Interesting Op-Ed piece on Wikileaks and the Media

[dafischer]

I think Wikileaks and the print media have jumped the shark.
WikiLeaks | journalism | Assange | diplomacy

[A930Rocket]

It's certainly not "news" or journalism, just a releasing of material that does mire harm than good.

[dafischer]

Agree 100%.

[holtjv]

WikiLeaks is becoming a very sensational event. On the one hand, you can certainly make the argument that, for once, we're seeing the raw data, unfiltered by big media and their biases and vested interests (MSNBC v FOX).

But on the other hand, the data is being filtered by a very small team with an agenda. Then further filtered by Big Media. Have you gone through every cable? I've looked at several and 98% of them are yawners. Some educational, actually.

And Assange is no rapist pervert--that's total BS. He had two women, one he really wanted, with a condom. Things got "energetic" and the rubber busted then things kept on going. The smote woman turned him in. His charge: unprotected non consensual sex. Sounds like rape until you hear the whole story.

[DanielDudley]

Informing the world about lies and injustice is good. Spreading gossip and slander is not.

[oldE]

I seem to remember several people telling me any electronic communication should not be regarded as secure. Someone, somewhere has access to it.

Les

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by DanielDudley

Informing the world about lies and injustice is good. Spreading gossip and slander is not.

+1
TV, radio, blogs = gossip and slander
Wikkileaks = information

[porsche4life]

I have a class taught by an OSBI computer Forensics analyst. I will say that he hates most media with a passion. They don't honor the wishes of law enforcement regarding secure perimeters, etc.... One of the state news media wanted a list of the Name, DOB, and address of every OSBI employee. Claimed they could have it under the "freedom of information act" I'm pretty sure they got told to GTFO!

[cashflyer]

I saw this on one of the websites...

The entire Wikileaks debacle, from the release of documents to the hacker retaliation, every bit, is being stage managed by the US, to test cyber war defence capabilities.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by cashflyer

I saw this on one of the websites...

Not to head this to PARF, but that seems unlikely as in the end the leaks appear to portray the USA in an unfavorable light overall.

[stomachmonkey]

Every nation has mounds of dirt and closets full of skeletons that are kept under wraps.

Not a stretch to say a lot of the stuff that goes on between nations and world leaders that makes you think WTF? is the result of that stuff being used as blackmail/extortion etc...

How liberating would it be for a Nation's leader to be free of that baggage? Wonder how global politics/dynamics would change if no one had secrets anymore?

[cashflyer]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

Not to head this to PARF, but that seems unlikely as in the end the leaks appear to portray the USA in an unfavorable light overall.

Plus, as was pointed out on another forum, it assumes the US is capable of pulling off such an operation.

[jyl]

I'm ambivalent about the disclosure of diplomatic chit chat. So the Chinese learn what we really think of them - oh well.

I'm not clear how much critical information that imperils our espionage agents and operations, those who cooperate with them, or our military personnel and operations, has been disclosed. If a significant amount of that information has been disclosed, then I think we should treat Wikileaks and its founder as military enemies and kill them.

As for the soldier who stole the data, he should be executed.

[RWebb]

he'll get life +

doubt he'll get executed

[RWebb]

BTW - these leaks will make Iran very paranoid

and for all we know, some of the leaks were fed to do just that

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by jyl

I'm ambivalent about the disclosure of diplomatic chit chat. So the Chinese learn what we really think of them - oh well.

I believe the downside is that deals that are currently made on the assumption they will never see the light of day will be impossible in the future. If so, then we all lose.

Diplomacy appears to be 99% petty griping and politicing, and 1% give and take deal-brokering.

[wdfifteen]

Something to consider: The whole concept of privacy is changing since the inception of intense social networks like Facebook and Twitter. People who use these services - mostly younger people - are much less concerned about their privacy and the privacy of others than we are. Publicizing government information isn't such a big leap for them as it is for us older folks who don't announce our every bowel movement to the world.

[1990C4S]

There is a difference between personal and state privacy. A 'payment' to terrorists for release of hostages is a typical scenario. Common but secret. Next time the hostage might be left to rot if there is no guarantee of secrecy.

Its getting parfy in here.