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WikiLeaks Will Unveil Major Bank Scandal
Atmanman writes "When WikiLeaks announced it was releasing 251,287 US diplomatic cables, we all thought we knew what was meant by its earlier ominous words that, 'The coming months will see a new world, where global history is redefined.' It now appears the organization is sitting on a treasure trove of information so big that it has stopped taking submissions. Among data to be released are tens of thousands of documents from a major US banking firm and material from pharmaceutical companies, finance firms and energy companies."
Expose the corruption and tyranny of our ruling classes for all to see, and let the bastards be damned!
I write sci-fi for metalheads
Now this is the kind of stuff I want to see. I already know basically what the government is doing and how things are going in the wars on the ground, what I don't know is what the pharmaceutical companies and banks have been hiding.
Wikileaks is embarassing everyone who deserves it. I approve.
Document will say that bankers are crooks.
Life will go on unchanged. They will still get their buy-out.
Carry on.
Are we still going to ask them to stop doing what they are doing ? However with big banks and big pharm involved, I am more concerned about the well being of the individuals who run wikileaks, then if only governments were involved.
I hope this is about Goldman Sachs!
Messing with multinational mega corporations are an entirely different thing. They might not care or even look at you indulgently when you take pot shots at the government. But come after them, they don't play nice. To put it mildly.
sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
I hope Assange is as well-protected as he seems to be. He may already have the US Gov't after him, but if it's banks and pharmaceutical companies too, things are only going to get worse.
I really hope some of this stuff makes people stop saying "We hate wikileaks" and start saying "hey thanks for letting us know we were all getting fucked."
The general public needs to be reminded that censorship isn't the answer. It seems to be the only thing they want nowadays.
-Taylor
Worldwide Military budgets: $2100 billion. Worldwide Space Exploration budgets: $38 billion. Really, world? Really?
US Gov and others are pissed because they're getting their pants pulled down. Beyond that, it's not the fault of Wikileaks that these targets have skidmarks on their undies. Embarrassment where it's due.
It's always confirmation bias!
Complaining that Wikileaks is anti-US is really an ad hominem argument. Just because they may be anti-US, doesn't mean what they have revealed it any less legitimate.
Yeah, that's why senior administration officials are calling for Assange's head. Because he made it all up.
It's really pathetic when people consider the truth to be political. I think it's far more likely that you're upset that your worldview has turned out to be a lie.
If the media had been doing their job WikiLeaks would not be needed.
But since the media is in bed with government and industry, this is what it takes.
I don't really care if they're anti or pro American. This is a true Revolution to be remembered in future time. If all these documents are, indeed, real, then we may be watching the true Revolution of Freedom -- the discovery that our democracy has grown to be something riddled with shit and corruption. The question that I pose is: What's next?
/all/, but *most*) democracy isn't working and will not work in the near future. What IS __THE NEXT STEP__?
Democracy is still the best ideal that I believe we have. I am talking worldwide, not just in the US. What is the valid alternative? Alternatives that I often discuss with my friends are alternatives that establish different democratic hierarchies and especially voting restrictions. However, this ideal that I often propose to them is just not feasible for many reasons (mainly: Human non determination, Human misuse of resources, implicit discrimination and violation of human rights). What is our alternative? Where do we go from here? I'm sure many disagree, but it seems to many that most (notice not
For starters, WikiLeaks seems to be going there. Freedom is a must have. Transparency is essential. Not everywhere, as some things must be made secret, but the fear of being discovered -- much like is happening now -- can force people to "behave". This is a true revolution if it gets spread and if it really gets worldwide. We must use this to our well being, we must show people that Freedom is essential and that a Democracy without proper freedom and ethically correct behavior isn't good. That IS the next step -- a Free, Ethically Correct Democracy. Unfortunately, that is the exact ideal that we can't reach, because even losers vote -- and losers can't vote decently. Plus, even if we didn't allow losers to vote, who is to say they didn't stop being losers? Plus, who isn't to say that "non losers" can't be bought or vote wrongly? Who isn't to say that the politicians that "ethically correct people" elect change their position and become "evil"?
The World keeps going forward, but we're walking backwards -- and we don't seem to be willing to go forward...just check the possible comments and troll ratings I'll get instead of a logical and healthy debate.
Have you heard about SoylentNews?
YES YES YES. YES. OH GOD YES. OH YEA. FUCK YEA. Please, release this data soon. I want this so bad. Hell, considering how incredibly evil the bank and corporate system in America is on a public level, I am terrified and excited and horny to find out how evil they have actually been being this entire time.
Where is the mod rating for "scary"? Also,
Attacking the U.S. government was dangerous enough, but with the amount of collective money behind the banks, pharma and energy, I sure wouldn't want to be anyone associated with WikiLeaks right now. A ten-million dollar per head contract for these people would be chump change for the companies involved.
American Exceptionalism is the sadly more and more common belief that America, by its very nature, can do no wrong. It is Manifest Destiny written on a global scale. When we kill, torture, rape and rob, it is okay because what we do is for the Highest Good, therefore, if we torture, it must be the right thing to do. When we spy on other countries and interfere in their internal affairs, it is for their own good. If we do it, it is right, just, good, and in fact, both necessary and Fated to Happen. We are God's chosen, his favorites, just look at the evidence: would he have made us the best, richest, most powerful nation on Earth if we weren't his special favorites? God Bless America, and no one else!
This is what a growing number of Americans seem to believe. Scream and yell all you want. We don't hear you because we don't have to listen. That is one of the perks of being powerful, you simply do not have to listen to or pay attention to most of your detractors because they are not living in the same world as you are.
- None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
4) the US is the 800lb economic gorilla holding a major portion of the large banks of the world.
5) this is a huge leak from a few or single source in the banking industry and just happened to be in the US... much like the recent US intelligence leaks are most likely from a single source.
Here's what concerns me. We have large numbers of anonymous individuals sending information off to some guy who they assume is some sort of hero or on a moral high ground. In actuality we don't know what Assange's intentions or internal agenda is. It would be trivial for Assange to filter information and only display leaks that would damage the country of his choice. Not just at a government level, but at a corporate / economic level. It is impossible to monitor Wikileak's integrity or transparency. Do you think if Mr. Whistleblower's documents regarding Country X are not posted that Mr. Whistleblower is going to go to the established media and complain about that?
Somehow Wikileaks has assumed a level of authority and trust that it has not earned nor that is remotely justified via its internal policies and structure. I have read numerous articles about Assange, and how he wants to be in control of everything and basically tells his "volunteers" to f*** off if they question him or disagree with what he does. He holds all the keys to the kingdom.
Quotes of Assange's like this, from the interview linked in this story, concern me further:
All I can say is it’s clear there were unethical practices, but it’s too early to suggest there’s criminality. We have to be careful about applying criminal labels to people until we’re very sure.
Who is Assange to judge and / or label corporations or individuals? Isn't his role in life to throw static files on a server so other people can download them? Shouldn't the information speak for itself and be analyzed be individuals that know far more than him and his organization? I don't think Assange is the unwilling, unwitting sacrificial lamb that has been thrust into this horrible role. There seems to be an ego to stoke, or at least that is my opinion.
Finally, one last personal nitpick. What the hell does "wiki" have to do with anything? I think he threw that term in there to gain additional trust and ride the coattails of Wikipedia. There is nothing "wiki" about wikileaks in any way whatsoever.
Better known as 318230.
Wikileaks isn't anti-US at all.
Sure, most of the stuff released there puts the US in a bad light. But you know what? Wikileaks didn't actually do any of those things. They just let the world know about it. You think we'd be a better nation if nobody knew about any of this stuff?
Not me my friend.
I'm glad the untouchable people who harm the country I love just might get called to task for the things they've done. The end result will be a stronger (and hopefully more accountable) America.
Weaselmancer
rediculous.
It's similar to what the US Republicans did with Obama. They hate the guy so much that even when he was offering them exactly what they wanted in terms of legislation, they were compelled to reject it simply because he had suggested it and he was the enemy, to be opposed at all costs.
When you oppose someone or something that strongly the human mind is capable of amazing cognitive dissonance; no matter how illogical the reasoning or how hypocritical your position, you can find a way to explain how all of your problems are somehow their fault and that nothing you've done could have in any way contributed to it.
so what ?
i dont remember any divine communique, any natural law, any galactic decree that says being 'anti-us' is something bad ? apparently, noone but americans got the memo.
its ok being anti-china, its ok being anti-iran, its ok being anti-whatever, but, somehow, 'anti american' is a no-no eh ?
what amazing level of self-centeredness.
world doesnt revolve around u.s., note that.
in addition, it was the wall street which scammed ENTIRE planet, in a fraud that was unparalleled in history. so much that they sold water vapor to governments, banks, major global corporations, and poisoned the credit supply of the world SO bad that, there is no end to it in sight. because noone can tell poisoned assets from valid ones.
of course its going to be about a u.s. bank. geez.
AND,
wikileaks puts out ALL kinds of shit. its you americans' fault that you ALWAYS check it when there is something involving u.s., and see the front page about u.s. then go about bullshitting how they are anti-us. here, for your convenience, the link to where wikileaks indexes the shit it spurts out. i dont see 'us, us, us' written all over it. it wouldnt be a problem even if it was.
http://mirror.infoboj.eu/
Read radical news here
You can't do foreign policy without secret cables flying around. You can't fight wars without intelligence.
You can't have government accountability with state secrets. I'd rather have the government accountability.
Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
Furthermore, the majority of the communications are the legitimate, legal business of the U.S. governments pursuit of peaceful relations. Releasing these documents threatens alliances and negotiations, in the same way that blabbing all your friends' secrets hurts your relationships. People won't talk with our diplomats if they can't do so confidentially. How, exactly, does undermining the legitimate, peaceful diplomacy of the U.S. and other western powers make the world a better place?
And consider that the release of these communications could ruin a lot of careers- not because of unethical activity, just because someone doing their job said something privately that shouldn't be said publicly.
If Wikileaks wants to expose corruption and abuse of power, great. Why release everything else? There's a role for confidentiality. Would you want Wikileaks releasing your personal and business emails, financial information, and medical records just because someone, somewhere, might find evidence that you've been up to no good?
It's not just the US government with Cablegate. It's the Arab governments with their venomous anti-Iran private statements which come out looking the most like two-faced hypocrites.
You are not a brain: http://books.google.com/books?id=2oV61CeDx-YC
This should pose as a wakeup call to everyone - you clearly cannot trust governments, banks, pharamceutical companies or really anyone else. Everyone must be assumed to be untrustworthy until proven otherwise.
And the proof is often 50 years after they are dead. So the message is Trust Nobody.
The second thing is that if the government, banks and other corporations are evil and corrupt maybe we should do something about it? Boycotts are pointless but bombs, arson and executions might get somewhere. The idea would be that if you cannot trust the people with the power and money then they need to be eliminated. Maybe we can find some trustworthy people - or maybe things just need to be restructured in such a fashion so that nobody is required to be trusted any longer.
This is probably another under-30/over-30 sort of battle, but this time there might actually be enough motivation to cause a worldwide revolt against anyone with more than a couple of nickles to rub together. The current US President has presented one possible dividing line between good and evil - $250,000 - but there may a more realistic one that is much, much lower. Sadly for Mr. Obama, it would appear that he is clearly in the evil camp with earnings well above $250,000.
So? Are you ready for the revolution? Are you prepared to dedicate your life (or what is left of it) to eliminating oppression in the world by untrustworthy government and corporations? It sounds like Mr. Assange is clearly going down that road.
This is not a discussion of China or Russia. Why bring them into this? Would it even help at all if I said all militant nationalism is disgusting? I doubt it. Like a child screaming, "But Charly did it!" when caught in wrongdoing, you seek to deflect blame by calling attention to the failings of others.
How is America willing to honestly face its past? In what way, exactly, have we been honest, brave, forthright, and fair in facing our past of criminal genocide against entire native populations? Has anyone gotten forty acres and a mule? What have we redressed? I mean, you can come up with at least one example, right?
Now, please don't get me wrong. I love this country and I love my fellow citizens, and I think we have been a great nation, and can be again. But I am not a sad enabler of my beloved's worst habits and traits. I am a true patriot, willing to go out on a limb and point out the cold, hard, and ugly facts, for the benefit of my country. A false friend will tell you only what you want to hear. Someone who really cares about you will tell you the truth, even if it hurts.
- None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
The comments from Assange make it clear that WikiLeaks is not just acting as a repository, but rather clearly targeting organizations (governmental, commercial, etc.)
This makes no sense. Assange is targeting "organizations"? Governments and commercial organizations? Of course he has leaked some information about organizations. So what?
Or are you alleging that Assange is running some kind of targeted intelligence gathering operation? That he is actually out there, hacking the banks personally, or has recruited others to do so on his behalf? It seems a bit far-fetched; it's more likely that he is just leaking stuff that people send him, in which case the "targeting" is out of his hands.
Or are or you alleging that Assange is just a front for some intelligence organization? Hmm: Pakistani General accuses Wikileaks of being part of CIA/Mossad psyops. Maybe. John Young of Cryptome also accused Wikileaks of being a CIA front. And some Chinese officials have apparently said the same. But if it is a CIA front, does that mean that opposing Wikileaks is unpatriotic?
See how deep the rabbit hole goes....
Does the average individual in America today have more power to control his destiny than his counterparts in other first world nations? To me, it seems the average individual in America is struggling just to get by, has no health care, is poorly educated compared to the rest of the world, has fewer real functional rights, and less opportunity to succeed.
- None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
Really? Have reparations for violations of treaties with the Native nations gone through while I wasn't looking? Have we removed the official monuments to the pro-slavery terrorist organization, the "Confederacy", which once enjoyed support in the South -- and which a shocking number of contemporary Americans still support? Have we compensated the Americans of Japanese heritage who were rounded up into concentration camps during WWII?
Yes, you'll find America museum exhibits that tell you how bad those things were and expressing sorrow. You'll also find Japanese museum exhibits that tell you how bad Japanese imperialism was, and I'm sure you'll find similar exhibits in other nations. So on what basis do you make your claim? It sounds like more American "exceptionalism".
Americans nationalism sucks. Chinese nationalism sucks. Russian nationalism sucks.
Tom Swiss | the infamous tms | my blog
You cannot wash away blood with blood
In the final analysis, Assange only reports what is. If the politicians of the world can't handle that, the problem is with the politicians , not Mr. Assange.
Please do not read this sig. Thank you.
Flamebait? This is a great example of what I mean. Even suggesting that we are less than the best nation that is now, was, and ever could be is met with outright hostility and suppression.
- None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
American Exceptionalism is the sadly more and more common belief that America, by its very nature, can do no wrong.
No. It is the belief that the US is better than other countries. Not perfect, just better.
I fail to see a meaningful distinction between your definition and the OPs.
Mainly because such a belief inevitably leads to exactly the same consequences - ruthless arrogance.
When information is power, privacy is freedom.
No. It is the belief that the US is better than other countries. Not perfect, just better.
The problem is that 'better' is a function of behaviour.
'We can do bad things because we're good people' is not a coherent argument, because you're only good people to the extent that you don't do bad things.
You are not a brain: http://books.google.com/books?id=2oV61CeDx-YC
The Chinese government has always worked closely with CHinese corporations to perform espionage. The government gives the corporations data on their foreign competition, the corporations give the government spies cover.
The Russian government has always worked closely with Russian corporations to perform espionage. The government gives the corporations data on their foreign competition, the corporations give the government spies cover.
The German government has always worked closely with German corporations to perform espionage. The government gives the corporations data on their foreign competition, the corporations give the government spies cover.
shall i continue, or is the point made? Every country behaves like a schizophrenic child to each other. why are you so shocked by that?
i thought once I was found, but it was only a dream.
What a distorted view of American history.
The U.S. rose to power because people of European decent used superior military technology to commit genocide against the natives of land that was both highly fertile and well-forested. (Wood was the oil of the time.) After forming their own nation, those people continued to use slavery and theft to power their economy's expansion up until they were well industrialized. (Via, it ought to be noted, numerous patent violations.)
While the powers of Europe tore each other up in the Napoleonic Wars, the Crimean War, WWI, and WWII, Americans kept stealing land from Indians (and later, from Hawaiians, Filipinos, and other people with fewer guns) and exploiting people of African ancestry and building a strong industrial base. American experienced booms after WWI and WWII by exporting goods to war-ravaged Europe; as the British Empire declined, the U.S. was set to step into the vacuum for a few decades. (I suspect, though, that in the histories a thousand years from now, the U.S. will be a footnote to the British Empire the way Constantinople is a footnote to Rome.) The U.S. then dissipated itself on the "Cold War", running up enormous debt in a dick-size competition with the U.S.S.R.
Don't get me wrong: I'm a fan of the all-American idea of constitutional representative democracy, and proud that the bootprints on Luna are American. And we are the country that taught the world to rock-and-roll, thank you very much. But this "American exceptionalism" nonsense is an ahistorical, anti-intelelctual embarrassment.
Tom Swiss | the infamous tms | my blog
You cannot wash away blood with blood
Ah, so the fact that the other children are doing it makes it okay? I see. Yes, please stop. You have made your point crystal clear.
- None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
Who said we can do no right? That is ludicrous, no one said it. Perhaps you missed the part where I said I am an American, and that I love our country, that I am a patriot, and that we as a nation can be truly great once more?
God damn all knee jerk defensive excuses. America, please, fucking sit down, shut up, and take a little constructive criticism without being a whining baby about it. Face up to your imperfections like an adult. Learn to say "I'm sorry" and "I'll do better next time."
You know who latches on to the idea that America is the greatest nation? Tiny little frightened people with no self esteem. People who do things, people who are secure, people who know what and who they are DO NOT NEED to feel that their country is the bestest everest.
I mean, seriously, who gives a fuck if it is or isn't the best country ever? How does that impact you? If it is a suck-ass country, does that make you a suck-ass person? If it is an awesome country, does that mean you are awesome? How immature, who bases their self esteem on what they think of their country?
- None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
You've really stopped thinking.
He is simply saying the the US should lead other countries to make them better, but don't do it with violent actions.
His logic is fine. Your reaction is overblown and stupid. You're not stupid please stop acting that way.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
Then it is useless to continue this discussion. If you can't see a difference between "can do no wrong" and "not perfect", then we have no common ground upon which communications could profit.
Mainly because such a belief inevitably leads to exactly the same consequences - ruthless arrogance.
Yes, it is clear that there is no common ground, nay, not even a common language, with which we can converse.
If you count reservations as a reparation, you and I have nothing to discuss. Good day sir.
- None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
Then it is useless to continue this discussion. If you can't see a difference between "can do no wrong" and "not perfect", then we have no common ground upon which communications could profit.
Oh I see a semantic difference, I just don't see one in practice. When one believes that their actions and the outcomes thereof are always "better" than what anyone else could have done then one would have to actually be perfect in order to avoid the trap of abusing that authority for self interest or even just laziness.
When information is power, privacy is freedom.
Yeah maybe we should make every nation that has done wrong to any sect of people pay reparations to those they wronged? Heck lets go back to the start of A.D. and work our way right through till now. People who were wronged by the Greeks, the Roman empire, the British empire, the Mongrels, the Huns, etc. etc. etc...... Lets bring that all in to a discussion about document that were leaked that some asshats what to say all Americans will see as "anti-American".
News flash for the uninformed people of other countries, the only people calling this anti-American are either politically affiliated or are such a small minority that it doesn't even represent 1% of the US population.
Most concerned American citizens want to know more about what their government is doing and saying because we are sick of politicians subverting our rights for corporate gains and their own gains.