US diplomatic cables to be dropped by wikileaks; US doing pre-emptive damage control

**Kuya** · 2010-11-30 21:53

I would refer you to the quotes i posted recently.

It would be preferable if forced accountability weren't necessary given that there are real consequences to it, but when a given government has shown a lack of willingness to openess, then there is little choice but forced accountability via leaks.

The point i would give to you is that, leaks probably won't make the State learn its lesson. It will probably get more secretive, in the short term.

**archibaldcrane** · 2010-11-30 21:58

Originally Posted by Kuya

I would refer you to the quotes i posted recently.

I wasn't talking to you - since you speak in detail, instead of with overly broad sweeping generalizations.

**Kuya** · 2010-11-30 22:05

Of course i know you weren't talking to me. I simply took the oportunity your post provided to reiterate a point that i'm sure needs to be hammered into this thread.

**archibaldcrane** · 2010-11-30 22:13

Originally Posted by Kuya

Of course i know you weren't talking to me. I simply took the oportunity your post provided to reiterate a point that i'm sure needs to be hammered into this thread.

Would be more apropos if there was some decent game-changing intelligence in here.

As it is, this is not the leak to get soapbox-y about. Hell, even the video of the Reuters reporters getting shelled was more "catching the US in a lie" than this is.

**Max™** · 2010-12-01 01:38

No, after seeing Kuya's quoted salon article, that is exactly what I was talking about.

Is this going to be a big drastic release? Who knows, it is still valuable for showing how little the government tells us, and how they act upon having any of their "privacy" violated.

**MF Perm tha Fineass** · 2010-12-01 03:51

It was still pretty interesting to see stuff like Saudi Arabia and Israel trying to manufacture reasons to invade Iran, and even Saudi Arabia saying they'd take the blame for US airstrikes. There's some nuggets in there among the gossipy ones and I'm sure it will only get better from here.

But like mentioned earlier I want to see the US bank ones most, that should be very excite

**Kuya** · 2010-12-01 04:38

UPDATE: Defense Secretary Robert Gates was asked today about the WikiLeaks disclosures and he said this:

“Now, I’ve heard the impact of these releases on our foreign policy described as a meltdown, as a game-changer, and so on. I think those descriptions are fairly significantly overwrought. The fact is, governments deal with the United States because it’s in their interest, not because they like us, not because they trust us, and not because they believe we can keep secrets. . . .

“Is this embarrassing? Yes. Is it awkward? Yes. Consequences for U.S. foreign policy? I think fairly modest.’’

To recap: warnings about the dangers from WikiLeaks are "significantly overwrought" and the impact on foreign policy: "fairly modest." So it appears that the political class and its eager enablers in the media world and foreign policy community have -- as usual -- severely exaggerated national security threats in order to manipulate the public and its emotional reactions. Shocking, I know.

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/

**Ragnus** · 2010-12-01 07:44

Nice.

Btw, Interpol has an arrest warrant out for Assange for the whole wimmenz thing.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010...julian-assange

**Shuvo** · 2010-12-01 08:25

Originally Posted by aurik

Also, "releasing unredacted memos will put our troops / informants at risk!" "would you like to help us redact it then?" "no!" Glad to see the US gov't has their priorities in order: PR is more important than lives.

It's ridiculous to expect the gvmt to co-operate with wikileaks. I hate giving analogies but theirs no other way to really argue this : Should a bank robber act surprised when he doesn't get the full co-operation of the police force when he asks for it? "It's the police's fault I shot that woman! I told them not to show up to work that day and they didn't listen!" ...

Originally Posted by Cantih

Erm, forgive me if I'm mistaken, but isn't the fact anyone knows about Mannings, is because he himself talked about what he did to Adrian Lamo, and Lamo turned him in.
Wikileaks has never admitted as to who gave them the leaks, as per their policy.

So executing the guy won't make people think Wikileaks is unsecured, but rather that letting Lamo look at your shit will get you killed.

No, Mannings didn't give himself up. He got caught because he was posting with the username "Bradass87", in addition to saying where he was stationed. Their weren't any other Bradley's stationed in that area, born in 1987.

**BerenTebogo** · 2010-12-01 10:07

Originally Posted by Ragnus

Nice.

Btw, Interpol has an arrest warrant out for Assange for the whole wimmenz thing.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010...julian-assange

Out of curiosity, does anyone actually believe these charges are real in any way?

**tonyg** · 2010-12-01 10:29

Probably not, but with the amount of people pissed at him, I'm surprised he hasn't disappeared yet

**Edelweiss** · 2010-12-01 10:40

I can't attest to the validity of the letter...but.

Yeah.

Edit:
Direct link to letter (apparently posted by WikiLeaks).

Another news article, Guardian one seemed to be missing afew statements from Assange's lawyer.

**Antithesis** · 2010-12-01 11:14

Originally Posted by tonyg

Probably not, but with the amount of people pissed at him, I'm surprised he hasn't disappeared yet

I want to think the insurance file might be a good reason why he hasen't been capped yet but I can't be sure.

**Antithesis** · 2010-12-01 11:20

The DDOS attacks reached 10 Gigs yesterday. I woulden't be suprised if it was enough to knock them offline.

**Kuya** · 2010-12-01 11:21

If you want to see a condensation of leaks having to do with the Middle East, i suggest this site:

http://www.juancole.com/

It has this little gem which sums up Saudi Arabia's objectives:

Wikileaks Quote of the Day:

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates to French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, Paris, February 8, 2010:

“… the Saudis always want to ‘fight the Iranians to the last American…’ “

The most recent post compiles the top ten revelations with the leak. It's nothing illegal or necessarily immoral if that's what you're looking for.

**Edelweiss** · 2010-12-01 11:24

Originally Posted by Zealot

Hm, the Cablegate site seems completely down. Are they still getting hammered by that DDoS?

The hacker was apparently "raided by law inforcement" or some shit, see more here. Several relevant articles, i'm somewhat skeptical about the raid part, especially with the panhandling this guy is doing.

**tyven** · 2010-12-01 11:27

Originally Posted by Kuya

bolded

bahahahaha

anyway. im ready for this treasonous raper to be hung.

**aurik** · 2010-12-01 11:37

hanged.

Also it's not treason.

**Acturus** · 2010-12-01 11:41

Originally Posted by aurik

hanged.

Also it's not treason.

What? It's not like only Americans can commit treason against America or anything.

*cough*

**Valisk** · 2010-12-01 13:22

Originally Posted by aurik

Also it's not treason.

Pretty sure it was a Sarah Palin stab.

Thread: US diplomatic cables to be dropped by wikileaks; US doing pre-emptive damage control

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