No matter which news channel or web page you turn to the publishing of internal and partly classified cables from and to U.S.diplomatic missions by the website Wikileaks has been occupying the headlines for the last 10 days or so. Wikileak's founder Julian Assange - now in British custody over alleged sexual harassment charges in Sweden - has since been labeled both 'high tech terrorist' (by e.g. U.S. Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell) as well as modern 'hero who should be awarded the Nobel Peace Price' (Russian news agency RIA Novosti quoting the Kremlin).
Having read some of the leaked cables as well as following the current global debate around the leakage and it's consequences on international relations as well as U.S. national security I on the one hand understand the concern - as it would be for any organisation be it political or private - on having internal communication leaked and published on the internet. On the other hand, however, I am surprised at the explosiveness the content of the cables seem to have with both governments as well as the media despite not really revealing anything that was not known or at least suspected to be going on behind or even in front the scenes.
The fact that embassy staff is assessing political situations, their main actors and the content of official as well as unofficial conversations is probably more part of the general job description for any diplomat than actual breaking news. Further, the content of the leaked cables does not contradict but rather underline the overall official stand and approach of U.S. foreign policy. Similarly, e.g. looking at the dynamics and the history of the Middle East the Arab's genuine concern about the nuclear ambitions of Iran is nothing that is coming as a sudden surprise and got out only through the publication of the cables.
Generally, the majority of the information contained in the cables appears to be diligently researched as well as excellently assessed which make them very interesting analytical reading material rather than sensational news sources. Whether Mr Putin is called an 'alpha dog' or a U.S. diplomat comments about Mr Gaddafi's 'blonde nurse' is - at most - entertaining.
So far I don't see that the publication of the cables has endangered either U.S. national security or the lives of U.S. troops, however I equally don't see the benefit of having the content of these cables now accessible to everyone - except for the above mentioned entertainment and research value. Having said that the tone and even more the political pressure of the U.S. administration on Wikileaks, Julian Assange himself as well as payment and internet providers co-operating with the organisation is rather worrying as this endangers a good which has become one of the pillars of our functioning democracies: the freedom of the press.
What would be indeed interesting to see leaked are e.g. internal communications of the more oppressive regimes like North Korea etc. (where freedom of the press is virtually nonexistent) but publishing these would put Mr Assange and his colleagues in much more danger considering these states might not exclusively rely on international arrest warrants in their efforts to silence him.
The fact that embassy staff is assessing political situations, their main actors and the content of official as well as unofficial conversations is probably more part of the general job description for any diplomat than actual breaking news. Further, the content of the leaked cables does not contradict but rather underline the overall official stand and approach of U.S. foreign policy. Similarly, e.g. looking at the dynamics and the history of the Middle East the Arab's genuine concern about the nuclear ambitions of Iran is nothing that is coming as a sudden surprise and got out only through the publication of the cables.
Generally, the majority of the information contained in the cables appears to be diligently researched as well as excellently assessed which make them very interesting analytical reading material rather than sensational news sources. Whether Mr Putin is called an 'alpha dog' or a U.S. diplomat comments about Mr Gaddafi's 'blonde nurse' is - at most - entertaining.
So far I don't see that the publication of the cables has endangered either U.S. national security or the lives of U.S. troops, however I equally don't see the benefit of having the content of these cables now accessible to everyone - except for the above mentioned entertainment and research value. Having said that the tone and even more the political pressure of the U.S. administration on Wikileaks, Julian Assange himself as well as payment and internet providers co-operating with the organisation is rather worrying as this endangers a good which has become one of the pillars of our functioning democracies: the freedom of the press.
What would be indeed interesting to see leaked are e.g. internal communications of the more oppressive regimes like North Korea etc. (where freedom of the press is virtually nonexistent) but publishing these would put Mr Assange and his colleagues in much more danger considering these states might not exclusively rely on international arrest warrants in their efforts to silence him.
Now having leaked his view on the latest leaks ...
Memonji
Follow the further development on:
-The Guardian
- Der Spiegel
- The New York Times
- Al Jazeera English
- The Hindu
Interesting documentary on Wikileaks here.
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