I have not spent much time covering the Wikileaks controversy, largely because I have had mixed feelings about it. Governments need to have some secrets. In his earliest releases, Assange could have done a better job of redacting the names of foreign nationals who have worked with the US. Much of the material released has been merely embarrassing personally, having little bearing on improper conduct. What difference does it make if the Premier of Oobadoobaland secretly likes to be spanked by gorillas? On the other hand, there is no evidence that anyone has been harmed by the releases. Our own Secretary of Defense claims that they are no threat to national security. Some of the material has been most valuable in exposing government misconduct. Most of all, many of the tactics used by the US to defame and censor Assange have been sufficiently overboard as to indicate a need for him.
The US Air Force has blocked access for computers on its network to at least 25 websites that published sensitive diplomatic documents released by the Internet site WikiLeaks, a spokeswoman said.
Major Toni Tones, a spokesperson at Air Force Space Command in Colorado, said on Tuesday that the websites that carried WikiLeaks documents had been blocked and could not be viewed by any Air Force computer.
The Air Force "routinely blocks Air Force network access to websites hosting inappropriate materials or malware (malicious software) and this includes any website that hosts classified materials and those that are released by WikiLeaks," Tones said.
She said the action was taken by the 24th Air Force, which is commanded by Major Generral Richard Webber and is responsible for cyber warfare and computer security for the service. The move was approved by Air Force lawyers, she said.
The Army and Navy say they have not taken similar actions.
‘Unfortunate’
"If a site has republished the documents, then we block it," she said, adding that the move to prevent access to the media sites was done recently. She said she was not sure of the date.
Tones said The New York Times is the only major US newspaper included in the ban… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Common Dreams>
Frankly, the Times and other papers has performed a valuable service to the US by taking on the job of redacting the documents.
So there I was, leaning in favor of Wikileaks, but still not sure. Then Keith Olbermann interviewed Michael Moore, and Moore’s arguments settled the matter for me.
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Moore is right. “It’s not the leaks that are killing anyone. It’s the secrets.” He is also right that if a Wikileaks type organization had been there before the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, the authorization to use force in Iraq, or even 9/11, those tragedies might have been prevented. Assange might not have done the best job. He might not even be the best person to be doing it. But he is the one who is doing it, and especially in light of Obama’s choice to ignore the transparency he promised, it is a job that desperately needs to be done. The abuse of power through secrecy is a common thread running through our history. That thread must be broken.
16 Responses to “Michael Moore Convinced Me”
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I have to admit I have little symathy for a Right WIng Empire’s dirty little secrets being exposed. What annoys me is the hypocrites that defend Libby/Cheney’s treasonous exposing of a covert operative now whine about Assange.
Dave, that’s the difference between a crime and freedom of speech.
A friend just posted about this directive, which inexplicably seems to have been issued by the OMB. This restriction not only includes work computers but home computers as well!!! Not a good thing.
There’s been a lot on the blogosphere about where all the money that has been raised to defend Wikileaks has gone. Bradley Manning has been all but forgotten. He’s been in prison (isolation) for over five months, hasn’t received a hearing and hasn’t realized a penny for his defense – money that was promised him by Assange and other Wikileaks people. Apparently there’s some internal strife going on within the organization and some formerlly loyal members are jumping ship. Several are aiming darts at Assange.
I know, Leslie. Bradley Manning’s treatment has been criminal, and I may do a piece on that today.
Everything I’ve read about them indicates Wikileaks puts up data on its website which has already been redacted by the media that first published them. Guardian, Le Monde, etc.
The sources angriest at Wikileaks seem to be those most supportive of war crimes.
Oso, that is true for all but the first release.
I agree. Lies and secrets have killed way more people than truth ever has. What happened to transparency? I guess it is as big a talking point with Democrats as it is with republicans — and has the same effect, more secrecy and more death.
Shame on Obama and shame on the Democrats. Republicans? You expect death and lies from them.
Jerry, I agree. Shame indeed. That’s not change I can believe in.
I’m in support of wiki. But on another note here…The PFC although just charged with crimes, has been in solitary confinement since his arrest. Not allowed to even exercise. Not even a sit up in his own cell. He’s given mind altering drugs to supposedly keep him from trying suicide. I bring this to everyone’s attention to show who the real criminals may be. Good thing we got all that practice in Gitmo….
It’s criminal!
Michael Moore has the knack of cutting right to the chase. He’s nailed it once again!
A trait he shares with you, my friend.
I also agreed with the wikileaks when they were first put out out there. 90% of that stuff is just innocuous bs and really boring. Of the few that I read, I didn’t see any National Security implications in any of sort. Shame on anyone who is condemning this man – we need MORE of this (well, not the boring stuff), not less. If we had known about W reading that directive, we would have known exactly who to blame.
Most of it is boring, Lisa. But sifting through boring crap, finding the piece that doesn’t fit, and unraveling from there is why I was saying the invasion of Iraq was wrong before we invaded.
He did more good than harm and we hear nothing about it. check this out Tom, we owe him more than one
Jim, I have no doubt that we have just the tip of that iceberg, Interesting link. Thanks.