December 16, 2010
PETER SHAWN TAYLOR
... the Pentagon Papers revealed systematic efforts by American politicians to misrepresent the truth about the war in Vietnam. This, it could be argued, laid the foundation for Watergate a few years later. More importantly, it changed the public conversation on Vietnam in a significant way by uncovering an established government lie. This certainly meets our test for a higher purpose ...
The real purpose of WikiLeaks is not revelatory, but anarchistic. Exposing the behind-the-scene machinations of diplomacy will inevitably make international relations more difficult. If every secret cable and private whisper is fair game for theft and publication, how will it ever be possible for governments to confide in each other? Sometimes compromises are necessary when there’s a longer game in play. But this is impossible if diplomatic relations are made entirely transparent. WikiLeaks offers plenty of prurient interest, but no higher purpose ...
In 1794, political adversaries demanded that Washington release the behind-the-scenes details of the Jay Treaty, which finally concluded the American Revolution and established the boundary and trading relationship between the U.S. and Canada. The goal was to embarrass the president by revealing unpleasant compromises with Britain.
Washington’s response: “The nature of foreign negotiations requires caution, and their success must often depend on secrecy; and even when brought to a conclusion a full disclosure of all the measures, demands, or eventual concessions … might have a pernicious influence on future negotiations or produce immediate inconveniences <or> perhaps danger.” ...
http://news.guelphmercury.com/Opinions/EditorialOpinion/article/735499