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News & ArtsSunday, November 28, 2010
Breaking News WikiLeak'd
Posted by Paul Constant on Sun, Nov 28, 2010 at 4:55 PM
Oh, man. The WikiLeaks train (it's the size of the Chrysler Building!) is totally out of control, spilling embassy documents relating to gossip (a member of the British Royal Family did something "inappropriate;" Colonel Gadaffi uses Botox and is obsessed with a shapely blond Ukranian nurse), how the US feels about other world leaders (we have misgivings about David Cameron; we think Vladimir Putin is Batman and Dmitry Medvedev is Robin), and more.
Boing Boing is all over it, publishing links here, here, here, and here. Gawker did a roundup here. You can search the leaks here.
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Wikileaks wrote:
The cables show the extent of US spying on its allies and the UN; turning a blind eye to corruption and human rights abuse in "client states"; backroom deals with supposedly neutral countries; lobbying for US corporations; and the measures US diplomats take to advance those who have access to them.
This document release reveals the contradictions between the US’s public persona and what it says behind closed doors – and shows that if citizens in a democracy want their governments to reflect their wishes, they should ask to see what’s going on behind the scenes.
Every American schoolchild is taught that George Washington – the country’s first President – could not tell a lie. If the administrations of his successors lived up to the same principle, today’s document flood would be a mere embarrassment. Instead, the US Government has been warning governments -- even the most corrupt -- around the world about the coming leaks and is bracing itself for the exposures.
6
What kills me is the media's obsession with the tabloid elements while ignoring or glossing over the war crimes that the Bush AND Obama administration committed.
8
Unlike the extended basing of US military forces in Afghanistan, this apparently has the potential of endangering the troops.
10
WikiLeaks is not the problem. The problem is the same as it was when the U.S. soldiers threw those two kids off a bridge in Iraq a few years ago.
Gee, I wonder if killing innocent people would make "terrorists" want to retaliate in kind? You don't suppose!
If some right-wingers want to logic-chop and rationalize our armed forces' behavior, far be it from me to condemn their idiocy. I don't have to anyway; it's right out there in the open for everybody to see without any help from me.
Thanks to WikiLeaks, it's now available on the internet.
Watch the new GOP/TP D.C. regime who thinks their fascism is standard operating procedure go on the attack.
Fascism is the unholy, incestuous marriage of our government and its military might working hand-in-glove with unrestrained, bloody-minded, private corporations... all of whom are out for revenge. "They wanna kill... eat dead, burnt bodies... with veins in their teeth. And they all started jumpin' up and down, yellin' 'KILL! KILL! KILL!'"
"You ain't seen nothing yet." When right-wingers go on the warpath, nobody and nothing is safe. They're like the Black Plague: they'll kill everybody; they're equal opportunity murderers.
Gee, I wonder if killing innocent people would make "terrorists" want to retaliate in kind? You don't suppose!
If some right-wingers want to logic-chop and rationalize our armed forces' behavior, far be it from me to condemn their idiocy. I don't have to anyway; it's right out there in the open for everybody to see without any help from me.
Thanks to WikiLeaks, it's now available on the internet.
Watch the new GOP/TP D.C. regime who thinks their fascism is standard operating procedure go on the attack.
Fascism is the unholy, incestuous marriage of our government and its military might working hand-in-glove with unrestrained, bloody-minded, private corporations... all of whom are out for revenge. "They wanna kill... eat dead, burnt bodies... with veins in their teeth. And they all started jumpin' up and down, yellin' 'KILL! KILL! KILL!'"
"You ain't seen nothing yet." When right-wingers go on the warpath, nobody and nothing is safe. They're like the Black Plague: they'll kill everybody; they're equal opportunity murderers.
12
I'm on the side of more and greater transparency. In government, in corporate dealings, in your personal life. Go Wikileaks! Brave work. Their members and staff are taking a pummelling from COINTELPRO style harrassment right now. I'm sure, however, this will have historical ramifications for some time to come. Finally, some raw data for the rest of us to work with!
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@10, I agree with you 100%, but it's important to remember that the White House and loyal Democrats oppose WikiLeaks as much as the right wing nutjobs.
14
You are absolutely correct... unfortunately.
One of my personal heroes, JFK, repeatedly tried to assassinate Fidel Castro.
"Lakkajudgement" is also an equal opportunity robber of souls.
One of my personal heroes, JFK, repeatedly tried to assassinate Fidel Castro.
"Lakkajudgement" is also an equal opportunity robber of souls.
15
Oh my god. What a revelation!
Our government spies on other governments. Who knew?
We don't like the leaders of some foreign countries. It can't be!
War is a bad thing and people die?!?!? The horror!
Our government spies on other governments. Who knew?
We don't like the leaders of some foreign countries. It can't be!
War is a bad thing and people die?!?!? The horror!
16
I am dissapointed . in my imagination it was all much worse ! are they sure this is all they did ??
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What, nothing on how European and Asian leaders are laughing at the USA for having TWO unfunded Republican Foreign Wars of Adventure in countries that haven't had al-Qaeda in them for half a decade?
But, yeah, it's probably Harry. He's a bit bent.
But, yeah, it's probably Harry. He's a bit bent.
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Of course, the only official response that we WON'T get is the only one that could prevent such leaks in the first place. We have about 1 million people with some form of security clearance, and a clearly out of control intelligence industry. Eliminating the disgusting Dept. of Homeland Security apparently isn't an option, just like getting out of Saudi Arabia wasn't an option on 9/12.
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I have two reactions to the recent Wikileaks dump:
1. First the image that emerges suggests the federal government is not an all powerful monolithic entity leading us kicking and screaming into a totalitarian state. One gets the sense the whole lot is pretty incompetent and they squabble a lot among each other. I think this part is true and it's a relief. If they're really that incompetent, there is a real window of opportunity to throw the bastards out.
2. It will be a boon for Hollywood. I already have a dozen script ideas that are guaranteed box office hits.
When I was targeted (in Seattle) for covert harassment between 1987-2002, the federal government seemed pretty monolithic and overpowering. I write about this in my recent memoir THE MOST REVOLUTIONARY ACT: MEMOIR OF AN AMERICAN REFUGEE (www.stuartbramhall.com). I currently live in exile in New Zealand.
1. First the image that emerges suggests the federal government is not an all powerful monolithic entity leading us kicking and screaming into a totalitarian state. One gets the sense the whole lot is pretty incompetent and they squabble a lot among each other. I think this part is true and it's a relief. If they're really that incompetent, there is a real window of opportunity to throw the bastards out.
2. It will be a boon for Hollywood. I already have a dozen script ideas that are guaranteed box office hits.
When I was targeted (in Seattle) for covert harassment between 1987-2002, the federal government seemed pretty monolithic and overpowering. I write about this in my recent memoir THE MOST REVOLUTIONARY ACT: MEMOIR OF AN AMERICAN REFUGEE (www.stuartbramhall.com). I currently live in exile in New Zealand.
21
Ha Ha. I'm in London, and all the papers & TV can talk about is the "Prince Andrew acted cockely (sp?)" leak. Like its actually news that a member of the UK royal family would make fun of American's knowledge of geography. Everyone insults American's knowledge of geography.
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