention righteous and law-abiding, and therefore Wikileaks is an evil "anti US" Islamo-communisto-fascist-Iranian site and Osama Bin Laden is Julian Assange's uncle and they both conspire to deprive the blushing, innocent, pure as a driven snow USA of her virginity...

    31. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by poity · · Score: 1

      I don't think parent ever claimed that.
      The veracity of the leaked information is not in question.
      It's the rather suspicious removal of past leaks, many of which were from other countries, that is the issue.
      If indeed they purposely removed those documents what guarantee do the public have of future non-US leaks?

      --
      your thin skin doesn't make me a troll
    32. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 1

      "If all the past leaks were still available, no argument could be made against Assange."

      You forget to include the second part of the "conditional", to wit: if no past leaks are available, it is still true that no argument can be made against Assange.

      If someone speaks the truth, and then speaks the truth on a different subject and chooses to avoid subjects he spoke the truth about in the past, the truth he speaks does not somehow lose its truthiness.

      --
      Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
    33. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by Esteanil · · Score: 1

      So now, nations like China and Russia have an advantage over the US in the conduct of their international affairs, intelligence, and defense. I can only imagine China's delight with each new release from WikiLeaks.

      We're talking about information accessible to ~2.4 million people - do you *really* think that Russia, China and every other country with an intelligence service didn't already know these things? Wikileaks is doing the U.S. a favor in exposing how utterly weak their purported information security is.

      Oh, and the "Top Secret" classification has ~854000 clearances, so chances are they know far, far more.

      --
      I'm a dreamer, the world is my playpen. But hey, I'm a serious person, I can't dream all the time.
    34. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by dragonhunter21 · · Score: 1

      150,000 people dying in a war many Americans don't support, 4400 of those American, with 31,000 American injured.
      Two of the largest threats remaining in the world, each possibly equipped with multiple nuclear weapons and the capability to deliver them halfway around the world.
      The terminal cancer of one of those countries' leaders.

      By the way, Vietnam is one word.

      --
      Sent from my CR-48
    35. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by ShiningSomething · · Score: 1

      They are still there! Or they would be, if they weren't under a DDOS attack.

    36. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by geekoid · · Score: 1

      Have you read ANY of the leaks? Any of the reports? For the most part, the leaks make Americans looks pretty damn good. Like the helpful moderator trying to keep peaceful discussion amongst countries whose agenda are different then their public claim.

      Nothing really underhanded going on.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    37. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by geekoid · · Score: 1

      In general the US aims to bring openess, peace and democracy to the world. So yeah, I call that Good.

      Sometimes it tries to do it with methods that fail, or aren't any good, or are just plain sloppy.

      That's an argument with the methods, not the goal.

      And yes, there are some down right ugly things that have nothing to do with goals I mention. That's in the minority.

      No, I do not agree the Guantanamo and torture. However no matter who misguided and stupid it is, the goal is to reduce terrorism and help people be free.

      Knee jerk Readers:
      Before mashing your stumps against your keyboard in a vain attempt to put together a cohesive sentence that will ultimately fail, re-read my post. Perhaps get a drink of water and collect your thoughts into a logical reply.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    38. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 1

      I think you followed up to the wrong post. I am the guy saying that - regardless of the content of the "leaks" - "leaking" the truth about what the US government does and says to the US people is not anti-US. You're thinking of the guy who says it is anti-US.

      --
      Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
    39. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by poity · · Score: 1

      But why remove the previous leaks? He doesn't have to keep publicizing them, but why remove them ?

      --
      your thin skin doesn't make me a troll
    40. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      I would submit that individuals who live in the US and other Western nations who believe their governments are "oppressing" them have no idea what "oppression" is.

      What I took from this entire post is that individuals from "the US and other Western nations" should abandon the fight against oppression simply because of the lack of severity. I would submit that giving an inch would constitute a mile, and there is a reason why we cannot fathom was true oppression is and that reason is largely because we do refuse to stand for even minor amounts of it.

    41. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think the point is that the US and other democracies, while certainly more free than your average regime, do also engage in oppression and abuse, albeit in a more subtle way. Would anyone really find it surprising that China arrested and tortured yet another dissident? Or would people find it more surprising that the US government knew that a US company helped the Chinese government to locate that dissident and did nothing? I think people do have an idea what oppression is, those of us in the Western world would prefer that we not become intimately familiar with it thanks to our governments' policies.

    42. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > WikiLeaks doesn't care whether information it obtains is legitimately classified, nor whether it may cause grave harm if released.

      Liar, you know full well they screen stuff for risky information, even trying to cooperate with the government to redact harmful stuff. Shame on you.

    43. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 1

      Who gives a flying fuck?

      --
      Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
    44. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      With the US, it isn't just a case of oppressing its own citizens, but also those of other countries.

    45. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by daveschroeder · · Score: 1

      You missed my point entirely, even though you included it in your quote excerpt. I'm not talking about China or Russia having access to the information in the cables.

      I'm talking about the ability of the US to conduct its foreign policy being diminished because of the information becoming public, and the firestorm of debate and criticism it will cause. Julian Assange has said he is prolonging and staggering this information release to keep it at the forefront of the news for months, for maximum political impact.

      This isn't a case of two wrongs make a right; this is a very real problem, and the public release of this information in the supposed name of "transparency" and the "peoples' right to know" only puts the United States at a disadvantage to nations that are far less free, and have far less honorable intentions.

    46. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by clone52431 · · Score: 1

      By the way, Vietnam is one word.

      Actually it’s Viêt Nam (with an extra little dot under the e which Slashdot won’t display). But don’t let that stop you from telling people they’re wrong.

      --
      Distributed Denial of APK: It takes 15 seconds to reply to him anonymously, but wastes tons of his time if we all do it.
    47. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by daveschroeder · · Score: 1

      Can't help but notice that you didn't include any actual citations. If you're going to bother quoting, then the least you could do is provide links.

      You should be able to verify any of these quotes easily. This is a slashdot comment, not an academic paper. But just so everyone knows what I said is accurate:

      At its launch, WikiLeaks said it was "founded by Chinese dissidents, journalists, mathematicians and start-up company technologists, from the US, Taiwan, Europe, Australia and South Africa", and that its "primary interest is in exposing oppressive regimes in Asia, the former Soviet bloc, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East". - Source

      Steven Aftergood, a veteran crusader against excessive government secrecy and director of the Federation of American Scientists' Project on Government Secrecy, notes, "WikiLeaks must be counted among the enemies of open society because it does not respect the rule of law nor does it honor the rights of individuals." - Source

      And no, their efforts haven't just focused on the US because of the volume of materials involved. I don't care what has or hasn't been pulled from the web; the point is that the focus of WikiLeaks' efforts have changed to target primarily the US, instead of "oppressive regimes in Asia, the former Soviet bloc, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East". Julian Assange's single-minded crusade against the US has caused rifts within WikiLeaks itself:

      Despite latest coup, WikiLeaks facing challenges, Washington Post

      Indeed, as WikiLeaks is trumpeting its latest coup, a number of former WikiLeaks activists are painting another picture of an organization that is out of control, still too driven by the personality and ego of its mercurial founder, Julian Assange.

      "I'm too busy ending two wars," is the response one reporter got in an e-mail from Assange after asking for clarity on an issue, according to a source who saw the e-mail, and thought it captured Assange's crusading and peremptory nature.

      [...]

      But the phenomenal rise of WikiLeaks over the past six months has come at a price, former activists say. At least five people from the core group have left because of disagreements over the way Assange was running the operation, said Herbert Snorrason, a 25-year-old Icelandic activist who moderated a WikiLeaks chat room until about a month ago. "Quite a few others" who were more tangentially involved have also left, he said.

      He said too many editorial decisions were being made solely by Assange, including to title the Baghdad video Collateral Murder, a move that suggested to some that WikiLeaks is not neutral. "It had unnecessary effects on how the project was perceived," he said.

      Former colleagues questioned the focus on high-profile disclosures such as the Afghanistan records, which, they said, not only meant smaller projects languished but that the rushed staff was ill-prepared to vet so many records to ensure that names of civilians had been redacted.

      WikiLeaks Founder on the Run, Trailed by Notoriety, New York Times

      Mr. Assange’s detractors also accuse him of pursuing a vendetta against the United States. In London, Mr. Assange said America was an increasingly militarized society and a threat to democracy.

      [...]

      In an encrypted online chat, a transcript of which was passed to The Times, Mr. Assange was dismissive of his colleagues. He described them as “a confederacy of fools,” and asked his interlocutor, “Am I dealing with a complete retard?”

      "I am the heart and soul of this organisation, its founde

    48. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by dragonhunter21 · · Score: 1

      For native Veitnamese, sure. However, English speakers refer to it as Vietnam. And either way, that's not the main argument of my post.

      --
      Sent from my CR-48
    49. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by Khashishi · · Score: 1

      Could it possibly be that US has simply leaked more of this information than other countries? Maybe Wikileaks seems to target US more because there are more sources in America, and not some bias on the side of the editors. Or, does Wikileaks actually have a large supply of other countries' documents that they are just not publicizing?

    50. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by Bigjeff5 · · Score: 1

      You're confused on what the argument against Assange is.

      I don't think anybody is arguing that the documents are untrue. However, when he focuses a single country, and that country is known world over for the incredible freedom its citizens enjoy, then the whole "exposing corruption worldwide" mantra of Wikileaks starts to smell rather strongly of bullshit.

      Nobody is saying Assange publishes lies. They are saying Assange is an asshole with a political agenda against a single country, and is pretending to be a neutral party exposing corruption.

      On that score, the argument against Assange is very strong.

      Hell, as far as I've seen there isn't anything particularly corrupt in any of the documents released. It's just a bunch of things that should have been kept private. Wikileaks's only possible purpose, then, is to embarrass the US.

      They may have once been all about exposing corruption, but they strayed from that path a long time ago.

      --
      Security is mostly a superstition... Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. - Helen Keller
    51. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by clone52431 · · Score: 1

      For native Veitnamese, sure. However, English speakers refer to it as Vietnam.

      English speakers can refer to it as just about anything they damn well want to refer to it as, as long as it resembles Viet Nam and everyone knows what they mean, and I’ve seen plenty of people call it Viet Nam. My personal theory is that a lot of the older folks call it “Viet Nam” because they actually spent time in Vietnam and that’s what the locals called it. But it’s really still irrelevant.

      Also, you misspelled Vietnamese by nearly any explanation. Ah, delicious irony.

      And either way, that's not the main argument of my post.

      Again with the delicious irony. You’re complaining that I didn’t address the main argument of your post... after you completely ignored the main argument of davev2.0’s post.

      --
      Distributed Denial of APK: It takes 15 seconds to reply to him anonymously, but wastes tons of his time if we all do it.
    52. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by blair1q · · Score: 1

      hard to tell where to start. maybe here: pizza hut also has pasta and a red-white-and-green theme. as far as "italian restaurant" goes, that qualifies it.

      so it is just like that, because you're wrong about the "anti-US" thing.

      it does have meaning. when something is labeled anti-US, it rouses political sentiment in pro-US individuals and organizations. it doesn't have to be true, it just has to ring true.

      of course, in this case, it is true. if wikileaks wasn't anti-US, it wouldn't attack the US by damaging its diplomatic efforts around the world.

      the OP is correct. Wikileaks has taken down material against other governments and companies and focusses on the US. until it resumes being egalitarian in its illegal behaviors, it will be undeniably anti-US.

    53. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by blair1q · · Score: 1

      I wouldn't discount the possibility that Assange is a Chinese mole.

    54. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by Un+pobre+guey · · Score: 4, Informative
    55. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      of course, in this case, it is true. if wikileaks wasn't anti-US, it wouldn't attack the US by damaging its diplomatic efforts around the world.

      Some men just want to watch the world burn.
      There doesn't need to be any rhyme or reason for this. Assange doesn't need an excuse.

    56. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are either a member of the US version of China's 50 cent army or you have been terribly brainwashed to reiterate that nonsense. The site is dedicated to exposing leaks, no matter where they come from. These diplomatic cables are exactly that, information leaks. Invaluable information leaks. The site is focusing on these because, well, this has been history's most extensive leak of a sovereign state since.... ever. Of course wikileaks is publishing this. It is only possible to start to think about partisanship if some other leaked documents who are even remotely near as important as these diplomatic cables (which are basically nothing more than collecting and communication information which is freely available) were passed onto wikileaks and were refused publishing. Has that ever happened? No. That's why the best you came up with was a baseless reference to wikileaks pulling out leaks on some private companies. Are you that desperate to tarnish wikileak's reputation?

      You only bitch about "moral superiority" and yap about them being "anti-US" because this leak has exposed, more than diplomatic communications, how appallingly fragile the US government and military's security is. You only waste your time putting up pathetic personal attacks because this leak exposed to the world how profoundly weak and vulnerable the US's diplomatic channels were made to be. Then you ramble on about treason and criminal actions, which are baseless accusations at best. Are your masters that desperate to contain their leaking ship by attacking the one which pointed the world their ship is leaking?

    57. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by Hydian · · Score: 1

      Nothing is as juicy as seeing the sins of the righteous.

    58. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >Claiming that something is "anti-US" is a weightless statement. Anti American is whatever politicians want it to be.
      >Certainly, Wikileaks has done a lot of US based leaks, but that doesn't make them "anti-US".

      Wikileaks switched to ONLY stuff about the US a while back. Not only do they no longer cover anything else, they have outright removed all the old leaks.

      There is no longer any margin of error to haggle over whether the group is anti-american or not. They only do one thing now; no interpretation is necessary.

    59. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by chrb · · Score: 1

      At its launch, WikiLeaks said it was "founded by Chinese dissidents, journalists, mathematicians and start-up company technologists, from the US, Taiwan, Europe, Australia and South Africa", and that its "primary interest is in exposing oppressive regimes in Asia, the former Soviet bloc, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East". Instead, WikiLeaks publishes mostly classified information from democracies.

      You say these things as if they are mutually exclusive. Do you think that there are no links between those oppressive regimes and Western intelligence and the military? That the foreign policy of Western governments in supporting undemocratic regimes should be immune from analysis and criticism, because the Western governments are themselves democratic institutions? Do you not think that the foreign policy of the United States, which unequivocally allies itself with rulers such as the House of Saud - a undemocratic monarchist dictatorship - might have something to do with the fact that 15 of the 9/11 hijackers were Saudi?

      I have no problem with information being released that shows how hypocritical western governments are when it comes to foreign policy, and how ambassadors and politicians lie to their own citizens to try and manipulate them into supporting wars. Who knew the puppet masters pulling the strings of the U.S. towards war with Iran? How many honorable American soldiers, who believed they were fighting to protect their homeland, will now understand that they are merely guns for hire being used by Kings in the Middle East to further their own goals of power?

    60. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by comgen · · Score: 1

      " The US is the "juiciest target" in the entire world? " I'm curious as to what Canada is hiding...behind all that politeness. :-) Even without additional country leaks, indirectly equal [harm] is being done to other governments. A big concern for everyone right now, making sure irrational leaders that tend to over indulge in alcoholic drinks remain sober while perusing the leaks. Take for example, Lil-ill in N Korea he was trigger happy enough before this happened, though I have to admit, I'm confused as to what he has, seem to think he has, or might be capable of doing.

      --
      -- Best regards
    61. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by X.25 · · Score: 1

      They pulled all corporate and other countries leaks. Now they are simply an anti-US organization. They lost all claim to moral superiority or credibility at that point. Its simply a politically motivated espionage group now with an axe to grind against one country. Treat them like it. When he disappears, or accidentally falls down an elevator shaft on to a pile of bullets, no one will cry.

      And then you wonder why so many people hate you?

      Amusing.

    62. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by clone52431 · · Score: 1

      I've heard rumors that the next leak is ...

      A major U.S. banking firm.

      Not to be confused with U.S. Bancorp (a.k.a. US Bank).

      Just “a major US banking firm”.

      --
      Distributed Denial of APK: It takes 15 seconds to reply to him anonymously, but wastes tons of his time if we all do it.
    63. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by TFAFalcon · · Score: 1

      It's not that the US is the worst nation in the world, they are just the one most likely to interfere with other nations. So their diplomatic documents are likely to be filled with juicy secrets.

    64. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by dragonhunter21 · · Score: 1

      Actually, no. I addressed his argument by providing examples of why America was, in fact, the juiciest target.

      Also, I never professed to be a spelling expert.

      What's with the anger?

      --
      Sent from my CR-48
    65. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by dragonhunter21 · · Score: 1

      Technically, US Bank is "a major US banking firm". However, that wasn't how I intended it. I got my information from FOX, which was inadvisable in and of itself.

      --
      Sent from my CR-48
    66. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ok, so on the scale of 1 to 100 in oppression, where 100 is the highest, you're saying anyone who is in a nation that doesn't score 95 and above should shut up and put up?
      yes, let's lose more freedoms in US/UK and do nothing about it!

    67. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by kestasjk · · Score: 1

      So now, nations like China and Russia have an advantage over the US in the conduct of their international affairs, intelligence, and defense. I can only imagine China's delight with each new release from WikiLeaks.

      Like having it revealed that they would be "comfortable with a unified Korea, controlled by Seoul" ?

      --
      // MD_Update(&m,buf,j);
    68. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      yup another case of look at that other bad guy at least he's worse. what an awesome and valid defense! a consequence of an open society is that you are not summarily executed for the accusation of treason. Awe shucks! It is the juiciest target because it is both corrupt and moderately "open," despite the last decades worth of efforts to raise the stakes against freedom of the press, personal privacy, and whistle blowing.

    69. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by poity · · Score: 1

      People who want to see them.
      You don't care about all leaks equally?

      --
      your thin skin doesn't make me a troll
    70. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 1

      I don't care about any leaks. I already know the government is corrupt :-)

      --
      Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
    71. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by TheVelvetFlamebait · · Score: 1

      Yes, but since this particular cop only fights crime by making available files about the perpetrators on his desk, then not having old files presently on his desk is the same as not presently fighting those particular criminals.

      Come to think of it, I think this analogy doesn't really capture all the nuances of this issue.

      --
      You know, there is a difference between trolling and pointing out the flaws in your reasoning. Just saying.
    72. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The site is offline due to the volunteer staff walkout. When they left, they took the technology they developed with them, including the system that keeps the data and website separate. Until a new comparable system can be created, the database will be offline.

      Source: http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/11/wikileaks-attack/

    73. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The U.S. is the juiciest target? What about Russia and its corruption and political oppression? Mexico and its corruption and drug cartels? What about Ireland and its corporate tax giveaways? Why aren't they looking at how that continued? How about the collapse of Ireland's banking system? Or, the collapse of Iceland economy? What about human trafficking in China, mostly female North Korean sex workers. Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries covering up physical and sexual abuse of foreign workers, including murder? Sexual abuse of female workers in Chinese factories? Tacit government approval of child sex workers and tourism in Thailand, Viet Nam, and Cambodia? Yeah, you are right. The U.S. has all the juiciest stories. In fact, there are no other stories worth pursuing any where else.

      Does it happen for you to have leaks on any or all the above? We'd be interested; just answer "yes" and you'll be contacted: no need to make any effort to call us.

      If not, just STFU.

      (here... here.. no need to be be scared of this... I'm just jesting around...
      However, my suggestion is to contact the police if you receive such a message on your private email... it doesn't matter if you are paranoid or not, they are after you anyway)

    74. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by rev0lt · · Score: 1

      As an european citizen, I tell you... The US does sit on the table of the top world abusers. No other country fucked up so many countries around the globe to serve their on personal agenda - not even Germany or UK (not for lack of trying, you can give them that). You should read more about the role the US played on the actual regime in Iran and North Korea, and many south-american countries. And Israel and Egypt. And Iraq. And Lybia. and Yemen. And so forth and so forth. You call free a country where you have media censorship, state-controlled police and you have music records crippled and banned because they have cursewords? Your definition of freedom is different from mine. Probably the definition of "social state", "welfare" and "social security" are also different, given the brainwash the US citizens received in the past 30 years. And it is funny you mention China, one of the big embarrassments form the latest leak - given they are one of the biggest "public" supporters of North Korea. It is refreshing to see that even they want to distantiate themselves from that. As an european investor with short-term business with South Korea, this information gives me further assurance that in case of a war, the country within invading distance will not support the "wrong" side. And as a western nation citizen, I tell you, you have no idea how brainwashed the US citizens are.

    75. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by rev0lt · · Score: 1

      Short version reply: yes!
      Long version: US IS the juiciest target! You have the sexiest president! The world is all about you!
      The drug cartels in Mexico have no big-ass country nearby to clear all the stock. Oh wait...
      The Ireland corporate tax "giveaways" (more like corporate-we-dont-screw-you tax) is really bad. All the big US companies are on it.
      The ireland banking system and the iceland banking system were in no way affected by the biggest unregulated market in the world - that's right, the US! Nop, the bankrupcy didn't occur while investing in american financial products. No way. Btw, the only motive the US isn't like Ireland right now, is that the federal reserve is running the printers as fast as they can to print money. As you probably don't know, the Euro emitions are regulated by the European Bank, that decided not to emit currency but to finance the countries with problems. As for the US approach, we will talk again in the next big recession in 2 years...
      You know what country receives lots of sex tourism from US? That's right, South Korea.
      You know what country actually owns the US foreighn debt? That's right, China and Saudi Arabia. But hey, Saddam was fist on the list, and so where the poor in Afghanistan, such a wasteland that even the russian gave up on.
      Yah, sexual abuse of workers is pretty much a non-issue in the US, right? You might want to tell that to CNN and FOX, just in case.
      Its like the US ever meddled in the affais of Thailand, Viet Nam and Cabodia... Oh wait! That's right, those are the top 3 destinations for both war veterans and sexual predators from the US. I don't see the TSA screening luggage on those flights!


      It's funny how a country run by ideals 10 decades old did ascend to primacy in the world. It may have something to to with the fact that the most prosperous countries in the world were involved destructive war that destroyed most of the agricultural and industrial production, Or maybe not, but you still way offchart.

    76. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by clone52431 · · Score: 1

      Actually, no. I addressed his argument by providing examples of why America was, in fact, the juiciest target.

      Your opinion. His opinion was that America isn’t – your examples notwithstanding.

      And personally, my opinion is that his examples of why other countries are worthy targets blows your list out of the water. ~180-thousand dead/wounded? How many hundreds of thousands more than that died on a regular basis under Saddam Hussein? And that’s more significant than the tacitly-state-sponsored human trafficking and human rights violations that undoubtedly affect tens of millions? Begging your pardon, but your bias is showing.

      --
      Distributed Denial of APK: It takes 15 seconds to reply to him anonymously, but wastes tons of his time if we all do it.
    77. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by clone52431 · · Score: 1

      Technically, US Bank is "a major US banking firm".

      Yes, the 11th largest in the list I saw. However, it still isn’t about them... unless it is... which at this point we have no more information to conclude than we have to conclude it’s any other major US banking firm. We just know it’s one of them. So I felt a clarification was in order.

      --
      Distributed Denial of APK: It takes 15 seconds to reply to him anonymously, but wastes tons of his time if we all do it.
    78. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by dragonhunter21 · · Score: 1

      I took offense to the implication that American problems don't matter because others are having problems too. I agree, there are pressing issues outside of America, but guess where I live? Yeah, I'm biased. I'm baised to think that issues that affect me are important. You're biased, too. Bias isn't inherently bad.

      --
      Sent from my CR-48
    79. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by clone52431 · · Score: 1

      I took offense to the implication that American problems don't matter because others are having problems too.

      Nobody said that.

      The question was why the others’ problems are pretty much ignored by a site that supposedly isn’t just anti-American. If it wasn’t just anti-American, it would, or should, expose problems without bias... but it does seem to have a bias, and that bias appears to be anti-American.

      Yeah, I'm biased. I'm baised to think that issues that affect me are important. You're biased, too. Bias isn't inherently bad.

      I never said bias was inherently bad.

      --
      Distributed Denial of APK: It takes 15 seconds to reply to him anonymously, but wastes tons of his time if we all do it.
    80. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by dragonhunter21 · · Score: 1

      Nobody said that.

      That's why I said implication, not statement.

      Wikileaks is having problems with DDoS attacks, so they can't host some of the other stuff. Granted, I'd like to see more global info, too, but it might not be possible.

      Or Assange might just like the attention he gets from posting anti-US stuff. I dunno. Either way, it's not changing anytime soon.

      --
      Sent from my CR-48
    81. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by clone52431 · · Score: 1

      That's why I said implication [that American problems don't matter because others are having problems too], not statement.

      Nobody implied it, either.

      --
      Distributed Denial of APK: It takes 15 seconds to reply to him anonymously, but wastes tons of his time if we all do it.
    82. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by IgnoramusMaximus · · Score: 1

      All these silly arguments are easily resolved, in the favour of what I initially said, by reading Assange's response about this very issue in the Guardian:

      Many of these are still available at mirror.wikileaks.info and the rest will be returning as soon as we can find a moment to do address the engineering complexities. Since April of this year our timetable has not been our own, rather it has been one that has centred on the moves of abusive elements of the United States government against us. But rest assured I am deeply unhappy that the three-and-a-half years of my work and others is not easily available or searchable by the general public.

      So do, by all means, take your false equivalences and whining somewhere else. They do not sell well on Slashdot. Too much factual information available to us, you see.

    83. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by TheVelvetFlamebait · · Score: 1

      My false equivalences? My whining? What whining? What false equivalences? I was only working within the analogy constructed by you yourself, eventually coming to the conclusion that the analogy was flawed (that is, any equivalences that were formed were erroneous).

      Your inability to process the factual information available around you has me laughing at your attempts to preach to me. I have similarly found that Slashdotters often have too much factual information available to them. They should start with an amount they can handle first. Perhaps you should start by reading the comments you reply to? If you're smart, it should save you some teeth marks in your foot. If you're not (and I have seen from this, and previous evidence, that you are not), it should save some bullet holes in your foot.

      Have a nice life, idiot. Remember, you can't learn anything in life by assuming implicitly that you're right all the time.

      --
      You know, there is a difference between trolling and pointing out the flaws in your reasoning. Just saying.
    84. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by IgnoramusMaximus · · Score: 1

      Right. I couldn't help but notice that you failed to address the point of this entire pleasant discussion, i.e. that Wikileaks did not hide the older files because of some "anti American" biases - as the post you defended insinuated - but simply because they could not maintain the site in the face of attacks.

      Your inability to process the factual information available around you has me laughing at your attempts to preach to me.

      Let me see: I said that Wikileaks removed the information because of technical problems, the post you defended claimed it was because of "anti American bias". I made an analogy, you claimed it was inaccurate. Then Assange's interview was published. End result: Assange validated both my assertion and the analogy. The original poster and your "objections" were proven to be factually incorrect. Beyond any doubt - Assange was backed up by other Wikileaks people.

      And then you accuse me of an "inability to process factual information", which "has you laughing". I assume it must be a hysterical kind of laughter just prior to a nervous breakdown.

      Have a nice life, idiot. Remember, you can't learn anything in life by assuming implicitly that you're right all the time.

      If I am right or wrong is decided by the facts, like in this case, in which they validated my assertion completely. And in which case you assumed implicitly that you were right all the time...

      But then again, it is one of defining characteristic of idiots to see their own major flaws in everyone else. There is even a term for it: "Psychological projection" of which the "straw man argument" is but a sub-species.

    85. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by TheVelvetFlamebait · · Score: 1

      Right. I couldn't help but notice that you failed to address the point of this entire pleasant discussion, i.e. that Wikileaks did not hide the older files because of some "anti American" biases - as the post you defended insinuated

      Wrong again. All I was doing was defending spazmonkey. I wasn't actually trying to comment on Wikileak's situation, merely saying that if spazmonkey's concerns were legitimate, then they couldn't be dismissed in the way that you dismissed them.

      I should also say that you need to get a clue sometime soon, because every comment I read of yours is making me lose faith that you'll ever actually comprehend what's going on around you. I'm not here to babysit for you; at some point you're going to have to listen to the people talking to you.

      And then you accuse me of an "inability to process factual information", which "has you laughing".

      And you then deliver me even more evidence.

      If I am right or wrong is decided by the facts, like in this case, in which they validated my assertion completely. And in which case you assumed implicitly that you were right all the time...

      Ha! Like you even know what I'm asserting! Your inability to process what I'm saying makes you completely unqualified to talk about my assertions, much less my assumptions. Rest assured, if you accuse me of implicitly assuming that I am right all the time, the chances are overwhelmingly in favour of you either honestly misreading me, dishonestly misrepresenting me, or you're just a plain idiot. I think we all know which category you fall into.

      In fact, I'm not even sure you're aware of what you are asserting! Certainly, you've provided evidence for one of your assertions (they're not facts until the files are actually up). You've provided exactly zero evidence in your litany of other assertions (and how could you when they're all completely false?), most of which are designed to try to put words in my mouth.

      But then again, it is one of defining characteristic of idiots to see their own major flaws in everyone else. There is even a term for it: "Psychological projection" of which the "straw man argument" is but a sub-species.

      No, it's not a "defining characteristic" of idiots. It's a feature of certain idiots. There are plenty of other ways to be an idiot, for example, some people's idiocy manifests itself as an inability to understand other people, even when they are speaking on very simple topics. Other idiots find that they can't help but run their mouths off, when a mildly intelligent person would know when to back off. In your case, it appears to be an unfortunate case of "all of the above".

      I should also mention that the strawman argument is not typically a form of psychological projection. The person does not project their own opinions onto the other person, rather simply an easier to counter opinion. For example, if you were able to, hypothetically, provide evidence for some assertion, and someone was arguing with you on a different topic, you may decide to pretend that they were arguing against your assertion, particularly if arguing against their actual point was too hard. That would be a quintessential strawman.

      Seriously, save any little bits of self-respect you may have. Actually read my posts before you reply again, if you decide to reply again. Don't assume that simply because I am arguing with you, that I am contradicting you on the topic of Wikileaks. I know that idiocy can be debilitating, but if you can collect some willpower together, you at least might prevent yourself from running your mouth off even further.

      --
      You know, there is a difference between trolling and pointing out the flaws in your reasoning. Just saying.
    86. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by IgnoramusMaximus · · Score: 1

      All I was doing was defending spazmonkey.

      No, you were defending his arguments. On Slashdot. Spazmonkey and I weren't on a street corner having it out with baseball bats. There was no opportunity for you to defend him.

      I wasn't actually trying to comment on Wikileak's situation, merely saying that if spazmonkey's concerns were legitimate, then they couldn't be dismissed in the way that you dismissed them.

      And if you had a pony ...

      As I already pointed out, the analogy was accurate and the entire discussion was about Wikileaks. Your arguments were not validated by facts, mine were. It is as simple as that. You are attempting to change the topic of the discussion, making your ego the center piece of it.

      I should also say that you need to get a clue sometime soon, because every comment I read of yours is making me lose faith that you'll ever actually comprehend what's going on around you. I'm not here to babysit for you; at some point you're going to have to listen to the people talking to you.

      Again, its not about your ego. Your "lack of faith" in your opponents, who it seems without exception fail sadly to live up to your rather rarefied standards of being 100% approved by you, leaves the Universe somewhat indifferent and unmoved - which is what I suspect leads you to these rather full of emotion and devoid of facts outbursts. Also your kinky fantasies about babysitting others are best left private, in my humble opinion.

      And you then deliver me even more evidence.

      All of which you cunningly failed to present. Repeatedly.

      Ha! Like you even know what I'm asserting!

      Ok. Now, there you got me. Since all one can see on a discussion board is what is written, I have rarely the unparalleled privilege of sparring on Slashdot with adversaries who insist on ensuring that no relationship whatsoever exists between what they write and what they assert! Whatever it says about you, this somewhat unorthodox strategy sure makes for a difficult task to address your assertions, I give you that!

      Perhaps if you could, for a moment, suspend your policy of writing everything and anything that comes to your mind but what you assert, we could perhaps get closer to the gist of the matter.

      Either that or you could just take your medication as prescribed.

      In light of this momentous revelation of yours, I find that any further discussion with you might have all the enlightening properties of trying to get a duck to recite Macbeth and so I will refrain from it until you demonstrate a somewhat firmer grip on reality.

    87. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by TheVelvetFlamebait · · Score: 1

      No, you were defending his arguments. On Slashdot. Spazmonkey and I weren't on a street corner having it out with baseball bats. There was no opportunity for you to defend him.

      Sorry; that is what I meant. I was defending his arguments. Now there is absolutely no confusion as to what I was doing. I'm still not sure what your point is.

      Your arguments were not validated by facts

      Actually, that's patently false. The only facts I was using in my argument are here for everyone to see: spazmonkey's argument and your response. Everything I said was supported completely by these facts.

      You are attempting to change the topic of the discussion, making your ego the center piece of it.

      Oh this is rich. It was, in fact, you who began insulting me. You changed the subject to me. If you noticed, I have been doing nothing but defend against such unsubstantiated bullshit, comment on your obvious mental and social deficiencies, and defend the argument of spazmonkey.

      And, on the topic of dishonestly changing the topic of discussion, it was in fact you who was trying to change my argument into the one you wanted it to be. The blindness to blatant and repeated hypocrisy is yet another characterising attribute of certain idiots.

      Again, its not about your ego...

      [Digging yourself deeper]

      ...your kinky fantasies about babysitting others are best left private, in my humble opinion.

      Nice. I like the punchline.

      All of which you cunningly failed to present. Repeatedly.

      Actually, I did. I quoted you in a passage where you clearly had failed to read/comprehend my argument. My argument is one of the most fundamental and important facts that needs to be considered before countering it. If you can't succeed at that, then there's really very little hope for you.

      Ok. Now, there you got me. Since all one can see on a discussion board is what is written, I have rarely the unparalleled privilege of sparring on Slashdot with adversaries who insist on ensuring that no relationship whatsoever exists between what they write and what they assert! Whatever it says about you, this somewhat unorthodox strategy sure makes for a difficult task to address your assertions, I give you that!

      Everything that I assert is written for anyone to see, and anyone with intelligence to understand. Everything. I am extremely precise with my words, to protect against semantics, and to ensure that vast majority of people who contradict me either make the one-time mistake of misreading me, or are simply idiots who can't seem to comprehend the subtleties in what I've written. I have been known many times in the past to defend arguments that I fundamentally disagree with. Not because I necessarily feel that they have some merit, but because no argument, no matter how bad, warrants the use of bad arguments to refute it. If it's going to be refuted, it needs to be done properly, preferably with an argument that is unassailable.

      Why? If a bad argument B is allowed to counter a bad argument A, even if a good counterargument C exists, then supporters of argument A tend to focus B, and quietly ignore C. Worse still, when someone challenges them with C, they use a strawman argument to transform it into B, and argue from there that the other person is wrong. I have seen it many times, including many times here on slashdot.

      I don't know what you're going to infer about me from this atypically candid rant, but rest assured, I don't care. Not one bit. Sometimes, when I come here to continue a long discussion, I feel a little bit nervous. Not for you, however. You insult me, you attack my arguments, but I simply don't have the respect for you necessary for me to care. After all, you've made so many stabs in the dark, and all of them have missed

      --
      You know, there is a difference between trolling and pointing out the flaws in your reasoning. Just saying.
    88. Re:Wikileaks isn't a leaks aleaks site anymore by IgnoramusMaximus · · Score: 1

      Actually, that's patently false. The only facts I was using in my argument are here for everyone to see: spazmonkey's argument and your response. Everything I said was supported completely by these facts.

      Which are: Spazmonkey makes an analogy, I correct it to fit the facts as I see them, you object with weak and unlikely excuses, the actual facts come out from the horse's mouth, the facts confirm my correction and invalidate both Spazmonkey's version and your supposed special circumstances under which Spazmonkey's analogy could have possibly worked (if the facts were not what they were). Anyone can read this and verify. It is as straightforward as it can possibly get. And yet your ego refuses to let you admit it...

      Hence the lovely detour into the wondrous exhibition of the grotesque, the weird, the unbelievable, the abominable and the titillating: The Improbable And Psychedelic World of TheVelvetFlamebait's Ego!*

      *Not for people suffering from seizures, pregnant women, and individuals with weak bowels.

      ...

      My argument is one of the most fundamental and important facts that needs to be considered before countering it. If you can't succeed at that, then there's really very little hope for you.

      "We are now entering a new section of TheVelvetFlamebait's Ego. And on the left please note the well-developed Megalomania. Observe its gigantic size, marvel at the nauseatingly convoluted twists of illogic that support it! That smaller odious wart-like structure on its side is the Superiority Complex. Please do not look directly at it as it can cause adverse reaction ... please use the bags in the pockets of the seat in front of you should you experience it!"

      ...

      Everything that I assert is written for anyone to see, and anyone with intelligence to understand. Everything. I am extremely precise with my words, to protect against semantics, and to ensure that vast majority of people who contradict me either make the one-time mistake of misreading me, or are simply idiots who can't seem to comprehend the subtleties in what I've written.

      "And this impossibly handsome person in a snappy military uniform with rows of shiny medals who is perfecting precise salutes to a mirror while mumbling plans to put down all those who "make the mistake" of insufficient respect for him, but who has the feet of a crow is TheVelvetFlamebait's self-image. Oooh! Look! Note how the feet are now a polished pair of knee-high boots but his nose is suddenly that of a pig? We are observing his attempts to maintain this improbable 'perfect' image of himself in the face of rather contradictory facts in the real world! Ah do you feel the cosmic struggle of will! Oh what determination! What desperation! Ouch! Look! Isn't that a donkey with a head of a vulture?! Something must have disturbed his concentration! Please refrain from screaming!"

      ...

      I have been known many times in the past to defend arguments that I fundamentally disagree with. Not because I necessarily feel that they have some merit, but because no argument, no matter how bad, warrants the use of bad arguments to refute it. If it's going to be refuted, it needs to be done properly, preferably with an argument that is unassailable.

      "This vast library-like construct is TheVelvetFlamebait's idea of his own fame amongst others. Each of these books is supposed to be filled with adulations, accolades, acclaims, dissertations on and poems to his glorious exploits. Yes nearly all of the pages of these millions of volumes are blank. But not all! Look here it says that he "has been known" to fight dragons! Oh it disappeared ... Keep looking he will make something up again right away! Oh! That one over there exclaims that "he has been known" to defend blushing virgins of immaculate breeding from rampaging ho

  14. Its not that th3j35t3r kid again is it? by kaptink · · Score: 1

    Its not that th3j35t3r kid again is it? Or is it the US government in disguise? I would have thought most people would want to know all the dodgy stuff the government has been lying about. I'm still straining to find this information that puts soldiers in jeperdy any more than those in Washington did in the first place. If you havent watched the Restrepo documentary that has just come out I'd highly recommend it. Couldnt help remember how GW got out of active service and then signed up these poor buggers. But back on topic, why are people so opposed to a guy just trying to show the world all the dodgy crap being pulled on us?

    --
    Those who can, do. Those who cannot, sue.
    1. Re:Its not that th3j35t3r kid again is it? by SuricouRaven · · Score: 1

      th3j35t3r appears to be a person with one effective DoS tool (He acts like it's some super-secret uberweapon he designed himself, but what he describes looks a lot like some varient of the old octopus attack). He can use it to easily knock out a lot of sites, until the admins catch on and make a trivial configuration change. But this is completly beyond him: He doesn't use a botnet, and just doesn't have so much bandwidth at his command. He's just another script kiddie bragging about something he had nothing to do with.

      I still wouldn't be surprised if this was the work of a patriotic hacker trying to defend his home country... but not that particular patriotic hacker.

    2. Re:Its not that th3j35t3r kid again is it? by spazmonkey · · Score: 1

      I would like to see those leaks too. I see a distinct difference between a leaks site and a political hack. I would bet we don't see all anyway - with his obvious bias, he won't publish a lot of leaks he doesn't want out. How much did he redact from this?

    3. Re:Its not that th3j35t3r kid again is it? by geekoid · · Score: 1

      Here is one of the risks:

      When the US is doing diplomacy, they will talk to people other then the heads of states. Religious leaders, Political opponents, business leaders and get them to be honest about what is going on, and how it impacts them. They need to be able to speak freely without the risk of their government finding out and killing them.
      That can only be done with confidence if there assured their government won't find out.

      Here is another:
      The military needs to have the cooperation of opposingn tribes in afgahnistan. To do this they needs the tribes to be honest with them about there real goals.

      remember,m some people we deal with are a little crazy, so that is someone no a different tribes happens to toss out in insult it will result in a war among tribes. A war the US troops will be in the middle of.

      This is a complicated issue. At this point I think the openness will be better. And that diplomats are reacting this way for the same reason every industry that openness has acted this way. It's a wild change with unpredictable results.

      I'm still putting together my opinion.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  15. Assange = Terrorist by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    I hope the CIA gets Assange. Telling people what their government does in secret and how they treat allied nations is a crime against Democracy. People vote better and make smarter decisions when they don't know the truth. Assange needs to realize that people must be protected against their own stupidity and that in order to protect Democracy we must take away people's freedom of choice.
    Oh yeah, and he hurt the US of A while trying to expose their bad actions against other nations! How can anyone do that?? We're the USA, the good guys! Didn't he see enough Hollywood movies? Even if we seem wrong, we're actually serving the greater good but it's just hard to see the bigger picture! What a jerk! People who don't realize the USA are morally better than anyone else deserve to be shipped to Gitmo without a trial. Maybe Obama can order his assassination, this would be great because no trial is possible if the President gives that order so Assange would not get away from that.

  16. Mod summary "-1 Flamebait" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    I don't care how much the CIA is paying tetrahedrassface, unless they're cutting Taco a check too there's no reason to include the bogus-ass "rape" charges in the summary.

  17. DDoS is dumb by girlintraining · · Score: 1, Troll

    This is the work of some self-described patriot, living in his mother's basement in Montana with a pile of guns and a disused American Flag pinned up to the wall, yelling "ye-HAW!"...

    Sad to say, but this is actually progress. Remember the day when only well-educated people knew how to cause major electronic mischief? I suppose it's a sign that technology is becoming increasingly accessible when even the most repulsively stupid amongst us can manage it.

    --
    #fuckbeta #iamslashdot #dicemustdie
    1. Re:DDoS is dumb by ScentCone · · Score: 1, Insightful

      And you know that your favorite fantasy redneck villain is behind this (as opposed to Iranians, Chinese, Koreans, Saudis, or anyone else unhappy about their off the record discussions being made public) how, exactly? Ah, you don't. It's just a chance for you to make a petulent, sniffing, elitist poke at your favorite stereotype, from your own basement, while wearing your mother's clothes, with a Julien Assange blow-up doll in your lap. Right? Because I have just as much information about you as you have about the imaginary person you're blaming. What's especially fun is that you miss the irony of your preferred state of affairs, where "well-educated" people with broken ethics considered their own smartness to be a license to be jackasses.

      --
      Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
    2. Re:DDoS is dumb by M.+Baranczak · · Score: 1

      This is what I thought too. The government gains nothing from the DDOS.

  18. Pied Piper by FuckingNickName · · Score: 4, Interesting

    What we've learnt about the US is that they privately criticise and occasionally seek intelligence on important figures, and they don't like their citizens being arrested. Moreover, several million people have US "secret" clearance, which means anyone foreign and relevant also had the information: the release was therefore benign.

    In other shocking news, I sometimes mumble "idiot!" under my breath after leaving a meeting and double-check a CV. Don't get me wrong, it's a great laugh to see a few fragile egos insulted, but the most interesting thing to come from this in the West will be whatever law stops it happening again.

    This leak was damaging to those who the US are currently LARTing, from the UK to Saudi Arabia; from a diplomatic PoV, the US government has come out pretty well while playing the perfect victim. It's almost like we're approaching a significant anniversary of another time it did that: now the fires need stoking from an information warfare angle.

    If wikileaks is being DDoS'd, it certainly isn't the US government trying to put some genie back in a bottle.

    1. Re:Pied Piper by darkmeridian · · Score: 1

      Wikileaks has lost a lot of its credibility once it became a purely anti-American operation. There are rumors that Wikileaks will release some documents about Bank of America, but there hasn't been any leaks regarding other countries or their companies. I am certain that there's a lot of juicy shit going on in Mexico regarding their drug problem, or Russia and their corruption. Why don't we ever here about that?

      In any case, the US government doesn't have a reason to give too much of a shit about the released documents so far. The Collateral Murder video didn't cause widespread rebellion, and Iran seems pretty butthurt about the leak of diplomatic cables.

      --
      A NYC lawyer blogs. http://www.chuangblog.com/
    2. Re:Pied Piper by davev2.0 · · Score: 1

      Did you also notice the pretty much indifferent response of many of the countries concerning many of the revelations? Could it be that they also do the exact same things shown in the cables?

    3. Re:Pied Piper by rakuen · · Score: 1

      Well, when America is the big dog who wants to get into everyone's business, you should expect a proportional amount of dirt on them to be created. You go to where the story is, not where you want the story to be. That said, Wikileaks has leaked information on other nations, and it claims to have information on Russia.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikileaks#Leaks

    4. Re:Pied Piper by GodfatherofSoul · · Score: 1

      I wish there was a -1 "WTF do these acronyms mean?"

      --
      I swear to God...I swear to God! That is NOT how you treat your human!
    5. Re:Pied Piper by magus_melchior · · Score: 3, Insightful

      If anything, my reaction is akin to that of the "Bull in a China Shop" experiment on MythBusters. You hear that Wikileaks announces a big leak, they hype it up, you get all this anticipation, and when the actual results come out, they're... amusing, fascinating, but not "OMG national security crisis!!1!" (the smashing ceramics) material. The worst we've seen in the cables is that the US spies on the UN and other countries via diplomats, but that's hardly surprising given that they had no compunction against spying against its own citizens for about a decade now-- heck, I'm sure the CIA spied on everyone ever since they were created.

      If the intended aim of the leak was to shame governments into greater transparency and openness, I have to say that this leak is doomed to failure. Nearly all diplomats are part negotiator, part politician-- and all politicians never liked to be embarrassed in public. What it will very likely do instead is really mess with relations that have been slowly rebuilt in recent years-- China and Russia come to mind, and don't get me started on how much this sets back the 6-party talks now that the DPRK is warming up their artillery. Now that the Arabs' desire to end Iran's nuclear ambitions is out in the open, I doubt they'll be as forthcoming as they were when the toner cartridge bomb plot was brought to our attention. The great irony of these is that it is not that the content of the leaks themselves were a national security risk if kept secret, but that in leaking the material and messing up trust relationships with countries we'd rather not turn into radioactive glass (MAD), the leaking can easily make endeavors toward peace an order of magnitude more difficult. Now North Korea and Iran can say, "How can we trust you, when you're going to let confidential deals out into the open?"

      What's more, this leak tells governments not that they should open up and avoid criticism and ridicule, but that they should keep even more from the public in order to avoid pissing off allies and potential allies.

      Assange should never have targeted the State Department-- if he wanted real dirt, he should have kept the focus on the CIA, and Justice and Defense Departments.

      --
      "We are Microsoft. You shall be assimilated. Competition is futile."
    6. Re:Pied Piper by MindlessAutomata · · Score: 1

      Their USA-based stuff is what gets the attention. Wikileaks releases more stuff that goes unnoticed, and Assange specifically addresssed this in an interview. They've got some Russian stuff upcoming.

    7. Re:Pied Piper by geekoid · · Score: 1

      I would wait a few months before taking that position. It could very well just be that they temporarily removed the information because they knew the hit their servers where going to take.

      IT's a perfectly reasonable response. They have had the documents for months, they have shared them with the press weeks ago. I wish more corporation would follow their lead on how to deal with a know spike of data usage.

      Or maybe they have become solely anti-American site. Even so, that doesn't make the information that are sharing incorrect.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    8. Re:Pied Piper by Abcd1234 · · Score: 1

      Wikileaks has lost a lot of its credibility once it became a purely anti-American operation

      So, by receiving a large volumn of leaked American documents from an American source, and then posting them, they became "anti-American"? Huh... that's... interesting "logic".

      Did it occur to you that perhaps the US just has shitty shitty security?

    9. Re:Pied Piper by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Moreover, several million people have US "secret" clearance, which means anyone foreign and relevant also had the information: the release was therefore benign.

      Just one clarification: Clearance != Access. I had "secret" clearance while working for the USAF, as do most employees. However, I *never* had/needed access to anything remotely resembling a secret. Its called "need to know". During my time working for USAF, we were regularly reminded during security training/briefings that clearance did not imply need to know, and to be suspect of those seeking access to privileged information without need to know, regardless of clearance.

      I have know way of knowing how many people had access to this info (too lazy to google) but I'm sure it couldn't be in the millions....probably 10's of thousands though.

    10. Re:Pied Piper by Rich0 · · Score: 1

      I suspect his concern is the fact that they took down everything but the Iraq and Cablegate documents. They used to have a huge variety of stuff on their website, but when I looked at it a week ago they did not.

      That does tend to come across as being anti-US, even if that wasn't the intent.

      The easiest solution is to just put back up the other stuff. By all means categorize it...

    11. Re:Pied Piper by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, the DoS might just be the U.S. government doing damage control and giving themselves time for the court proceedings to work. I believe some officials are trying to designate wikileaks a terrorist organization and using other means to make the sites illegal in the U.S. If this becomes the case then the government will have every authority to shutdown the site in the U.S. - think of how they just took over the domains of recent torrent sites.

      The fear I believe is more that the public will start to scrutinize what the government is doing. International relationships are damaged to a small degree because of the seemingly unsafe nature of U.S. communications but I'm sure this was a wakeup call to every other nation to secure their own communications. I would argue that many aren't really upset with the U.S. as the government will just have to cough up more money to fix the relationships. Many know that they talk as bad about the U.S. officials as the U.S. officials do them and I'm almost certain many are very concerned that if the big superpowers information is so easily leaked how easily can their information be leaked.

      I think the U.S. is doing an excellent job of getting the patriots to stand up in defense of their nation, rather then having the public outraged at what kind of deals their leaders are cracking on the side in their names.

      Personally, I'm really impressed at how sophisticated the government is to be managing such a public relations nightmare so well.

    12. Re:Pied Piper by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Assange should never have targeted the State Department-- if he wanted real dirt, he should have kept the focus on the CIA, and Justice and Defense Departments.

      I think you would only find more of the same. People just doing their inglorious, dirty jobs.
      Nothing will ever make a politician's, a diplomat's, intelligence officer's, police officer's, lawyer's, judge's, or soldier's jobs neat and clean, but we need them.
      If you take off the rose colored glasses and look at what really keeps this place ticking, it's just not pretty. People can crap on them all they want, but it doesn't change reality.

    13. Re:Pied Piper by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What we've learnt about the US is that they privately criticise and occasionally seek intelligence on important figures, and they don't like their citizens being arrested. Moreover, several million people have US "secret" clearance, which means anyone foreign and relevant also had the information: the release was therefore benign.

      Not quite true... we're dealing with diplomatic politics here. Sure, everyone who "needed to know" knew already, and knew that the others knew. But they didn't have to admit they knew to their citizens -- and now they do.

      THAT is why this is not benign; it's the citizens of all these countries being able to find out what the diplomats and leaders are saying about each other that's a problem. DoSing the site limits the number of citizens who will gain access, while also sending a strong message that some pretty powerful people might not like it if you got your hands on this information, and they won't stop at legal threats to keep you from telling others.

    14. Re:Pied Piper by cbhacking · · Score: 1

      More like the US doesn't like having its agents arrested for the commission of heinous acts on innocent civillians of allied nations...

      Frankly, I really hope that was just PR and the people involved are enjoying a lovely prison cell somewhere. It's still a miscarriage of justice and a fairly disgusting double-standard, and I doubt anything happened to the people who gave the inital orders, but it beats them getting away clean.

      --
      There's no place I could be, since I've found Serenity...
  19. I'm sure I'm not alone when I say... by dragonhunter21 · · Score: 1

    Go Equador.

    --
    Sent from my CR-48
    1. Re:I'm sure I'm not alone when I say... by jdizzle636 · · Score: 3, Informative

      Go Equador.

      I'm pretty sure you are alone. Most people would spell it Ecuador.

    2. Re:I'm sure I'm not alone when I say... by M.+Baranczak · · Score: 1

      And Ecuador, too.

    3. Re:I'm sure I'm not alone when I say... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      Portuguese speakers call it Equador.

    4. Re:I'm sure I'm not alone when I say... by dragonhunter21 · · Score: 2, Funny

      I'm not Portuguese, just a bit thick.

      --
      Sent from my CR-48
    5. Re:I'm sure I'm not alone when I say... by thePowerOfGrayskull · · Score: 1

      Go Equador.

      Actually, you probably are. Everyone else is saying "Go Ecuador".

    6. Re:I'm sure I'm not alone when I say... by jdizzle636 · · Score: 1

      Portuguese speakers call it Equador.

      I guess I stand half corrected. In that case, he should have said: VÁ Equador

    7. Re:I'm sure I'm not alone when I say... by dragonhunter21 · · Score: 1

      And you're only the third to point that out. Although I'm told that it's spelled that way by Portugeuse speakers.

      --
      Sent from my CR-48
  20. simple solution by VincenzoRomano · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Put everything on bittorrent.

    --
    Maybe Computers will never be as intelligent as Humans.
    For sure they won't ever become so stupid. [VR-1988]
    1. Re:simple solution by Haedrian · · Score: 2, Informative

      Its been done already. The files were placed on pirate bay and encrypted. Its a clever backup.

    2. Re:simple solution by VincenzoRomano · · Score: 1

      Distributed defense vs distributed attack.

      --
      Maybe Computers will never be as intelligent as Humans.
      For sure they won't ever become so stupid. [VR-1988]
    3. Re:simple solution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      the latest leak is already mirrored on the pirate bay bit torrent tracker.

    4. Re:simple solution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is it not? I would be shocked an appalled if everything they published wasn't in an easy to find, healthy torrent.

    5. Re:simple solution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They have.

  21. Freenet? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why does not Wikileaks post all their leaks on Freenet which is somewhat robust to DDoS _and_ provides great encryption and anonymity?

    1. Re:Freenet? by Ash-Fox · · Score: 1

      Why does not Wikileaks post all their leaks on Freenet which is somewhat robust to DDoS _and_ provides great encryption and anonymity?

      Freenet suffers from a few problems involving retention of information and the lack of userbase capable of using it.

      --
      Change is certain; progress is not obligatory.
  22. its the truth - you just don't like it. by spazmonkey · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    don't censor it with mod points just because you don't want to accept it. That wasn't a troll.

    1. Re:its the truth - you just don't like it. by RichardDeVries · · Score: 1

      You don't back up your claims and you generalize your own opinion. "They lost any credibility, and any respect, at that point" may be what you think, but it's not what everyone thinks. Your only valid and somewhat interesting claim is that they "pulled all private corporate leaks and European and other countries leaks," but there could be other reasons for that than being "solely an anti-US espionage org". Still, that's not trolling. Calling for a hanging (of Assange, presumably) is, though.

      --
      Error 001
      Security Scan and Virus Detection do not work with your operating system.
    2. Re:its the truth - you just don't like it. by Gerzel · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Censor...

      I do not think that word means what you think it means.

    3. Re:its the truth - you just don't like it. by hedwards · · Score: 1

      No, it's trolling. Wikileaks is a leaks site, not an investigative site. Therefore they can't leak what they don't have, and oddly enough, what people are leaking to them is primarily dealing with US intelligence.

      That has been brought up quite a few times and it's just not true. It's something that apologist trolls say to divert attention from the fact that the material wouldn't have been made available by wikileaks had nobody chosen to leak it. Wikileaks does not now nor will it ever have security clearance to get that material directly.

    4. Re:its the truth - you just don't like it. by mcgrew · · Score: 1

      Not truth; opinion that I disagree with. But I agree it wasn't a troll and there was no excuse for modding it down.

      But there's been a lot of that today.

    5. Re:its the truth - you just don't like it. by jav1231 · · Score: 1

      Hey, he's a monkey! That's pretty good considering!

    6. Re:its the truth - you just don't like it. by Magic5Ball · · Score: 1

      One of the following is true:
      1) During 2010, Wikileaks has received one or more documents not pertaining to the US government, and has chosen not to release them. Wikileaks is therefore biased.
      2) During 2010, Wikileaks has NOT received any documents not pertaining to the US government. Wikileaks is therefore not a credible leaks organization according to potential leakers in general.

      --
      There are 1.1... kinds of people.
  23. I don't know if I would go to Ecuador yet. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I don't know if I would hurry to Ecuador and become a citizen yet...since they have honored extradition requests from the US in the past (www.oas.org/juridico/MLA/en/ecu/index.html specifically under the "description and general explanation of extradition system").

  24. He is rocking the boat that people are sitting in by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 5, Interesting

    People don't like people who rock the boat they are sitting in, especially if its edge is already close to the waterline. They tend to kick people overboard, even if they are the person trying to signal a rescuer.

    Wikileaks is exposing not just the obvious criminal corruption, the stuff you claim on others, but the widespread moral apathy that is the US of A. You can see it from the murder video. 12 civilians clearly unarmed shot with the murderers expressing clear joy at their slaughter. The US reaction? Absolutely nothing. If any of these soldiers were ever to be brought before a war crimes tribunal, the US of A has invasion plans for The Netherlands to stop any international justice by whatever force required.

    This is America, and it doesn't sit well to have this truth shoved in their face. They want to believe the US of A is the land of the free, defender of democracy, hero of the oppressed.

    You have to remember that most countries have the same thing. The Netherlands and its war crimes in Indonesia. Recently the state refused to meet a survivor of a masacre the germans would have been proud off, because it was going to upset the murderers. Don't ask the british about their colonial behavior or say the treatment of Jews after WW2.

    Wikileaks is kicking up the dirt in peoples eyes and the people don't like it one bit.

    Easier to kill the messenger then deal with the message. Always has been true, always will be. Cue this message running a high change of instantly disappearing because a teabagger is upset and mods it down to never be seen again.

    --

    MMO Quests are like orgasms:

    You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.

  25. USCYBERCOM by AhabTheArab · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I believe that if the US Government wanted to stop Wikileaks, they'd simply bomb the data centers. Electronic attacks like this are not what this government does; It's what its citizens do.

    I beg to differ:

    "USCYBERCOM plans, coordinates, integrates, synchronizes and conducts activities to: direct the operations and defense of specified Department of Defense information networks; and prepare to, when directed, conduct full spectrum military cyberspace operations in order to enable actions in all domains, ensure US/Allied freedom of action in cyberspace and deny the same to our adversaries."

    Looks like they're "denying the same to their adversaries" (maybe).

    1. Re:USCYBERCOM by girlintraining · · Score: 2, Insightful

      There is no strategic value in attacking wikileaks that I can see. The damage is done.

      --
      #fuckbeta #iamslashdot #dicemustdie
    2. Re:USCYBERCOM by JTsyo · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Until the next set of documents are leaked.

    3. Re:USCYBERCOM by wvmarle · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Wikileaks isn't done for sure. There will be more leaks in the future.

      And above all, they have been building up profile. You and I may have known about this site since the beginning, Joe Sixpack didn't until recently. Everyone knows it now.

      I believe these leaks will only increase. Not because there is more to leak, but because the potential leakers now have a platform to leak to. Five years ago there wasn't such a well known and accessible platform to leak stuff onto.

      There are always lots of people that have access to classified information. Some need it for their jobs, others inadvertedly are given access, yet others gain access on their own. Especially the second group I can imagine is going to leak more: many people must have toyed with the idea of leaking stuff they found, stuff they shouldn't know, stuff that can be interesting/ embarrassing/ whatever. But they didn't have an easy platform - now they have. Wikileaks is in everybody's mind, giving people ideas, giving them a reason, and giving them the opportunity to have their leaks noticed.

      All the more reasons for a.o. the US government to want them shut down.

    4. Re:USCYBERCOM by gfreeman · · Score: 1

      Wait! That's just what they'll be expecting ...

      --
      Ceci n'est pas un sig.
    5. Re:USCYBERCOM by spacefiddle · · Score: 1

      ... which makes it even more important to the powers that be that Wikileaks be made example of. They can't let it stand without a response of some kind. It would be nice if the response consisted of saying "Yeah, that's right, diplomacy can be ugly stuff and every country we deal with knows it and does the same thing, carry on," and tightening up their security, but hey, I'm a dreamer.

      And hey, hows about our good friends the Saudis, eh?

    6. Re:USCYBERCOM by moeinvt · · Score: 1

      "Wikileaks isn't done for sure. There will be more leaks in the future."

      Hopefully the stuff we have seen so far is just the prelude. According to this interview with Assange, they are already getting more new leaks than they can sort through.

      http://blogs.forbes.com/andygreenberg/2010/11/29/an-interview-with-wikileaks-julian-assange

      The awesome part of this interview is that he's talking about some leaks targeted for release next year that could "take down a bank or two" and he's apparently referring to some LARGE U.S. banks. I've been hoping for this ever since the release of the Afghan war documents. With any luck it will take down the entire global banking cartel.

    7. Re:USCYBERCOM by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      More damage can still come from Wikileaks.
      Plus, just as the US fights countries to be respected in the future, it can fight Wikileaks so that a trend is not set.

      Now whether the US is doing a cyber attack on Wikileaks at the moment or not, I don't know.

    8. Re:USCYBERCOM by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But Hillary is pissed and Gates likes to play with his toys. I doubt either is thinking strategically at the moment. She seems to forget that the next release doesn't necessarily need to have sensitive portions withheld or redacted the way this release was.

    9. Re:USCYBERCOM by ObsessiveMathsFreak · · Score: 1

      The Internet is an American medium.

      --
      May the Maths Be with you!
    10. Re:USCYBERCOM by Scrameustache · · Score: 1

      There is no strategic value in attacking wikileaks that I can see. The damage is done.

      Sending a message to the people of the world: Compromise our secrets and you'll suffer. (that's the popular course of action in Russia...)

      --

      You can't take the sky from me...

    11. Re:USCYBERCOM by wvmarle · · Score: 1

      With any luck it will take down the entire global banking cartel.

      While I support your feelings there, bringing down the banking system will cause a major recession. If you really start bringing banks down, then 2008 was just a minor introduction.

  26. Slashdotting by Barryke · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The main site seems to work fine after
    A) Worldwide mass interest
    B) DDOS
    C) slashdotting and other causes of sudden increase in traffic.

    This should be featured on Discovery's "How do they do it." for sure. I'm peaked.

    --
    Hivemind harvest in progress..
    1. Re:Slashdotting by barcarolle · · Score: 5, Informative

      I think you mean, "[your interest is] piqued."

    2. Re:Slashdotting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      Have you tried going beyond the front page, or did you just go to wikileaks.org and declare it usable? Support, About, and Submissions work well. However, anything interesting is coming up (from my end) as a timeout.

    3. Re:Slashdotting by xtracto · · Score: 1

      What I don't understand is why doesn't Wikileaks uploads a copy of all that to Freenet?

      --
      Ubuntu is an African word meaning 'I can't configure Debian'
    4. Re:Slashdotting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Piqued, actually. Unless you happen to be mountain, then never mind

    5. Re:Slashdotting by $RANDOMLUSER · · Score: 1

      As we discuss traffic peaks on wikileaks.org, peeking at your post piqued my curiosity: are you saying you come to a point? Or are you just pale and sickly looking?

      --
      No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
    6. Re:Slashdotting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No he meant "I just peaked," as in sexually.

    7. Re:Slashdotting by Mongoose+Disciple · · Score: 1

      What I don't understand is why doesn't Wikileaks uploads a copy of all that to Freenet?

      Because then only people looking for particularly unsavory pornography would find it.

    8. Re:Slashdotting by butalearner · · Score: 1

      I'm peaked.

      I think you mean, "[your interest is] piqued."

      Well this is Slashdot, you know. I wouldn't be surprised if he had to quickly turn away from his keyboard just now.

    9. Re:Slashdotting by Monkeedude1212 · · Score: 1

      Well, the way you put it would make sense in both contexts.

      My interest is piqued
      and
      My interest is peaked

      both make literal sense in English, though I have never heard of anyone using it in the later sense probably because it'll be misunderstood as the earlier.

      However, in his original wording, "I'm peaked" - yes he probably meant "I'm piqued" which actually has many meanings (from pride to resentment to the arousal of thought).

      However, we don't know that for sure, he could have actually meant "I'm Peaked" and he has a rather pointy top and wishes everyone to know.

    10. Re:Slashdotting by metrometro · · Score: 1

      > This should be featured on Discovery's "How do they do it." for sure.

      Amazon Web Services, with servers in US and Ireland.

    11. Re:Slashdotting by Aldenissin · · Score: 1

      Only, huh Moongoose Disciple?

        Thanks xtracto, I am looking into Freenet now, and so far it seems pretty cool. After installing it I feel semi-comfortable with it's security, as you can decide how secure to be. Now I only needs friends I can trust...

      --
      Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.
    12. Re:Slashdotting by Tarsir · · Score: 1

      'My interest is peaked' (...) makes literal sense in English

      Except that it doesn't, assuming these possible definitions (Ending in a peak, Having a sickly appearance, and Having a peak). It's syntactically valid, but semantically meaningless, because interest, as an abstract entity, has neither form nor appearance.

      I have never heard of anyone using it in [that] sense (...)

      For good reason.

      [He] could have actually meant "I'm Peaked" and he has a rather pointy top and wishes everyone to know.

      Indeed, "My interest is peaked" could mean "I'm peaked"--in the same way that "I drove a school bus to school today" could mean "He didn't want to go to school today"--when you have no compunction against replacing three quarters of the sentence.

      However, in his original wording, "I'm peaked" - yes he probably meant "I'm piqued"

      Congratulations! You pass the Turing test, if only just :P

    13. Re:Slashdotting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I dunno. Maybe it turns him on?

    14. Re:Slashdotting by Monkeedude1212 · · Score: 1

      'My interest is peaked' (...) makes literal sense in English

      Except that it doesn't, assuming these possible definitions (Ending in a peak, Having a sickly appearance, and Having a peak). It's syntactically valid, but semantically meaningless, because interest, as an abstract entity, has neither form nor appearance

      Except that it would have some abstract value, because you can be mildly interested, quite interested, or very interested - who while you can't exactly measure it in units it can still be represented by abstract values (Like a spinal tap amp that goes up to 11).

      Saying his interest has peaked can be infered to that his interest is at "it's peak" which the definition of peak is:
      the pointed top of anything.
      his interest is at its top possible value.

      Could you have possibly put a little more thought into it before going on a rant about it?

    15. Re:Slashdotting by Tarsir · · Score: 1

      Saying his interest has peaked can be inferred to [mean] that his interest is at "it's peak".

      Yes, "His interest has peaked" certainly could mean that his interest is at its peak, but "His interest is peaked" certainly could not. In the first case, peaked is a verb; in the second it is an adjective.

      Peaked, as a verb, has a meaning ('reached its peak') which peaked, the adjective, does not, as evinced by that definition not being present on the page I linked to.

      The one is an adjective while the other is a verb because has (past-tense of to be) with a past participle forms the perfect tense (an event, in the past, which has completed); whereas is (present-tense of to be) with a part participle forms nothing (expect in certain rare cases, such as "He is gone"). Therefore, peaked must be serving as an adjective in that case.

      Could you have possibly put a little more thought into it before going on a rant about it?

      I'm pretty sure I've put more thought into either of my posts than you put into both of yours combined. Furthermore, my post was hardly a rant. If you found it particularly emotional or unreasonable, then I can only wonder what you think of the many actual rants posted to Slashdot daily.

    16. Re:Slashdotting by CheerfulMacFanboy · · Score: 1

      'My interest is peaked' (...) makes literal sense in English

      Except that it doesn't, assuming these possible definitions (Ending in a peak, Having a sickly appearance, and Having a peak). It's syntactically valid, but semantically meaningless, because interest, as an abstract entity, has neither form nor appearance.

      As abstract as "care", yet according to you, I neither could care less nor couldn't I care less. Thanks for a third opinion on that issue.

      --
      Fandroids hate facts.
    17. Re:Slashdotting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, he just orgasmed.

  27. Coral CDN Link by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Maybe it helps:

    http://cablegate.wikileaks.org.nyud.net/

    http://cablegate.wikileaks.org.nyud.net/reldate/2010-11-30_0.html

  28. ©ontrol by sean_nestor · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Fight the power and the power will fight back!
    You're only as good as the system you hack;
    If you become a problem you will be replaced--
    banned, shut down, erased!

    The world has capsized, gone erratic
    Constitutional rights have dissolved into static
    The truth is based on misinformation--
    reality is only a hallucination!

    -MDFMK, ©ontrol

  29. Maybe it's the banks? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    TV said something about the next wikileak release being about banks at an executive, and being on the level of "Enron emails".

    If anyone's got something to hide, it's those banks eh!

  30. Picking your targets by David+Gerard · · Score: 1

    Gosh, it's a good thing that the mysterious source of these DDoS attacks isn't targeting an organisation led by someone with tremendous technical chops who knows every dirty trick you can do with computers on a network and knows how to defend and preempt them. Or anything.

    --
    http://rocknerd.co.uk
  31. Julian Assanges cables leak put lives at risk. by elucido · · Score: 3, Informative

    Here is the Proof

    3. (S) The Baku businessman is a UK-educated engineer from a
    prominent Pre-Revolution Isfahan family, and formerly owned a
    large factory in Iran. He is a former national fencing
    champion of Iran. former President of the Iran Fencing
    Association, and Vice-President of an Azerbaijan sports
    association. He has been based in Baku for more than ten
    years, working primarily as a sub-contractor to BP and the
    Cape Industrial Services company. While his oil services
    company includes an insulation division that may be in
    competition with INSULTEC, source has provided "inside"
    information on many other Iranian issues (including
    comprehensive data on the status of new Iranian oil refinery
    construction) that does not relate to his private interests
    in any way.

    4. (S) Note: A quick google check revealed several companies
    with the name INSULTEC in the title - these may or not be
    affiliated. Based on the information provided by source
    (currently in Iran, where he frequently travels), one
    possible candidate could be "INSULTEC Chitral Ltd." End
    Note.
     

    http://cablegate.wikileaks.org/cable/2009/03/09BAKU179.html

    You can thank Julian Assange for this.

    1. Re:Julian Assanges cables leak put lives at risk. by Haedrian · · Score: 1

      What a stupid argument.

      What about the US putting lives at risk? Lives which we would never have known were put in risk without the leaks?

      If the government is this dirty - then the people who voted them into power have a right to know. That's democracy.

    2. Re:Julian Assanges cables leak put lives at risk. by blair1q · · Score: 1

      If the government is this dirty - then the people who voted them into power have a right to know. That's democracy.

      That's true. However, the means by which they are being told is worse. The principle of "two wrongs don't make a right" means that the people who improperly classified the information should be convicted along with the people who leaked the information rather than demanding that it be properly declassified.

    3. Re:Julian Assanges cables leak put lives at risk. by HeckRuler · · Score: 1

      I've been asking others to find specifically who is going to be hurt from this leak, and here you go.
      And you're right, this guys is probably going to have a rough time.
      And so I toast this fellow fencer and hope him the best of luck. For verily it's his blood that might be spilled for the sake of keeping our own government honest. And I toast the 103,000 dead civilians in Iraq and 34,000 dead civilians in Afghanistan. None of them deserved to die, and I like to think we tried our best, but they're dead all the same. And yet, for their deaths, and this man's endangerment, we can hopefully claim some small victory for freedom.
      At least, that's what they tell me.

    4. Re:Julian Assanges cables leak put lives at risk. by chrb · · Score: 1

      You can thank Julian Assange for this.

      No, you can thank the incompetence of the U.S. government, who apparently gave several million people full access to this information. Are you really naive enough to believe that, out of millions of people, none of them are agents or opportunists who would sell this data to the Russians, Chinese, or any other government that is friendly with Iran?

    5. Re:Julian Assanges cables leak put lives at risk. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't do the crime if you can't do the time (don't do it).

  32. Let's change "suspectted" to "alleged" by Maxo-Texas · · Score: 3, Informative

    Even in a normal case, that really is presuming guilt. In this case, where it looks like it isn't even a rape by classic measures, it's more dubious.

    As far as I can tell, both ladies had voluntary sex and then later, based on additional facts, decided they were raped. As far as I can tell, no one has alleged Assange forcibly had sex with them while they were saying "no".

    --
    She was like chocolate when she drank... semi-sweet at first and then increasingly bitter.
    1. Re:Let's change "suspectted" to "alleged" by Anonymous+Freak · · Score: 1

      The nice thing about "suspected" is that there doesn't even need to be an allegation!

      "You know, that uncle Bob... I always suspected he done somethin' wrong." No need to have anyone actually come forward with evidence, you can just "suspect" that they did something.

      Like that nasty Jimbo Wales. Did you know that he's a suspected war criminal? It's true! Someone suspects him!

      --
      Another non-functioning site was "uncertainty.microsoft.com."
      The purpose of that site was not known.
    2. Re:Let's change "suspectted" to "alleged" by Renraku · · Score: 3, Informative

      That's because of the way the whole 'rape' thing works. You see, a lot of rapes don't start out as rape. Instead it's something like making out, maybe cuddling, etc. Then someone takes things too far and is just used to the other person sharing their passions or going along with it. Except this time, they aren't going along with it. They've decided that they don't want to go to third base, but things keep evolving. Either they're too weak/scared to say no, or they were forced to do it.

      It's still rape.

      Therein lies the problem. Anyone, at any time, can decide that a sexual encounter in the past was rape. All they have to do is say that sex happened and that they didn't want to do it at some point. Even if that point lies after the fact, it's still rape.

      Get drunk at a party and sleep with someone nasty? Rape, of course. Want to have a better standing in the divorce? They raped you, and you're afraid for your children/pets/belongings. Get in a fight with your boyfriend/girlfriend and want to be a vindictive ass? They raped you.

      Of course, it generally only applies to women, since most men would be laughed out of the court room for saying they were raped by a woman. And if they woman conceived during that rape, the guy would still be responsible for paying child support payments, regardless of the circumstances of the rape. There is NO gender equality going on here.

      --
      Job? I don't have time to get a job! Who will sit around and bitch about being broke and unemployed then?
    3. Re:Let's change "suspectted" to "alleged" by arkhan_jg · · Score: 2

      Not just any ladies, either -

      'Anna Ardin (the official complainant) is often described by the media as a “leftist”. She has ties to the US-financed anti-Castro and anti-communist groups. She published her anti-Castro diatribes in the Swedish-language publication Revista de Asignaturas Cubanas put out by Misceláneas de Cuba. From Oslo, Professor Michael Seltzer points out that this periodical is the product of a well-financed anti-Castro organization in Sweden. He further notes that the group is connected with Union Liberal Cubana led by Carlos Alberto Montaner whose CIA ties were exposed. Note that Ardin was deported from Cuba for subversive activities. In Cuba she interacted with the feminist anti-Castro group Las damas de blanco (the Ladies in White). This group receives US government funds and the convicted anti-communist terrorist Luis Posada Carriles is a friend and supporter. Wikipedia quotes Hebe de Bonafini, president of the Argentine Madres de Plaza de Mayo as saying that “the so-called Ladies in White defend the terrorism of the United States.”'

      So Anna Ardin with close ties to the CIA, and her close friend, supposedly had sex with Assange, and it was rape? While I'm not one to dismiss a claim of rape lightly at all, this accusation stinks of a CIA smear job.

      --
      Remember kids, it's all fun and games until someone commits wholesale galactic genocide.
    4. Re:Let's change "suspectted" to "alleged" by Monkeedude1212 · · Score: 1

      It's just a difference in laws over there. Essentially if a girl wakes up the next morning and feels she was taken advantage of because she was drunk she can bring up rape charges - even though consenting at the time of the act.

      It's just a broader definition, like how "Jealousy" is just a form of "Malcontent" - our definition of rape is just more acute than their definition - which covers more grounds where Sex might not have been wanted, like by being manipulated while not fully aware of the consequences.

      I also haven't heard any allegations that Assange forcibly had sex with anyone or anything - but the question now becomes whether or not he was taking advantage of some drunk chicks or not - that's some shakey middle ground where I might be so inclined to dislike him on a personal level for engaging in that kind of activity though I don't think there should be a law about it, but then again I don't live over there so I don't have a say in the rules.

      Now the whipped topping is not everyone knows this - especially people this side of the Atlantic, so their minds will automatically assume the worst.

    5. Re:Let's change "suspectted" to "alleged" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      let's change it to "suspected serial rapist"

    6. Re:Let's change "suspectted" to "alleged" by blair1q · · Score: 2, Interesting

      You're attempting to define swedish law in un-swedish terms. They told him they didn't want to have unprotected sex, and later he did it anyway. Swedish authorities want to arrest him for that. Whether they call it "rape" or "sexual oppression" is merely a semantic issue, though in the media would be quite a bit more significant than the false distinction you're trying to make between calling someone with an arrest warrant open against him "suspected" or "alleged".

      He's a confirmed douchebag and a vaulting hypocrite. No equivocation about that.

    7. Re:Let's change "suspectted" to "alleged" by Sprouticus · · Score: 1

      I agree with almost everything you said. the one point that confused me is the child support thing. wouldnt the father be responsible for child support either way. How is it relevant.

    8. Re:Let's change "suspectted" to "alleged" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      both ladies ... decided they were raped

      "It is thought that one of the women involved, Anna Ardin, specializes in women’s rights as part of her work. If so, she would have known the legal process intimately when it comes to reporting rape cases in Sweden ... It was known from the start that Ardin didn’t make an official allegation of rape at the police station. She merely “wanted some advice on what to do” perhaps knowing that by doing so, legally she couldn’t later be accused of making a false accusation or charged with wasting police time if the allegations turned out to be false. However, if she had an in-depth knowledge of the legal procedure when it comes to reporting rape in Sweden, she may have known that legally, the police had to record it as a rape incident and thus set the wheels in motion to capture the so called rapist."

      http://nicholasmead.com/2010/08/21/how-to-smear-a-hero/

    9. Re:Let's change "suspectted" to "alleged" by chrb · · Score: 1

      Of course, it generally only applies to women, since most men would be laughed out of the court room for saying they were raped by a woman.

      That was in the past. Now, you may retroactively withdraw consent based on the ethnicity of the person that you had sex with. I'm looking forward to the first case where a man cries rape in a similar situation. White supremacist has sex with mixed-race woman, cries rape, woman is jailed? It could happen.

    10. Re:Let's change "suspectted" to "alleged" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're doing it wrong!
      First you pay them.
      Then you run them over after your done with them.
      Then you hop out of the car and collect said money. No one will ever know.

    11. Re:Let's change "suspectted" to "alleged" by Maxo-Texas · · Score: 1

      Since you went AC, I'll repost for you at a more visible level.

      The parent AC said:
      "both ladies ... decided they were raped"

      "It is thought that one of the women involved, Anna Ardin, specializes in women's rights as part of her work. If so, she would have known the legal process intimately when it comes to reporting rape cases in Sweden ... It was known from the start that Ardin didn't make an official allegation of rape at the police station. She merely "wanted some advice on what to do" perhaps knowing that by doing so, legally she couldn't later be accused of making a false accusation or charged with wasting police time if the allegations turned out to be false. However, if she had an in-depth knowledge of the legal procedure when it comes to reporting rape in Sweden, she may have known that legally, the police had to record it as a rape incident and thus set the wheels in motion to capture the so called rapist."

      http://nicholasmead.com/2010/08/21/how-to-smear-a-hero/

      --
      She was like chocolate when she drank... semi-sweet at first and then increasingly bitter.
    12. Re:Let's change "suspectted" to "alleged" by Maxo-Texas · · Score: 1

      "rape" isn't merely a semantic word. It's one of the most highly charged words in the world. Probably on the short list of top 100 politically charged words. You can't even open a conversation about it or study facts like "does wearing sexy clothing increase the risk of rape" because that data is specifically suppressed by the courts.

      The entire thing stinks to high heaven, even more so with the CIA links alleged above in this thread.

      However, I agree that the law could be different and he might be guilty of something by swedish law. I had a friend who ran into this in Louisiana in the states. Two drink girl (not plastered) and boy friend- three way- three weeks later he gets a letter back in texas- he's guilty of rape. A girl with one drink in lousiana can't legally give consent and can change her mind after the fact. He spent a lot of money, lost a very good job, and in the end got off with some sort of fine and no criminal record. The girl's boyfriend who also had sex with her at the same time was not raping her.

      The rules have changed constantly in my life time. I was lucky to be in three decade long relationships and skip past the entire bar/drinking hookup thing.

      --
      She was like chocolate when she drank... semi-sweet at first and then increasingly bitter.
    13. Re:Let's change "suspectted" to "alleged" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I really can't help but think this has been orchestrated.

  33. casting aspersions? by prettything · · Score: 1

    should it not be 'alleged rapist'? there has been no trial nor conviction. i mean really! if you want to fnord subconciously smear fnord the fellow there are less clumsy fnord ways to do it.

    --
    bring bak the ponies!!
  34. Hackers bad but so cool when you need them by Programmer_In_Traini · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I think this just goes to show the dual morality of entities such as the government when even they wont frown on hiring hackers to protect their interest despite all the government laws, motions and acts layed by said government to stop those said hackers when they're not working for them.

    Go wikileaks! not that we had any doubts that shit is taking place just about everyday, but its nice to have some proof and poor some clear water into that mud pool.

    --
    If you look like your passport photo, you're too ill to travel. - Will Kommen
  35. Nobel Prize by bayankaran · · Score: 0, Troll

    Wikileaks should get Nobel Prize for Peace.

    --
    Tat Tvam Asi
    1. Re:Nobel Prize by CraftyJack · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Yep, nothing spreads peace like discrediting diplomacy.

    2. Re:Nobel Prize by mbrod · · Score: 1

      Agreed. They are doing the job the Corporate Media quit long ago. Telling the truth, even if it is embarrassing to power.

    3. Re:Nobel Prize by DigiShaman · · Score: 1

      Agreed. Maybe he should get a prize for something, but "peace" sure as hell ain't it.

      --
      Life is not for the lazy.
    4. Re:Nobel Prize by rakuen · · Score: 1

      What spreads peace is honesty, not duplicity. If two nations can't trust each other, then how on earth do you expect them to be at peace with each other? Yes, the leak does throw diplomacy into chaos, but on the other hand, the chaos wouldn't have existed if everything was on the level the whole time.

    5. Re:Nobel Prize by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think the point is that diplomacy didn't have much credit to begin with.

    6. Re:Nobel Prize by OverlordQ · · Score: 1

      Hey if Al Gore can get a Peace Prize for Global Warming . . . .

      --
      Your hair look like poop, Bob! - Wanker.
    7. Re:Nobel Prize by dskoll · · Score: 3, Insightful

      If two nations can't trust each other, then how on earth do you expect them to be at peace with each other?

      This is a solved problem. You set up systems of checks and balances that don't require the nations to trust one another. They can verify what the other one is doing. In fact, if the only way nations could be at peace was for them to trust one another, there'd be war all around.

    8. Re:Nobel Prize by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      It's called accountability, and it's always beneficial.

    9. Re:Nobel Prize by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Diplomacy is the art of saying "Nice doggie." until you can find a rock.

      Ever think that those "doggies" don't want to be on the wrong side of a rock?

    10. Re:Nobel Prize by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, Assange, and just about any other person in the entire world, including you and me, deserves more the Nobel Prize for Peace than Obama. In fact, just because Obama got one I would probably turn down mine if I were to win it.

    11. Re:Nobel Prize by jjohnson · · Score: 1

      Do you think any of the diplomats involved were surprised by any of the revelations in the cables?

      They were the least surprised of anyone because they're the most aware group of how diplomacy involves saying X while doing Y, of how realpolitik requires certain public stances that are privately contradicted, of how diplomatic maneuvering works. None of them had any blinders on about the people they were talking to or the effect their words were having.

      Within the diplomatic corps, this is the equivalent of a bunch of gossip being exposed: some embarassing face-time for some people, but nothing that anyone didn't know was being said about others.

      --
      Anyone who loves or hates any language, platform, or manufacturer, doesn't know what they're talking about.
    12. Re:Nobel Prize by Bigjeff5 · · Score: 1

      And Obama for simply not being Bush.

      The Nobel Peach Prize has been a joke ever since Carter received it, and probably even before that.

      --
      Security is mostly a superstition... Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. - Helen Keller
    13. Re:Nobel Prize by Bigjeff5 · · Score: 1

      Heh, peach prize, wouldn't that be nice?

      Peace is what I meant, obviously.

      --
      Security is mostly a superstition... Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. - Helen Keller
    14. Re:Nobel Prize by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's called diplomacy? Back as far as elementary school passing notes to classmates with descriptions of teachers and peers was cause for disciplinary action. The world would be so much better off if everyone just spoke up or kept quiet - it is this dual-track communication that fools the naive/suppressed masses into thinking it is all for their own good. Like hell it is!

    15. Re:Nobel Prize by CraftyJack · · Score: 1

      Do you think any of the diplomats involved were surprised by any of the revelations in the cables?

      Of course not. It's their trade. But the diplomats take their orders from politicians, who may now feel the need to put on a show for their populace. People react differently in front of an audience.

    16. Re:Nobel Prize by qmaqdk · · Score: 1

      You think obtaining secretary general Ban Ki-moon's credit card number spreads it faster?

      --
      My UID is prime. Hah!
    17. Re:Nobel Prize by dcposch · · Score: 1

      The leaks don't discredit diplomacy, they simply reveal its normally hidden workings, which are a bit rough around the edges. Not all diplomats are particularly diplomatic.

      Ultimately, though, the leaks give me more confidence in diplomacy, because they show that even authoritarian, closed governments like that of China have a solid underpinning of common sense. The cables reveal that China is not nearly as friendly towards North Korea as their Communist affiliation forces them to pretend; in private, they concede that Kim Jong Ill is nuts. The cables also reveal that many middle eastern leaders are just as concerned as we are about the prospect of Iran becoming a nuclear power.

    18. Re:Nobel Prize by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah - nothing fucks peace up like diplomacy.

      Go feed your war machine a little bit more ...

    19. Re:Nobel Prize by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It is not clear that the US is a democracy (any longer). Relatively few of the electorate bother to vote. Voters are typically offered a choice between two candidates who dominate the advertising campaigns upaid for by large donations from anonymous donors - see the link below. Those "elected" serve lobby groups rather than their electorates.

      http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_5494.shtml

  36. Assanges leaks put intelligence sources at risk by elucido · · Score: 3, Interesting

    How do you separate one from another? Really, how do you? And who should judge which is which?

    And that is against the rules regardless of what side you are on. The rule is do not harm civilians.

    He has lost all credibility with me. Wikileaks needs to remove Julian Assange or fork the project.

    1. Re:Assanges leaks put intelligence sources at risk by TFAFalcon · · Score: 1

      Staying quiet is likely to harm more civilians than speaking out. And if loosing credibility is enough to warrant removing someone, why not start with politicians? They mostly loose credibility 10 minutes after they are elected.

    2. Re:Assanges leaks put intelligence sources at risk by geegel · · Score: 3, Insightful

      That's just shifting the ambivalence towards another term, in this case "civilian"

      Are informants civilians? Are diplomats?

      --
      right...
    3. Re:Assanges leaks put intelligence sources at risk by Hatta · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The rule is do not harm civilians.

      Why is Wikileaks held to this rule and not the US Government?

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
    4. Re:Assanges leaks put intelligence sources at risk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Civilian is just another term for 'potential taxpayer and/or victim.'

      If they do not fall into that definition then they are an 'asset or threat.' Or sometimes, both.

  37. Freenet? by M.+Baranczak · · Score: 1

    Did you know that in the Polish language, the word for "free" also means "slow"? I wonder if there are any Polish developers on the Freenet project. It would explain a lot.

    Right now, the site is still up, so obviously they're already able to deal with a DDOS. And don't believe for a second that the US government is behind the attack; this is obviously the work of the Slowmasons.

  38. It's not a claim anymore it's a fact. by elucido · · Score: 5, Informative

    Just read this:

    http://cablegate.wikileaks.org/cable/2009/03/09BAKU179.html

    Intelligence sources are being put at risk by these leaks. Julian Assange claims to care about civilians but he leaks documents that can get people killed? Why? To solve what?

    The world is not made safer. Nothing in these cables are worth the loss of civilian life. These cables don't prevent a war with Iran or North Korea, they make war much more likely.

    1. Re:It's not a claim anymore it's a fact. by elrous0 · · Score: 1

      That's fine, but you're NOT going to be a whistleblower if that's your attitude. Whistleblowers are ALWAYS called evil criminals by the powers they're exposing. Governments ALWAYS claim that any leaks that they don't approve of kill people. If you're going to agree with them, that's fine. But don't pretend you're going to be a whistleblower and tow the government line at the same time. You CAN'T do both.

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    2. Re:It's not a claim anymore it's a fact. by ichthus · · Score: 1

      What, specifically, will make war much more likely? Certainly, there are several pieces of inflammatory information, but what's going to cause war? I'm not disagreeing with you, I just don't see what you're referring to.

      The world now knows that we know that Saudi Arabia is the main financial supporter of Al Qaeda. So?

      The world now knows that Saudi Arabia begged the US to attack Iran. Not particularly shocking.

      China hates Pelosi. Honestly, who doesn't?

      HRC told people to spy on UN diplomats. Are any of the member nations going to be surprised by this? Is this unprecedented? Doubtful. ... ?

      --
      sig: sauer
    3. Re:It's not a claim anymore it's a fact. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How is this going to get people killed? Leaders saying they don't like Iran is new? If you are so concerned about "the troops" then convince your neighbor's kid to not enlist and tell your congressman to get our troops back home.

    4. Re:It's not a claim anymore it's a fact. by elucido · · Score: 1

      When did I ever claim I was going to be a whistleblower?

    5. Re:It's not a claim anymore it's a fact. by elucido · · Score: 1

      That's fine, but you're NOT going to be a whistleblower if that's your attitude. Whistleblowers are ALWAYS called evil criminals by the powers they're exposing. Governments ALWAYS claim that any leaks that they don't approve of kill people. If you're going to agree with them, that's fine. But don't pretend you're going to be a whistleblower and tow the government line at the same time. You CAN'T do both.

      This is about the quality and nature of the leaks. This is about the facts that the leaks target my nation (USA).

      On top of all that the leaks aren't even redacted so that intelligence sources are easily identified.It really does put lives at risk.

    6. Re:It's not a claim anymore it's a fact. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Keep telling yourself that when the USA keeps denying more and more freedom of information requests in the name of "potentially dangerous to civilians".

      A bubble such as that can only grow so big before it bursts. Guess what just happened.

    7. Re:It's not a claim anymore it's a fact. by DamnStupidElf · · Score: 1

      Civilians dying is just collateral damage, remember? And if some soldiers or operatives lose their lives, they'll just die serving their country like the thousands of others who've done so before them.

      What wikileaks is doing is clearly less harmful than anything the U.S. has done recently.

    8. Re:It's not a claim anymore it's a fact. by HeckRuler · · Score: 1

      Who exactly is going to be killed over this? Do you think someone is going to order a hit on a diplomat because he was called rude behind his back?

    9. Re:It's not a claim anymore it's a fact. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is about the quality and nature of the leaks. This is about the facts that the leaks target my nation (USA).

      I really can't feel sorry for you. At all.

      On top of all that the leaks aren't even redacted so that intelligence sources are easily identified.It really does put lives at risk.

      Nonsense. Nothing in the material was previously unknown to the intelligence agencies of most countries. It was only unknown to the ignorant public which now stands a chance to become slightly less ignorant and instead slightly more informed. That's how democracies are supposed to work.

      Apparently you're a nationalist twit who hates real democracy. Glad we got that cleared up.

    10. Re:It's not a claim anymore it's a fact. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If an UK-based company did broke the embargo on Iran, they should be prosecuted as the criminals they are - If an embargo is effective, it can actually prevent a war. If there are a dozen companies witth silly names, shuldn't all be investigated? Or should we stick our head in the sand, have some offshore-based company make millions in profit by breaking the economic sanctions negotiated internationally - and without any consequence. No, the world is not a safe place, not while these kind of people are around.

    11. Re:It's not a claim anymore it's a fact. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are honestly embarrassing, not only to your own country but to your self and your family. The leaks were distributed among the government WEEKS ago with warnings and suggestions to FOREIGN diplomats, not only American. You obviously were either on the "last informed" list or you just didn't listen when told the first time. In either case I feel zero pity for you and in fact pity your stupidity more than anything. Good luck on future ventures and best of luck finding a future stunt "News reporter" job. Thanks.

    12. Re:It's not a claim anymore it's a fact. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just read this:

      http://cablegate.wikileaks.org/cable/2009/03/09BAKU179.html

      Intelligence sources are being put at risk by these leaks. Julian Assange claims to care about civilians but he leaks documents that can get people killed? Why? To solve what?

      The world is not made safer. Nothing in these cables are worth the loss of civilian life. These cables don't prevent a war with Iran or North Korea, they make war much more likely.

      I can't access wikileaks right now but if its the same thing that you posted earlier as "proof" then there is nothing in there that puts anyone at risk. And even if there was, it is the Pentagons fault for it being there in the first place. If stopping the leaks was really about saving lives then the Pentagon would have taken Wikileaks' offer to go over the documents for anything that would put people at risk. They denied to do so, proving that this is about pride and not about the safety of others.

  39. Forget Assange by Raven_Stark · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If any heads should roll over the leaks, it should be those of the guy who stole the data and whatever dunce(s) allowed peons access to the data. Although, overall so far, I'm generally pleased with the leaks because they show that most of the world's leaders are fallible but basically rational human beings. For instance, it is good to see that most of the middle eastern leaders understand that Iranian leaders are nutjobs who cannot be trusted with nuclear weapons. Same goes for China's recognition that Kim Jong Ill is off his rocker. I feel much better about the world in general now because so far the leaked info confirms my suspicion that the world's messes aren't as insurmountable as it sometimes seems.

    That said, I am deeply embarrassed that the Pentagon is incompetent enough to have allowed the leak of things said in confidence. They are idiots who shouldn't be trusted with so much power.

    Even more, I am embarrassed over the USA's strong-arming of Germany over the arrest of one of its citizens. World ***please*** don't take that kind of shit from us (the USA).

    I really think it is high time for the USA to turn over the job of policing the world to a democratically elected world government. It is unfair for the US taxpayers to pay so much for world security and to get all of the blame when our leaders fuck up and holy fuck do they ever fuck up. More importantly, it is unfair to the world for the US to have so much say in how the world is run.

    --
    http://www.marxist.com/
    1. Re:Forget Assange by crow_t_robot · · Score: 2, Insightful

      If any heads should roll over the leaks, it should be those of the guy who stole the data and whatever dunce(s) allowed peons access to the data.

      The US allowed it. This is a side-effect to the booming defense/security industry that developed after 9/11. Companies providing these services blossomed which resulted in millions more people requiring security clearances. More people + rushed investigations = more potential for leaks.

    2. Re:Forget Assange by Beyond_GoodandEvil · · Score: 1

      I really think it is high time for the USA to turn over the job of policing the world to a democratically elected world government. It is unfair for the US taxpayers to pay so much for world security and to get all of the blame when our leaders fuck up and holy fuck do they ever fuck up. More importantly, it is unfair to the world for the US to have so much say in how the world is run.
      Oh dear god!. Where to start. First, how would you hold elections for a democratically elected world govt? Would nondemocratic nations get to vote? You think the tea party is bad imagine the entire 3rd world declaring the entire 1st world owes them all their money? Secondly, Unfair, who said life was ever anything approaching fair? Thirdly, if not the US then who? The Chinese? The Russians? The Indians? A bunch of bureacrats in Brussels?

      --
      I laughed at the weak who considered themselves good because they lacked claws.
    3. Re:Forget Assange by geekoid · · Score: 1

      Diplomacy always comes down to trust. At some points you must trust people with the data, or it's useless.
      There is nothing that can be done about that.

      It looks like many of our fuck ups are cause be saving face of other countries, or taking it i the shorts in order to quench hostilities.

      How do you gte a democratically elected world government when major nations aren't a democracy?

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    4. Re:Forget Assange by TFAFalcon · · Score: 1

      The US aren't policing the world. They are just policing a few areas that they thing are important (mostly for oil). Just look at Africa (Somalia, Sudan, Zimbabwe). If the US were policing the entire world, they would have gone there before invading Afghanistan or Iraq. So why do we need a policeman like that?

    5. Re:Forget Assange by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      BINGO! (except the "world government police" part)

      Does anybody remember the "Pentagon Papers" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Times_Co._v._United_States

      The problem *is* government mishandling. There's been a LOT of talk about Assange, a little talk about Private Bradley Manning.

      There has been NO talk about the adjunct to US classified information "Need To Know". No talk about Manning's chain of command that apparently put him in line to have access to such content. Not even a hint that the Department of State bureaucracy might have found proper handling procedures "inconvenient", and relaxed them -- or just plain ignored them -- probably in violation of US Federal Law.

      Asst Secretary of State said Tuesday (the 30th) that the documents were in one database. Was the database set up so inexpertly that it was an all-or-none for access to the content? If so, what are the chances that a private had "need to know" the content of all of those documents? And if not, why did he have access? That part shows through the cracks. Ineffective COTS or setups or improper actions by beurocrats is only supposition.

      So far, the whole event (at least as the talking heads portray) has been a bunch of CYA and finger pointing, by and on behalf of people who SHOULD be held responsible for the leak to wikileaks.

      Individuals, businesses and other governments take note. It doesn't matter how good policies and procedures are when they are ignored! Is "Executive Order 12958, as amended" sufficient? Are NIST developed standards sufficient? Neither, if they are ignored!

      Ref: http://www.archives.gov/isoo/policy-documents/eo-12958-amendment.html
      or if you prefer, perhaps http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Order_12958

      Oh, wait! Both Executive Order 12958 and Executive Order 13292 were revoked and replaced in full by President Barack Obama in the issuance of Executive Order 13526. I guess we need, instead, to look at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/executive-order-classified-national-security-information

      "PART 4 -- SAFEGUARDING" assigns the responsibility for the leaks, as I read it. E.g. "an agency head or senior agency official .. shall establish uniform procedures to ensure that automated information systems, including networks and telecommunications systems, that collect, create, communicate, compute, disseminate, process, or store classified information: (1) prevent access by unauthorized persons;" and "the Department of Defense shall be considered one agency". "Unless otherwise authorized by the President, only the Secretaries of State, Defense, Energy, and Homeland Security, the Attorney General, and the Director of National Intelligence, or the principal deputy of each, may create a special access program."

      Perhaps there are some specified individuals who need to answer how and why, the documents got to wikileaks.

  40. Suspected rapist of national security by Arancaytar · · Score: 1

    How do you rape a country?

    More to the point, what do they want the warrant to be for: The leaks, or whatever he was accused of in Sweden?

    1. Re:Suspected rapist of national security by Bigjeff5 · · Score: 1

      He's suspected of raping two Swedish girls, dumbass.

      --
      Security is mostly a superstition... Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. - Helen Keller
  41. Wrong analogy. by captainpanic · · Score: 1, Interesting

    At least isn't that what the government tells us?

    Right, because you don't have any embarrassing secrets. You don't tell friends things in confidence.

    Thanks to this leak (and to the idiotic flubbing of security in the first place), it will be at least a little bit harder for American diplomats to make friends who will tell them things in confidence.

    We all have secrets that we only tell our partner, or best friends... that's not the point. We don't care if the diplomats are visiting prostitutes or cheating on their wives.
    But as soon as those diplomats start representing me, or my country, they better behave. And if they use official lines, their message should be decent enough anyway.

    If you like an analogy, the people can be called a shareholders assembly, and the government a management. This has nothing to do with the personal sphere... it's business. At a shareholders meeting, you do not have the right to know who the management is having sex with, but you do have the right to know why the company is or is not making any profit. And you do get a big annual report... again, it contains all relevant information, and no "secrets". And wikileaks may have leaked some juicy relational secrets - that's not necessary imho, but harmless too - but all the rest compares to that annual report that we have been missing all those years.

    1. Re:Wrong analogy. by Talderas · · Score: 2, Funny

      We're all bastard coated bastards with bastard filling.

      --
      "Lack of speed can be overcome. In the worst case by patience." --Znork
    2. Re:Wrong analogy. by Shining+Celebi · · Score: 1

      At a shareholders meeting, you do not have the right to know who the management is having sex with, but you do have the right to know why the company is or is not making any profit. And you do get a big annual report... again, it contains all relevant information, and no "secrets". And wikileaks may have leaked some juicy relational secrets - that's not necessary imho, but harmless too - but all the rest compares to that annual report that we have been missing all those years.

      Right. And you get that. But what you want is more like an annual report containing all internal employee emails.

    3. Re:Wrong analogy. by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      If you like an analogy

      I'll run with your analogy.

      Do you, as a shareholder, have the right to know what happened in every back-room meeting? Every negotiation with a supplier? Every email between engineers?

      In business, leaks like this would endanger a business's competitiveness - a competitor would know how you do business, how you make decisions, and how deals are struck.

      Openness only works when EVERYONE is open, which is why public companies can all release annual reports. A private company still has an advantage in this regard.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    4. Re:Wrong analogy. by moeinvt · · Score: 1

      "If you like an analogy, the people can be called a shareholders assembly, and the government a management."

      The better analogy is that the government is a crime syndicate and the people are extortion victims.

    5. Re:Wrong analogy. by fyngyrz · · Score: 1

      Fine. but if the USG expects its privacy to be respected, it needs to respect the privacy of others. A nice place to start would be with its own citizens. Until then, it has no leg to stand on to complain. It set the precedent (reading other people's private stuff just because they want to), now it reaps the whirlwind. And I simply laugh at their protestations. Hypocritical clue-tards.

      --
      I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
    6. Re:Wrong analogy. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Amen brother.

    7. Re:Wrong analogy. by RoccamOccam · · Score: 1

      "I'm touching your creamy center."

    8. Re:Wrong analogy. by zQuo · · Score: 1

      We put our trust in corporate officers to promote shareholder interests. If there is evidence of corruption or stupidity, then, of course, publish the exact details of the relevant events and "secrets." That is the whole purpose of whistleblowing, to bring evidence of corruption, stupidity, or conspiracy to light, and it is a service to the stakeholders.

      The problem: People who are responsibility for the deed or misdeeds are the people who decide whether it is secret or not. This is a recipe for abuse. Any documents of normal operations or deals are of no interest; they are not an issue. The ones that reveal any betrayal of trust are the ones that should definitely be published.

      Government needs checks and balances. The free press is the final check against bad government. Classified documents allow governments to avoid problems and give them incentive to put more resources into hiding problems rather than fixing them. Leaking or the threat of leaking makes them more careful. Which is why we need something like Wikileaks or something similar.

    9. Re:Wrong analogy. by JoeBrockhaus · · Score: 1

      if your reports don't tell you WHY, HOW, and only provides WHAT, then why isn't employee email fair game?

    10. Re:Wrong analogy. by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      but if the USG expects its privacy to be respected, it needs to respect the privacy of others.

      It will not respect the privacy of others, nor will any other government.

      And I certainly don't expect enemies of the US to "respect its privacy"! There are two issues here:
      1. We have a ineffective security system for some of our sensitive data.
      2. We have a traitor in our midst, passing information off to our enemies.

      Both problems need to be resolved. Note that I am not in any way suggesting that we cannot also try to improve privacy protections. These issues are exclusive of one another.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    11. Re:Wrong analogy. by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      Which is why we need something like Wikileaks or something similar.

      I'd say "something similar". The New York Times was never this reckless, IMHO.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    12. Re:Wrong analogy. by fyngyrz · · Score: 1

      Yes, we do have traitors in our midst. Of particular note are those people in congress and the judiciary that have broken their oaths to defend and obey the constitution. In this particular instance, with regard to the 4th amendment -- but that's just the tip of the iceberg. That's the privacy I refer to. Not gathering information of other nations.

      --
      I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
    13. Re:Wrong analogy. by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      Why are you being so obtuse? Who broke their oath? What specific judge or politician? And what specific incident led you to say this? The 4th amendment doesn't say anything about privacy - it talks about search and seizure. This has been mostly settled law since the 60s when the Supreme Court defined "search". You can look it up, but basically an airport pat-down is not a search because it is both expected and (so far) deemed reasonable by society at large.

      But more than that, even if you think that there are traitorous politicians and judges, shouldn't we be going after them AND the traitor who is passing along state secrets?

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    14. Re:Wrong analogy. by riondluz · · Score: 1

      I think openness works best with a gpg key:)
      Funny that; all the USG PHB's talk about increasing security; none of them mentioned why the cables were in cleartext.

      --
      resist propaganda
    15. Re:Wrong analogy. by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      Funny that; all the USG PHB's talk about increasing security; none of them mentioned why the cables were in cleartext.

      IIRC, the state department's database was hooked into the Pentagon's classified system as a way to share information after 9/11, and the leak occurred on the Pentagon's side. They have since severed this link. I suspect things will come back in a more restricted manner :)

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
  42. there is a fundamental difference by spazmonkey · · Score: 1

    first, who cares what he had focused on - the US or something else. The wikileaks went from an open org to make information free and turned into one guy trying to hurt one entity. totally different things. second, there ARE juicy leaks about other countries, they just won't put them up anymore. talk about information being free and uncensored. assange is bullshit, and after he gets assassinated maybe wikileaks will become a decent leaks group again

  43. Of course by elucido · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I mean even his next leak will be against Bank of America. I'm not a fan of Bank of America at all, but why is he only going after US interests? He even leaked cables which exposed intelligence sources around the globe. Assange is not a force for good, he does not realize that his leaks hurt the very civilians he claims to be fighting for.

    The political elites are rich, powerful, and wont be harmed if there is a world war. They wont be harmed if thousands of intelligence sources are tracked down.

    Robert Hansen did something similar. The only difference is Hansen did it on purpose while Assange does not seem to have a clue what the consequences of his actions are. Or he's just trying to protect his own ass and is throwing intelligence sources under the bus. His behavior exposing intelligence sources like this and his inability to properly defend his own intelligence sources, lead me to believe hes completely rogue.

    1. Re:Of course by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But why dont you think childrends? (did you get the point?)

    2. Re:Of course by nomel · · Score: 1

      Well, he's not the one going out and finding the information...the information comes from people *giving* it to him. He does seem anti USA, but maybe it's just that the other governments and organizations are doing a better job at keeping their secrets secret.

  44. Bait and switch? by elucido · · Score: 1

    They get people to like them by seeming like a whistleblower site and then they focus in on the devil/American empire, giving the identities of critical intelligence sources to the whole world.

  45. Do you feel lucky Julius? Well, do you? by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 1

    "Imagine if he had gotten a hold of a similar set of Russian ones and publicized them. His site wouldn't be DDOS'ed, he'd be dead."

    Give it time. In the US, there is a saying: "The wheels of Justice turn slowly; but they do turn". Note that I am not saying that it would be Just to assassinate him. I am saying, however, that there are plenty of "Patriots" who believe that it would be, and it is probably just a matter of time before he has an "accident".

    --
    Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
  46. Follow the money... by crow_t_robot · · Score: 1

    Who would profit (as in "cash") from Wikileaks being DDoS'ed off the internet?

    I am interested to know if the ramp up in DDoS traffic coincided with the announcement of releasing leaked documents from a major US bank.

  47. Equador! by grimJester · · Score: 1
  48. The USA does not put intelligence sources at risk. by elucido · · Score: 3, Insightful

    An intelligence source is 100% civilian and innocent. An enemy combatant such as a member of the Taliban or Al Qaeda gang member is not a civilian and not innocent. The US soldiers are at war with the foreign soldiers. It's expected that soldiers on both sides of a war are going to die.

    Intelligence sources are not soldiers. They are people who have surrendered to the US government. They had the option to surrender to the Taliban, to Iran, but chose to surrender to the US Government. Whether it was because the US Government had the bigger better military or whether it's because they just hate Al Qaeda and the Taliban, they sided with the USA and the USA has a sacred trust to protect their identity at any cost.

    Assange thinks he is more important than he is. Exposing intelligence sources is never acceptable. It's as bad as torture which we agree is not acceptable, or killing women and children. So if Assange gets an entire family killed off because of this leak, or several families are ruined, this is okay to you?

    But if the USA bombs the wrong house by accident then it's not okay?

  49. Unfortunately, I'm inclined to agree... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "The US government has overthrown democratic governments, it's FBI has assassinated American civilians, the CIA is currently torturing someone to death in a secret prison somewhere in the world, and right now it has the right to extra-judiciously assassinate any person, even US citizens, that it believes to be involved in terrorism. With these facts, I hardly think an orchestrated DDoS attack seems unlikely." - by copponex (13876) on Tuesday November 30, @10:28AM (#34388720) Homepage

    I love my nation, it's mine but there are times I do NOT doubt that the US gov't. pulls its share of shenanigans (& that's putting it lightly). For example, I recall when the CIA was caught importing cocaine into the USA (despite there being a DEA & that it's illegal) to finance their doings in S. America etc. (iirc).

    I mean, all you have to do, in most ANY situation, is either:

    1.) Follow the money

    or

    2.) Figure out who stands to lose from the situation

    Both of those tend to point to the gov't., with them saying "many people's lives could be affected" that work for them in regards to whatever it is the wikileaks is supposed to be "leaking" soon. It only stands to reason that since the gov't.'s various bodies are complaining here (and that Julian Assange was suddenly put up on rape charges as well recently) that they're targetting the guy... for whatever reason (I tend to lean to the above in my enumerated list - & those? They're NOT "good reasons"... they're catering to whomever did apparently "wrong" here because they are trying to stop it from coming out, attacking the man responsible, and more... only stands to basic reason (but, we'll see what it is wikileaks is about to publish, and I'll TRULY decide then).

    I actually DO hope it doesn't "harm government" IF the gov't. didn't do any wrong... only problem is? We're ALL operating on "partial information" so far, only... not the actual info. that is supposed to be "exposed" soon.

    APK

    P.S.=> It makes me wonder, it really does - I am sure (in the gov't.'s defense here) that they cannot operate "110% 'above-board'" & legal, ALL THE TIME, because the "bad guys" (in the gov't.'s eyes @ least) don't... only question is, WHO ARE THE REAL "BAD GUYS" HERE? I am fairly personally convinced that most everything that goes on in the USA today is being orchestrated by "BIG MONEY" (the wealthy, individuals AND corporate bodies) & that they control large portions of our governmental representatives via such monies (or other less cool means such as blackmail + other forms of coercion)... I look around myself & see laws passing that don't help the "average citizen" but instead help ONLY the large wealthy bodies in corporations mostly, & that tells me a lot (does it you I wonder)?

    Things have to change, because I personally do NOT believe this is the way things HAVE to be, or be done... apk

  50. What this succeeds in doing... by gestalt_n_pepper · · Score: 2, Interesting

    ...is making the USA's government look desperate and pathetic. If they don't understand how unstoppable this is now, they look technically impaired. If they don't understand what "out of your jurisdiction" means, they look disingenuous, dangerous and as hamfisted as the Russians. All it does is to confirm every negative impression that came out of Wikileaks, which by the way, would be immediately replaced by several other similar organizations if the original is somehow made to stop and it's founder killed or imprisoned. Apparently the US government hasn't learned the lesson of Napster.

    Bottom line: The American empire no longer commands the respect of its subjects and incidents like this will continue. Thank you very much, conservative republican financial community and all the recent presidential figureheads starting with Reagan, none of whom actually give a rat's patoot about the USA other than as a money generating device.

    --
    Please do not read this sig. Thank you.
    1. Re:What this succeeds in doing... by cpghost · · Score: 1

      ...is making the USA's government look desperate and pathetic.

      And what if the US Government wasn't the source of the DDoS? After all, other governments are exposed too, and could very well want to DDoS Wikileaks, just like Obama's administration, right? And let's not forget, the US government could easily yank the wikileaks domain from the ORG registry (not that it would matter, of course!), so why going the trouble to DDoS them and look like the fools they are anyway?

      --
      cpghost at Cordula's Web.
    2. Re:What this succeeds in doing... by Bucky24 · · Score: 1

      And what if the US Government wasn't the source of the DDoS?

      Doesn't really matter. People THINK they are, regardless if they are or not.

      --
      All the world's a CPU, and all the men and women merely AI agents
    3. Re:What this succeeds in doing... by BitZtream · · Score: 1

      Apparently the US government hasn't learned the lesson of Napster.

      ... you mean that they can effectively kill even large disorganized systems on the Internet?

      I don't know what hole you live in, but Napster and P2P in general has been effectively dead to the public for years.

      At one point, pretty much everyone knew what napster was, now, only geeks or semi-techies know what P2P is, or have even heard about BitTorrent.

      I think if they accomplished the same thing with Wikileaks they'd be rather happy.

      --
      Persistent Volume manager for Kubernetes - https://github.com/dwimsey/openshift-pvmanager
  51. Only After Upgrading to the Cloud by medv4380 · · Score: 4, Informative

    The first attack took down the servers and kept them down until wikileaks upgraded to Amazons Cloud hosting. I'm not sure if any hacker has ever taken down one of the behemoth cloud hosting networks so this should be a good test.

    1. Re:Only After Upgrading to the Cloud by nicc777 · · Score: 1

      I am watching this just as close as you :-)

      --
      Need an ISP in South Africa?
    2. Re:Only After Upgrading to the Cloud by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hmm... Amazon S3 is a US venture... I'd think the US government could take them down pretty fast on that service. Surprised that they haven't.

    3. Re:Only After Upgrading to the Cloud by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Amazon may simply decide to drop them if the traffic becomes too great... most hosting TOS agreements have terms that allow the hosting provider to do that.

      So in that sense, the DoS may be successful even if the cloud is able to handle the traffic.

    4. Re:Only After Upgrading to the Cloud by ninjacheeseburger · · Score: 1
  52. Comcast by boustrophedon · · Score: 1

    Put everything on Comcast, which will refuse the excess DDoS traffic unless someone pays.

  53. tax dollars at work by slick7 · · Score: 0

    It's amazing what American tax dollars and NSA Cray computers can do. So much for the TARP recovery.

    --
    The mind conceives, the body achieves, the spirit manifests.
    1. Re:tax dollars at work by Chewbacon · · Score: 1

      The government is subject to the law as much as the rest of us are. Our tax dollars could go to paying for damages. Oslama FTW.

      --
      Chewbacon
      The Bible is like Wikipedia: written by a bunch of people and verifiable by questionable sources.
    2. Re:tax dollars at work by slick7 · · Score: 1

      The government is subject to the law as much as the rest of us are. Our tax dollars could go to paying for damages. Oslama FTW.

      Really? Then why all the Executive Orders that bypass the Constitution?

      --
      The mind conceives, the body achieves, the spirit manifests.
  54. Legal? by dragin33 · · Score: 1

    Could wikileaks sue (and win?) the US Government for this DOS provided enough evidence? Wouldn't the Gov sue if someone DOS'd them? PS: The evidence could come in the form of a ... leak.

    1. Re:Legal? by Chewbacon · · Score: 1

      Last I checked, the government is bound by the law just like you and me. Maybe they'll add a little line into an education bill allowing this in the future.

      --
      Chewbacon
      The Bible is like Wikipedia: written by a bunch of people and verifiable by questionable sources.
  55. He's white. by copponex · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If he were an Arab Muslim, he would already be dead if they had his location. This is because the largest enemy a government like the US has is it's own population, and the assassination of a white well-to-do activist would be far more alarming than another dead Arab.

    They are using their diplomatic contacts to try to force him into hiding. If that doesn't work, you can bet they have plans to take him out with rendition or staging an accident. You can step on toes to a certain extent, but once you start getting in the way of business getting done, you can start counting you life down in hours.

    1. Re:He's white. by jav1231 · · Score: 1

      Assange is Australian. Dude....Google...just sayin'.

    2. Re:He's white. by copponex · · Score: 1

      You're missing the point. American politics is still driven by the worldview of the wealthy white establishment. There are no political consequences for killing an Arab, because the establishment does not identify them as a person worthy of the same rights as themselves.

      And if the colonialist Australian population isn't largely white, that would indeed be news.

    3. Re:He's white. by Scrameustache · · Score: 1

      You can step on toes to a certain extent, but once you start getting in the way of business getting done, you can start counting you life down in hours.

      I bolded the part that I think is super insightful.

      --

      You can't take the sky from me...

    4. Re:He's white. by jav1231 · · Score: 1

      Meth is a terrible drug, Peter.

  56. The true reason for this release by davev2.0 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Wikileaks just wants to embarrass the U.S. and damage the ties the U.S. has with other nations. There was nothing criminal or even shocking other than the candid opinions of lower level personal in the state department about other countries and said countries leaders. The worst thing is that this damages the relationship between the U.S. and various other countries, especially those in the Middle East as well as many Middle East countries relationship with Iran.

    This is just Assange using wikileaks to attack a country he hates.

    1. Re:The true reason for this release by Brannoncyll · · Score: 5, Insightful

      This is just Assange using wikileaks to attack a country he hates.

      Clearly this is why the headline story on BBC news today is about China's thinking on North Korea, and the headline story in The Independent is about missiles in Iran, both of which are sourced from the Wikileaks cables and neither of which is remotely 'anti-US'. I'm sure there are numerous other examples. It seems that you are being deceived by the US government propaganda machine, which attempts to bias (US) public opinion against things it doesn't like by claiming that they are attacking the democratic beacon of justice and humanity, the great and powerful USA, land of the free etc etc.

    2. Re:The true reason for this release by davev2.0 · · Score: 1

      That has nothing to do with the reason Wikileaks released the information. Rather that has to do with the information in the cables. The reason for the release was because Assange hates America.

    3. Re:The true reason for this release by Abcd1234 · · Score: 1

      Wikileaks just wants to embarrass the U.S. and damage the ties the U.S. has with other nations.

      What?

      No.

      The true reason for this leak is that a member of the American military gave them a few hundred thousand documents, and now they're releasing them, as per their entire fucking raison d'etre.

      If they had the same material from, say, Canada, they'd leak those, too. 'course, no one would likely care, but that's entirely beside the point.

      In short: you have a victim complex. Get over it, you whiny little bitch.

    4. Re:The true reason for this release by Brannoncyll · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Perhaps he released the US govt cables because they are the only ones that he had? Your opinion will only be justified if Assange gets hold of similar material from another government and refuses to release it.

    5. Re:The true reason for this release by Arker · · Score: 1

      There was nothing criminal or even shocking other than the candid opinions of lower level personal in the state department about other countries and said countries leaders.

      Look again. No one has even scratched the surface of these things in terms of sheer volume, people snatch out a couple bits that support their thesis and run with it apparently. One thing that has jumped out at me right off - Hillary Clinton violating quite a few laws. Will be interesting to see if she gets charged or not.

      --
      =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
      Friends don't let friends enable ecmascript.
    6. Re:The true reason for this release by davev2.0 · · Score: 1

      Really? Then explain where all the non-U.S. leaks went. Until you do that, your argument is invalid.

    7. Re:The true reason for this release by davev2.0 · · Score: 1

      Or, are they the only ones they chose to release. If what you say is true, then the non-U.S. data on Wikileaks should still be there, but it is not. All the old data about other countries, etc. has been pulled.

    8. Re:The true reason for this release by LordVader717 · · Score: 1

      Oh come on! Do you seriously think that the unflattering comments by junior diplomats about a few numbskull politicians who have certainly heard worse are really going to damage diplomatic ties?

      What is far more interesting is the insight we get into US diplomacy. These will certainly be some of the most extensive historical documents ever released.

      There are basically two approaches: a closed and secretive foreign policy or an open and democratic one. If you believe that wars and alliances are something best left exclusively to Presidents and ministers then you'll oppose Wikileaks, but if you think we need more open debate about our geopolitical goals an intentions, you will support Assange and Wikileaks.

    9. Re:The true reason for this release by Abcd1234 · · Score: 1

      Really? Then explain where all the non-U.S. leaks went

      I can't, I don't work there. Disk space issues are the most obvious.

      Until you do that, your argument is invalid.

      An argument isn't invalid simply because you say so. Just FYI.

    10. Re:The true reason for this release by davev2.0 · · Score: 1

      You do not address the primary statement in my post, namely that the only reason these cables were released was to embarrass the U.S. and damage the international relationships of the U.S.

      The fact that the only data on Wikileaks involves the U.S. is strong evidence of same.

      As for your last paragraph, let me know when you get a chance to discuss alliances with a foreign head of state. The fact is we elect a government to do those very things. You may not realize it but it is true. And, importantly, your last paragraph is false dichotomy.

      And, where are the documents from France, Russia, China, etc? Or do we not need more open debate about THEIR geopolitical goals and intentions?

    11. Re:The true reason for this release by davev2.0 · · Score: 1

      That is right, you can't. And, the ONLY explanation for deleting everything BUT U.S. data is that they are targeting the U.S. If the were not targeting just the U.S., they would have deleted all data beyond a certain date, but they didn't do that did they? No, they decided to focus on the U.S. and only the U.S.

    12. Re:The true reason for this release by Abcd1234 · · Score: 1

      And, the ONLY explanation for deleting everything BUT U.S. data is that they are targeting the U.S.

      What part of "disk space issues" don't you understand, jackass?

      The "ONLY" explanation. Please.

      If the were not targeting just the U.S., they would have deleted all data beyond a certain date

      Given the US data is likely the most popular, that's, frankly, a fucking idiotic assumption.

      But then again, why should I expect anything else?

    13. Re:The true reason for this release by davev2.0 · · Score: 1

      No, a fucking idiotic assumption is that deleting every other bit of information about other countries and companies is not targeting the only one that remains.

      Face the facts, Assange is using wikileaks as his own personal tool to attack the United States and thereby has completely destroyed the credibility of the site.

    14. Re:The true reason for this release by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So does Julian Assange hate Switzerland, too? Remember long before the current info-bombs, Wikileaks exposed the dirty secrets behind the Swiss banking practices. Does he also hate China? The Netherlands? The Church of Scientology? I believe Assange is an equal opportunity activist who is happy to expose power, corruption and lies wherever they are found.

    15. Re:The true reason for this release by Abcd1234 · · Score: 1

      Face the facts

      Those aren't facts. I know you want them to be facts, but they're not. They're speculation, at best. Baseless opinions at worst.

      I know, it's tough. The media innundates us with "facts" that aren't, in fact, facts. It can be tough to really tell the difference after a while. But you can do it. You really can! It just requires, you know, engaging your brain once in a while. Yeah, it requires a little effort, particularly if you're out of practice, as you so clearly are, but I really think you can, if you want to.

      Of course, you don't want to. Echo chambers are way more fun. Conspiracy theories, doubly so. Well, enjoy the echo. Pity it's the hollow sound of an intellectual vacuum.

    16. Re:The true reason for this release by LordVader717 · · Score: 1

      You do not address the primary statement in my post, namely that the only reason these cables were released was to embarrass the U.S. and damage the international relationships of the U.S.

      I considered it unnecessary flamebait on your behalf. How schizophrenic must one be to believe such shit? Assange released information which is highly useful for U.S. citizens. The Pentagons anti-democratic with-us-or-against-us mentality would like to steer your thoughts elsewhere of course

      The fact that the only data on Wikileaks involves the U.S. is strong evidence of same.

      It's actually pretty shitty evidence for your assertion. Anybody the least bit informed would know that the big releases over this last year originated from one source and there has been considerable effort to involve large journals in releasing this bulk of information.

      And, where are the documents from France, Russia, China, etc? Or do we not need more open debate about THEIR geopolitical goals and intentions?

      We certainly do. But the fact is that France's foreign policy is not a colossal authoritarian game of chess like the US has. Russia and China seem to keep their secrets better.

      As for your last paragraph, let me know when you get a chance to discuss alliances with a foreign head of state. The fact is we elect a government to do those very things.

      Really now! Can you even name me one American election in which foreign policy was a primary concern?
      Are you demanding secrecy after the authoritarian officials have been elected? Because that is highly anti-democratic.

    17. Re:The true reason for this release by kestasjk · · Score: 1

      It's possible, but unless you're going to give some evidence or reasoning it's baseless opinion, like "Assange is a rapist".

      --
      // MD_Update(&m,buf,j);
    18. Re:The true reason for this release by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      http://mirror.wikileaks.info/

    19. Re:The true reason for this release by davev2.0 · · Score: 1
      So, anything you don't agree with is flaimbait. Nice to see you expose your true beliefs.

      You must not be an American, because you apparently have no clue as to how the American government is structured or operates.

      Anybody the least bit informed would know that the big releases over this last year originated from one source and there has been considerable effort to involve large journals in releasing this bulk of information.

      And, what does that have to do with the fact that Wikileaks has deleted all information from the site that is not directly about the United States. Did you miss that part or are you too stupid to read?

      We certainly do.

      If that is the case, then why did Wikileaks delete all the data for everyone else?

      Sure. 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008. And, I can name one for the future: 2012.

      The elected officials are not authoritarian, therefore your question is moot. And, no one is demanding complete secrecy. You, however, seem to be demanding a seat at every diplomatic discussion and to be CC on every single communication within the government.

    20. Re:The true reason for this release by LordVader717 · · Score: 1

      And, what does that have to do with the fact that Wikileaks has deleted all information from the site that is not directly about the United States. Did you miss that part or are you too stupid to read?

      If you didn't have less intellectual capacity than a turnip you wouldn't jump to conclusions based on your fanciful interpretations.
      People like you were accusing such conspiracies last time round too, until the documents were put back up within a few weeks.

      The fact is that the site has had hosting problems due to the huge amount of interest it has generated and is undergoing some severe restructuring.

      Sure. 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008. And, I can name one for the future: 2012.

      Lol. If you think pompous speeches and defamations that go on in the mainstream media or even congress for that matter count as foreign policy I really do pity you.

      The elected officials are not authoritarian, therefore your question is moot.

      Hitler won elections too you know. Some characteristics of authoritarianism: exclusive and unaccountable. That pretty much seems to completely characterize American foreign policy.

      And, no one is demanding complete secrecy.

      Well, you are for one. As well as everyone else who calls for severe punishment and condemnation of the sources and journalists rather than the crooked officials they exposes.

      You, however, seem to be demanding a seat at every diplomatic discussion and to be CC on every single communication within the government.

      Ironically it was the intelligence community that demanded this and that's what caused this whole fiasco in the first place.
      No, I wouldn't want to eliminate highly trusted interpersonal communication (you're extremely naive if you believe these leaked documents contain such highly sensitive stuff). But, unlike you, when information does leak and crooks are exposed I don't think that assumed confidentiality can be a defence.

  57. You are stupid and I can prove it. by DarthVain · · Score: 1

    The "leaks" are from a former US soldier who had access to a US system that had US diplomatic cables stored on it.

    Is anyone surprised that all the leaks have to do with the US or what the US has done or said seeing as the actual source is the US?

    Considering that apparently 600,000 people had access to said system, I find it amazing that this simply hasn't happened already. If something is secret, then protect it and limit access, otherwise perhaps think twice about what you say on such a system. Also think about not allowing something stupid like downloading massive amounts of information into a thumb drive. Just sayin'...

    Anyway there is an intrinsic problem with your conclusion that because ALL the leaks are from US, that it must mean that Wikileaks is an anti-US organization. Classic Cause and Causation.

    1. Re:You are stupid and I can prove it. by geekoid · · Score: 1

      Nothing you post proves he's stupid.

      It does show that he is mistaken and behaving in a stupid manner. Something we all do from time to time.

      Your post also shows you amazing amount of ignorance on the 'system' in questions as well of a basic lack of understanding that a reply to a post will someone indicate the intelligence of the person you are replying to.

      Even very smart people make the classic Correlation implies causation*.

      *Implies in the statistical sense, not in the everyday sense. In commons usage we really should get int he habit of saying Correlation doesn't mean causation. Less confusing to the layman.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    2. Re:You are stupid and I can prove it. by DarthVain · · Score: 1

      I will admit my ignorance of the 'system' in question. I am one of the few people by the sounds of it that do not actually have direct access. (one might argue now I have "indirect" access due to the leaks I suppose)

      Anyway I am just repeating what has been reported on the news by now, nothing new.

      I was merely trying to point out that because the leak was A) the largest in like human history that I am aware of, and B) from the US, that it is no surprise that most of the actual contents refer to the US, and by the act of reporting on it doesn't necessarily mean by that shear fact alone that they are anti-US.

      It would like be me saying if the leak was from Canada, and they most of the contents had references about Canada, then clearly the website in question is Anti-Canadian. The Bastards!

      In fact I went on to say that because I feel that this is so clearly the case, and has been reported so much now, that anyone not understanding this simple principle must by the very cause and causation principle alluded to earlier be somewhat dull, if not entirely dim.

      In hindsight my stupid comment was overly harsh, but I figure if he can make a knee jerk reaction about anti-Americanism then I can sure as heck make a knee jerk reaction to what I think of his judgment and overall cognitive ability. :)

  58. 10 Gigabits per second?!?! by dave562 · · Score: 1

    Last I heard the telcos were whining about not having enough bandwidth and needing to traffic shape. I guess they just do not have enough bandwidth for ME. If the US Government needs some spare bandwidth to DDoS a site or two, they have some to spare.

    1. Re:10 Gigabits per second?!?! by McTickles · · Score: 0

      Welcome to the beautiful world of favoritism and fake democracy

  59. Re:The USA does not put intelligence sources at ri by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Oh shit... did you just point out a... DOUBLE STANDARD????

  60. Re:What are they afraid of? by GodfatherofSoul · · Score: 1

    That only applies to us unwashed masses.

    --
    I swear to God...I swear to God! That is NOT how you treat your human!
  61. I hope the US by McTickles · · Score: 0

    possibly running this operation realizes that all it takes is for Wikileaks to get bored of being DDOS'd and just dump everything in a torrent, UNEDITED, UNREVIEWED and they'll never stop it.

  62. it's just resource optimization. by Toy+G · · Score: 1

    It was pulled when they released the War Logs, because they expected an inevitable surge of traffic (and DDOSes), much like press sites do with huge-hyper-massive-net-straining breaking news.

    After that, they were overwhelmed by the effort required to publish these cables, and putting back the minor stuff got a very low priority. Plus, their profile is no so high that a vanilla mediawiki would crumble in a few days, so you need something better and safer.

    Wikileaks is a very small org, it's clear they're struggling to manage their workload.

    --
    -- Let's go Viridian.
  63. You're not fit for government work by copponex · · Score: 1

    When you are a secretive organization like the US government, the most important phrase is "plausible deniability." Of course the US could fly a satellite guided bomb into Assange's bathroom, but it would be undeniably traced back to the US government. They could also use legal methods, and they are about to, but that doesn't mean that in the interim they will stop harassing Assange or WikiLeaks.

    And in the interim, they will use third parties to cover their tracks. Just like they did in Afghanistan in the 1980s. Just like they did throughout all of their criminal behavior dating back to the Spanish American War.

    1. Re:You're not fit for government work by wjousts · · Score: 1

      You've got nothing but wild speculation. Not convincing.

  64. the press freedom index is from the US Gov by Voline · · Score: 3, Informative

    Ecuador ranks a whooping 101 on the press freedom index, with an annually deteriorating index value. I'm not quite convinced it's the best country to exile to for people publishing inconveniant documents.

    The compilers of that "press freedom index" is Reporters Without Borders. RWB are primarily funded by the US government through the National Endowment for Democracy which was founded during the Reagan administration to channel funds to organizations abroad that would support US foreign policy. Sometimes this funding is direct, sometimes it is conducted through the international arms of the US Democratic Party or Republican Party.

    I would consider that the "US State Dept Press Freedom Index".

  65. Wikileaks too slow to release the cables by cpghost · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Actually, this probably isn't a DDoS at all, but simply people repeatedly checking the site for new cables. If they had released a lot more cables in a batch (say a couple of thousands or more), people would look less frequently while digesting what they've got. So, this increase in traffic may very well be self-inflicted by their painfully slow release policy.

    --
    cpghost at Cordula's Web.
  66. Conflicted by dskoll · · Score: 1

    I think Wikileaks may have gone too far with the latest set of leaks. I don't believe they're all in the public interest and some of them will definitely hurt relations between the US and other countries for no good reason.

    And I agree with others that this does seem a tad personal (Assange vs. the US). Are there no other countries with juicy leakable tidbits?

    1. Re:Conflicted by McTickles · · Score: 0

      I for one would like to see some leaks about the current French government. I am sick of the neurotic dwarf.

  67. Where do they get them? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Where did the world governments get the huge fucking balls to attack an individual so brutally and publicly?
    Look at the false rape charges meant to smear a person's reputation that are already being repeated despite being dismissed, it's like an Orwellian tale.
    These governments have shown their true colors, their willingness to abuse their power and ignore democratic ideals.
    Their public display will hopefully be the undoing of this sort of abuse of power and position, but I won't hold my breath.

  68. "calls by many lawmakers around the world" by unity100 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    i see that they didnt like their filth coming out into the open eh ?

    that means there is probably even stronger sh@t to come up yet. since those bastards have started calling for his arrest calling him 'rapist'. despite the girls who are involved in that case openly state that there is no rape involved and that was voluntary. i guess, that conveniently slips by their ears.

    the rock bottom level of corruption that politics has hit, is nauseating.

  69. Re:The USA does not put intelligence sources at ri by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ... unless the person exposing the intelligence source is the Vice President of the United States, you forgot that exclusion.

  70. Re:The USA does not put intelligence sources at ri by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So I assume that you very much believe those involved with exposing Hilary Plame should be vigorously hunted down and prosecuted?

  71. ooooh. beautiful words. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "secrets" "confidence" "diplomat" "friends"

    you are talking as if its about some close friends exchanging wiener secrets in some house in the neighborhood.

    it isnt. it is rotten bastards perpetrating unbelievable filth, behind the cover of secrecy in the name of 'national security'. the filth involves betraying the very ideals of freedom, liberty, and human rights, while appearing to be defending them in the front.

    it is appalling that there are STILL people, whoa re able to use internet, come to slashdot, post, and still be as naive as you to the extent that you are able to believe that the concept of 'national secret' can be an innocent one.

    theory and practice are two different things.

    1. Re:ooooh. beautiful words. by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      still be as naive as you to the extent that you are able to believe that the concept of 'national secret' can be an innocent one.

      Who said anything about innocent? If the other side isn't playing fair, you either play dirty or lose.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    2. Re:ooooh. beautiful words. by fyngyrz · · Score: 1

      Who said anything about innocent? If the other side isn't playing fair, you either play dirty or lose.

      Right. Well, since the USG is, and has been, playing VERY dirty with the privacy of others, including its own citizens, looks like Julian is doing exactly the right thing, doesn't it?

      --
      I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
    3. Re:ooooh. beautiful words. by Vancorps · · Score: 1

      I didn't realize we were that weak of a nation that we had to violate our principles to win. Of course, what competition are we in? If you're talking military conflict there is no nation on Earth capable of withstanding an American lead attack.

      Why do we have ideals? If we're actually losing a war then I'd say it's time to evaluate tactics but when war is this asymmetric there is no excuse. The irony of the whole terrorism angle is that is actually a stated service of the FBI. Their interrogation tactics are far more effective and guess what? They don't have to torture. Just because the other side is doing it, doesn't mean it's okay that we do it. If a friend of yours was jumping off a cliff would you follow him?

    4. Re:ooooh. beautiful words. by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      I didn't realize we were that weak of a nation that we had to violate our principles to win.

      You have to violate your principles just to survive. Nature does not care what your principles or morals dictate - we are all bound by her law "survival of the fittest". It's very good to have ideals, and I think we should stick to them whenever possible - but you really can't stick to ideals at all times if you hope to survive.

      If we're actually losing a war then I'd say it's time to evaluate tactics but when war is this asymmetric there is no excuse.

      Agreed - which is why, for the most part, we have not embraced any "total war" philosophy in Afghanistan or Iraq. On the other hand, we have certainly aligned ourselves with some pretty unsavory characters. War itself is a failure of our ideals, so this should not be a surprise.

      They don't have to torture.

      I was not defending torture. Though I myself would use it if I knew the tortured could provide some extremely important information - but such situations only occur in movies.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    5. Re:ooooh. beautiful words. by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      since the USG

      No one said the US diplomatic corp was morally superior to anyone else. But "keeping secrets" is hardly its cardinal sin.

      looks like Julian is doing exactly the right thing, doesn't it?

      He's doing exactly what an enemy of the US should do, yes.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    6. Re:ooooh. beautiful words. by Vancorps · · Score: 1

      Given how much harder the founders of the United States had it than we do today I find your statement to be just reaction to fear that the media has instilled in you. Why do we have to torture people to survive? Last I checked we're surviving quite well and the overreactions are what is hurting out position further rather than helping. When you resort to torturing people then you will have no will of the people on your side as they will just see you as another tyrant.

      A great many soldiers in the past died for our principles and I'd rather they not died in vain as I believe those are strong principles that we actually can maintain without dropping everything just because a criminal organization out there wants to do us harm. If we had handled it like a criminal organization instead of all out combat then the whole thing would have cost a whole lot less and we probably would have actually gotten the man we set out to get. The fact that we haven't even found Osama Bin Laden yet is true testament to where you get when you abandon your ideals for the fear of the day.

      Also, torture has shown many times throughout history to be ineffective as it just forces the person to say what you want to hear. Too many people get caught up in the retribution part that they forget the real goal is to get more information and the FBI has had great success with this without resorting to torture. So the question becomes again, why should we violate our principles at this stage of the game? If there was an all out assault on our homeland with women and children being raped and murdered like the time of our forefathers perhaps then we should consider resorting to guerrilla tactics as we did then.

      The only threat to our survival I see today is the fact that we violate our very noble principles and torture people seemingly indiscriminately. This only serves to polarise the people we are actually trying to help.

    7. Re:ooooh. beautiful words. by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      Why do we have to torture people to survive?

      Again with the torture? I haven't and won't defend or condone it. The US does not need to be in the torture business.

      I'm just saying that allowing our state department to have secrets is something that I believe is necessary for them to deal with the harsh world. Torture has nothing to do with it.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    8. Re:ooooh. beautiful words. by fyngyrz · · Score: 1

      From a criminal's viewpoint, the cop is the enemy. And in that sense, yes, Julian is the enemy of the USG. Because he's exposing its criminal activities, like bartering away the lives of people detained in Guantanamo, torturing people, and so on. The USG he is "attacking" is not the one that was described to you in grade school. The USG he is attacking is the one that has, via the persons in the house, the senate, the executive, and the judiciary, broken explicit oaths to defend and obey the constitution and is now running amuck, trampling its own citizen's liberties.

      --
      I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
    9. Re:ooooh. beautiful words. by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      Because he's exposing its criminal activities, like bartering away the lives of people detained in Guantanamo, torturing people, and so on.

      Not one of those things was revealed by Wikileaks. Torture has been debated for years - we can't even agree on the definition of torture, and we know things like waterboarding have occured. We knew Obama was trying to close Guantanamo, and we knew he was pressuring other countries to take some of the detainees. The leaked cables have turned up nothing particularly untoward at all (so far). The juiciest bits read like mild Hollywood gossip, and the real surprise so far is how candid the Arab leaders are (well, were) with our diplomats.

      The USG he is "attacking" is not the one that was described to you in grade school.

      You have a pretty romanticized notion of what the USG once was like. Slavery was written into our constitution. Nothing that the US government does today is even remotely as evil, especially when considering the scale, as slavery. And then there's the whole era of the political boss... the Alien and Sedition Acts... the entire Jim Crow period... Internment of the Japanese during WW2...

      Modern America isn't perfect, and it may even be getting worse - but there are darker periods in our history, and we've come out of them. The system certainly isn't so broken that I'd root for a egomaniac rather than my own government. Like all self-professed "great" men, his ego seems to have gotten ahead of him and he will soon be serving time for rape.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
  72. Re:The USA does not put intelligence sources at ri by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Oh shit... did you just point out a... DOUBLE STANDARD????

    No you obnoxious twit, he erected a straw man.

  73. Re:Do you feel lucky Julius? Well, do you? by Zaiff+Urgulbunger · · Score: 1

    Whilst I don't doubt the politicians involved here may have a grudge, I suspect that there's little practical benefit in orchestrating any "unfortunate accident" at this point -- the cat is totally out of the bag! For the same reason, it's likely the cat was partially out of the bag a long time ago to ensure nothing "happened" to the parties involved prior to this. So for Assange, it'll likely all be legal now.

  74. Re:The USA does not put intelligence sources at ri by melikamp · · Score: 1

    Assange thinks he is more important than he is.

    Please explain why you singled out Assange for something that Wikileaks is doing along with El Pais, Le Monde, Der Spiegel, The Guardian, and The New York Times.

    Exposing intelligence sources is never acceptable.

    The leak source was probably a US government employee. It was that person who exposed intelligence sources: a US government employee. Wikileaks, along with other journalistic outlets, is bringing an edited version to the general public. They are not exposing ANYTHING. We, the public, are precisely LAST to read the leaked documents. Closing down newspapers won't stop leaks: it won't even stop them from reaching the public; it will only prevent them from being edited.

  75. it is now one entity with a grudge against another by spazmonkey · · Score: 1

    I don't see how anyone could mistake the difference between an open documents whistleblower site, and one hijacked by one individual restricting information released to just that which attacks just one specific entity for personal reasons. I don't care if the country he picked was Wherethefuckistan, or just a company he didn't like, or his ex-girlfriend.

  76. What? 10Gbps? by IrquiM · · Score: 1

    Only double digit number of people attacking them? Surely the US can find more geeks than that.

    --
    This is blinging
  77. It is nauseating .... by unity100 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    the amount of filth continually being exposed about their government and its BETRAYAL to their country's values is increasing, yet, also the numbers of americans who are supporting their government is increasing, at least in slashdot.

    i find it nauseating. how can someone support some party that has DECEIVED them, by betraying the founding ideals of their country in regard to freedom, liberty and basic human rights, and perpetrated innumerable filth behind the cover of secrecy with the 'national secrets' excuse ....

    YET, some people can still stomach being deceived, lied, and bottomless filth committed in their name, AND come up supporting that !!!

    HOW. WHY ?

    1. Re:It is nauseating .... by Brannoncyll · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Studies suggest that giving people facts that contradict their beliefs only serves to make them hold more tightly to that belief.

    2. Re:It is nauseating .... by TheTurtlesMoves · · Score: 1

      Because people are stupid, and rather ignorant of history. And despite /. reputation for "smarter" than average audience... it is in fact decidedly average. The average US citizen response to this is *not* helping American reputation one bit. You[the average us citizen] can no longer claim that the government is not really representing you when you actively encourage them to hide all the details.

      --
      The Grey Goo disaster happened 3 billion years ago. This rock is covered in self replicating machines!
    3. Re:It is nauseating .... by tibman · · Score: 1

      You've got it backwards. You WANT filth being exposed. Every government is made up of the same people.. you and i.

      --
      http://soylentnews.org/~tibman
  78. no by unity100 · · Score: 1

    thats you just being a moron. and getting your news, like a true moron, from american news media which is 80% owned by 4 corporations that supported your government into power.

    had you spared the time to check wikileaks leak documents, you would find that there are more filth exposed about other countries than america. like turkey for example, it is probable that half of turkey's government may have to go to court hearings for their dirty dealings.

    yet, like a true witless idiot, you are just eating on what you are fed.

    well done. good for you. keep doing that, until you or your son is sent to die in a foreign war under the pretense of 'freedom', will ya. at least, you will do some good to this world, by removing yourself from its surface this way.

    1. Re:no by davev2.0 · · Score: 1

      Really? Is that why when I went to Wikileaks, everything was about the United States? Nice of you to speak out your ass like the moron you are. Maybe next time you will go look at Wikileaks before you shit out your opinion.

    2. Re:no by unity100 · · Score: 1

      had you have the brain cell to do it, you would be able to click a link on the left, and go to the usual directory that lists ALL the shit they are exposing, ranging from random corporation a polluting in random country b, to details of tiger woods gag order on british media.

      but, apparently, you didnt have the brain cell to do it moron, and instead, you landed on the front page, which has been changed to accommodate their main news event at this point in time, and like a witless idiot, thought that the site was all about just that.

      Maybe next time you will click a few links in a page before you shit out your witless morondom as opinion.

    3. Re:no by davev2.0 · · Score: 1

      Apparently you haven't been to Wikileaks lately. The links on the left lead to, in order: Wikileaks front page, Diary Dig (http://warlogs.wikileaks.org/iraq/diarydig), War Logs (http://warlogs.owni.fr/), Support Us, About Wikileaks, and Submissions. That is all. Please, tell me which one of those will take me to the details of the Tiger Woods gag order.

    4. Re:no by unity100 · · Score: 1

      here. you dont even need to click now. for the second time, you have been handed the link over to you. now at least go and spare the effort to actually read and THEN form an opinion.

      http://mirror.infoboj.eu/

    5. Re:no by davev2.0 · · Score: 1

      That is not Wikileaks.org, is it? Where is it on the Wikileaks.org site? Post a link that starts "www.wikileaks.org/". Only then will you have a point. Until you can do that, just shut the fuck up, asshole.

      Your fucking mirror doesn't matter because the actual wikileaks site has taken down all other data. I have seen it. I have proven it. What have you done? You have pointed to mirror that is completely independent of Wikileaks.

      You are the moron, the idiot, the fool. You sit there and say that Wikileaks has not done what it clearly has done, then point to a mirror not controlled by Assange and Wikileaks as proof. What is on that mirror does not change what is actually happening on Wikileaks.

    6. Re:no by unity100 · · Score: 1

      that is the mirror of wikileaks org, before they hauled their entire site in order to handle the specific subject of cablegate.

      it is probable that site may be rehauled for the next big topic, the bank scandal, soon.

      GET a clue you idiot. you are SO deep in your nationalism shit that you are equating your government with your own id ego. the documents are there. everything is there. it is a fucking mirror of wikileaks yet you can twist your perception SO bad that you are able to come and post such kind of bullshit instead of perceiving the situation.

    7. Re:no by davev2.0 · · Score: 1

      that is the mirror of wikileaks org, before they hauled their entire site in order to handle the specific subject of cablegate.

      In other words, that is the Wikileaks.org site before Wikileaks.org decided to delete all the data for every other country and specifically target the United States. Get a clue you fucking shithead, you have just proven my point.

    8. Re:no by davev2.0 · · Score: 1

      What's the matter, fuckwad? Don't like being proven an ignorant piece of shit and having your ass handed to you?

  79. Re:Do you feel lucky Julius? Well, do you? by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 1

    "Whilst I don't doubt the politicians involved here may have a grudge, ..."

    I never stated or suggested that it would be an act of the politicians. Even in circa 2011 US, the politicians don't do the killing.

    --
    Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
  80. "diplomacy" by unity100 · · Score: 1

    that being snooping personal information, bank accounts, credit card numbers, frequent flyer numbers of the u.n. ambassadors, and employees ? so that, they can later be used to fuck around and blackmail them ?

    or, strong arming an ally into submission, because world will never know and it will be denied when it hits the press (like it did in 2004) ?

    or, filthy countries trying to brew a war 'at all costs' (includes even nuclear fallout from tactical weapons by the way), destabilizing an entire geographic region ?

    these are not diplomacy. these are filth. and anyone who has bought the shit that they are fed from the mass media, as 'diplomacy being discredited' is a witless idiot. please return your /. user id. your iq and cognitive powers are not enough to keep it.

  81. Re:The USA does not put intelligence sources at ri by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Your post is 100% Bullshit. Who are you anyway, God almighty?
    An intelligence source is 100% civilian and innocent. Except for military intelligence, State actors and criminals. Oh, that covers 90% of all assets?
    An enemy combatant such as a member of the Taliban or Al Qaeda gang member is not a civilian and not innocent, if a court of law finds them guilty after due process.
    The US soldiers are at war with the foreign soldiers: No, they're not.
    It's expected that soldiers on both sides of a war are going to die: see Predator drones.
    Intelligence sources are not soldiers, except when they are, which is "usually" (see above).
    They are people who have surrendered to the US government: No, these are people being paid (or tortured) by the US government. There is a difference.
    They had the option to surrender to the Taliban, to Iran, but chose to surrender to the US Government: Bullshit, they "surrender" to whomever controls their village that day. They have very little choice in the matter.
    the USA has a sacred trust to protect their identity at any cost: Please define "sacred" and specify "at any cost". Your mom being crucified to protect the sources would be acceptable?
    Assange thinks he is more important than he is: Aha, a mind-reader. That explains a lot.
    Exposing intelligence sources is never acceptable. It's as bad as torture which we agree is not acceptable, or killing women and children: Say what? I don't think I agree with that AT ALL. Those actions are morally and legally miles apart.
    So if Assange gets an entire family killed off because of this leak, or several families are ruined, this is okay to you? Oh, look, it's a troll dressed as a straw man.
    But if the USA bombs the wrong house by accident then it's not okay? No, whatever anybody does or says, that will never be okay.

  82. YOu are lying by geekoid · · Score: 1

    read the fucking leaks and articles. It actually shows the US is doing pretty well to keep things calm in the US.

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    1. Re:YOu are lying by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What about outside the US? I'm more concerned about what the US does to people off its own soil. They have a bad track record there.

    2. Re:YOu are lying by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The problem with the US is not the situation within the US, but their wars and mass murders in other countries.

  83. The US Government gave the peon access by freeweed · · Score: 1

    If any heads should roll over the leaks, it should be those of the guy who stole the data and whatever dunce(s) allowed peons access to the data.

    I'm surprised Slashdotters haven't picked up on this angle, but the peons have access to this data as a direct result of 9/11 and the panic legislation that ensued. Remember all of the "OMG gov't agencies need access to each other's information so that we can prevent this from happening"? Remember privacy advocates pointing out that perhaps it's not a smart idea to have all of this information shared all over the place, because of possible unintended consequences?

    There's a reason some 3 million US soldiers had access to all of this data. The government brought it upon itself.

    --
    Endless arguments over trivial contradictions in books written by ignorant savages to explain thunder in the dark.
  84. Re:The USA does not put intelligence sources at ri by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "The US people are at war with the foreign people" FTFY.

    The USA is a democracy (of sorts) not a military dictatorship.

  85. Re:He is rocking the boat that people are sitting by butalearner · · Score: 1

    12 civilians clearly unarmed shot with the murderers expressing clear joy at their slaughter.

    I thought we went over this? The soldiers *clearly* thought they had an RPG, as they said so on multiple occasions. It's clear to us, sitting in our comfortable computer chairs and couches several months after the fact, and being told beforehand that they were unarmed journalists and one of them had a camera tripod. The only wrong they committed, as I understand, was firing on the van that tried to pick up the injured. The main problem was covering it up, and the grunts have no say in that. You can't blame kids that are trained to kill for the way they act in doing so. Blame the people who put them in that situation in the first place.

    That said, what Wikileaks is doing is fantastic. Apparently we are getting the transparency that President Obama promised in his campaign, whether he likes it or not.

  86. Its on I2P by Burz · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Why does not Wikileaks post all their leaks on Freenet which is somewhat robust to DDoS _and_ provides great encryption and anonymity?

    Someone is mirroring the data on I2P which is much faster and better than Freenet, IMO.

  87. and ? by unity100 · · Score: 1

    purely anti american ? OF course it was going to eventually become one. lets see. russia, a few eastern european countries (not includes poland even), china, a few chinese satellites, and thats it.

    the rest of the world is dominated by united states. maybe, 80% of the world population, lives under the 'protectorate' and 'world policing' of united states.

    of course, ANYthing happening in this 80% of the world, has to have either u.s. backing, or u.s. approval.

    of course it was going to turn into an entirely anti u.s. operation. us govt. and us. corporations have been the ones perpetrating shit that is going on around the world for the last 60 years.

    1. Re:and ? by CrimsonAvenger · · Score: 1

      the rest of the world is dominated by united states. maybe, 80% of the world population, lives under the 'protectorate' and 'world policing' of united states.

      Including those well-known American lackeys China and India.

      Wait, they're not? How odd, since they have, between them, 40% of the world's population...

      In other words, you're delusional if you think "80% of the world population, lives under the 'protectorate' and 'world policing' of united states"....

      --

      "I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
    2. Re:and ? by unity100 · · Score: 1

      india is aligned with usa in most respects. it has HUGE economic ties, and the main boost of his economy is from doing business with u.s. that leaves out 1 bn china, and 250 mil russia. along with satellites it would make at most 1.5 bn. out of 7.

      im not delusional, you dont know enough geopolitics.

    3. Re:and ? by CrimsonAvenger · · Score: 1

      india is aligned with usa in most respects. it has HUGE economic ties, and the main boost of his economy is from doing business with u.s. that leaves out 1 bn china, and 250 mil russia. along with satellites it would make at most 1.5 bn. out of 7.

      If India's economic ties are enough to make them "dominated by the USA", then surely China's (even larger) economic ties with the USA produce the same result. Ditto Russia's economic ties.

      Note that it makes just as much sense to say that the USA is dominated by China due to their economic ties....

      --

      "I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
    4. Re:and ? by unity100 · · Score: 1

      china is an autocratic country which is ruled by an internal ruling strata. no influence can get in. india is not as such. any country which has elections and is not autocrat (like russia, or china) has been dominated or influenced by u.s. for the better part of the last 50 years.

  88. lol by willzzz · · Score: 1

    They are hosting on Amazon US West (San Jose) and EU Dublin. Amazon has DDOS defenses on their EC2 (Elastic Compute) 2 cloud (Cisco/Juniper). The DDOS is childish at best. If the US gov't wanted to take it down they could easily ask Amazon to take down the mirror by now... This is more media pandering than anything...

  89. yes by unity100 · · Score: 1

    telling people what their government does in secret behind their backs, murdering, kidnapping, strong arming people and betraying freedom, liberty ideals they are purporting to be defending, is, 'crime against democracy'.

    go fuck yourself will you. i was going to compose a logical and calm-tempered reasoning, but really, im fresh out after seeing so many idiots. go fuck yourself in some corner is the highest form of communique you deserve, since apparently you do not have the need or desire to educate yourself even a little bit.

  90. ping ping ping by TiggertheMad · · Score: 1

    I really would love to read a professional analysis of the source(s) of the attack(s). It might be juicier than the actual leaks...

    --

    HA! I just wasted some of your bandwidth with a frivolous sig!
  91. Is this the right link? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    http://wikileaks.org/

    Server not responding. Could everyone please try it?

  92. So we should know nothing by hotsauce · · Score: 1

    So in order to save a frank assessment from becoming an embarrassment in a hypocritical situation, we should let the government lock down all information it wants from its citizens.

    Hey, those political ads once every four years are all I need to make a decision at the ballot box, what do I need to know what's going on for? Hell, even the ads are too much, I just vote for the party my family always has.

    If I bother to vote. Prime time TV is much more interesting anyway.

    1. Re:So we should know nothing by tibman · · Score: 1

      That was quite a big leap you made there.

      How about start with keeping diplomatic communications secret and discuss what is safe. We're all geeks here.. so a rule like: Deny All, Allow $exception

      --
      http://soylentnews.org/~tibman
  93. Re:The USA does not put intelligence sources at ri by geekoid · · Score: 1

    I don't see where he was killed or harmed.
    If you are acting against your government, regardless of intent, you are not innocent. IN fact, he is probably guilty of sharing state secrets. More correct would be to say it may have hurt a US connection.

    "Exposing intelligence sources is never acceptable."

    That's just wrong. You may want to think about your wording.

    Your same argument could have been used to argue against the release of the watergate information.

    At this point, I think the lives saved by forcing the lies foreign countries have been making in their public statements may be more then the lives that will be lost.

    You're argument rest on the false assumption that no lives at ALL will be lost if information is kept secret.

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  94. Espionage Act of 1917 by melstav · · Score: 4, Informative

    Since you didn't include a link to the text of the act in question, here is the text of the Espionage Act of 1917.

    Section 1, paragraph (e) pretty clearly applies to the person who leaked all of the documents in question.

    Section 1, paragraph (d) MIGHT have applied to Wikileaks... EXCEPT for the fact that they provided the State Department with copies of all of the documents that had been leaked, prior to publication.

    What's more, not only are they redacting the documents prior to publication, they're redacting the documents EVEN MORE HEAVILY than the declassified versions being published by the Department of Defense.

    So, yeah. Granted, IANAL, but I'd say that doesn't apply.

  95. Re:The USA does not put intelligence sources at ri by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That would be all well and good, except for the fact that the US has admitted that not one known case of any reprisals caused by info contained in the leaked papers has occurred.

  96. Re:He is rocking the boat that people are sitting by stewbacca · · Score: 1

    Calling the German Chancellor 'Teflon'...yeah, that's the pinnacle of "moral apathy" right there!

  97. Re:The USA does not put intelligence sources at ri by elucido · · Score: 1

    I notice you only respond as anonymous, and you spit out opinions as if they are facts.

    I did my research. Most assets are civilians. They aren't soldiers. They are ordinary people who just happen to live in the wrong location and know the wrong people.

    Your mom being crucified to protect the sources would be acceptable?

    If I were a CIA officer yes I would protect my sources identities as if they are family members because thats what you do. It's just like you protect your comrades in war.

    In war I'd be risking my life to win, and the sources would be risking their lives for me.


      Say what? I don't think I agree with that AT ALL. Those actions are morally and legally miles apart.

    No they aren't. A source is likely going to be tortured if discovered. A source if you out them has no life to go back to.

    Somehow you have the idea that intelligence sources are "bad" people. Some of the best people on earth are intelligence sources and some of the worst scumbags on earth are intelligence sources. If you are an intelligence officer then you'd know everything about your source, if you know they are one of the best people and you know they are risking their life for you what kind of scumbag would you have to be to sell them out?

  98. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  99. Re:The USA does not put intelligence sources at ri by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Assange thinks he is more important than he is. Exposing intelligence sources is never acceptable. It's as bad as torture which we agree is not acceptable, or killing women and children. So if Assange gets an entire family killed off because of this leak, or several families are ruined, this is okay to you?

    1) Assange is the spokesman for Wikileaks. He's stated his goal is to act as the lightning rod for the project, but he's not the one who decides what (or how) to leak. I know it's hard to deal with a mostly-anonymous organization, and I understand your desire to humanize it and focus your anger on a specific person -- but I'm afraid you can't do that here.

    2) The US was given a chance to redact this and other leaks so as to avoid any fall-out. They declined. Take from that what you will...

  100. diplomatic reporting by Gary+W.+Longsine · · Score: 1

    Well, the diplomatic reporting system and practice, itself, really wasn't a secret. If you tell a diplomat something "in confidence", you should reasonably expect that you're telling a giant government bureaucracy, with all that implies.

    --
    If you mod me down, I shall become more powerful than you could possibly imagine.
  101. Re:The USA does not put intelligence sources at ri by elucido · · Score: 1

    I don't see where he was killed or harmed.
    You expect to see that? You think Iran is going to show you what they did to him?

    If you are acting against your government, regardless of intent, you are not innocent.

    The document says baku businessman. A businessman is a civilian not a government employee or a soldier. He never worked for the Iranian government so he is completely innocent. It's not like this guy is a double agent, the document does not say anything about him being loyal to any government.

    That's just wrong. You may want to think about your wording.

    Why is it wrong? Make a case.

    Lives will be lost either way. I'm saying when intelligence sources are revealed innocent civilian lives are destroyed. This is a certainty.

  102. Re:He is rocking the boat that people are sitting by martyros · · Score: 1

    You can see it from the murder video. 12 civilians clearly unarmed shot with the murderers expressing clear joy at their slaughter.

    Look at this video snippet. The guy there is clearly carrying an RPG, which is exactly what the trained soldier in the video said he saw before escalating the situation. I've had people come back and say it was a piece of photographic equipment. I was in the military, and my wife is a professional photographer. We both agree, that it looks and hangs and swings exactly like a weapon; and it doesn't look like any piece of photographic equipment we've ever seen.

    It's a shame that the photographers got shot up, but they took that risk walking around in the open with people carrying RPGs.

    About the "joy at their slaugther": even if the people in the video were in fact civilians, it's clear that the gunner thought they were armed insurgents -- people that had probably been involved in killing both Iraqis and American soldiers, and were the reason the gunner was even still in Iraq instead of back in the States with his family. The joy at killing the "bad guys" may shock you, but it's not the joy of killing innocents.

    To mods: This is not a troll. It's important information, and a genuine contribution to correct a widespread misconception. Marking it "troll" is censorship.

    --

    TCP: Why the Internet is full of SYN.

  103. damage by Gary+W.+Longsine · · Score: 1

    Additional and perhaps even more serious damage would be done to the U.S. reputation should we conduct a DDoS attack on so petty a grounds, and get caught. This DDoS is likely the work of some random botmaster with a political axe to grind, and that axe may not be obvious. Perhaps they want people to *think* that the US attacked the WikiLeaks web site. It might merely be an internet joy ride for them, as most such DDoS attacks appear to be.

    --
    If you mod me down, I shall become more powerful than you could possibly imagine.
  104. Wow by ThatsNotPudding · · Score: 1

    and try suspected rapist Julius Assange

    Just go on and convict him, subbie.

  105. Yes, Assange needs protection. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hopefully Ecuador's offer of protection is a little better than what Mexico did for Trotsky.

  106. Godaddy domains down by secondhand_Buddah · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The Godaddy registered Wikileaks domains (wikileaks.com wikileaks.net wikileaks.biz, wikileaks.mobi, wikileaks.us) are no longer pointing at anything meaninful - just Godaddy blurb pages. It seems that Godaddy has decided to stop serving DNS for Wikileaks

    --
    Participatory Governance : The only feasible option for a real democracy, where everyone really does have a say.
    1. Re:Godaddy domains down by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Everyone needs to boycott godaddy.com, and email them to complain, for it's disgusting action.

  107. the true lessons to be learned by Gary+W.+Longsine · · Score: 3, Informative

    This batch of leaks is about as likely to wind up helping the United States more than hurting it, as it has exposed, for example, the deep hypocrisy of the Arab governments in the middle east. It does the United States very little good, so far as anyone can tell, from letting these governments publicly berate our every action in the region, while privately begging us to stop Iran from getting a nuclear bomb. A little sunshine on that single issue might do enough good to entirely negate any other random embarrassments which occur.

    I don't have a sense for whether or not Mr. Assange "hates" the United States. It is quite clear that he thinks governments keep too many secrets, and that he thinks operational transparency might lead to governments whose actions are more closely aligned with the interests of their populations. He seems pretty focused on western democratic nations, and this looks like an indication that perhaps he doesn't hate them. More like "tough love".

    --
    If you mod me down, I shall become more powerful than you could possibly imagine.
    1. Re:the true lessons to be learned by davev2.0 · · Score: 1

      If he is not targeting the U.S. then what happened to old data on other countries? The only data on Wikileaks is solely about the U.S. By removing the data about other countries, he has made your argument invalid. Even if he returns the old data to the site, the fact that he removed it in the first place shows that he has turned Wikileaks into an anti-U.S. site. Returning it would only prove that he learned from his overt act.

  108. *meow* by Lilith's+Heart-shape · · Score: 1

    I should tell you my secret. I'm actually a Maine Coon cat augmented with experimental nanotech slashdotting from a DARPA laboratory. I think my English is quite good for a cat.

    1. Re:*meow* by mooingyak · · Score: 1

      Honestly, most of the time I don't care too much about people's grammar and/or spelling errors, but I got the giggles when I thought of a diplomat "effecting" people.

      --
      William of Ockham had no beard. The most likely explanation is that it was chewed off by squirrels every morning.
  109. Re:He is rocking the boat that people are sitting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Are you really saying killing an unarmed wounded man is not murder?

  110. there moron. by unity100 · · Score: 1

    despite main site and a lot of mirrors were down, i was still able to find it with 2 google searches and 1 wikipedia page.

    http://mirror.infoboj.eu/

    if you dont have the brain cell to do THAT much, hand over your /. uid, and log out from internet.

    1. Re:there moron. by davev2.0 · · Score: 1

      The main Wikileaks site is not down. I have just been there. Therefore, you have admitted that Wikileaks has taken down all non-U.S. related info from their site. You have proven my point. Thank you, you lose.

    2. Re:there moron. by unity100 · · Score: 1

      the main wikileaks site is down and up amid DDOSes. it turns out that you havent been reading the fucking news coming up all day either.

    3. Re:there moron. by davev2.0 · · Score: 1

      It is not down. I had no trouble getting to it and have not had any trouble getting to it. I actually went to Wikileaks.org. Why didn't you? Maybe you should shut the fuck up now before you make even more a fool of yourself.

    4. Re:there moron. by unity100 · · Score: 1

      idiot.

      what part of 'SITE WAS CHANGED FOR THE NEW STORY' you do not understand ? idiot ? its not hard. they have changed the site to flashlight the NEW STORY. just like it was done for others earlier.

      this leak, is CABLEGATE. it is going to be about the cablegate, until the new leak is out. it doesnt take too much effort to understand, moron ? i have even given you the OFFICIAL mirror of the site keeping it as it was BEFORE the change.

      eeeeh. go fuck yourself somewhere right wing nutto. audieu.

    5. Re:there moron. by davev2.0 · · Score: 1

      Please point me to where wikileaks said they changed the site for that reason. You are full of shit and making excuses for them. What is it like to be Assange the rapist's shill?

    6. Re:there moron. by davev2.0 · · Score: 1

      Don't be a liar. You have already proven my point. At no point has Wikileaks said they did what you are claiming. Show me where they said that or admit you are a shill for Assange the rapist and shut the fuck up.

  111. Re:The USA does not put intelligence sources at ri by Bigjeff5 · · Score: 1

    A little journalistic integrity would be nice.

    Assange and Wikileaks lack such integrity completely.

    --
    Security is mostly a superstition... Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. - Helen Keller
  112. Stop making sense. by Lilith's+Heart-shape · · Score: 1

    Seriously, stop making sense. Most people aren't going to listen.

    1. Re:Stop making sense. by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      The world doesn't make any sense. If someone seems to be making sense and their ideology seems reassuringly consistent, there lies dragons. That's religion, not reality. Marx is pretty hard to dispute when you read him.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    2. Re:Stop making sense. by fyngyrz · · Score: 1

      Marx makes sense because he's mostly right. Some of his observations are so obviously true that they stand almost shoulder to shoulder with natural law: "It [religion] is the opium of the people", for instance, is only untrue in the sense that it understates the case.

      One key problem with Marx (and democracy, and republics, and communism, and socialism, and just about every other -ology, -ism, and -cracy) is that the implementations are very poor. Our republic in particular is an example of great intentions gone horribly wrong over time, instead of correcting towards the ideal implementation.

      When I was a young man, "papers, please" was a joke, a straightforward mocking of the idiocy of the Nazis, to be delivered in a German accent because only the Germans would be so evil. Today it's the law of the land within 150 miles of the border, as are warrentless searches and detainment without probable cause, taking of personal property and funds with no recourse and no recompense, secret "no-fly" and "no-buy" lists, direct invasion of private communications, banking information, and more; ex post facto laws, forbidden to both federal and state governments, are on the books everywhere; the commerce clause has been literally inverted; the judiciary has usurped article V powers; it's like a caricature of "everything that can go wrong, will go wrong."

      So don't confuse a scholarly description of a system, or even a constitution, with the flaws of the people and systems which implement it poorly. Personally, I much prefer a religion-free constitutional republic with an underpinning of capitalism, which in turn is buffered by treating corporations via regulation like the dangerous psychopaths they generally are; but I don't get to get my way, and that's the end of it.

      It doesn't make my ideas religion, or unworthy of speech or consideration. It just makes them goals to aspire to, and all the more important to put, and keep, on the table.

      --
      I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
    3. Re:Stop making sense. by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      One key problem with Marx (and democracy, and republics, and communism, and socialism, and just about every other -ology, -ism, and -cracy) is that the implementations are very poor.

      One gets implemented perfectly every time - call it Warlordism or Fuedalism or whatever you like. This is the default human condition - allegiance to a powerful master in exchange for security. It's what we are wired for, and you see it wherever there is a failed state.

      We must constantly fight this natural tendency, and we do this by adopting these ideologies. And I'm all for that. However, it is delusional not to recognize that we are always pulled towards our default condition. And those who are drawn in don't obey rules, because it really is almost total anarchy. If you are trying to play a game fairly against an opponent who is not following any rules, you will lose. You can't, say, negotiate a trade pact or arms treaty if you put all your cards on the table and the other side hides an ace. You may have to be, frankly, dishonest to try and ascertain what the other side holds. It's not noble, but that's the way of the big bad world.

      It doesn't make my ideas religion, or unworthy of speech or consideration. It just makes them goals to aspire to, and all the more important to put, and keep, on the table.

      I happen to agree with your goals, and agree that you have to use your ideals as a target. I guess I'm just more willing to abandon them when hit in the face with reality. An example that doesn't involve Wikileaks is that if I were the police chief in New York and an earthquake hit, I might just suspend many civil liberties to maintain order and to let the emergency services have an easier time getting around. I can't think of what ideology that would mesh into - for that moment, the police chief would be the local "warlord".

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    4. Re:Stop making sense. by riondluz · · Score: 1

      Simply put: It's not the System, or the "Law", but
      who it serves.
      I always enjoy reading your posts. It re-inforces my faith in fellowship. Keep up the good work!

      --
      resist propaganda
  113. Re:The USA does not put intelligence sources at ri by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So if Assange gets an entire family killed off because of this leak, or several families are ruined, this is okay to you?

    But if the USA bombs the wrong house by accident then it's not okay?

    Of course it's not OK, the big difference here is that no one has died from exposing any intelligence source, while on the other hand the United States IS torturing human beings right now!.
    Given the context, one might ask if there is so much difference between USA invading a foreign country and killing Iraqis or Iraqis killing Americans while trying to push the invaders away?

  114. Depends on which side you are on... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Same here. Heck, "The Founding Fathers" of the country were terrorists.

    Of course "the founding fathers" of most revolutions are terrorists when viewed from the other side. However, I'm not sure I'd want to be on his side...

    He seems to be a revolutionary against the government of the USA (non-partisan). Although, I'm not in favor of some of the things the government of the USA does, we have a ballot box to fix most things and I don't think the revolution that Thomas Jefferson had in mind had much to do about the dribble coming out of wikileaks these days...

    Besides, if that Julian guy is a true revolutionary, he should be comfortable with martyr status and be willing to give himself up for the cause to prove his point.

    1. Re:Depends on which side you are on... by Jedi+Alec · · Score: 1

      Although, I'm not in favor of some of the things the government of the USA does, we have a ballot box to fix most things and I don't think the revolution that Thomas Jefferson had in mind had much to do about the dribble coming out of wikileaks these days...

      Making an informed choice at the ballot box requires information. Wikileaks is providing information. I'd say one makes the other stronger, not weaker. And that doesn't just apply to the US, plenty of other governments are seeing some of their officials exposed to a rather harsh light at the moment.

      --

      People replying to my sig annoy me. That's why I change it all the time.
  115. He did ask for transparency! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Obama's comments the day after taking office: “The way to make government responsible is to hold it accountable. And the way to make government accountable is make it transparent so that the American people can know exactly what decisions are being made, how they’re being made, and whether their interests are being well served For a long time now, there’s been too much secrecy in this city That era is now over. Starting today, every agency and department should know that this administration stands on the side not of those who seek to withhold information but those who seek to make it known.”

    Transparency is awesome!

  116. The good news is... by slapout · · Score: 1

    ...Twitter's still up

    --
    Coder's Stone: The programming language quick ref for iPad
  117. I'm not trolling but by itsphilip · · Score: 1

    I'm actually glad this is happening. This demonstrates that wikileaks has an ulterior agenda (I can't really speculate what it is) because if they were really that concerned about free dissemination of information and actually getting whatever this stuff is out to everyone, they'd RAR it up and stick it on The Pirate Bay. Anyone else find this suspicious?

  118. Oppression by under_score · · Score: 1

    I can't prove it, but I believe that people in the US _are_ some of the most oppressed in the world. The problem is that the oppression is subtle: consumerism. It is pervasive and it is not considered oppression (by most people). This is far worse than overt oppression where people are conscious of the oppression and can make choices about when and how to struggle against the oppression.

  119. Re:He is rocking the boat that people are sitting by kevinNCSU · · Score: 1

    Cue this message running a high change of instantly disappearing because a teabagger is upset and mods it down to never be seen again.

    I have a hard time signing onto any of your other world perceptions if you believe tea party members make up the majority of slashdot's userbase and control all the modding.

  120. hah by unity100 · · Score: 1

    You[the average us citizen] can no longer claim that the government is not really representing you when you actively encourage them to hide all the details.

    that was very well said.

  121. Thomas Jefferson by chrb · · Score: 2, Interesting

    He seems to be a revolutionary against the government of the USA (non-partisan). Although, I'm not in favor of some of the things the government of the USA does, we have a ballot box to fix most things and I don't think the revolution that Thomas Jefferson had in mind had much to do about the dribble coming out of wikileaks these days...

    Being against the foreign policy of the USA does not mean that a person is against the government of the USA. Thomas Jefferson would be absolutely appalled at what U.S. foreign policy has become:

    "We wish not to meddle with the internal affairs of any country, nor with the general affairs of Europe. Peace with all nations, and the right which that gives us with respect to all nations, are our object."

    "I have ever deemed it fundamental for the United States never to take active part in the quarrels of Europe. Their political interests are entirely distinct from ours. Their mutual jealousies, their balance of power, their complicated alliances, their forms and principles of government, are all foreign to us. They are nations of eternal war. All their energies are expended in the destruction of the labor, property and lives of their people."

    Replace "Europe" with "the Middle East" and the sentiment is the complete opposite of current U.S. foreign policy.

    1. Re:Thomas Jefferson by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's fun to quote the founding fathers, but tell me: Did Jefferson say those things before or after the Barbary Wars?

  122. Re:He is rocking the boat that people are sitting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That's a little unfair. Don't get me wrong the British treated their colonies as badly as everyone else. But the treatment of the Jews after WW2, the British didn't want to be in Israel, they petitioned against it, they didn't want to police it. Being attack by the evicted Muslins because you're evicting them, and being attacked by Zionist terrorists that think your being too nice to the evil Muslims. All because the UN decided it should be so.

    Being told your can't return fire on any Jew that has a human shield, which was all of them, being told because those people throwing concrete slabs at you, are in a populated tower block that you have to watch your friends get crushed into a bloody pile and there's fuck all you can do about it. That's not bad treatment, that's unfortunate, using a military force to create a state, oops!
    Yes my Grandfather was in the Middle east during the formation of Israel, and its not the impoverished evil Muslims he hates, they cried, they begged and when they fought, you saw them coming at you. It was the cowardly Jews hiding behinds women, poisoning the kids, that he hates. Yes your right, they weren't perfect, one day they went into the tower block and dropped a few Jews out of the window, but those Zionist cunts deserved it, and nobody threw concrete slabs at the troops any more. Oddly, just in case you mistake me for a neo-NAZI I'm a firm supporter of the Zionist state, Jews don't go bang when you're not looking at them

  123. Too late by EEPROMS · · Score: 1

    Who/Whom ever is initiating the attacks is wasting their time. The documents in question have been leaked to all the major media branches and torrents can be easily found for the offending files. The only people being blocked right now are those with the least ability to do anything with the data provided.

  124. Re:The USA does not put intelligence sources at ri by chrb · · Score: 1

    Exposing intelligence sources is never acceptable. It's as bad as torture which we agree is not acceptable, or killing women and children.

    Are you saying that the President of the United States would commute the prison sentence of someone who has committed a crime as bad as torture and murder? Because that's what happened.

  125. ACTA will stop wikileaks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Once ACTA finishes ratification, it will be able to stop wikileaks from publishing all that stolen intellectual property information. After all, if internet data packets from wikileaks and its mirrors are dropped by routers of the ACTA signatory nations, that would make it nearly inaccessible as well as placing a huge burden on wikileak bandwidth for retrying dropped packets and waiting waiting waiting....

    Looks like the EU will ratify the ACTA juggernaut despite misgivings about heavy-handed tactics, loss of privacy, and sites/ISPs keeping track of users.

    QUOTE: European Parliament Passes Pro-ACTA Resolution.

    Thursday November 25, 2010

    In a close vote of 331-294, the European Parliament has passed a resolution expressing general support for the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement.
    END QUOTE

  126. i do by unity100 · · Score: 1

    actually there was more filth exposed for my country than u.s. maybe 1/3 of the government came up in deep shit.

    but, im GLAD over it. im not blabbering like a witless idiot trying to defend my country or help it hide its secrets like the most americans i do.

  127. Re:The USA does not put intelligence sources at ri by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's an ethical dilemma; the other side of the equation is THIS.

  128. Slashdot is the new FOX by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Amazing that FOX News manages to cover wikileaks in a more thoughtful fashion than Slashdot. I'm astonished at the moral cowardice of those who attack Assange and wikileaks in order to defend the right of a government to keep its own ineptitude quiet.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfJJbrFvF7A&feature=player_embedded

  129. Re:The USA does not put intelligence sources at ri by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Strawman argument. Wikileaks has already exposed war crimes committed by the United States' military, where many civilians (whole families) were killed (http://www.collateralmurder.com/). Was that okay with you? The Pentagon assumed they would be able to suppress this information and keep the entire incident secret. Was that okay with you? Does covering up an atrocity like this prevent any other innocent victims from dying? Of course not.

    The truth may hurt, but it is generally better to expose the truth than to pretend it doesn't exist. I'd much rather know that my country's leaders are liars, crooks and murderers than remain blissfully ignorant about reality, surrender my own conscience to their better judgment, and assume they are only acting in my best interests.

  130. Re:The USA does not put intelligence sources at ri by eulernet · · Score: 2, Insightful

    You are very biased and have a lot of free time, since you posted at least 15 messages in this thread.

    An easy example:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plame#.22Plamegate.22

    Intelligence sources have been exposed by US government, and most probably a few people have been killed following this 'leak'.
    Would you condemn Bush, or only Assange, since he's not american ?

  131. Fundamental flaw in everyone's assumptions by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Guys, no country can have a foreign policy 'in the national interest'. They can pretend, but it isn't possible to :

    a) Specify the weights of the various goals for every entity in the nation
    b) for each possible future
    c) and design the effector mechanisms (war, diplomacy, economic policy) to reach that 'national interest'.

    Countries have to be neutral, anything else is just a cover for the very large interests driving their version of 'national interest'.

    As individuals, we should be quite free to pursue any foreign policy we wish, including supporting Al Qaida, for example.

    Why is no one in these threads applying engineering thinking to these problems? Easy to see they are computationally intractable, and it can't be smart to, as a matter of national policy, to pursue computationally intractable goals.

  132. USG Incompetence by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    First, they cannot defend their own military headquarters in their own capital from attack.

    Then they empower a gang of rogue financialists to crater the US economy.

    Now, they can't even keep secret cables secret?

    With the incompetent USG on "our side," who needs Al Quaeda?

  133. DDOS + slashdotting + doubters = by Cyko_01 · · Score: 1

    even bigger ddos (now unwittingly assisted by the public)

  134. Irony by guspasho · · Score: 1

    If it wasn't DDoSed before, it's surely Slashdotted now. Good job, guys!

  135. DDoS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Umm, torrent, NZB anyone?

  136. Re:The USA does not put intelligence sources at ri by c0lo · · Score: 1

    But if the USA bombs the wrong house by accident then it's not okay?

    No, its not OK. Not if they pretend to have higher moral ground.
    For the sake of god, I can use the same argument in relation with your position with Assange: is he not allowed to make mistakes? What is the difference between US bombing the wrong house and the redacters of the leaked documents overseeing to wipe out an identifiable name?

    --
    Questions raise, answers kill. Raise questions to stay alive.
  137. Re:The USA does not put intelligence sources at ri by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Dude. Blame the guy who leaked this (Bradley Manning), not Assange. Also, blame the people who came up with this piss-poor security: judging by how easy it was to leak all this shit, something tells me most of these "secrets" were no secrets for anyone willing to bribe some random guy with security clearance.

    But... yeah... it's all Assange's fault and puppies being murdered and whatnot.

    I think I'll just start replying with [citation needed] every time yet another one brings up the "zomg assange is killing children!" argument. Seriously, CITATION NEEDED for someone who has actually been killed directly because of Assange's actions. I double-dare you.

  138. i found the solution by shnull · · Score: 0

    i just quit facebook and myspace weeks ago, my orb told me to, only problem is i can't find the cancel or disable account button on twitter. I know find myself reading articles and forums that contain actual information, it's a whole new world

    --
    beware he who denies you access to information for in his mind, he already deems himself to be your master (SMAC-ish)
  139. Re:The USA does not put intelligence sources at ri by elucido · · Score: 1

    I don't think Valarie Plame should have been outed.

  140. Re:The USA does not put intelligence sources at ri by elucido · · Score: 1

    I condemn whoever was responsible for the outing of Valarie Plame. The higher up in rank the worse it is.

    I also condemn the outing of Erik Prince. An intelligence operative/source should never be outed.

  141. and plenty more by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    there's plenty more that the media don't talk about.

    Those charming ladies and gentlemen at ICE have been known to do "the nasty" ...
    http://www.actagainsttorture.org/materials/StopTortureOfImmigrantsFlyer.pdf
    http://www.amnestyusa.org/immigration-detention/immigrant-detention-report/page.do?id=1641033
    There's a country-wide network of secret "detention zones" without beds or normal facilities, and people disappear into them all the time. We're told to be scared of the "terrists", and yet, they are our own neighbours and family.

    I'm never stepping foot back in Zeppoland if I can ever possibly help it - you people scare me shitless.

  142. Re:He is rocking the boat that people are sitting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You mean these civilians right? http://goo.gl/IyMYN

    See, the problem is Wikileaks releases RAW data, with no background information, and people already have an opinion about the evil fat satan state of US of A after only 2 minutes.

  143. Re:The USA does not put intelligence sources at ri by geschild · · Score: 1

    Lets turn that around then. You think it's wrong for an individual to put lives at risk on a few occaisions while claiming to do it for the greater good, but you think it's okay for a governement to kill innocent bystanders and call it 'unavoidable collateral damage'?

    I'll take Julian over the US governement any time.

    --
    Karma? What's that again?