Wikileaks founder threatens to release names that could put people in harms way

Off-Topic
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21

I don’t like Assange, don’t care for his hamfisted tactics, and I dare say he is nearly as incompetent with sensitive information as our own government. This does nothing to attack Captalism, people will allways do business so long as government stays out of the way, and I dare say this does more damage to government control than to the private sector. It is an attack on America, and everyone it deals with. He engaged in espionage to obtain this information from a traitor. Sadly, there is nothing that can be done about it now that he has the info, it will all be leaked, and everyone cheering this on because they think it will end senseless wars in the middle east better hope it doesn’t cause real wars everywhere else. For instance, the timing of information leaked on China’s love hate relationship with North Korea, might push the DPRK into a very real corner where they feel like there are no other options.

He has a chip on his shoulder about the USA, and he acted on it in a fasion that garauntees, at the very least, damage to sensitive diplomacy carried out through the world. His newest leak reads like a pamphlet on how to hit the US with terrorist attacks where it really hurts. That **** is totally uncalled for in an expose, and was done specifically to injure the USA, there are no good things that come from that.

As an aside, not being a US citizen is a dual edged sword, as not illuminated by MK’s quote. His right to free speech is not protected by the first amendment. Not being a US citizen is also grounds for being tried by a military tribunal or being caged as an enemy combatant. If they decided to let him get past the fact that he is now actively aiding foreign powers and enemies of the state by releasing snapshots of our exposed underbelly, then he still stands to face espionage charges.

22

Thinning this veil might mean world war, this is okay with you so long as we can hit the reset button eh? Sure, everyone knows the worlds governments are controlled by the rich and powerful, and yes, it has been us vs. them by their design, but that doesn’t mean we should look to a madman like Assange to just pants the world’s governments all at once.

23

I like how some people are painting this as an intentional event that turns the public against the enemies of this niche power, while they transfer more funds out of the federal reserve.

We have no reason to believe that countries exist anymore, and borders only serve as checkpoints for the global military to check our ID.

Is this NWO just a step in human evolution? It’s a shame all these people have to die unnaturally in the process.

24

While I’m sure that some people are trying to head for a global government, the leaks clearly show that the countries are more isolated than ever. No one agrees on anything, which instantly puts the kabosh on any kind of one world government.

25

Is it not possible that these leaks intended to alienate certain aspects of individual governments that fall under the label of terrorist? There are plenty of dictators who don’t know **** about politics and are running their countries like amatuers. Let’s not look past the fact that terrorism can exist economically and militarily in the United States when you consider the Civil War where seperatists attacked a military base in Charleston, South Carolina in response to losing free labor. A more current picture would obviously point to the real estate industry and many credit bureaus, who have been prudent in manipulating the middle class across the board into bankruptcy. There is clearly a competition amongst all the banks in the world, and I assume these leaks go to the highest bidder or those who don’t believe in globalism and only seek municipal profit. The bottom line is while we think Assange is some kind of hero, he’s likely just some CIA duplicity that’s handing out pink slips to corrupt dictators, psuedo-presidents, and lackey capitolists through public rebuking. In the end, this may just end up adding another clause to the Patriot Act that claims Assange is a terrorist who will now have a neverending flow of accomplices that forces more censorship and monitering on the Internet.

I honestly don’t even care anymore since humanity has never improved itself unless panic and hysteria is involved.

26

I’m fairly uncertain about how much good Wikileaks is doing and the effect the documents could have. However, threatening to release them to try and prevent his own arrest doesn’t score terribly high on the hero-scale.

27

First of all, Assange turned himself in to the authorities, of his own volition. Secondly, the rape charge isn’t what it sounds like. He’s being accused of agreeing to sexual intercourse with a woman, realizing his condom broke, and continuing to engage in sexual intercourse. This, by way of the country in which he is being charged, is called “sex by surprise”. Yes. Ridiculous name, but still a charge. If the charge was made 7 years ago, as is being used to legitimize the arrest, why did it take until now for it to become an issue? The answer is simple, and isn’t so much conspiratorial in nature as it is politics as usual. We lean a little on a country, they give in, we get what we want. Even if the charge doesn’t stick, he’s been labeled a rapist, and that title will stick with him and serve to delegitimize his efforts as a spokesman for wikileaks. Third, he didn’t state he’d release the cables if he was arrested for this charge. The threat was if a nation or nations took down wikileaks permanently, he’d release the necessary materials to unencrypt a file uploaded long ago, which is probably filled with all kinds of SIPRnet cables.

Is he a terrorist? I answer this question with another: Are you ******* serious? Not only is he irrelevant to “the cause”, that being a degree of transparency unheard of until now, but his sole purpose, as defined by him, is to be a lightning rod. Everyone focuses on him, wikileaks continues doing its work unhindered. His tactic is working superbly as a result of our inability to focus on what really matters.

I have mixed feelings about wikileaks. On the one hand, there needs to be more transparency in our government and the actions it takes in our name. On the other, it seems to focus solely on the US, which is probably only because that army kid released all of those SIPRnet cables in the first place. I’m all about lighting up the darkness, but focusing all of ones efforts on taking down one country a peg or two really only serves to benefit our enemies who, more often than not, are our allies’ enemies as well. That said, if you’ve actually paid attention to the news in the last decade, nothing that’s being released is new. It’s nice to see our thoughts validated, I suppose, but it isn’t really a game changer. But again, it’s great propaganda material for anyone looking for another reason to hate us.

What wikileaks is doing, however, isn’t wrong. It’s what our own media should be doing. They should be busy searching for wrongdoing, so that we can correct it rather than cover up the tracks. That’s not their purpose. I don’t need them to regurgitate government-approved messages, be it from one side of the spectrum or the other.

28

I agree with Nixan.

However, I don’t think this focus on the US is entirely uncalled for, since the US is considered ‘the world leader’, and is much capable of screwing over other countries for power or wealth.

Wikileaks is there for the people, and not the politicians. This won’t cause a third World War, unless there really is something the US or any other country did which indeed is unacceptable.
I find it typical that most americans that did reply on this topic, are against Wikileaks and that Assange character, but that’s how I see it.

Now it’s time to get my arse burned by others, yay.

29

Leader of the world? Isn’t it only America who thinks that? If so, why should it matter. :stuck_out_tongue:

30

Now im against the whole idea of keeping peoples lives hostage with information, but i fully support wikileaks and hope they spread to writing stuff for all over the world without only focusing on the US. Though IMHO the US position in the world makes it a good starting point.

@post above. Not so much leader of the world as one of the biggest influences of the world. Do remember that americas actions or rather the actions of the US affect the entire worlds economy. Which was painfully clear in the recent years.

31

The only reason I agree with that is so when they focus on our enemies, they won’t have **** to say for an excuse.

First it’s like “Yeah! I knew those American dogs were evil. They are scum of the Earth”

but of if information is leaked about the enemy country “What? No that’s completely inaccurate, they don’t know what they are talking” would just make them look silly.

To bo honest? I am going to claim ignorance because I haven’t had time to look in to this situation because of final projects, so I have no idea what this controversy surrounds or what is actually being ‘revealed’. I thought Wikileaks was a part of Wikipedia at first, then some secret hacker group, and that “Wikileaks” was the dude’s actual name.

32

http://www.hulu.com/watch/198269/saturday-night-live-robert-de-niro

I recommend watching the first 3-4 minutes.

The same skit here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFAxIH_H4PI

33

Just because the flags are different doesn’t mean the motives aren’t the same.

34

Am I the only one who can watch complete episodes of SNL that are not older than 10 years, without so much as a smile? :frowning:

35

I can watch most of them. A few episodes get me here and there.

36

http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/4700/haterbag.jpg

37

It just sucked.

38

Am I the only one who can watch complete episodes of SNL that are not older than 10 years, without so much as a smile? :frowning:

No, I share your affliction.

39

I’d prefer if they focused on legitimate issues and wrongdoings rather than seek to throw a monkey wrench in the machine that is national defense. Pointing out that we’re hiding mass casualties is one thing. Pointing out that should x facilities be taken out, we’d be ****ed is quite another. It is in this regard that I believe the organization is still in its infancy. Contrary to popular belief, there are simply some things people at large should not know, so long as the veil of secrecy isn’t meant to protect corruption, but “the people”.

As for us having a significant impact on international politics and economies across the globe, while true, it doesn’t make us solely responsible for anything and everything that occurs. There are quite a few players in this game, and all play important roles. Shine the light on everyone to get a better idea of what is going on.

40

^ I agree, somethings we should just not know.

Odd reference, but in Men in Black, Kay tells Will Smith when he asks “Why hide it, people are smart, they can handle it.”

“A person is smart; people are stupid.” I mean hell, we’ve just barely accepted in the last 50 years that there CAN be non-religious people…and even that was a trying step…so yeah. It’s “demonizing” America with all these leaks; people are completely ignoring that other countries took part / are involved, and just focus on America’s involvement. That is the issue.

It’s not much of a fight for freedom of information if you only care about a piece of the information.

It’s like Nazi’s(Godwins law), they’d idolize Hitler, and only highlight his good aspects, how he was a War Hero who saved his friends, had medals, a artist, intelligent, thoughtful, and a charismatic speaker. You never hear them mention just how sick he was in body and mind…except in every other country.

Seriously, I had no idea Hitler was anything BUT a war criminal / ******* until I read up on it. We’re only taught in school what they want us to know…and by only focusing on America, you’re doing the same. As bad as the ones you’re pointing the finger at. It’s so easy these days to go “America is full of retards, idiots, corruption, ectera” all that, because we’re in the media spotlight so often, and out-spoken.

And while as arrogant as this sounds, people like to hate stuff that is better than theirs. Many countries that slam America are oft Countries in a much less fortunate situation. Not saying it’s the best or anything, but it’s up there, as Nix said. It’s why PC users hate Mac users, and Mac users hate PC users, ectera.

We can’t do anything bout it, really, just the way people are.