[REMOVE ADS]




Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 50 of 81
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    21,796
    Rep Power
    460

    Wikileaks: Why Does This Happen & Why is it OK?

    Wikileaks is seen on Monday, Nov. 29, 2010.

    Document leak an 'attack on America,' Clinton says



    U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the release of 250,000 secret documents to the Internet represents an attack on America and its allies.


    Speaking in Washington, Clinton said the U.S. "strongly condemns the illegal disclosure of classified information," saying the act puts lives in danger, threatens national security and undermines diplomacy.








    "Let's be clear, this disclosure is not just an attack on America's foreign policy interest, it is an attack on the international community, the alliances and partnerships, the conversations and negotiations that safeguard global security and advance economic prosperity," Clinton said.

    The White House has been scrambling to contain the potential diplomatic disaster spurred by the release of the classified U.S. State Department documents, ordering U.S. agencies to review their safeguards on classified information.

    On Monday, U.S. President Barack Obama's administration ordered a government-wide review of how agencies secure sensitive information. Announcing the assessment, the director of the White House's Office of Management and Budget, Jacob Lew, said that the disclosures are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

    Clinton said the documents don't expose wrongdoing, and serve no public purpose.

    "There have been examples in history in which official conduct has been made public in the name of exposing wrongdoing or misdeeds," Clinton said.

    "This is not one of those cases. In contrast what is being put on display in this cache of documents is that American diplomats are doing the work we expect them to do."

    WikiLeaks posted the documents on its website on Sunday, just hours after it claimed a cyber attack had rendered the site inaccessible for much of the day.

    The documents were nevertheless published on schedule, as they had been given in advance to The New York Times, Le Monde, the Guardian, Der Spiegel and others.

    While they do not appear to reveal security secrets, they undoubtedly expose the rough underbelly of otherwise genteel diplomacy.

    Highlights from the leaked documents include:

    evidence that Gulf monarchies -- including Saudi Arabia -- lobbied for the U.S. to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities calls for U.S diplomats at the United Nations to collect detailed data about the UN secretary general, his team and foreign diplomats
    details that the U.S. and South Korea were "gaming out an eventual collapse of North Korea"
    accounts of unsuccessful U.S. efforts to have Pakistani officials remove highly enriched uranium from a reactor out of fear that the material might wind up in an illicit bomb
    revelations of the hardline tactics used to compel countries to accept freed Guantanamo Bay detainees
    The documents also reveal unusually candid impressions of both allies and foes, including a suggestion Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi "appears increasingly to be the mouthpiece of [[Russian Prime Minister Vladimir) Putin" in Europe. According to the Guardian, Berlusconi was described in two separate cables as "feckless, vain, and ineffective as a modern European leader" whose "frequent late nights and penchant for partying hard mean he does not get sufficient rest."

    German Chancellor Angela Merkel is described as risk-averse, while Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi is described as erratic and in the near constant company of a Ukrainian nurse who was described in one cable as "a voluptuous blonde."

    Canada is mentioned too, in as many as 2,648 documents covering a range of topics from arms control to provincial affairs. The majority are not expected to be made public, however, until sometime this week at the earliest.

    Italy's Foreign Minister Franco Frattini on Sunday called the release the "Sept. 11 of world diplomacy," in that everything that had once been accepted as normal has now changed.

    In France, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Bernard Valero said "we strongly deplore the deliberate and irresponsible release of American diplomatic correspondence by the site WikiLeaks."

    And in London, a spokesperson for British Prime Minister David Cameron said "it's important that governments are able to operate on the basis of confidentiality of information."

    Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said it was an "irresponsible disclosure of sensitive official documents," while Iraq's foreign minister, Hoshyar Zebari, called the document release "unhelpful and untimely."

    In Ottawa, Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said the "deplorable" leak did not serve anyone's interests and "may threaten our national security."

    "If our government is found out to not be telling the truth, that could have a major impact. I have no doubt the other political parties will take this to the bank."

    'Not an expression of policy'

    But in its statement released Sunday, the White House downplayed the importance of whatever secret opinions the leaked cables may reveal.

    "By its very nature, field reporting to Washington is candid and often incomplete information. It is not an expression of policy, nor does it always shape final policy decisions," the White House said.

    "Nevertheless, these cables could compromise private discussions with foreign governments and opposition leaders, and when the substance of private conversations is printed on the front pages of newspapers across the world, it can deeply impact not only U.S. foreign policy interests, but those of our allies and friends around the world."

    WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange stood behind the release, charging that the White House was attempting to hide alleged proof of "human rights abuse and other criminal behavior" by Washington.

    In Australia, Assange's home country, Attorney General Robert McClelland has said law enforcement officials are investigating whether WikiLeaks broke any laws.

    U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is also expected to address the diplomatic repercussions later Monday, just as she is set to embark on a four-nation tour of Central Asia and the Middle East.

    Clinton's first stop in Astana, Kazakhstan, will feature a summit of officials from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, a diplomatic grouping that includes many officials from countries cited in the leaked cables.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    5,860
    Rep Power
    225
    Very upsetting all these leaks. Next thing you know politicians won't be able to lie any more. Where will it all end?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    21,796
    Rep Power
    460
    I was very surprised that this happened and I gather it is not OK.

    Usually, I love it when politicians get caught at things because these days, politicians more than ever, are trained liars.

    But for the most part, I did not think this was OK.

    I did love the part about most of the Middle East wanting the US to bomb Iran! Love that. And loved that China is fed up with North Korea. They will squeeze those guys out of there in the next few years.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    5,860
    Rep Power
    225
    Ultimately, Jobete, politicians of whatever outmoded allegience, have no particular perception of reality and no concern except for what they regard for number one. Anything that exposes their idiocy is for the good of mankind. There are no tests for competence befoe they become the spokespersons for their various antiquated and ill-founded concepts - by definition. No surprises if they spend their time criticising other well-meaning, lying dolts. What else would they do? The best thing that could possibly happen for the greater good of the majority of citizens anywhere is if all their clumsy incompetence is leaked, so we are saved the delusion that they are fit for office, or have our best interests in mind. Those people who have those delusions will not be affected, and the rest of us can decide to do something, or not.

    No harm can ever be done by truth. There was a time whan the US and the UK could feel confident in that knowledge. Truth hasn't changed, but both of those countries are now unrecognizable in relation to it. Please, someone, convince me that it's otherwise.
    Last edited by bankhousedave; 12-01-2010 at 07:56 PM.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    458
    Rep Power
    171
    When I hear politicians talk, I always think that they mean the opposite of what they say. The leaks may be illegal but I am not sure what harm is done beyond pricking egos and exposing deceit and double dealing in some perceived view of national interest. Getting behind the official speak is refreshing. That these guys represent us and are paid by us, why shouldn't these things be published? I tend to believe that if people know what's really going on and know what others are thinking that there is more chance of reconciliation and peace. But maybe i'm just a relic from the 60s.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    11,552
    Rep Power
    295
    I personally think an anti-Obama operative is at work here. The motivation is to weaken his influence, and, to therefore undermine his presidency.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    2,760
    Rep Power
    194
    leaking information like this is damaging.regardless of the deceit of politicians worldwide.it doesnt do anyone anygood to know what is being said in confidence,actually secrets are being exposed.
    although on first reflection it sounds like a good idea to know what may or not be the true story behind news headlines.you cant "cherry pick" whats ok to leak and what isnt.this clown who's responsible for wikileaks doesnt give a monkeys what damage is being done.he just wants to cause chaos and undermine alliances and breed distrust between countries all in the name of freedom of information.some of this stuff has been interesting,doesnt mean i should have to know it.
    what would happen if the iranians took all this on board and decided to carry out a pre-emptive strike on the saudis?
    unlikely,i admit,but not impossible.where would all this freedom of knowledge get us all when the jittery stock,currency and commodity dealers get wind of something leaked and push the prices up,more than possible.
    assange has no rules [[i dont think anyway) of whats isnt "leakable" so could do untold damage

    if wikileaks had exsisted in 1936 around the time of the munich crisis how do you think it would have turned out?one of the most maligned prime ministers,chamberlain came back to england waving a peace of paper,signed by hitler, declaring peace in our time.he knew that was a lie before he said that.he'd bought time to build up our forces so we would have a half decent chance of being able to stop germany if/when they started invading other countries.chamberlain started a massive expansion of the forces.wikileaks would have wrecked any chance of us being ready.the germans would have known [[the munich agreement)the uk didnt believe a word of what the germans were really about and started the war earlier when we werent ready.bottom line we would have lost the war before december 7th 1941. pearl harbour.on the otherhand wikileaks would have told us they were coming and all we'd got was a red carpet.
    when they eventually get hold of julian assange i hope he gets life imprisonment they can reduce his sentence when he's given up the names of the leakers,the people that have got the information for him.these whistle blowers should be tried as spies.they are no different to the people who have given away secret information to our enemies.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    21,796
    Rep Power
    460
    I don't think we know the consequences of what was leaked. We may see that over time.

    Politicians, these days more than ever, are trained liars. You have to watch every word they say and consider it could mean the opposite of what they say, consider that they might be saying it for someone else to hear and have no intention of following up on what they say etc.

    It is a waste of time even listening.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    458
    Rep Power
    171
    Politicians themselves leak information when it suits them. 'Unofficial sources' is the media term. Confidential letters find themselves in the public domain. To then complain when others leak is to say the least hypocritical. There is a school of thought that Wikileaks were fed the information with approval from a higher level. Who knows the truth?

    As for Chamberlain, who can say what would have happened if he hadn't signed the 'peace in our time' document? Britain was certainly not prepared for war in 1939 nor in 1940 when Dunkirk happened. Maybe if he hadn't signed, the world would have taken the German threat more seriously sooner and the subsequent bloodbath could have been reduced or even avoided.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    2,760
    Rep Power
    194
    that was an example of "what if wikileaks had been around at that time",to show the damage that could be done,if it had been leaked that all the uk wanted was time not "peace".there might be a "school of thought" that all this is government sponsored,'bout time that school woke up.its nothing short of treachery.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    458
    Rep Power
    171
    sorry if i can't take this too seriously, tamla617. Leaks happen all the time. Politicians are often responsible for the leaks. They currently seem to be reacting like the biter bit.

    as for treachery, maybe you have some inside track on this affair which enables you to speak with authority. I am not on the inside so do not know what is behind the leaks. I do find a lot of the noise coming from governments on these leaks of 'the lady doth protest too loudly' variety.

    It seems also curious that various criminal charges against wikileaks founder which have nothing to do with the leaks have suddenly been elevated in priority. Coincidence? Payback? Take your choice. But it does not show politicians in a very edifying light either way.

    Experience suggests that politicians are, at best, economical with the truth. What is behind wikileaks I don't know. I do know that honesty is the best policy. Unfortunately that notion seems to scare politicians in power. Their control seems to emanate from a desire to suppress the truth if it doesn't suit their case.

    Listening to motown is much more fun than getting uptight about this sordid little affair.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    21,796
    Rep Power
    460
    Running through so many of these threads is the theme that politicians are liars ~ a sad consensus these days.

    I see there are reports that Turkey and Iran believe the USA might be behind the leaks!

    People question everything these days, with good reason.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    2,760
    Rep Power
    194
    bobkayli
    treachery by definition,the "insiders" leaking the information have been treacherous.
    todays wikileaks should put most of the "school of thoughts" out of contention,as if the U.S. would sanction/give away their list of world wide instalations,factories etc.etc. that are deemed critical to the U.S.these places, that have now been advertised, were probably not on the terrorist's radar have now been highlighted.if they want to get at america attack these soft targets.with a bit of luck scotland yard will have him soon.
    and you're right about motown btw!

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    2,760
    Rep Power
    194
    got him!he's got a good brief tho' its all warming up nicely

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    5,454
    Rep Power
    222
    The TRUTH shall set you free. I will side with truth. Those that would rather live with their head in the sand, and continue to be lied to and deceived- thats your choice. Let it all come out. The witch hunt for this guy and subsequent arrest is wrong.

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    2,760
    Rep Power
    194
    you can dream of utopia.freedom at any cost?

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    237
    Rep Power
    169

    Ron Paul puts it nicely again!

    As usual, the extreme left and right want this man put in jail or even killed when the attention should be on our FAILED US foreign policy.

    Ron Paul hits the nail on the head...



    TRANSCRIPT
    We may never know the whole story behind the recent publication of sensitive U.S. government documents by the Wikileaks organization, but we certainly can draw some important conclusions from the reaction of so many in government and media.

    At its core, the Wikileaks controversy serves as a diversion from the real issue of what our foreign policy should be. But the mainstream media, along with neoconservatives from both political parties, insist on asking the wrong question. When presented with embarrassing disclosures about U.S. spying and meddling, the policy that requires so much spying and meddling is not questioned. Instead, the media focus on how so much sensitive information could have been leaked, or how authorities might prosecute the publishers of such information.

    No one questions the status quo or suggests a wholesale rethinking of our foreign policy. No one suggests that the White House or the State Department should be embarrassed that the U.S. engages in spying and meddling. The only embarrassment is that it was made public. This allows ordinary people to actually know and talk about what the government does. But state secrecy is anathema to a free society. Why exactly should Americans be prevented from knowing what their government is doing in their name?

    In a free society, we are supposed to know the truth. In a society where truth becomes treason, however, we are in big trouble. The truth is that our foreign spying, meddling, and outright military intervention in the post-World War II era has made us less secure, not more. And we have lost countless lives and spent trillions of dollars for our trouble. Too often “official” government lies have provided justification for endless, illegal wars and hundreds of thousands of resulting deaths and casualties.

    Take the recent hostilities in Korea as only one example. More than fifty years after the end of the Korean War, American taxpayers continue to spend billions for the U.S. military to defend a modern and wealthy South Korea. The continued presence of the U.S. military places American lives between the two factions. The U.S. presence only serves to prolong the conflict, further drain our empty treasury, and place our military at risk.

    The neoconservative ethos, steeped in the teaching of Leo Strauss, cannot abide an America where individuals simply pursue their own happy, peaceful, prosperous lives. It cannot abide an America where society centers around family, religion, or civic and social institutions rather than an all powerful central state. There is always an enemy to slay, whether communist or terrorist. In the neoconservative vision, a constant state of alarm must be fostered among the people to keep them focused on something greater than themselves — namely their great protector, the state. This is why the neoconservative reaction to the Wikileaks revelations is so predictable: “See, we told you the world was a dangerous place,” goes the story. They claim we must prosecute — or even assassinate — those responsible for publishing the leaks. And we must redouble our efforts to police the world by spying and meddling better, with no more leaks.

    We should view the Wikileaks controversy in the larger context of American foreign policy. Rather than worry about the disclosure of embarrassing secrets, we should focus on our delusional foreign policy. We are kidding ourselves when we believe spying, intrigue, and outright military intervention can maintain our international status as a superpower while our domestic economy crumbles in an orgy of debt and monetary debasement.

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    5,860
    Rep Power
    225
    It's a fit up, guv. The bloke's been done up like a kipper 'cause he told the truth. If you don't strive for Utopia, you deserve to live in a world where leaders are so lame-brained and oafish that they give themselves away every time they open their mouths. Why do they want him silenced? Because they fear that their crimes will be found out. Will cooking up a phony case with a couple of Swedish sorts change the truth? No, now that the means of communication are in the hands of the individual, and not entirely controlled by fascist dolts, the truth will go on coming out. When everyone knows everyone's secrets, and how boring and idiotic they are, we will be able to get on and live happy lives, and sack the whole grotesque boiling of them. Incidentally, the fit up was done in Sweden because they have a sorry extradition treaty with the States, and the UK miraculously still doesn't.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    2,760
    Rep Power
    194
    i dont think you'll get much of an argument from me about dishonest politicians,underhand dealings.
    its not just dishonest political stuff tho' this guy put it out there,advertised important/critical instalations,organisations,factories etc.i want to know why everyone has to know why things that are best kept secret,things to do with defence systems,battle plans, should be out in the public domain.we used [[i hope still have) a saying "need to know".if you dont have the need you aint gonna be told.
    is there a line that some of you guys wont cross.let 'em all know?you're starting to worry me.
    what wouldnt you leak whats your limit?how much money?whats your agenda? we're not talking just about countries,we've got a million different kinds of muslim terrorist out there.
    i'm bound by the official secrets act.my dad has never told me his target he was to bomb [[cold war)in the event of a one way [[get back if you can/run out of gas)bombing mission east of germany somewhere.i havent asked him 'cos i know he cant tell me.
    i agree the charges in sweden sound a bit too covienient.but he has,admitted he has,got secret/confidential information.he will be done for that.i hope he does,sorry and all that.its a shame. but play with fire and you going to get burnt.

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    458
    Rep Power
    171
    if these secrets were so important, why were they not guarded better? Having freely available lists of strategic targets sounds like an accident waiting to happen.
    If they were so easy to obtain, it could well be that they were already well known to those that would want to know.
    in any event, terrorists attacks are based on surprise, in looking for the unthought of target. In this respect having these locations out in the open probably lowers the risk of attack.
    Had it not been for leaks, we in the UK would still be paying millions to MPs to repair moats and duck houses and to finance their excessive lifestyles..
    If there had been leaks, maybe sexed up dossiers would have been exposed and led to a more insightful decision on whether to invade Iraq.
    The swedish charges and unlawful restrictions placed through the back door on Wikileaks takes away the moral high ground the governments may have claimed.
    Besides I'm far from convinced that these leaks weren't authorised. Time will tell on this.
    btw I have also signed the official secrets act and have respected it. However my faith in politicians is very low. Much of what has been disclosed exposes duplicity and incompetence and as such belongs in the public domain since people who voted for these guys are suffering [[and some dying) as a result. I was always taught that patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel. Our politicians do little to disprove this.

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    2,760
    Rep Power
    194
    they are "guarded".all it takes is a misguided person,unpatriotic etc. who is "in" the system and has access to the information to leak it.
    [[i've already said this before) you cant pick and choose what is good to be leaked and what isnt.the mp's expenses scandal is an exception.this was reporting an illegal act by mp's commiting fraud.even though only 3 are going to answer charges in court.not bad considering over 500 conned the [[non)system!
    "patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel"[[ who said that btw)so all the 1000's of people that kept to the off.secrets act.didnt sell their country down the swannee are somehow scoundrels.some of the definitions of scoundrel is persona non gratia,unreliable,unwanted,villianous,unprincipled ,dishonerable.stand up for the anthem,clutching chest. all scoundrels?
    so i'm all those things am i?why if you believe the freedom of information dont you stick your head over the parapit and break the official secrets act.[[hypathetically of course,i think i just contravened part of the act then!) i wonder what your employers,neighbors would think who was the scoundrel.the old you or the one that "let the cat out of the bag"
    Last edited by tamla617; 12-16-2010 at 02:19 PM.

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    5,860
    Rep Power
    225
    It was Doctor Jonson who uttered thos immortal words, Tamla - in fact he defined patriotism that way in his dictionary. The truth is that all this security nonsense and official secrets act is not hiding anything the enemy doesn't already know. It's just a grand charade, except in the sense that it hides what we, the honest citizens shouldn't know about our own 'representatives'.

    I'm sure it would be a breach of the official secrets act for ayone in government employ to mention that the recession has more to do with the money spent on war than the credit crunch or the bank crisis. Make the punters wrong and it diverts attention from the real problem. Teach yourself Thatcherism, lesson one.

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    2,760
    Rep Power
    194
    got it bankhouse!
    the bank crisis had the same economic effect as ww2 did.nothing like the cost of iraq and "stan".even if it is dragging on and on....

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    16,025
    Rep Power
    352
    The whole idea behind whistle blowers is to reveal information that could pose a threat or uncover corruption.

    Assange IMO cannot be seen as a true whistle blower since most of the info released amounted to gossip and embarrassment. Plus much of it was the biggest non kept secret of secrets of the decade.

    It didn't serve any constructive purpose unless, someone can explain how the size of Kadafi's, nurse/companion's boobs threatens national security here and around the world. [[and I'm sure there is a joke in there somewhere)

    I do not advocate shutting down wikileaks because to me that's censorship but I do think people like Assange should show more responsibility in the handling of this type of info.

    The idea behind Diplomacy is to settle issues before they escalate. Interfering with that process could cause problems down the road.

    If informants fear they will be found out because of leaks, they could refuse to cooperate with the US. What would have happened if info had not been shared about the last two potential terrorist attacks?

    True whistle blowers I applaud, they serve a real need and purpose. Nothing I've seen so far from these leaks could come close.

    Another concern should be [[Manning) a 20 something year old Private, who supposedly had the type of security clearance to access more than 200,000 classified documents.
    Last edited by ms_m; 12-16-2010 at 05:44 PM.

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    458
    Rep Power
    171
    I don't see Assange as a whistle-blower Ms M. Rather he is publishing information that comes into his hands and probably making a good deal of money out of it. He is clearly going to run the gauntlet with the dirty tricks of various governments including my own so I guess he will spend every penny in lawyers fees. The many notable people who have supported him suggest his work has much support.
    Since this information was so easily available to him, it raises several questions:
    1 was the leak authorised for some purpose that will become clear in time?
    2 If the information was so easily available to him, is it really that secret?
    3 if the information is really that secret, why was it so easily available?
    some of the information released seems to suit American foreign policy as well as the strong US pro-israel, anti-Iran lobby. All this released just before talks started on Irans nuclear capability. It couldn't have been scripted better.

    Tamla, Assange is Australian not American, the Official Secrets Act is British not American, so am not sure of your reasoning. He can't have committed treason nor breached a law which doesn't apply in either US or Australia. What is more concerning is, if this information is so confidential, why was it so freely published and distributed within the US government services? I haven't changed my view of Official Secrets Act but am not sure that hiding the twisting of the truth to further a politicians aims at the cost of others lives is truly following the Act, nor is concealing that politicians claim unjustified expenses in bucket loads on the principle of 'I thought I could get away with it, Guv'. Many claims were paid back before they could be investigated so a form of amnesty prevented many other cases being considered [[including David Cameron and his £1800 wisteria). I understand that even with the new tight system [[less than a year old) over £14m of recent expenses is under scrutiny by the independent commission. They still haven't got it, have they? If you're happy to blindly trust these guys, that is your democratic choice. I tend to come back to another old sayng 'Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely'. There has to be a way to keep a check on these guys. Relying on them to tell you the truth and only act in the nations best interest is at best naive and counter-democratic. The death and damage caused by the sexed-up dossiers that enabled UK to take part in the Iraq war and the many families living in grief after losing loved ones deserves better than this.

  26. #26
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    458
    Rep Power
    171
    btw Ms M, it's good to see you posting here again. Even if there are things we see differently, it's a pleasure following your reasoning which is always challenging and well thought out

  27. #27
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    16,025
    Rep Power
    352
    I agree he's not a whistle blower bobkayli. He's not even some kind of hero in my book.

    There is more to all of this than meets the eye and in addition to what you have already laid out, the Dept Of Homeland Security is teaming up with RIAA to close down web sites....as you say, it could not have been scripted better and I will add the timing seems strange.

    I also just read that Assange and his people had promised to help fund Private Manings defense fund and now suddenly are pulling back from that offer.

    I think Maning is where the answers can be found in terms of the secrecy of the documents but I have seen [[and I'll try to find it) most of the docs were marked highly classified.

    I'm still curious how an Army Private gets that type of security clearance. I know people who have been in Federal govt for years that don't have that type of access.

    I don't know what the heck is going on and ironically I just mentioned this to someone else but until the people of this country truly start to understand the importance of Campaign Finance Reform and get corporate dollars out of our elections....

    ....what can I say?
    Last edited by ms_m; 12-16-2010 at 07:56 PM.

  28. #28
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    16,025
    Rep Power
    352
    Thanks, it's good to have someone like you I can debate with bobkayli

    Still looking for that info but I did email it to a friend when this first came out. Maybe he still has the email but in the meantime I ran across this.

    With reading and accessing WikiLeaks documents, some law to consider

  29. #29
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    5,124
    Rep Power
    218
    I read in the December 13 issue of Newsweek that almost all of what was released by wikileaks had already been published over the years by news outlets. They said that one of the main points the leaks showed was that American diplomats were doing their jobs. Also, as noted above, how come nobody in government seems concerned about where they got the information they leaked. Sounds like all our wonderful government is concerned about is killing the messenger. Echoing ms_m just above, how does a private have access to that info? I spent 28 years working in state government and I had access to a lot of information. But, I also knew there was much more info I did not have access to. Something is wrong when the bottom of the feeding chain eats what those several levels above him did not have access to.

  30. #30
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    21,796
    Rep Power
    460
    Does anyone think that Turkey and Iran might be right........and that the whole thing is a setup?

    Or is it possible that the American Government really doesn't care and they see some good in this?

  31. #31
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    2,760
    Rep Power
    194
    a foreigner can be charged under the official secrets act.you dont even have to sign the official secrets act to contravene it.
    a private or equivalent grade in any other force,civil service etc.can have access to information from confidential to a classification he/she has been cleared to.for instance the army/airforce/navy do not put an air marshall/admiral/field marshall on receiving and sending signals.signalers send and recieve up to the minute information,its their job they've been vetted and so have their close family.
    classification of documents/information as far as i can remember.
    confidential
    restricted
    secret
    most secret
    top secret
    non of the above has an age limit, rank/paygrade limit.
    its down to "need to know" usually because its their job to carry out tasks within any of the above classifications.
    i didnt know what my 21 year old next door neighbor was up to most of the time,we used to go out to the pub alot.i didnt need to know where he'd been or going to etc.he wasnt going to tell me anyway,and vice versa.he was 2 up from the bottom rank in the airforce.
    he would have been privvy to more sensitive info than some of these wikileaks

  32. #32
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    16,025
    Rep Power
    352
    tamla617

    There are a few things you've stated I agree with but I'm going to call foul on some of your info unless you can provide a source.

    The US does not have a Secrets Act.

    Under Bush there was [[and I'm guessing still is) something called an unofficial secrets act but I can't find anything to confirm it would apply to non citizens of this country.

    The article "Bush's Unofficial 'Official Secrets Act': How the Justice Department Has Pushed to Criminalize The Disclosure of Non-Security Related Government Information" by John W. Dean was published in the September 26, 2003, edition of FindLaw's Writ. The article addresses what clearly appears to be a manipulation of provisions delineated in Patriot Act I and other United States laws and statutes.
    Dean wrote that, "Except in a few highly egregious circumstances relating to national security information [[espionage and atomic secrets), the U.S. Congress has, in the past, never made it a crime to leak information to the news media.
    As a result, for over two hundred years, our government has operated without an official secrets act.

    Read More
    Source:

    http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php...al_Secrets_Act

    More Sources:

    Intelligence Authorization Act, 2001
    • National Security: Classified Information, ACLU.
    • Jack Nelson, Government Secrecy: What Leaks are Good Leaks?, Los Angeles Times, January 5, 2003.
    • On Criminalizing "Leaks", January 8, 2002 [SECRECY NEWS from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy].
    • Bill Berkowitz,Escalating Secrecy Wars, WorkingForChange.com, July 9, 2003.


    http://llsblog.lls.edu/faculty/2010/...documents.html


    Also from what I can tell [[unless I missed something) this would all be under an Executive Order and not under any laws which could possibly get thrown out with a really hard fight, money and a dayum good attorney. Probably why it's never been used. But again, I see nothing that applies to citizens outside the US.

    Now war crimes and acts of terrorism are a whole other ball game.

  33. #33
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    16,025
    Rep Power
    352
    BTW this unofficial act applies to Non-Security Related Government Information"

    The last link I provided deals specifically with law in regard to Wikileaks

  34. #34
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    16,025
    Rep Power
    352
    One more thing. I'm not sure where you are from but you may be confused with British law which does have a secrets act. [[see links)

  35. #35
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    2,760
    Rep Power
    194
    ms_m
    sorry i only know about/mentioned the uk official secrets act.i dont know the U.S. laws.what was klaus fuchs tried under or the walker family [[family of spies film)the youngest was a signals specialist code opperator on his 1st posting as far as i remember the film,although artistic licence could have been used in the film.
    uk forces bases/instalations all have a sign warning that the area is covered within the meaning of the official secrets act.
    ANYBODY can be arrested within 10 MILES of any uk forces base by millitary and/or civil police.even in germany assisted by/with the politzie
    people using cameras,telescopes,bino's,note taking etc. aircraft spotters can have everything confiscated.all this very rarely happens,its there to use when required not as a matter of course.

    ANY country's embassy/diplomatic plated cars [[cd,corp diplomatique) and all have specific number plate prefixes.any of these in the 10 miles of a base is supposed to be reported to the nearest base or police station.i reported one once,by the time i'd got thru' i was told i was the 10th caller at least.
    all these regulatins our 10 mile sphere of influence,corp diplomatique etc was [[i did) learnt in the 1st 13 weeks of basic training and an exam sat.thats the importance attached to the act.i'm pretty sure the us forces would have the same rules around their bases.they do in the uk .USAF base at RAF mildenhall,suffolk for instance.

  36. #36
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    16,025
    Rep Power
    352
    No problem. After I read the links more thoroughly and thought about it, I figured you were referring to the UK.

    It seems Bush Jr did try to do something along those lines under the Patriot Act. Clinton had already vetoed it in his admin.

    I don't think it would fly here but then again, it all depends if another Republican gets back in office.

  37. #37
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    2,760
    Rep Power
    194
    there are a miriad of laws that can be used i guess to make sure everything is covered.i imagine its got more "tricky" since mobile/cell phones with cameras and computers,emails,twittering,blogging places like this forum [[!)etc have become an everyday thing aswell.
    you were quick answering btw!

  38. #38
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    16,025
    Rep Power
    352
    I'm going to have to check out the UK Constitution one of these days. I never realized there were so many things you guys were use to as a matter of course, we don't do. At least not officially.

    Don't really know the protocol for military bases outside the States. When I drive on a base here, they run my tags before I'm allowed to go through the gate, but that's about it as far as I know.

  39. #39
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    16,025
    Rep Power
    352
    you were quick answering btw!
    LOL, coincidence. I just happen to check SDF and saw your reply.

  40. #40
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    2,760
    Rep Power
    194
    and again!enough already lol!

    what constitution? they wont give us one!been promised by the previous bunch of no hopers,i think it got cancelled when they found out they couldnt tax it,or stop people with money having it!
    Last edited by tamla617; 12-17-2010 at 06:54 PM.

  41. #41
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    16,025
    Rep Power
    352


    Okee dokee....have a few things I need to do anyway. I will return though. LOL

  42. #42
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    458
    Rep Power
    171
    Sorry for taking some time to reply, I've had flu. I'm not sure if I was infected as a part of some MI5 dirty trick because of my support for Mr Assange.

    Then today there has been a deluge of snow and I've been clearing it and gritting the road I live in so I've a chance of escaping to work on Monday morning. Am hoping to complete the clearance tomorrow. I am also wondering if the CIA is behind the snowfall as a way of aiding their MI5 buddies.

    My favourite football team [[soccer team to you!) is having a tough period as well so I have clearly upset someone big time [[since they are owned by a Russian, there may be a KGB influence here, the owner has made some strange decisions lately).

    I'm wondering what dirty trick I'll suffer next. There are rumours of an Assad operative having been seen in the neighbourhood so i'm taking no chances. It may of course just be the extra postman taken on to clear the seasonal mail.

    Good analysis from Prof. Glazier. If I've understood, I can access and read them and am not going to be thrown in Alcatraz next time I hit JFK Airport? But they'll probably quiz me further about my answers to the questionnaire about why I am visiting US.

    However I shouldn't copy them, store them, print them or pass them on or transmit them or I'm in the slammer and they'll throw away the key.

    As regards Mr Assange, is there any similar legal analysis of what criminal charges could be considered against him? He seems very well represented from a legal viewpoint so it seems unlikely that he has published these documents of knowing what legal ground he has to stand on. sorry to put on you with this question but you are generally a fount of knowledge in these matters.

  43. #43
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    2,760
    Rep Power
    194
    you should be slung in alcatraz for supporting ch****a! lol.pity the match is off tomorrow,i was looking forward to that.the next time we meet i bet abromavitch has added some more players to the squad in the jan window.
    Last edited by tamla617; 12-18-2010 at 05:25 PM.

  44. #44
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    16,025
    Rep Power
    352
    bobkayli since Assange is not a US citizen, I doubt that law applies to him. When I posted that link I was thinking about Private Maning. I don't care for Assange but I'm more concerned with the actions of the Private.

    I'm guessing the US will wait to see how his [[Assange) case in Sweden plays out.

    ...and if I'm not mistaken he may have other charges out there.

    I've said from the beginning I don't think Wikileaks should be taken down but that doesn't mean Assange wasn't irresponsible in how he handled this.

    Supposedly he contacted our govt to see if they wanted to redact any of the material, The govt said, we want our documents back.
    I've heard some people say at least he tried to work with the US and it was the US that wasn't cooperative. I call BS on that.

    If someone was in possession of your stolen property and said, I'll let you trash some of it but I'm keeping it. Would you still think the person was being nice?
    Last edited by ms_m; 12-18-2010 at 05:44 PM.

  45. #45
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    16,025
    Rep Power
    352
    Quote Originally Posted by bobkayli View Post
    Sorry for taking some time to reply, I've had flu. I'm not sure if I was infected as a part of some MI5 dirty trick because of my support for Mr Assange.

    Then today there has been a deluge of snow and I've been clearing it and gritting the road I live in so I've a chance of escaping to work on Monday morning. Am hoping to complete the clearance tomorrow. I am also wondering if the CIA is behind the snowfall as a way of aiding their MI5 buddies.

    My favourite football team [[soccer team to you!) is having a tough period as well so I have clearly upset someone big time [[since they are owned by a Russian, there may be a KGB influence here, the owner has made some strange decisions lately).

    I'm wondering what dirty trick I'll suffer next. There are rumours of an Assad operative having been seen in the neighbourhood so i'm taking no chances. It may of course just be the extra postman taken on to clear the seasonal mail.

    Good analysis from Prof. Glazier. If I've understood, I can access and read them and am not going to be thrown in Alcatraz next time I hit JFK Airport? But they'll probably quiz me further about my answers to the questionnaire about why I am visiting US.

    However I shouldn't copy them, store them, print them or pass them on or transmit them or I'm in the slammer and they'll throw away the key.

    As regards Mr Assange, is there any similar legal analysis of what criminal charges could be considered against him? He seems very well represented from a legal viewpoint so it seems unlikely that he has published these documents of knowing what legal ground he has to stand on. sorry to put on you with this question but you are generally a fount of knowledge in these matters.
    Hope you start to feel better soon.

  46. #46
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    458
    Rep Power
    171
    Tamla617, supporting the Blues is a cross I've borne for many years. Alcatraz would be a picnic compared to some of the heartache they've caused me, not so much now but particularly in the late 70s and 80s.
    I was looking forward to the game too, i think both teams were really up for it. With this, England bringing us back to earth in the cricket and the remaining pile of snow to be cleared from my road, I'm still wondering if my support for Assange is being punished in some way.

    Ms M, thank you, the flu is clearing slowly.

    The leaks may or not be irresponsible but they are an interesting insight. That the diplomatic world effectively run state-sponsored gossip-mongers is an aspect I'd never really considered before. I've enjoyed this aspect a lot seeing the gossip on a par with a section of the UK press [[News of the World and the like). I've particularly enjoyed the analysis of Prince Andrew as an arrogant, rude freeloader. He clearly takes after his father the Duke of Edinburgh who comes across as a pompous buffoon of the first order. I'm imagining US diplomats recoiling in horror when the UK ambassador arrives and announces to his US counterpart that as some great honour the Queen of England has deigned to allow her family to visit your country. The glazed smile on the face of the recipient of such news is now clearer to me. Behind his smile and sycophantic pleasantries is clearly dread and the thought 'Oh no, not that Prince Andrew. Must remember to lock up the jewellery and keep an eye on the toiletries in the visitors suite at the White House. This guy takes everything that isn't screwed down. And how are we going to stop him upsetting the staff with his outrageous comments as he acts like some boorish drunk uncle at the family christmas party.'

    On a serious note this type of information clearly has an official purpose since it lets all know who they are dealing with and what to expect. This is a must in the nuanced world of diplomatic relations where appearances and behind the scenes relationships are everything. Whether it is truly secret information to be protected is another matter. I for one feel better informed and more assured that there is some humanising process in place in international diplomacy. Also knowing how others see us is priceless in understanding our place in the world and benefitting from the lessons learned as a result.

    The more sensitive information is clearly of another order. I was once told by a friend from Naples some Neapolitan logic. 'I'm from Naples and everybody believes that people from Naples are thieves. I walk past your house and see a window left open. On the table next to the window there is a wallet and it is left open so I can see lots of money inside. I'm from Naples so I do as you expect, I take the money. Sure I am a thief, but you already knew that. So why did you leave your wallet open next to an open window? Where does your responsibility begin and end in this and who are you to want to punish me just for being myself?'

    If the press are to be believed, in this case the Neapolitan [[Assange) didn't take the wallet but rather was handed it through the window by one of the servants of the house [[the Private). This Private was acting in a context where clearly his individual actions were wrong but it begs many other questions as to how a state gathers information, decides what is confidential, who should have it, how it is stored and protected. It is not for me to decide how the US Government should do this, this is clearly their decision to make. However how they do this is important because the US is a key player in world security and so their decisions affect us all. This case exposes that the current mechanisms in place are not adequate. I wouldn't like to see the humble private be a scapegoat for this in some cover-up, he has acted in a context. probably with, as a minimum, others condoning or tacitly accepting what he was doing or leaving him the opportunity to do so knowing the risks involved.
    I agree that Wikileaks shouldn't be shut down and as i read that Bank of America is the latest who will not process transactions involving Wikileaks, I see the underhand response to the embarrassment carrying on. Not doubt they will produce some interesting legalese to justify their decision but this type of action is an attack on press freedom and should be resisted. it could also be that Wikileaks has some dirt to dish on the banking system and this is a case of getting your retaliation in first. After defending Google against attacks to shut them down in China, the democratic west is now acting no better than the Chinese actions we all condemned. It just adds to the suspicion that there are no good guys or bad guys in this, only hustlers seeking to guard their position for their own real or perceived interests.

  47. #47
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    16,025
    Rep Power
    352
    You actually proved one of my points concerning the gossip and I agree much of it gives the intended reader much needed insight. That insight serves a distinct and useful purpose. However, now Diplomats or whomever may be reluctant to be so insightful and descriptive. That can't be a good thing. [[with exceptions of course, eg. "boobs")

    I wouldn't like to see the humble private be a scapegoat for this in some cover-up, he has acted in a context.
    Your "humble" Private is not so humble and if this transcript is to be believed he has been working with Assange for quite some time. He also claims Wikileaks even decoded some of the docs. This is only a partial excerpt of the transcript and from what I understand will be used against the Private in his case.
    http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/201...ikileaks-chat/

    How the Private was able to access all of this is not something I will speculate on. It is however something I would like answered.

    Nice piece of maneuvering but stolen property is still stolen property no matter how it 's acquired.

    I think there are good guys and bad guys in this, the problem, we may or may not ever know who they were and are but, Assange can't be counted among the good guys yet.

    The only thing that has come out of this so far is a possible security breech. It doesn't take revealing all this mess to expose those leaks and again, according to the transcripts above, the Private has been working with Assange since 2007. That means we are in Bush Jr. territory so who knows how deep this goes or why?

  48. #48
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    16,025
    Rep Power
    352
    BTW....BOA is not a government entity. [[they have paid back their loans http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/...n5868082.shtml ) If they choose to dissociate with Wikileaks, it's their right.

  49. #49
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    2,760
    Rep Power
    194
    bobkayli your piece on prince andrew and the stuff i've seen about him on wiki.. is spot on.he is all those things.he came to brize norton with charles on a parachute course late 79/early 80.where charles appeared interested on what we were doing.andrew never joined in and just gaffawed with his minions.he does have my respect tho'.during the falkland war he sat in a hovering helicopter [[drawing fire a possibillity)in an air raid,ships being sunk people in the water etc.he also flew radar picket duties sitting on the outer edge of ships radar and using the choppers radar extending the early warning of argentinian attacks.not a safe place to be.
    btw assange is holed up in a stately house about 10 miles from where i live.

    ms_m you're right,everyone has forgoten that it is theft aswell

    bobkayli
    the great chelsea side was......the late 60's osgood,tambling,cooke,mc cready,hollins,bonetti,webb,hutchinson,houseman,bo yle,berchinall hope i didnt leave anyone out!great side,how they didnt win the league i dont know but the 1970 fa cup replay at old trafford was one of the great finals! and i'm a united fan! i know i've missed a defender out,i can see his face but not the name!not bad for an "off the top of my head" tho'
    Last edited by tamla617; 12-19-2010 at 12:54 PM.

  50. #50
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    2,760
    Rep Power
    194
    got it bobkayli........ron harris?

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

[REMOVE ADS]

Ralph Terrana
MODERATOR

Welcome to Soulful Detroit! Kindly Consider Turning Off Your Ad BlockingX
Soulful Detroit is a free service that relies on revenue from ad display [regrettably] and donations. We notice that you are using an ad-blocking program that prevents us from earning revenue during your visit.
Ads are REMOVED for Members who donate to Soulful Detroit. [You must be logged in for ads to disappear]
DONATE HERE »
And have Ads removed.