The Wikileaks collection

[selil]

Good post, mate.

IMHO the US has made the serious mistake of not simply following the legal path where they are able and not getting up to all the illegal stuff.

What was left of the US reputation of a democracy functioning under the rule of law now lies in tatters.

It makes it difficult for friends of the US (and there are many) to support these actions. Pity.

What specifically has the United States done that was illegal in this affair? Other than innuendo and verbalizations what has the United States government actually done?

[Fuchs]

Me thinks the problem were the framing of Assange and the DDOS attacks, both of which may be the result of covert actions against Wikileaks (and both illegal).

A legal reaction would have been to address the traitor (Manning) himself in a trial and possibly also to address the publication of restricted info by the NYT (instead of launching rhetorical attacks against a foreign organization).


Part of the problematic scenery are also quotes of senators and the like - who are perceived as government people by foreigners, even though they're not part of the government and not acting under coordination.

[JMA]

What specifically has the United States done that was illegal in this affair? Other than innuendo and verbalizations what has the United States government actually done?

I ask you exactly the same question about Assange and WikiLeaks? Any more than for instance the NYT?

As far as illegal is concerned lest just start with that horrible Clinton womans cable instructing all diplomatic staff to spy on UN staff and others.

If the US would deal swiftly with that then maybe they would regain some credibility... and given the history of US extra legal activities it is fair to say that on the balance of probabilities we have the makings of another Watergate brewing within the Obama administration.

[selil]

I ask you exactly the same question about Assange and WikiLeaks? Any more than for instance the NYT?

As far as illegal is concerned lest just start with that horrible Clinton womans cable instructing all diplomatic staff to spy on UN staff and others.

If the US would deal swiftly with that then maybe they would regain some credibility... and given the history of US extra legal activities it is fair to say that on the balance of probabilities we have the makings of another Watergate brewing within the Obama administration.

You are mixing your cases. I said what has the United States done to Assange, as alleged earlier. You toss out one of the cables as an example. That is a non sequitur. You also toss out comparisons with Wikileaks and NYT.

The allegation by you was in response to this:

What I think the world will not forget or forgive is the vicious, petty and dangerously chilling attack on Wikileaks and Assange, since if they can successfully do it to them and get away with it, they can do it to anyone in future. It is also likely to spawn a cyber war.

To which you stated:

Good post, mate.

IMHO the US has made the serious mistake of not simply following the legal path where they are able and not getting up to all the illegal stuff.

The question remains, what specifically, has the United States done in the Wikileaks/Assange debacle that was illegal?

[JMA]

The question remains, what specifically, has the United States done in the Wikileaks/Assange debacle that was illegal?

I like that... the innocent until proved guilty routine.

Pity it does not apply to WikiLeaks and Assange.

[J Wolfsberger]

In other words, what the hell are you talking about?

I really have no idea what actions by the US you have been talking about. Please, just list them. After that, we can discuss legalities, but until you explain to the rest of us what action(s) you think the US has taken with regard to Wikileaks and Assange, this is just a pointless exercise in yelling past each other - and by definition a waste of time.

[M-A Lagrange]

I would like tat someone tel me why the UN are spy hub. It's a government association. People who work there represent governments (especially in NY) and are doing active diplomacy (basically making sure that nothing never happens ). Trying to know what yor neigbor think is the diplo basic course 101.
And sorry but viewing the results on the ground... What a waste of time and energy.
By leaking that cable, Assange made rather fn of Mme Clinon rather than showing how evil she is.

[Ken White]

I would like tat someone tel me why the UN are spy hub.

The answer to that is this:

It's a government association. People who work there represent governments (especially in NY) and are doing active diplomacy (basically making sure that nothing never happens ). Trying to know what yor neigbor think is the diplo basic course 101.

Which is quite true. The locations become hubs as a result of having diplomatic representatives from all nations consolidated in a few locations. That makes for ease of access to multiple targets. The Diplomats aren't necessarily the spies, they are the targets of spies -- or agents, really -- who flock to where they may learn something, anything, of value by doing nothing more dangerous than going out to dinner or to a cocktail party. Or cleaning an office, being a Dentist, driving a taxicab...

[J Wolfsberger]

As far as illegal is concerned lest just start with that horrible Clinton womans cable instructing all diplomatic staff to spy on UN staff and others.

So, Mrs. Clinton, in her role as SoS, asked diplomatic staff to report any and all information on the staff of other diplomatic missions at the UN.

1. Exactly which section of the United States Code did this violate?
2. Do you have some information that she was asking them to break US law? Please, cite the evidence and see question 1.
3. Which missions to the UN do you believe to be so incompetent that they don't do exactly the same thing?

[Fuchs]

Wolfsberger, you didn't read the text in question, did you? Maybe some non-U.S. reports about it which gave some background?

[Pete]

... we have the makings of another Watergate brewing within the Obama administration.

JMA, you seem to be the only person in the world who thinks these Wikileaks revelations will cause the world as we know it to come to an end. Everyone else, including most people in the U.S. as well, yawn and wonder what else is new. You need to get away from your computer and find a hobby, fishing, stamp collecting, or something else.

[JMA]

JMA, you seem to be the only person in the world who thinks these Wikileaks revelations will cause the world as we know it to come to an end. Everyone else, including most people in the U.S. as well, yawn and wonder what else is new. You need to get away from your computer and find a hobby, fishing, stamp collecting, or something else.

Hi Pete, not suggesting for one minute that the world will come to an end... but I do understand your growing discomfort at the controlled release of these documents by a website and a number of high profile international newspapers. Man, it must be embarrassing.

Thanks for the suggestions of what I should do with myself... I will reist the temptation of returning the compliment.

Do take care now.