Wkileaks: Peter Lavelle of Russia Today asks the best question we all know the answer to

[rpannier]

I was watching Peter Lavelle moderating a discussion on Wikileaks and he finally said the thing I was thinking...
"We're hearing how they need to improve their safeguarding of classified information. How come no one is saying, 'Maybe we shouldn't be doing these things.'"
It's a great point. How come the Lamestream media isn't asking this question? (Yep. We all know why)

[tekisui]

1. If the people at the top had any sense, they would work for change

in how we play our Imperial games of mistrust.

More likely, they will retreat into greater secrecy where they will continue and worsen their war games.

However, they should take a lesson from this and realize that in this modern world nothing is as secure as they think it is.

[seabeyond]

2. shouldnt be doing these things? critique situations and people to deal with them? really? nt

[EFerrari]

4. Things like protecting torturers, rendering people through Sweden

bombing women and children in Yemen, sneaking troops into Pakistan, supporting coups in Honduras, impeding murder investigations in Spain. You know, stuff.

[seabeyond]

6. nt

[Major Hogwash]

3. Because the MSM gets their talking points from Faux Snooze and Rush Limpbaugh.

And the MSM doesn't know what to say about ANYTHING until they read those e-mails.
Honest to gawd, they are on Hannity's e-mail list that he gets from Limpbaugh.

So, criticism of the left in this country can continue unabated, even while more people are leaning to the left, at a time in the country's history where more leftism and peace is needed!!!!

[Mimosa]

10. There's some truth to that, Major.

Even CNN commentators sound more like Repugs these days.

[melm00se]

5. access to and denial of

intelligence sources are one of those governmental obligation things.

historically what would have happened if:

The Zimmerman telegram had not been uncovered? Might Mexico have joined the tripartite alliance and we might have had an aggressor on our southern border? which might have, effectively, prevented the US from committing military forces to Europe (we entered WWI woefully undermanned and ill-equipped). The whole complexion of the war would have changed.

Enigma and MAGIC/Ultra: What if the USA had followed the instructions of Henry Stimson ("gentlemen don't read other gentlemen's mail") and halted all cryptographic work (something that came close to happening save for the actions of one lower level military functionary)? The convoys of WWII would have incurred significantly higher casualties. the pivotal battle of the Pacific (Midway) might have been lost had the USA fallen for the trap laid on by the Japanese Imperial Navy. Additionally Japan's most able (and moderate - talk about the law of unintended consequences) admiral would not have been shot down in 1943 and this would have certainly impacted the face of the Pacific.

Cuban Missile Crisis: had Kennedy not had access to intelligence regarding the readiness of Soviet strategic missiles, there might very well have been nuclear tipped missiles 90 miles off the shore of the USA. This would have absolutely changed the complexion of the Cold War.

This is just 3 examples.

If you want an example of jumping in with both feet without the correct amount of intelligence: Bay of Pigs. Had the US and anti-Castro forces been aware of what was awaiting them on the beach, the "invasion" would not have been launched. A change in Cuban/US relations as the outcome?

Intelligence gathering and analysis is absolutely key to the functioning of a government regardless of the level of their isolationism.

[rpannier]

8. But if you read the whole wikileaks there's more to it than that

Example: (One they've jumped on with both feet)
3 months after becoming Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued orders to spy on other members of the United Nations, including the Secretary General and get hold of their credit card numbers.

How come no one is saying "That's just a f*cking dumb ass thing to do!"

It turns out, according to Wikileaks (again being pushed by RT) that the Georgians start the attack in South Ossetia and the United States knew they were going to attack.
Yet, the meme coming out of D.C. was the Russians started it.

edited because I spelled 'pushed' incorrectly

[KharmaTrain]

7. No System Is Ever Secure...

What seems to be a point missed by many regarding Wikileaks is how the material is obtained. Assange is just the messanger...it's others who are risking careers and lives in giving him this information. These were secure systems...especially if anyone in law enforcement tried to subpoena any government communications. It took someone on the inside and with over 900,000 people having access to these documents even shaving that number in half or even 10% may make a future leak harder but all it takes is one person on the inside.

While the corporate media deserves criticism for how its covering this story (especially the Assage situation) but short of filing FOIAs that would be ignored (especially during the Cheney days), what else could they do. For those who were paying attention a lot of the stuff in those cables were not a surprise...they had been released on blogs and other places "on background". Again, the media couldn't get the inside poop without someone coming forward...and then we saw how they mishandled whistleblowers.

Wikileaks provides a valuable resource but it's also a rear-view mirror. The concern is to make sure this information is reliable and credible as the moment it's abused a big window will close.

[rpannier]

9. That's the funny part of this whole thing. Again brought up by Mr. Lavelle

To listen to the D.C. beltway and their drooling hacks "It was an army private that did it."