Wikileaks

[yoda]

Is it just me or do others also think that Wikileaks is a threat to security in general? It is one thing to be an avenue for exposing corporate fraud and totally another to be leaking classified intelligence, war-time memos, and diplomatic communication. I am surprised the US hasn't been able to shut to them down.

[hari504504]

I am surprised the US hasn't been able to shut to them down.

be very surprised..more like planted soundbites... I am not saying the news is entirely fake...only that it has been 'let slip' knowingly... counter-intelligence some might call it..

[yoda]

be very surprised..more like planted soundbites... I am not saying the news is entirely fake...only that it has been 'let slip' knowingly... counter-intelligence some might call it..

could you care to elaborate how leaking of documents which embarrasses their state department, accuses their diplomats of spying, and puts their own troops at risk are counter intelligence measures?

[CSK Fan]

could you care to elaborate how leaking of documents which embarrasses their state department' date=' accuses their diplomats of spying, and puts their own troops at risk are counter intelligence measures?[/quote'] Some of the conspiracy theorist we have here will put our padosis to shame. They spin tales from thin air and just because it sounds awesome believe it to be true

[bharathh]

Is it just me or do others also think that Wikileaks is a threat to security in general? It is one thing to be an avenue for exposing corporate fraud and totally another to be leaking classified intelligence, war-time memos, and diplomatic communication. I am surprised the US hasn't been able to shut to them down.

Other than showing the true nature of countries, I'm not really sure how it poses security risks. I mean I doubt they name specific people and names in the comminiques. If they are discussing assets, they will almost certainly use codenames - most of which will mean nothing to others. It will be interesting to see what the US and its allies really thinks about India and Pak. Perhaps we will get some answers as to why the US keeps giving billions of dollars of aid to Pak for one. Also we'll know who the US is supporting if things go south in our region. All of this needs to be spelled out for those that have had too much obama-ade in our country.

[CSK Fan]

Other than showing the true nature of countries, I'm not really sure how it poses security risks. I mean I doubt they name specific people and names in the comminiques. If they are discussing assets, they will almost certainly use codenames - most of which will mean nothing to others. It will be interesting to see what the US and its allies really thinks about India and Pak. Perhaps we will get some answers as to why the US keeps giving billions of dollars of aid to Pak for one. Also we'll know who the US is supporting if things go south in our region. All of this needs to be spelled out for those that have had too much obama-ade in our country.

I was under the impression that the cabels did take names as they were direct communication between CIA and US diplomats. Also, what was interesting is the fact that US siplomats were asked to spy on UN officals and track their every movement including credit card details, etc

[bharathh]

From what I have read about in the papers, the cables do not take direct names of assets etc. The leaders or people (such as the diplomats) that have been involved in the communique of course have been named. One of my relatives in the IFO told me a while back that communiques are not reports. They are short, to the point, and generic messages in the unlikely event of them being intercepted.

[Clarke]

The security risks may refer to the stronger negative perception of America and its assets in places such as Pakistan. The idea that the occupier and aggressor (drones!) wants to get hold of their national pride (some nuclear assets) will certainly boost the Taliban & other groups in their recruitment as well as operations against American/NATO forces. There will be other concerns such as China increasing its support for North Korea to avoid a unified democratic Korea at all costs and Qatar protesting by means of actions. In essence, these are not new threats but an increase in the level of existing ones.

[yoda]

^^Add this: Saudis wanting US to destroy Iran's nukes I haven't read the fine print of each of the leaked document, but even from the highlighted ones we have read, I can gather a heightened risk to world security with these leaked documents. This rogue org must be stopped or else all govts risk their classified information getting to the public domain.

[bharathh]

Until now, there has been nothing earth-shaking to have come out of the documents. Frank opinions are perhaps the most revealing observations of these cables. It will be good for most countries to know how they get played diplomatically by others. Does a lot of good to know who is really an ally and who isn't. IMO these documents are going to be more of a hindrance for the US diplomatically than a security concern.

[bharathh]

^^Add this: Saudis wanting US to destroy Iran's nukes I haven't read the fine print of each of the leaked document, but even from the highlighted ones we have read, I can gather a heightened risk to world security with these leaked documents. This rogue org must be stopped or else all govts risk their classified information getting to the public domain.

?? It is no secret that the Saudis dislike Iran and want its regime to be stopped.

Middle East analyst James Denselow of King's College in London is also a bit skeptical about any cataclysmic fallout from the WikilLeaks revelations: "For a long time the Saudis and the Iranians have been on poor terms and both leaderships have held animosities against each other, so what you do have in the Middle East is a history of people who have been on terrible terms coming together for political reasons at whatever occasion," said Denselow

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/middle-east/Analysts-Assess-Fallout-From-Wikileaks-Revelations-in-Middle-East-110987479.html

[yoda]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/11/29/frum.wikileaks.iran/index.html

This is not to deny that WikiLeaks has done enormous harm. The leakers or hackers or whoever it was who obtained and published this information have put individual lives at risk. Toby Harnden of the Telegraph notes that one of the released documents names a U.S. informant in the region. The document identifies him as a U.K.-educated engineer from a prominent pre-revolution Isfahan family who once owned a large factory in Iran and is a former national fencing champion of Iran, a former president of the Iran Fencing Association and a former vice president of an Azerbaijan sports association. Harnden aptly asks: How many such persons do you think are out there? But here's the ghastliest irony of the leak. If it was Julian Assange's intention to use information hacked from U.S. computer systems to protect Iran from U.S. military action, he has very likely massively failed at his own purpose. The leak makes military conflict between Iran and the United States more likely, not less. The leak has changed the political equation in ways that reduce the restraint on U.S. policy.

Good news is that the US attorney general's office has initiated a criminal investigation into these leaks. I hope one of their goals is to shut the site down first while they determine who initiated the latest round of leaks.

[bharathh]

We'll see if anything happens to the guy mentioned there. If not, then no big deal.

[yoda]

We'll see if anything happens to the guy mentioned there. If not' date=' then no big deal.[/quote'] You need to see someone die before declaring the method of outing someone as insane? Anyways, my concern is more about increasing tension between countries when there is more than enough already.

[CSK Fan]

Until now, there has been nothing earth-shaking to have come out of the documents. Frank opinions are perhaps the most revealing observations of these cables. It will be good for most countries to know how they get played diplomatically by others. Does a lot of good to know who is really an ally and who isn't. IMO these documents are going to be more of a hindrance for the US diplomatically than a security concern.

Only 219 odd out of a possible total of 250 thousand have been released till now. More will follow. Wikileaks themselves dont know the content of most of the cabels as they didnt have time to go through all

[hari504504]

could you care to elaborate how leaking of documents which embarrasses their state department' date=' accuses their diplomats of spying, and puts their own troops at risk are counter intelligence measures?[/quote'] Wikileaks has been 'advertising' the upcoming leaks like it were the next Harry Potter movie..trailors and soundbites and all... call it conspiracy theory or common sense - Julian Assange will have a lethal target painted on his back if the intelligence was of that high a quality that some posters here claim it to be. There's nothing leaked that takes you by complete surprise - most of it is known anyway, only the timing is surprisingly good.

[hari504504]

We'll see if anything happens to the guy mentioned there. If not' date=' then no big deal.[/quote'] The world wouldn't even hear about Julian Assange if he was that big a threat. :--D

[hari504504]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/11/29/frum.wikileaks.iran/index.html Good news is that the US attorney general's office has initiated a criminal investigation into these leaks. I hope one of their goals is to shut the site down first while they determine who initiated the latest round of leaks.

There's nothing that can be done legally to shut the site down - ever heard of PirateBay ?..there were futile efforts to close it down too. Assange can host wikileaks out of any country he chooses and continue doing what he is doing.

[bharathh]

You need to see someone die before declaring the method of outing someone as insane? Anyways, my concern is more about increasing tension between countries when there is more than enough already.

Noone is going to war over these documents. Increasing the tension? How will this increase tensions anymore between Iran and the rest of the nations?

[Clarke]

Wikileaks has been 'advertising' the upcoming leaks like it were the next Harry Potter movie..trailors and soundbites and all... call it conspiracy theory or common sense - Julian Assange will have a lethal target painted on his back if the intelligence was of that high a quality that some posters here claim it to be. There's nothing leaked that takes you by complete surprise - most of it is known anyway' date=' only the timing is surprisingly good.[/quote'] It might have to do with who's in office. If Cheney was running the show, he'd prolly go waterboard the head of EU to make sure they do not allow this kid to leak confidential info.