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Digging Into the WikiLeaks Cables
A number of readers have sent in new WikiLeaks stories today, many of which focus on the content of the leaked diplomatic cables. The documents showed how the US government bullied and manipulated other countries to gain support for its Copenhagen climate treaty (though behavior from the US wasn't all negative), how copyright negotiations largely meet the expectations of critics like Michael Geist, and how Intel threatened to move jobs out of Russia if the Russian government didn't loosen encryption regulations. Perhaps the biggest new piece of information is a list of facilities the US considers 'vital to security.' Meanwhile, the drama surrounding WikiLeaks continues; Julian Assange's Swiss bank account has been frozen and the UK has received an arrest warrant for the man himself; the effort to mirror the site has gained support from Pirate Parties in Australia, in the UK and elsewhere; and PayPal was hit with a DDoS for their decision not to accept donations for WikiLeaks.
Why would anybody be surprised that the USA bullies or manipulates other countries for its own benefit? Its what any top power has done, and what any aspiring power wants to do.
Considering the US is the richest, mightiest, most powerful and most influential country in the history of world, its more of a surprise it hasn't used more of its powers to control the world. The rest of the world should be glad the United States is such a benevolent power and overall force for good in the world.
What if I hacked your email account and posted information that you didn't really care about? Would you be mad that I hacked your email account and posted your emails?
Why do you want to deny the rights to the US government that you'd like for yourself?
He would then be with people who had just as fringe of an ideology of course.
The ideology that all information no matter how sensitive should be public is just as fringe and destabilizing to the world as Al Queda's ideology is.
I for one applaud PayPal. Don't get me wrong, I am all in favor of government accountability. I am sure that there are some classified things that the public should know about, however, information such as the identities of informants is not of that category.
I had hoped that WikiLeaks would serve as a tool to hold governments accountable, and to shine a spotlight on illegal or immoral activity. Unfortunately it has turned out to be little more than Assange's personal attack on the US, much of it uncalled for, unhelpful and recklessly endangering of other people's lives. As such it should be shut down.
There is a difference between being a whistle blower and behaving irresponsibly.
I know this is a bit ironic, as I am posting as an Anonymous Coward, but I don't say anything behind anyone's back that I wouldn't say to their face; and I say the things people normally say behind someone's back to their face, if the things to be said are true.I think people need to grow thicker skin and/or be more willing to honestly and openly discuss their lives. Personally, I accept honest criticism eagerly: I don't think its healthy to fail to address potential personal failings.
However, I pay for my honesty: I have very few friends, especially among co-workers, and I have the reputation of being a bit of a prick.
For example, I worked with a guy who came to the job every day reeking of alcohol. Everyone was talking about it in the breakroom and in meetings, but not one god damn person spoke with him about it. When I heard about this, I stopped by his office. He did, indeed, reek of alcohol. I asked if he was ok. He said he was fine and asked why I was asking. I said because he reeked of alcohol. He got pissed off, I ended up getting chewed out by my boss, and gained the reputation of being an asshole around the office. During the time of the incident, he drove a company vehicle. Eventually, he hit someone and put them into the hospital. He was found to be legally drunk at the time of the accident.
Regardless of if its you and your spouse discussing your marriage or the US Fed discussing the financial system with the US public, I don't know how not talking openly about things helps anyone in the long term.