No thread about the new WIKILEAKS United States diplomatic cables leak?

[DinoDoc]

edit: big x-post was laughing at HC, but while we're on the subject of laughable claims, that whole 'rape' story is so much bull****.

How so?

[Hauldren Collider]

In addition to revealing state secrets such as our Secretary of State trying to snag Moon's fingerprints, it also contains snide low-level diplomat gossip and a number of giggle-inducing follies by various foreign poobahs. Whether offering millions in incentives to offload politically troublesome prisoners is in the United States' best interests is a matter of opinion. And I kinda want to know WTF that Afghan veep was doing with that much cash and why we didn't bother to find out.

Yeah, but my point was that the Pentagon Papers showed valid criticism and wrongdoing by the government, whereas pretty much everything in this leak is just embarrassing or damaging to US foreign policy, etc. The fact that the US is involved in some level of diplomatic intrigue should not be surprising nor any cause for concern.

When you release a quarter million documents, I'm sure there will be something there that shows somebody was doing something they shouldn't. But it appears that the vast majority of these documents demonstrate primarily that the State Department understands realpolitik...

[C0ckney]

DD, i take it your not familiar with the stories of the women involved?

assuming this account of their stories is true. read it and tell me if you think it's rape? linky

[giblets]

Yeah, but my point was that the Pentagon Papers showed valid criticism and wrongdoing by the government, whereas pretty much everything in this leak is just embarrassing or damaging to US foreign policy, etc. The fact that the US is involved in some level of diplomatic intrigue should not be surprising nor any cause for concern.

Why does the world need diplomatic intrigue? How is it preferable to transparent relations between countries?

[Wezil]

He's an alleged rapist.

Character assassination works better when you keep the actual facts out of it. Classic strategy of attacking the messenger when the message disturbs you (or in this case DinoDoc). Amateur and obvious.

[Elok]

Yes, the substantial majority is merely embarrassing (minor officials calling foreign leaders names is the equivalent of your toddler yelling "hey, look at that fat lady" at the supermarket). Not a threat to national security--maybe to somebody's career, but not national security. WikiLeaks and the NYT were carefully redacting names where they might cause damage. And a lot of the stuff, the Korean unification thing for example, is utterly DUH. What did they think we were going to do, leave a second Somalia next door to an ally? This is mostly the government trying to eggproof its face. And cheat us all out of some great comedy.

Big ol' XPost.

[Hauldren Collider]

Why does the world need diplomatic intrigue? How is it preferable to transparent relations between countries?

Does it really not occur to you that "transparent international relations" is as much of a fairy tale as anarcho-socialist utopia? How is this any different than suggesting that we get rid of the military because world peace is preferable to war? Or getting rid of cops because we don't like crime?

[giblets]

Does it really not occur to you that "transparent international relations" is as much of a fairy tale as anarcho-socialist utopia? How is this any different than suggesting that we get rid of the military because world peace is preferable to war? Or getting rid of cops because we don't like crime?

You are quite the authoritarian. IMHO a government should be controlled by its citizens, which requires that they actually know what it's doing. State secrets should only exist when it's absolutely necessary.

[DinoDoc]

assuming this account of their stories is true. read it and tell me if you think it's rape? linky

Sweden does.

[Hauldren Collider]

You are quite the authoritarian. IMHO a government should be controlled by its citizens, which requires that they actually know what it's doing. State secrets should only exist when it's absolutely necessary.

So you think that all our diplomats should be required to publicly publish their reports? This is nonsensical.

I realize that accusations of authoritarianism are your favorite troll, but trolls are better when they aren't patently ridiculous.

[giblets]

So you think that all our diplomats should be required to publicly publish their reports? This is nonsensical.

Why would it be nonsensical?

[DinoDoc]

WikiLeaks and the NYT were carefully redacting names where they might cause damage.

After the which of the 3 leaks so far?

[DinoDoc]

Why would it be nonsensical?

Why would anyone give an honest assessment of a situation if they6 thought it would end up on the front page of the NYT?

[C0ckney]

Sweden does.

did you even read the article? they dropped the suspiciously timed rape charge...

[C0ckney]

and while they have since reopened the matter (again coinciding with the release of more wikileaks stuff, funny that), it's hard to see how it can go anywhere.