Wikileaks

There's a lot of stuff on Wikileaks that is probably really something the governments all over the world shouldn't have kept a secret from everyone. It really does spread feelings of betrayal amongst the people and maybe will convince the governments to be a little more careful with that they do. I agree that it's not necessary for every single person to know the locations of military facilities and it could lead to support for terrorism, but it's still a good thing. The people have a right to know that there are weapons of mass destruction just lying somewhere in their country. (Such was the case with the Netherlands, where I live) The government shouldn't be doing horrible things behind our back, such as slaughtering Iraqi civilians for the sake of it.

And Assange being one of the top criminals of the world now is just plain stupid. This screams worldwide corruption.

Julian Assange, Wikileaks founder was arrested by Metropolitan Police in London

Ho Ho Ho


Personally, I believe that people should know a lot more then currently, but they're not entitled to know everything.

That is the whole point of national security and diplomacy really.

Some stuff Wikileaks published were undoubtedly enlightening to the public, but some were simply somebody having a Godhood complex.

All of us in the DoD have been ordered not to check out the website. For good reason, too. Those without security clearances should not have the right to view the material. There's a reason some stuff is confidential, secret, and top-secret. There's a reason why there's even tighter measures than that.

All it would take are a few sentences and some of my coworkers would be dead within the week.

Leaks needs to be shut down.

I think it's a case of bruised ego more than anything else. The government is more embarrassed that secret information got leaked out, because the information released is hardly something that will change the course of nature as we know it. All WikiLeaks did was troll the shit out of the government.

What will people do even if they know all the secrecy and lies? Nothing. Maybe wag a disapproving finger their way but other than that, nothing much.

Though WikiLeaks is hardly in the right either. Their whole ideological premise behind this was basically they wanted to be "heroes." They pretty much wanted to cement their place in history by basically saying "We beat the government." Of course, that ends up being total bullshit. Looks like some people read one too many comic books and perhaps watched V for Vendetta one too many times.

To be honest I would've said yes until I seen the great arguments that were made (especially by Kalistean). If it is something that will inevitably put the US in a deeper hole than we are now, Wikileaks shouldn't exist. I hate sugarcoating and I want someone to tell me how it is and get the pain over with, but I think someone will twist things out of proportion like someone said above (in the US this is common).

If they are doing this for the sake of Shock Value and fame... They're pathetic.

I approve. The people has the right to know when the government is committing crimes against humanity in the name of their country etc. (extreme case yes, but those are the important ones as well). If they are doing something that they have to hide from the public, then it's probably something that they should not have done anyway, so they deserve to have their face put up on the Wall of Shame.

People say that "there are some things that are better not knowing, what if it would start a war or civil uprising when the information got out?". I say this then; so you rather close your eyes to all the terrible things that happens in the name of a government that YOU has chosen, just so that YOU do not have to risk suffer the same fate as the people YOUR government persecuted? Fuck you, there should be limits to how much of an naive hypocrite you should be allowed to be. Nothing risked, nothing gained, so to speak.

^
The problem lies within that some of the information revealed have no impact whatsoever on the life of any regular citizens, not even information that have been hidden because the government hides because they're ashamed or something that might spark a riot. Instead some of the information is basically hidden military bases, or strategical points of defence and so on. Like in the link that Kalistean posted.

This information is useless to everyone. It's not like anyone will go "Oh hey! They've been hiding this sub-sea network wire that is only to be used for critical military messages! Fuck I feel cheated by the government!" The only one who have any use of this is someone planning a attack on the involved countries, information like this should not be revealed anywhere since it's only secret because it secures the safety of the population.

That's the bad side of Wikileaks. Even if I (as I've stated) supports them for the most part.

I was wondering when are you gonna make a thread about this.

Huge scandal and how this had pissed off many people around the world, most of all as we already know: the American government.

Well i guess they dont have to be so pissed off, cause i ask you, how didnt knew USA spy other countries or interferes in other countries affairs?...made me lol, cause its like a secret already everybody knows.
The USA government got pissed off cause they didnt liked how the world got noticed about this but again as i said its something many people around the world already knows, the actions of the American government.

I know, i must not "crucify" the American government cause some of them actions had been not only for the best interest of USA, had been for the best interest of the world.

But if they get this censored would be like censor the free speech, and i guess we all have the right to know whats going on.

What's the point of the media ?
Journals,Radio,TV news, online news.. All was created for information to be able to travel faster, and to reach wider audiences. The true essence of journalism is to expose facts and truths, without taking sides or being blocked by governments, bringing us the information we need to build up a stronger conscience and wider knowledge. As many of you know, governments hide informations, destort truths and select what should or shouldn't be said. I understand the true question is wether we should let the " big bosses" deal with those big problems, while we live in (semi-) ignorance.
I believe it is important for us to care about what is going on around us, and in the entire world: each country lives not only by itself, but has a serious of connections established to others around it, influenciating in many diferent ways.
A country isn't made only of 50 people, they should not decide wether we can or cannot know. They can't fuck up and sweep everything under the carpet as if it didn't happen, like a little kid would do. We know everything has repercussions, and there is a whole chain of events coming from every single thing happening.

We should know, we should have the conscience : we have the right to know what's going on.

The world shouldn't be filled with whispers, it should be full of voices speaking out loud, working togheter for a better future.( even if this sounds way too idealistic)

Also, have you noticed on how the news start focusing on " who did it ", and start twirling around in the weirdest gossips instead of focusin on what is actually being said?

Living in ignorance may be a bliss, but I prefer to know: the world isn't full of roses, and governments are trying way too hard to hide everything under a blanket, making it seem like it is. But now matter how deep you hide it, shit still stinks.


On the same note: Watch the movie "Fair Game" with Naomi Watts and Sean Penn

edit: As stated on the youtube video i provide above, Assange didn't do anything wrong: someone supplied him with a source and he exposed it.
So, I agree with Haburi-chan: And Assange being one of the top criminals of the world now is just plain stupid. This screams worldwide corruption.

i think we should all the the right to know now then where is the bill of rights...
here we go take the 1st amendment for example freedom of the press

''The people shall not be deprived or abridged of their right to speak, to write, or to publish their sentiments; and the freedom of the press, as one of the great bulwarks of liberty, shall be inviolable.''

'The liberty of the press is indeed essential to the nature of a free state; but this consists in laying no previous restraints upon publications, and not in freedom from censure for criminal matter when published. Every freeman has an undoubted right to lay what sentiments he pleases before the public; to forbid this, is to destroy the freedom of the press: but if he publishes what is improper, mischievous, or illegal, he must take the consequences of his own temerity"


is it reall illegal to let your country know what in the world is going on?

Although Wikileaks and its controversies made the news recently, I did not read too much into its articles, so I may be ignorant about certain issues. However, I am quite curious as to whether all their reports are true; some of them could have been falsified, couldn't they?

I see WikiLeaks as a double-edged sword. The people have the right to know what the people they put in power are doing. At the same time, however, sensitive information regarding military installations and plans can be exploited by terrorist groups and their ilk.(Offtopic): That Private who released info on the latter ought to be shot for treason.

The general thought of Wikileaks is something I - and most of us should - support. It's about freedom of speech. The right to know what's going on.
On the contrary they leaked a huge amount of private information that can be used in a very harmfull way. But this again has 2 sides:

One being the harmfull for the private person that information is on Wikileaks.
Two being the opportunity to highlight corrupt people which can/will make them pay for what they did and give a chance for others step into their position - again with the watching eye of Wikileaks.

So, yes, I think Wikileaks is a good thing from the idea. The way they do it is a little too harmfull for the private person.

I'm loving wikileaks but however, I'm against disclosing military bases locations and such unless it's corrupt, that way we can straighten up our government and other governments.

Hell, there's a governor in japan that's brazenly attacking otakus just cuz he don't like them for some reason. I've yet to read the stuff that wikileaks has released but i'm tempted.