Wikileaks

Seconded cali :up:

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Originally Posted by airshifter

I've yet to see anything from Wikileaks that disgraced any government. If the public finds any of these leaks as shocking, then I'd suggest the public in general doesn't have much of a grasp as to what goes in in diplomatic relations, or for that matter even a lot of company board meetings.

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I gave a prime example earlier in the thread.

If you don't accept "Collatoral Murder" and the fact that the only person to ever be punished was the person that released it to Wikileaks as being hugely embarrassing to the US administration, then I am at a loss for words.

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Originally Posted by AAReagles

Blind ambitions with power is what cost them the war.

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Sounds a lot like Assange.

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Originally Posted by Bob Riebe

Sounds a lot like Assange.

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Sounds good ;)

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Originally Posted by Bob Riebe

Sounds a lot like Assange.

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I can't argue that.

Though I must say it also sounds a lot like the corrupted bunch that keeps:

- expressing a need for peace talks, yet out sells the rest of the world in the arms trade industry.

- talking about protecting this country from terrorism, yet tried to cede control of 6 ports to a middle-eastern company.

- preaching about democracy, yet support well-known regimes (like Saddam) with $ and/or military hardware.



Years ago I heard over the radio one of Bruce Springstines' concert recordings. Prior to entertaining, he reflected on the (then) recent closing of the Vietnam conflict, of which he stated; "Having blind faith in your leaders will get you nothing but killed."

Didn't completely understand it myself then. But made a lot of sense some years later (when in service), and still does now.

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Originally Posted by AAReagles

I can't argue that.

Though I must say it also sounds a lot like the corrupted bunch that keeps:

- expressing a need for peace talks, yet out sells the rest of the world in the arms trade industry.

- talking about protecting this country from terrorism, yet tried to cede control of 6 ports to a middle-eastern company.

- preaching about democracy, yet support well-known regimes (like Saddam) with $ and/or military hardware.



Years ago I heard over the radio one of Bruce Springstines' concert recordings. Prior to entertaining, he reflected on the (then) recent closing of the Vietnam conflict, of which he stated; "Having blind faith in your leaders will get you nothing but killed."

Didn't completely understand it myself then. But made a lot of sense some years later (when in service), and still does now.

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As I said earlier, one conservative pundit, said on a talk-show, in effect, Assange is a zit on a gnats ass, the fact that leaks EXIST, is what everyone should be focusing on.

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Originally Posted by AAReagles

...it’s about time more people became aware of what’s going on.... and actually took some interests.

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:up: :up: :up:

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Originally Posted by Bob Riebe

As I said earlier, one conservative pundit, said on a talk-show, in effect, Assange is a zit on a gnats ass, the fact that leaks EXIST, is what everyone should be focusing on.

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The point made about Assange is a valid one but that point tells me that the reaction to the leaks by politicians should be the focus of attention, not the leaks themselves.

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Originally Posted by ArrowsFA1

The point made about Assange is a valid one but that point tells me that the reaction to the leaks by politicians should be the focus of attention, not the leaks themselves.

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No that the leaks exist at all , was the point.
Any reaction is closing the barn door after the horses got out.

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Originally Posted by AAReagles

If I recall correctly, you were regarding Wikileaks - in some sense or another - as no different from slanted news sources. Which is where I took the quote from.

In other words, Wikileaks is basically a harmless source, like any other media, with exception to propaganda that suits a particular audience.

That being said, I’ll admit that it is an apples and oranges comparison whenever comparing state agencies to private mediums. Govt responsibilities and pressures are far greater than what those in the information industry are accustomed to. Nevertheless with that responsibility comes accountability.

Accountability is something that the ruling class appears to have some amnesia with.

For instance:

- why is it that the govt bailed out the banks and auto industry, but did nothing for the private farmers (25-30 years ago) when they faced a $ crisis due to no fault of their own?

- How is it that this country is involved in two wars, yet allowed the Walter Reed M.C. turn into an unsanitary relic of a hospital?

- why was it so difficult to be prepared for (at the very least) elementary emergency response protocol prior to more than enough warning of Hurricane Katrina arriving in the gulf region?

- speaking of the gulf region, why was there no govt oversight of BP’s containment/clean-up operations after they already were proven to be negligent on other (prior) disasters that cost lives?

- how is it that a nation that engaged in a lengthy, bloody conflict that cost over 54,000 american lives - all for the sake of fighting communism - finally discovered it’s in debt to a communist nation, that supported their adversary?

These are questions that I, along with some other folks I’m sure, would like to see answered. Which won’t happen of course.

Mr. Assange is no saint, but his reputation will hardly be as tarnished as those, the powers that be, who condemn him, and who fear what he represents: knowledge.

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Simple answer: In America most will do anything for money. Just a question of how much it takes to overcome morals and honesty and everything else.