Assange looks for asylum in Ecuador

Discussion in 'The Political/Current Events Coffee House' started by General Mosh, Jun 20, 2012.

  1. Frenzy Member

    Member Since:
    May 4, 2012
    Message Count:
    82
    Likes Received:
    27
    Trophy Points:
    22
    Complete governmental transparency can be detrimental in some instances, however it is important to note that entities within a position of power have a strong tendency to keep secret information that allows them to maintain power (as opposed to keeping information secret for some drawn out notion of 'the national good').

    Further to this,Wikileaks doesn't have the ability to provide complete governmental (and corporate) transparency - that would be a colossal task. Most of the material that Wikileaks publishes is information that is brought to them by disillusioned Whistle blowers via an anonymous dropbox.

    This way, most of the information that Wikileaks receives is information where an organization's own staff are appalled by its actions. Furthermore, Wikileaks has time and again gone through a strict process of screening and redacting material (at times with the aid of journalistic organizations) to ensure that strategic assets and personnel are not compromised as a result of the publication of their materials.

    So far not a single person has come to direct harm as a result of the release of any of Wikileaks' materials - which is quite an achievement for an organization that deals with extremely sensitive information, and for one that has been around for close to a decade. Even if Wikileaks had impacted people and strategic interests in a negative way, doing so is arguably not as significant as the impact that the release of such documents has in a geopolitical context (and its ramifications for many hundreds of thousands of people).
  2. UtterlyImpeccable Well-Known Member

    Member Since:
    Apr 25, 2012
    Message Count:
    891
    Likes Received:
    240
    Trophy Points:
    53
    Location:
    Worcestershire, England
    I'm sure governments will be a lot more careful now, though.
    General Mosh likes this.
  3. Mobmaster Is Ozan

    Member Since:
    Jun 12, 2012
    Message Count:
    218
    Likes Received:
    19
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Netherlands
    I am more important because i am american and my government is more powerfull therefore fuck foreigners, is practically racism. I know it isn't race that makes you treat them diffrently, but in practice it is.

    Furthermore it was a joke... Syrsly wtf :p
  4. Frenzy Member

    Member Since:
    May 4, 2012
    Message Count:
    82
    Likes Received:
    27
    Trophy Points:
    22
    To Utterly - Hence it can be argued that Wikileaks has actually had very positive outcomes for national security without any serious breach of strategic integrity or harm to governmental personnel.

    To Mobmaster - I would take straight up honest racism over the subtle patronizing kind any day. The latter is much more dangerous.
  5. UtterlyImpeccable Well-Known Member

    Member Since:
    Apr 25, 2012
    Message Count:
    891
    Likes Received:
    240
    Trophy Points:
    53
    Location:
    Worcestershire, England
    Well perhaps, but I'm still not convinced it would be sensible for governments to not do anything in response to so many leaks. Not that Assange should take all the blame, but certainly some of it.
  6. Frenzy Member

    Member Since:
    May 4, 2012
    Message Count:
    82
    Likes Received:
    27
    Trophy Points:
    22
    Assange is the publisher of the materials. If he's to blame so is any other journalist that does their job and report information that is of interest and importance to the Public.
  7. General Mosh Citystates Founder!

    Member Since:
    Feb 14, 2011
    Message Count:
    5,310
    Likes Received:
    668
    Trophy Points:
    193
    Location:
    Scattered to the 4 corners of Earth
    Diplomatic dispatches are not of importance to the public. Publishing them is just an embarrassment to the US.
  8. Frenzy Member

    Member Since:
    May 4, 2012
    Message Count:
    82
    Likes Received:
    27
    Trophy Points:
    22
    Surely the published diplomatic material that spurred on revolutions and political change in Tunisia, Eygpt, Kenya, Ecuador are of importance to the public.
  9. Viking Socrates I am Mad Scientist

    Member Since:
    Sep 25, 2011
    Message Count:
    9,153
    Likes Received:
    1,487
    Trophy Points:
    248
    Location:
    In a cave,watching shadows (Plato reference)
    Well in your opinion did the cables lead to the Arab spring?
  10. Frenzy Member

    Member Since:
    May 4, 2012
    Message Count:
    82
    Likes Received:
    27
    Trophy Points:
    22
    It was one of the many factors that lead to the Arab spring, yes. Specifically in Tunisia, where leaked cables were published revealing that the U.S. would support a people's revolution over Ben Ali's regime.
  11. General Mosh Citystates Founder!

    Member Since:
    Feb 14, 2011
    Message Count:
    5,310
    Likes Received:
    668
    Trophy Points:
    193
    Location:
    Scattered to the 4 corners of Earth
    I mean the ones where idiot diplomatic officials were making fun of ambassadors or something stupid. Those really aren't of importance to the public, and simply cause diplomatic embarrassment, which in my opinion is thoroughly unprofessional.
  12. DukeofAwesome Well-Known Member

    Member Since:
    Feb 13, 2011
    Message Count:
    1,272
    Likes Received:
    274
    Trophy Points:
    114
    Location:
    New Jersey USA
    Yes, I think it's very unprofessional for professional diplomats to make fun of their coworkers or counterparts.
  13. Viking Socrates I am Mad Scientist

    Member Since:
    Sep 25, 2011
    Message Count:
    9,153
    Likes Received:
    1,487
    Trophy Points:
    248
    Location:
    In a cave,watching shadows (Plato reference)
    I think it is very professional for diplomats to start fighting each other, like the Russian Duma or whatever the Italians have.
    General Mosh likes this.
  14. General Mosh Citystates Founder!

    Member Since:
    Feb 14, 2011
    Message Count:
    5,310
    Likes Received:
    668
    Trophy Points:
    193
    Location:
    Scattered to the 4 corners of Earth
    And its stupid for it to be leaked. How does that help anyone?
  15. DukeofAwesome Well-Known Member

    Member Since:
    Feb 13, 2011
    Message Count:
    1,272
    Likes Received:
    274
    Trophy Points:
    114
    Location:
    New Jersey USA
    Hopefully it teaches the diplomats to not be 5 year olds.
  16. Viking Socrates I am Mad Scientist

    Member Since:
    Sep 25, 2011
    Message Count:
    9,153
    Likes Received:
    1,487
    Trophy Points:
    248
    Location:
    In a cave,watching shadows (Plato reference)
    There human, let them insult each other they have a pretty stressful job and they get pretty annoyed by people they have to work with.
  17. General Mosh Citystates Founder!

    Member Since:
    Feb 14, 2011
    Message Count:
    5,310
    Likes Received:
    668
    Trophy Points:
    193
    Location:
    Scattered to the 4 corners of Earth
    It was personal dispatches between old friends. Pretty much just random conversations. Just because they're diplomats doesn't mean they always have to be regal. I mean, its like you're thinking diplomats should yell, "I hereby respectfully request you move your body to another position" in bed. They're humans too.
  18. Frenzy Member

    Member Since:
    May 4, 2012
    Message Count:
    82
    Likes Received:
    27
    Trophy Points:
    22
    It's important to note here that the revelation of such cables are not only embarrassing because their diplomatic counterparts are able to view them, but also embarrassing because they are made publicly available for the nation's citizens to see. The fact that such unprofessional behavior being exhibited on professional diplomatic channels is embarrassing to the countries own citizen would attest to the fact that it is of interest to the Nation's public.

    For example, can it not be argued that Hillary Clinton's orders (as revealed by published Wikileaks material) to have U.S. diplomats spy on their counterparts is strongly in the interests of U.S. citizens, as it allows the people to determine whether such conduct is ethically justified and shed light on how politicians that represent them and their nation truly behave?
  19. General Mosh Citystates Founder!

    Member Since:
    Feb 14, 2011
    Message Count:
    5,310
    Likes Received:
    668
    Trophy Points:
    193
    Location:
    Scattered to the 4 corners of Earth
    Its well known that diplomats often double as spies and that embassy's are where our spies hide in plain site. It really doesn't have to be published.
  20. Frenzy Member

    Member Since:
    May 4, 2012
    Message Count:
    82
    Likes Received:
    27
    Trophy Points:
    22
    Because it's okay for the emperor to be naked as long as no one says he's naked - right?

Share This Page

Facebook: