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WikiLeaks: Was it right to release secret documents?

December 3rd, 2010
08:36 AM ET

Since the release of sensitive U.S. documents began earlier this week from whistle-blower website WikiLeaks, governments around the world have been playing damage control to contain the release of politically sensitive information.

The site began publishing some of the more than 250,000 diplomatic cables from U.S. embassies around the world, spawning sharp condemnation from the White House and congressional leaders.

"The cables show the U.S. spying on its allies and the U.N.; turning a blind eye to corruption and human rights abuse in 'client states'; backroom deals with supposedly neutral countries; and lobbying for U.S. corporations," the site's editor-in-chief and spokesman, Julian Assange, said in a statement released Sunday evening.


Since the diplomatic cables began being released, the documents have provided a unique insight into the way America conducts diplomacy around the world and what it really thinks of world leaders behind closed doors.

Some of the cables shed light on China's view toward North Korea the war in Afghanistan as well as allegations that Secretary of State Hilary Clinton ordered diplomats to spy on members of the United Nations.

As WikiLeaks continue to release more documents each day, we want to know what you think.

Was it right that Wikileaks released these documents or did they go too far? Should the public be allowed to know what goes on behind closed doors or does it risk damaging relationships with countries?

Please leave your comments below and be sure to tell us where you're writing from.

Tune in on Friday December 2 at 2100 London, 2200 CET and 1600 EST for our special report on Connect the World as we investigate the global ramifications of WikiLeaks.

Filed under:  General
soundoff (169 Responses)
  1. Mark Wilton

    This is completely unacceptable. This not only damages the US reputation abroad but risks jeprodizing delicate political relationships with countries like Aghanistan and China. If diplomacy can't happen behind closed doors... it won't succeed.

    December 3, 2010 at 8:38 am | Reply
  2. Mark Wilton

    oh im in london

    December 3, 2010 at 8:38 am | Reply
  3. Patriot Joe

    I'm a patriot in the USA but this is fantastic! We need more transparency and we deserve to know what is happening. Why should we be ashamed about keeping things secret - if you're not proud to have your dealings in public, than you're probably not doing something right.

    December 3, 2010 at 8:40 am | Reply
  4. sarah

    I want to know what information he has on a US bank. I think everyone has a right to know what is happening with their money.

    December 3, 2010 at 9:24 am | Reply
  5. Connor Preston

    How are voters supposed to stay informed in their country's international relations if the dealings of its diplomats are concealed? Diplomacy should be transparent and honest. The fact that the global response from governments has been to try and drive people into fearing the release of the documents in question should be a clear indicator that something is wrong.

    -Halifax, Canada

    December 3, 2010 at 9:27 am | Reply
  6. julian grech

    In the short term the results will be negative for the US since the cables were sent by them, however once the dust settels i think it will improve diplomacy since now all parties know what the US really thinks about them, and this might reduce the amount of double speak that goes on between countries.

    December 3, 2010 at 9:32 am | Reply
  7. Enndelbu

    Wikileak is doing great let us know what really the world leaders are doing and thinking. I did noticed that CNN trying to distance it self from Wikileaks related news 🙂

    December 3, 2010 at 9:36 am | Reply
  8. dotmafia

    "Information is the oxygen of democracy." ~ Dr Agnes Callamard, ARTICLE 19 Executive Director





    “The broader lesson of the WikiLeaks phenomenon is that President Obama should recommit to the ideals of transparency he invoked at the beginning of his presidency. The American public should not have to depend on leaks to the news media and on whistleblowers to know what the government is up to.” ~ Hina Shamsi, Director of the ACLU National Security Project

    "Those are the benign, purely legal documents that have now been removed from the Internet in response to Joe Lieberman's demands and implied threats. He's on some kind of warped mission where he's literally running around single-handedly dictating what political content can and cannot be on the Internet, issuing broad-based threats to "all companies" that is causing suppression of political information.[...]

    "If people - and journalists - can't be riled when Joe Lieberman is unilaterally causing the suppression of political content from the Internet, when will they be? After all, as Jeffrey Goldberg pointed out in condemning this, the same rationale Lieberman is using to demand that Amazon and all other companies cease any contact with WikiLeaks would justify similar attacks on The New York Times, since they've published the same exact diplomatic cables on its site as WikiLeaks has on its. What Joe Lieberman is doing is indescribably pernicious and if "journalists" cared in the slightest about their own self-interest - never mind all the noble things they pretend to care about - they ought to be vociferously objecting to this." ~ Glenn Greenwald, Salon

    December 3, 2010 at 9:42 am | Reply
  9. max

    It's time governments realize that nothing can be hidden from the public's view, and if WikiLeaks is true, it's going to change the world forever. First amendment of America says you have the right to free speech. Well, in this case it's not really that but it is that. You can't blame someone for showing America's true naked self. I think America needs to change, like RIGHT NOW, stop hiding behind the persona but rather BE the persona.

    December 3, 2010 at 9:42 am | Reply
  10. Mike M

    If diplomacy can't happen out in the open, then something is SERIOUSLY WRONG with the way in which international relations are conducted.

    What is completely unacceptable is the fact that wikileaks has been forced offline. Who do you think did that? Concerned citizens? No, this is clearly a coordinated attack by interested parties who are loathe to see any modicum of transparency reach the public.

    If the US' reputation has been damaged abroad (which it has), this stifling of the flow of what is now PUBLIC information will serve only to further hammer this already fragile reputation into the dirt.

    December 3, 2010 at 9:46 am | Reply
  11. Mike M

    Doesn't really matter anyway whether it was right. It's done. Expect more in the future. Writing from Vancouver.

    December 3, 2010 at 9:55 am | Reply
  12. Xenos G

    If these documents were so top secret they wouldn't be posted on the internet. Wikileaks has a constitution right to print whatever they want,if you don't agree with our first amendment,move to China or something.Not even sure why this is a debate.We (Americans) live in a constitutional REPUBLIC.End of story.

    December 3, 2010 at 9:59 am | Reply
  13. Yes we can't

    Leaks like these are the only thing holding Washington to account as other mechanisms have failed.

    Extreme overreach by Washington, and the inability of traditional journalists to hold them to account, requires these extreme or guerilla measures.

    Three cheers to anyone with the courage to say no, Hillary, you can't spy on the UN with impunity or you can't cover up butchering innocent people under the 'protecting national interests' banner.

    Obama called transparency the 'touchstone' of his administration, so time to walk the walk, or did he really expect to only make transparent the non-embrassing easy stuff.

    December 3, 2010 at 10:01 am | Reply
  14. dotmafia

    Why didn't the recent CNN article about US airstrikes in Yemen not provide readers with the information that 21 children were in fact killed, and that Gen. Petraeus lied about it by saying that only 3 civilians died? Why is CNN censoring important information?



    December 3, 2010 at 10:22 am | Reply
  15. Anon


    Maybe if diplomacy can't happen behind closed doors... it shouldn't succeed?

    I'm not trying to justify the actions of anyone, only to add what I feel is the most important thing. How much value should we place on the truth?

    Do we really think our government needs to hide everything from us? The people? I am tired of not knowing what my government does!!! I think the real question is shouldn't we be glad we finally know something true?

    I do think that some of it should not be shared, but ya know what I would rather know than not know.

    Some of the information is pretty damn important that we as citizens should know.

    I feel like its a little bit of Fight Club where some random average people started to wakeup and realize that we are sheep being told what to do by our representatives instead of our representatives doing what the people want like is meant to be.

    Some of it I wonder why our government is collecting, like the eating habits and traveling habits and bodyguard count of foreign ministers??? Why would our government need to know that????
    Now if we answer that question do you think they should still gain that information?

    I really hope we can see the day when all of us can tell our children and grandchildren that our generation protected their freedom of speech. That we learned from the mistakes of the last generation and are thankful to them as good parents.

    December 3, 2010 at 10:46 am | Reply
  16. simon

    Yes well it all dpends what is in julian assange insurance policy.


    December 3, 2010 at 10:48 am | Reply
  17. alberto05

    Assange is defining morality for us and assuming that Americans want a country free of any secrets whatsoever.

    He is stating he has the right to act as a clearing house for those people who have an axe to grind with a country or a corporation and publish information that can be damaging to national security and potentially get many people killed.

    Most of the world disagrees with that. They understand that in a multipolar world full of terrorism and potential nuclear proliferation, countries must keep some things confidential. They have laws in place to enforce breaches of security.

    Assange, an anarchist, will ironically use all complex legal means that organized countries have in place to remain free. In the end however, the very legal system that he is using to protect will also be his undoing. He simply has broken too many laws that in place to remain out of prison.

    Unless he decides to move to Venezuela very quickly, his days of freedom are numbered.

    December 3, 2010 at 11:13 am | Reply
  18. Raja

    Of course, it is right to publish on Govt actions. Otherwise, corruption/lobbying becomes usual.

    December 3, 2010 at 11:33 am | Reply
  19. DANIEL

    will you want to live in a world were there are no secrets?this is outrageaous. will you like your private conversations to be published online?the bottomline is this;some things are just private and confidential and should not be put in the open.it defeats the whole purpose of diplamacy.
    America should wake up because their so called Ideals is what will be used to undermine their national security and shame them
    this can never happen in the middle east without the owners being sanctioned.

    December 3, 2010 at 11:43 am | Reply
  20. First Of All

    Freedom of the Press appears dead in the US Constitution. I watched Obama swear an oath to uphold the constitution that includes the First Amendment, also transparency. If the US does not like the Press laying it on the line then they should not place it on the line. It appears the US cyber-security is not so secure after all because of a traitor in the ranks, but now they want to kill the messenger. The US believes it has the God given right to spy on its own citizens without their knowledge but its citizens are not permitted to information even under Freedom of Information. So are you really free in America or just slaves to a government out of control.

    December 3, 2010 at 11:50 am | Reply
  21. Bondock

    The leaks highlight the pretentious nature of institutions like government, press etc. There will be extremist views on both sides of an argument but the majority holds a moderate view.
    All opinions expressed till now are taking into account only the materials released till now. There are more leaks coming in the next few weeks and I feel it would be wise to wait for the explosive materials to come out before forming an opinion. I am sure this is only a trickle, the flood is yet to come.

    December 3, 2010 at 11:52 am | Reply
  22. Jesus

    Wiki leaks went to far and what it did was wrong.

    December 3, 2010 at 12:00 pm | Reply
  23. Adil

    What Wikileaks has done is expose the two faced politicians. In the next Q&A someone needs to stand up and ask Barak why Hillary has not resigned or "Is it yes we can, so that we may lie to you again!"

    December 3, 2010 at 12:09 pm | Reply
  24. malayalam

    absolutely, a rightful work and a good decision has made by the Wikileaks.yes.. we should know the truth.Wikileaks..go on.

    December 3, 2010 at 12:26 pm | Reply
  25. Adriana

    Good job Assange! Keep doing your work! The facts need to become public! Government is a myth for free people! The US government are not able to be ethical... And this is clearly demonstrated by Wikileaks!

    December 3, 2010 at 12:36 pm | Reply
  26. Maddy Mad

    it was absolutely right to release the 'secret' documents,,
    especially because they have been running things based on lies and deceptions since long time ago,,,
    there r times when doing a wrong thing is right because something is more wrong than it....
    and shocked by the truth revealed, once again, 'they' are emotionally blackmailing the 'people'....
    More 'People' liked the leak than not.....and people are the government in a democracy, i guess, that's what they say in their well-prepared speeches every time.......
    spying on it would have been wrong if it was personal;;; but here the truths about policies have been revealed,, ad these policies are the 'PROPERTY" of the people,,,,,everyone owns them....that's democracy;;
    BUT that's bee made limited to speeches, n papers only.....not in practice;;;;
    why proceed when people around the globe are protesting against Iraq invasion,,,and did 'People' want to involve in Vietnam???
    then what democracy???

    December 3, 2010 at 12:51 pm | Reply
  27. Fred Flintstone

    Remember when the Fourth Estate didn't need Julian Assange to do their job for them?

    December 3, 2010 at 1:10 pm | Reply
  28. Truster

    What this site has achieved and done so admirably is to expose the lies and hypocrisy in world politics and national government. None of us should be surprised, but we are obviously ashamed.

    Back stabbing, tale bearing and lying are common place in society so why not in government?

    December 3, 2010 at 1:13 pm | Reply
  29. Affirmanti incumbit probatio

    The US is only paying the price for 65 years of lies, corruption and greed. Wikileaks should be supported by everyone. Let the truth be known, let the US sink because of what they have created. Let us support this cry of anger and let us contemplate the truth as it is.

    December 3, 2010 at 1:14 pm | Reply
  30. alex

    When you start wars based on lies, the truth will eventually bite you back.

    December 3, 2010 at 1:18 pm | Reply
  31. Sak

    In the name of diplomacy there has been cut throat decisions and shameless allegations.It is good people know who is who and what they do??
    The only thing that needs to be taken care is people who carry out orders of the state should not be exposed as their lives would be in danger.

    December 3, 2010 at 1:19 pm | Reply
  32. Derek Robinette

    I do not think what Wikileaks has done is acceptable. All nations, like all people, need to have a forum where they can confidently discuss sensitive issues in private. Wikileaks has now destroyed both the forum and the confidence, and what has anybody gained in return?

    Derek Robinette
    Helsinki, Finland

    December 3, 2010 at 1:19 pm | Reply

    what wikileaks information about paksitani polititions,,we wnat know all things about pakistani politacal leaders and its all secrets of bank accounts in swiss banks.

    December 3, 2010 at 1:22 pm | Reply
  34. jonny

    i think wikileaks are right to have released the back dealings of the united states and their prop attitudes towards the world but in asmuch that the other parties which are being spied are no saints or angels .

    December 3, 2010 at 1:29 pm | Reply
  35. Mathijs K.

    Either the American people are about to discover what "civil disobedience" means, or they are truly a lost people. Sometimes you just don't need to do what Joe Lieberman and Hillary Clinton tell you is right for you. US public figures have shown true bipartisanship in attacking WikiLeaks.

    But is the leak the crime? Or are the real crimes in the leak? The latter from my point of view. The leaked cables reveal America's contempt of the world's nations and their people. Top officials asking to spy on friendly nations? WikiLeaks uncovers a dark, bloodthirsty side of America.

    Most disturbing are the reactions from US public figures. Instead of embracing the truth, apologizing for a bit here and there, and demanding the re-organization of US foreign policy, Republican Mike Huckabee simply asks for Assange's execution. The American people seems to agree – and that's the scary part. Wherever Assange currently may be hiding, the American people would agree to spend tax dollars on sending unmanned drones to assasinate Assange. Give or take some civilian casualties, as long as the truth remains forever secret. Because that's what the average American Joe and Suzy seem to ask for – a government that protects them from the truth. But sometimes, its good to grow up and find out Santa Clause is a lie. Because it's the truth, because you don't want to be a 40-year old adult writing letters to Santa Clause.

    The American people have the opportunity now to embrace WikiLeaks. Remember, WikiLeaks only reveals what American diplomats have actually said and done! If there is any crime comitted, it is in the leaks. The leak is not the crime.

    And then there's CNN's own Wolf Blitzer enraged over "secrets" the American people should not be allowed to know! Blitzer being a top US journalist... what does that tell you about free press in the USA? It shows a system where journalists help the government to cover up. The media used to check-and-balance the government. Now that task is outsourced to a foreign WikiLeaks organzation, because people like Wolf Blitzer must have too much at stake to reveal the truth.

    Russia's Pravda newspaper can now officially be called 'fully independent' compared to Blitzer's attitude to free press. But I find that outrageous!

    And finally the argument of WikiLeaks "risking lives". Uh-huh. Let's compare that for a moment: Iraq war bodycount: 300K. WikiLeaks bodycount: 0.

    Well, that's unless Mike Huckabee gets his say and we execute Assange.

    Munich, Germany

    December 3, 2010 at 1:36 pm | Reply
  36. TRex

    I think Wikileaks has done a commendable job. However, the results in the short term future at least will be even stricter controls on secrecy. But it does put a lot of politicians and military leaders to control their act. The way Wikileaks has been targeted clearly suggests that governments around the world will not hesitate to stoop low to target it.

    December 3, 2010 at 1:38 pm | Reply
  37. Francesco

    Not only is acceptable but necessary. The importance is not in the single cables but what they tell us about the incompetence of these people (diplomats) when most of these "valuable" intelligence are hardly any secret.

    Ironically everyone in congress (mostly the conservatives) argue about the loss of lives and blood in the hands of Wikileaks. So let's be clear:
    1. The only deaths generated by Wikileaks are the deaths of egos of idiots around the world and incompetent diplomats
    2. If you are so concerned about death of people then you should have been screaming when we all watched the US elicopter video killing civilians

    December 3, 2010 at 1:40 pm | Reply
  38. Lenic

    The world is changing. Technology has made ubiquitous access to information possible from all corners of the globe now. The internet and computational and communications technology have now made it possible for the general public to circumvent the official channels and as a result the world public now has come close to leveling the playing field with those who supposedly wish to benevolently manage us. Governments and the powerful are in sheer panic that the ability for the mass public to spy on them or communicate with each other without their approval or control is going to remove their control over us. I am a huge fan of Jefferson and others who felt the governing govern ONLY with the consent of the governed. So the question becomes if we own the government then why is it able to keep secrets from us? And why if the motives are altruistic does our government fear us knowing the truth? The only logical answer is it does this in order to manipulate us. Good or Bad. Governments need to realize that the gig is up. This chicken isn't going back in the egg. Even if they shut down wikileaks. Successful governments in the future will realize honesty and full disclosure will be the best policy. I'm sure the monied interest that currently own our representatives will not be too happy about that, but it's the next level of human civilization. Real people power.

    December 3, 2010 at 1:42 pm | Reply
  39. randall c robinsob sr

    It was wrong to release the cables, diplomacy always has two faces.

    December 3, 2010 at 1:50 pm | Reply
  40. Bernadette

    As a taxpayer I expect my government to protect and secure its data just as I do my own. Instead of finding and prosecuting Assange the US should put that money into cyber security, which would have prevented this whole debacle in the 1st place. I feel that the Private who leaked the material should be dealt with under the UMCJ. But Wikileaks has no accountability or responsibility to the American government to protect its own information. And to charge anyone involved with 'terrorism' is pathetic. I from Pennsylvania, USA.

    December 3, 2010 at 1:52 pm | Reply
  41. Steven L Smith

    I believe in transparency as much as the next person, but as anyone from a large family knows, everyone does not need to know EVERY THING. Just as your brothers wife does not need to know that you think she does a terrible job looking after the kids, or your sisters husband's socks always smell. For the sake of the harmony of the family these discussions are kept private. I think that when one learns these tiny "acts of diplomacy" as a young child they learn how to live in the world at large. Julian is obviously missing out on these very important social traits, and no one has appointed him the moral conscious of the world. His leaking the private interdepartmental discussions of state diplomats only cuts back on the honestly that they can dare convey in discussions that today have to take place via digital channels. It was a mistake that these have been leaked, but now that they have appropriate changes need to be put in place so that digital archives cannot be accessed without proper supervision. and unfortunatly what started out as an important channel for weeding out corruption has become a victim of it's own pompous latitudes. So long Wikieleaks, the world will be better off without you.....

    December 3, 2010 at 2:06 pm | Reply
  42. Jarno Burger

    I try to comprehend what damage has been done :

    – i see the opinions of embassy's around the world.
    – i see stuff that goes toward simple low-end spying.
    – i see a lot of rumour and gossip.
    – i see a lot of stuff that everybody already knew.

    But when i go outside , i don't see a pearl harbour situation or a 911 on tv.

    The biggest conclusion that i can make :
    – that the us-gov needs to review their IT security again.
    – needs to use the telephone some more again.
    – doesn't need to be so secret / scared about these kinds of documents.

    The doc's are spread faster by the news-agency's then wikileaks.
    New's agency's are making the deep conclusions now , it's not wikileaks , blame them for the 'smart'-attacks...

    December 3, 2010 at 2:08 pm | Reply
  43. Joao

    With this releases maybe the persons understand a little why there is wars and similares, why a nobel peace (Obama), don´t agree with transparency? Does he deserve the nobel price????

    December 3, 2010 at 2:17 pm | Reply
  44. David E.

    Nothing makes more sense than this quote from Mahatma Gandhi: "Hundreds like me will perished, but the truth will prevailed", if the USA wants to be the leader of the world it should have transparency around its actions. I can not demand good behavior from my children when I am a corrupted parent with double standards.

    December 3, 2010 at 2:23 pm | Reply
  45. Timothy

    A "public" official does not want their dealing made public. ?????.... I was not aware they had that option. They are public officials and they should always conduct business in public.

    December 3, 2010 at 2:33 pm | Reply
  46. Fernando Sánchez

    If Assange is so fixated about there being no secrets, why then he wants to have a secret personal life? It would be fascinating to be able to read in Wikileaks transcripts from his private life conversations about facts that he does not want to be exposed to the public.

    Why does he not take the leaks concept a step further and publishes the secret sources of his information? From the onset of civilization secrets have been an essential part of our man´s personal and social life.

    Without secrets Julian´s own personal life would be miserable and Wikileaks would simply be not possible.

    What have we gained in exchange, asides from making life harder for the exposed government institutions? Does he think that there is any country whose government does not rely on some secret information to maintain the country´s existence in such a complex world? Does he think that any country offering him residence because the mess that he has placed himself in will willingly offer him sensitive information to be posted, or that this potentially hosting country´s government would not take swift and decisive action against him if he reveals information about the host country of the nature that he has revealed? Does he really think that he Evos, the Correas, the Chavezes, the Castros, the Ortegas do not hold sensitive information, and that they could react in a very terminal way for him if this information is posted during his stay at their countries? Go ahead, give it a try!

    December 3, 2010 at 2:38 pm | Reply
  47. Jolie

    Wow what a bunch of mindless 6th graders you all are... transparency! BE the persona! This isn't a 'nice' world for America to be playing the nice guy. There are many countries wanting America's power on the world stage. There's a reason that America conducts government-business the way it does: it's wolves out there.

    December 3, 2010 at 2:44 pm | Reply
  48. mary

    This just shows the world what most of us already know. Many governments and leaders officially say one thing and yet "secretly" plan/think/act in a completely opposite and self-interested direction. It's always like this, we just don't always have the opportunity to see exposed in current events. Doesn't anyone read history?

    American living in Turkey

    December 3, 2010 at 2:47 pm | Reply
  49. Mick

    Lead the herd to the water but do not let them know where it is or how to get there, else they were disperse. – Mikhail Bester

    December 3, 2010 at 2:50 pm | Reply
  50. Andrej

    Well if you look at the decision process of an individual in this system(be it investor, be it worker, be it business ovner)....people make decision based on "facts" they're presented. So how can you as a business individual, worker, investor make the right decisions if the facts u're beeing presented are fabricated, false and have nothing to do with "the real picture" of the situation an individual may encounter?....falsified facts create false decisions, false decisions bring troubles sooner or later. So i think that the wikileaks era should be an era where people hold on for a second and rethink everything we do as a system. Transparency, truth and honesty is something president Obama pledged to the american public. Those values&ways of conduct were something the founding fathers were building the new system on....since the wall street takeover, everything was forgotten. So i think it's absolutely cruicial for the whole world, not only the us government, to just chill down&try it in a different manner. The "by the book" definition of stupidity is: if one does one and the same and expects a different result. That's stupidy, implicable to every situation in our lives.

    December 3, 2010 at 2:55 pm | Reply
  51. Bobby Jack Fuller

    It is always the guilty who cry NO FAIR

    December 3, 2010 at 3:07 pm | Reply
  52. Bobby Jack Fuller

    Im in Sao Paulo

    December 3, 2010 at 3:09 pm | Reply
  53. Binod (KTM)

    Nepalese have solidarity with Wikileaks founder Julian Assagne for his bravery to
    bring truth to people risking himself.Where have slogan of freedom of speech ,
    democracy aired by USA gone when come to revealing its ill intent??????Julian
    should be awarded Noble Peace prize for trying to bring real peace in this world

    .uk/news/blog/2010/dec/01/wikileaks-us-emby-cables -live-updates

    December 3, 2010 at 3:11 pm | Reply
  54. denis

    I think that politicians are trying to protect themselves under the sacrosanct National Security. I haven't heard nowhere on tv or papers that lives were put in GREAT danger. It is time for governments to start playing the games and be more open and honest toward their citizens. Being in power does nto entitled governments to do whatever they want to do anytime, anywhere, any place. In today's democracy, the only rights we have as citizens is to pay our taxes without complaining and abide by more and more rules that allows governments to snoop in our private lives under the pretext of terrosism. This is an excellent wake up call and I hope that we will learn more about what is actually taking place in the world today. Transparency is the word.

    December 3, 2010 at 3:18 pm | Reply
  55. Tat

    Anyone who thinks it is good news that state secrets become dirty laundry are sorely mistaken. So many people in the States have taken their freedom for granted. What purpose does it serve for everyone to know what is happening? So it can be discussed over a cup of coffee in the morning whilst the names of people who assisted the US are hunted down and tracked online by Al Qaida? They get killed their families get killed. International relations broken and from here on out nobody will want to assist the US in the future since they can not be trusted to keep secrets. But that is OK since at least you get to know stuff that really should be kept locked away.

    December 3, 2010 at 3:39 pm | Reply
  56. John-Edward

    I find that the information there disclosing was purposely leaked and that the information it holds may or may not be true. The question people should be asking is what information does wiki-leaks have that there not leaking, beacause they know that it would be to harmfull or disgracefull to the U.S or other country's.



    December 3, 2010 at 3:39 pm | Reply
  57. Jack

    There is a fine line between right and wrong. I feel that the intentions behind leaking these documents were not as he says. While there are some interesting things going on in the Congress and the Fed – there's a reason they're private. Whether or not I agree with what is going on and what is being leaked... I feel that it should just be kept privatized. I'm not a part of the government for a reason. it seems as if Assange is doing this to create mayhem not to "make people aware" or whatever he's telling the press.

    How did he get them anyways??

    December 3, 2010 at 3:57 pm | Reply
  58. Jack

    From Rome.

    December 3, 2010 at 3:57 pm | Reply
  59. Liam Three Bears

    Clearly the Wikileaks are an embarrassment to the United States, but now I speak as a Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces and as one whom grew up, as a dependent in the US diplomatic corps.

    First, some diplomacy should take place behind closed doors. Without this certian matters can not be resolved. With that said, I also wish to postulate, that the US also has to insure that harmony is kept with both it's friends, neutral parties and advisaries. we as citizens of the US can not abdicate our responsibilities and let leadership assume what is best for the Country, WE the people hired them – we have the right to FIRE them. If the dilomats whom work on behalf of the American people are incapable of coherently understanding theri place in the matters of country to country relations. then perhaps they should find another job. Some of the cables that have been released by Wikileaks are APPALING!! have always known that our reputation around the world is seen as arrogant and self centered, but this went beyond all norman reason

    We as citizens in the US shold seriously take a good look at where we are heading and what we are doing. I fear that if we do nothing, we are setting our selves up for failure on a grand magnitude.. and all will suffer.

    In the past many said the US was becomming a second rate power. I believe with the boarder-line despotism, and paranoia that now exists we have truely reached that threshold....we MUST turn back

    There are those whom will say that my words are "anti-american". To them I say this: the demanding part of any democacy is to see the naked truth, no matter how much is hurts – in the military the saying is that " pure truth demands confrontation" . this saying shoild not be losteither in politics or in the spin doctoring either form the left or the right; it is from this point that we all can be objective.

    To often in this world we only look at the "now". we are at thethreshold where we need to start considering what will happen three and seven generations from now. To this end because we all shoudl commit ourselves...the task ahead may be daunting, but we as human beings, regardless of our viewpoint have been through much worse.

    December 3, 2010 at 3:58 pm | Reply
  60. agentsuperdave

    Your government has been shown to lie to it's own people. All governments do. Unfortunately, we have come to expect it. Wikileaks has done nothing but release some classified documents onto the internet, something anybody could have done, and any newspaper. But newspapers are commercial enterprises which governements can crush, whereas Wikileaks is not affected by US corruption.

    The disgusting reaction of this publication has been the open discussion by America on the assasination of Julian Assange. You have sunk to the muslim fahtwa, something I never thought a civilised Western culture would do.

    I hope the US government is crippled by their two-faced antics and their cold-blooded killing. Why does the US always wage war on the rest of the world? Europe has lived with terrorism for many many decades, and life continues. The US has had a couple of towers blown up, and that was probably an inside job.

    The United States time as a respected world power has ended. Thank you Wikileaks.

    December 3, 2010 at 4:02 pm | Reply
  61. Colmery

    I'm an Australian.

    The American experiment with Liberal Democracy was all about limiting what governments could do and making them accountable when they do act. How is it then that facilitating this has come to be regarded as treason in the Land of the Free?

    Regardless of the answer to that, if governments are allowed to keep secrets then surely they should be sure they can trust the people they tell them to. But given one or two cats have gotten out of the bag, it's not immediate obvious that chaos will follow.

    Indeed one astute Australian commentator has suggested that despite a few embarrassing bits, the leaks so far have shown nothing much that most informed people would in anycase suppose, but, they do show little of what anti-US zealots would expect. That may turn out to be a net positive in the not too distant future when the US is no longer hegemonic and has more to gain by being trusted than feared.

    December 3, 2010 at 4:03 pm | Reply
  62. Joseph Bantaaton

    The superpowers, be it US, USSR or China all have been playing god for far too long and far too good.

    It is time to stop all these egotistic leaders to play god and return the power back to all humans. Wikileak is one solution.

    Without wikileaks, we would never know that US have committed human rights in Afghanistan while portraying itself as the champion of the world.
    Such hippocrisy is the cause why wikileak exist and they only have themselves to blame on the actions of wikileaks. I support it fully.

    Now take a look at Malaysia where the ardage CORRUPTION THRIVE IN SECRECY is all but proven.

    Until today, we have not heard the full story of why ALTANTUYA was blown up with C4 or who are the real culprits behind this international murders. Are the world gonna keep quite on this Murder with a C4??

    Also the murder of TEO Boon Hock are systematically covered up by the Malaysian courts as if he committed suicide. The life of an innocent young man, just a political secretary is SNUFF out just like that due to corruptin in secrecy.

    I simply wish Assange has a lot of data on Malaysia to be leaked to the world at large.


    December 3, 2010 at 4:04 pm | Reply
  63. revtj

    A nation is as free as its flow of information is free.

    December 3, 2010 at 4:07 pm | Reply
  64. The_OGS

    News in Canada is that the Canadian government is horrified by the rampant corruption and nepotism within the Afghanistan of Mr. Karzai.
    Well what's the big secret!?
    Why can't our ambassador report back to Canadian taxpayers, saying "these guys are immoral and corrupt, we can't get anything done without kickbacks and payoffs, and they cannot even run a fair election."
    We are Canadians – we'd still send our advisors, technology, money and prime young men over there, amongst much hand-wringing, anyway.
    But the truth is the truth!
    If these Afghani guys are inept and corrupt, should the world not know?
    So thank you WikiLeaks – and thanks also for revealing the appalling spinelessness of Canadian diplomacy in 'protecting' us from the facts.

    December 3, 2010 at 4:17 pm | Reply
  65. xiaobao

    Do people seriously believe in "transparency"? Transparency is weakness, truly transparent governments don't last 5 minutes on the world stage.

    There's only 2 paths for Wikileaks to go down:

    1. Focus only on the US, which would betray its neutrality
    2. Start slandering other countries, which would bring the world against it

    December 3, 2010 at 4:22 pm | Reply
  66. Adam

    The people who say these releases are dangerous also told us there were WMD's in Iraq. Indeed this is dirty business being aired, and this would similar to actions of other countries but that doesn't condone corrupt, dishonest or even evil actions on any side.
    When Israel forged passports did the world hold them to account? This will blow over but perhaps IT security will be increased.

    December 3, 2010 at 4:23 pm | Reply
  67. solypsis

    I support Wikileaks actions in publishing leaked documents for the public to see.

    I feel transparent & honest governance is important to ensure elected government representatives are able to be held accountable, hopefully by an educated, well informed, fully participating citizenry.

    I am appalled at some comments from so called liberal democracies -(Canadian PM's advisors' public call for Assange to be assasinated comes to mind). Also, the rape allegations -how many people actually think thats a gigantic coincidence? They can't kill him, that would get even more publicity for wikileaks, so they seek to discredit him. Shame.

    December 3, 2010 at 4:26 pm | Reply
  68. TheUnnamed

    In case anyone forgot, countries such as Iran constantly call for the complete destruction of the United States and all western culture. There is no amount of "truth" which will change the opinions of their leaders so we have the choice to fight them or try to appease them. We give them deals to mitigate their nuclear ambitions and they simply lie to us and enrich uranium in a new facility we have not found yet. So even as the public condemns the human rights violations of the Saudi Arabian government, our diplomats work in the background to foster our relationship with this regional power. Did I know this was happening before the leaks? Of course. Does the release of this information make me any more informed? Not really, it just confirms what everyone has said for the past 20-odd years and may lose us an ally or two in the process. (Read "Veil: The Secret Wars of the CIA 1981-1987" by Bob Woodward). In cases such as this, secret diplomacy to keep the peace beats out a regional war.

    December 3, 2010 at 4:27 pm | Reply
  69. coder

    If the world leaders would stop "playing" politics with people's lives - the world could act as a single race of humans... WikiLeaks exposes the practices of all governments, hopefully showing that we are all hypocrites. That every government is positioning themselves for power rather than focusing on the common good of mankind. Without WikiLeaks we would not know 'how' politics is bringing the human race down.

    December 3, 2010 at 4:28 pm | Reply
  70. Dooms

    Assange is not only a hacker, he is also a hoaxer. Revealing so-called state secrets which apply in all states worldwide aims at getting power thru sensationalism. I am a Belgian citizen from Brussels this story makes me feel nauseous. The main belongs in jail. Destabilisation processes should be punished. Full stop.

    December 3, 2010 at 4:28 pm | Reply
  71. LM

    Definitely a step too far. Anyone who knows any history realizes that international diplomacy simply could not function if everybody always said what he/she thinks. That's a reality of human nature and it has been this way since we learned how to communicate with each other. Diplomacy requires a certain amount of hypocrisy. But often the alternative to hypocrisy is violence or chaos. If Mr. Assange does not like the human nature, that's his problem. But he does not have the right to judge the entire world by his utopian, ultra-idealistic standards. To reveal unethical behavior and crimes is journalism. So, some carefully selected secret material does have value as a news item. However, to indiscriminately dump sensitive diplomatic information on the internet that can damage international relationships is irresponsible and criminal. The question to ask is: how do these revelations make the world better? By undermining the relationship between the U.S. and Afghanistan, they help the Taliban, heroin dealers and warlords retain control of Afghanistan. By undermining the efforts of Yemen to defeat Al-Qaida with covert Western help, they help Al-Qaida. By undermining U.S.-Russia relationships, they could spark another arms race and another cold war....and most certainly they will prompt efforts to create more security and secrecy so that secrets that ought to be revealed will be harder to reveal. If this is what Mr. Assange was trying to accomplish, he should be proud of himself. If he was trying to change the world for good, he is a delusional megalomaniac.

    December 3, 2010 at 4:39 pm | Reply
  72. Anita Johnson

    Why has Wikileaks attacked only the US. What about all the other countries around the world. Does anyone think other countries don't have secrets? Everyone who has condemned the US over information in the stolen documents should hang their heads in shame. The US is not perfect but the world be much worse off without the US.


    December 3, 2010 at 4:41 pm | Reply
  73. Kumar

    Diplomacy till now was secret double talk and no action. Thanks to wikileaks open diplomacy might work now. There is nothing to hide anymore.

    December 3, 2010 at 4:50 pm | Reply
  74. Madhur

    When governments want transparency about taxes and earning from its people why do they fear about transparency about their real dealings?

    Is that what leadership is about? Is the world all about america or its policies about other nations! IRAQ was their mistake, Afghanistan was their mistake, Pakistan is a mess because of them!

    IRAN is out of their hands? are they the world police? Cant get hold of Osama from 10 years! Is the american government so scared about what comes out of the closet! President obama seems so honest (At least in the public) If he believes in change he should help to wikileaks show the world the reality!

    Think if it this way! you are the customer and america your supplier! would you do business with america if they spy on you?

    What your call?

    December 3, 2010 at 4:51 pm | Reply
  75. Kumar

    Diplomacy until now was secret double talk and no action. Thanks to wikileaks open diplomacy might work now. There is nothing to hide any more. Hope the issues of the world (Palestine, Kashmir, Afganistan) will be settled soon by open & candid diplomacy.

    Kumar, Moscow

    December 3, 2010 at 5:01 pm | Reply
  76. Felcas

    In my opinion a government does not have the right to cover any subject from its people, transparency should be primary. If you have a single event that goes wrong under cover and that gets leaked then anything else undercover, from negotiations to operations can be ethically/moraly wrong and away from citizen wishes. So no I do not support closed negotiations or cover operations. The key for a better future is commitment with respect, peace, harmony between all countries. And USA is master on not doing this.

    December 3, 2010 at 5:05 pm | Reply
  77. Kris Marcotte

    This should be a wake-up call to diplomats and nations around the world. If we truly want to achieve harmony and improve relations throughout the world, then mankind needs to forthright and honest with itself and others. It is not about who keeps the best secrets...to quote the band No Witness (Canada): "A secret is a lie yet to be told". The modern technological era is upon us, and no one and nothing is sacred anymore. Those who oppose transparency in international dealings will be courting the politics of self-serving deceit. Do I have to make the Tiger Woods analogy to simplify this? It will come back to haunt you...respect is the key. Kudos, Wikileaks.

    December 3, 2010 at 5:21 pm | Reply
  78. Billy Spudd

    Wikileaks is a godsend to this Orwellian world being constructed by Zionists, Tripartite Corporations and Bilderburg Group. I read where some nameless journalist (propagandist) prole was demanding that Wikileaks be held 'accountable'. That is g-dmed freaking rich! It is GOVERNMENT which is accountable! It is GOVERNMENT which is held to the highest standards of conduct!

    The witless morons here who defend a corrupt government's efforts to silence an heroic effort to shed light on what it is doing, should be ashamed of themselves. Instead of spewing misspelled moronic crack-pot mis-attempts at 'patriotism', they should be thanking Assange for showing them in the cold light of day, the contempt those who have stolen our government from us holds for the rest of the world and our own people.

    They should be asking why George Bush isn't in jail for treason, instead of wasting their limited brain cells proclaiming the propaganda message the media wants them to say. They should be asking why Scooter Libby, who destroyed the cover of an operational CIA agent for mere political revenge, isn't in jail, but someone who exposes these weasels, is hounded to death. Accountability?! F those witless sheep who spout jingoistic cries for revenge and are silent cowards when it comes to naming the real danger faced by the American people.

    December 3, 2010 at 5:27 pm | Reply
  79. ryan of Sydney

    This is the best thing that ever happened so far. USA should be ashamed of themselves. After looking at the files and videos published (including youtube), I must admit that it opened my eyes about how ugly American politics are and how urgently that ugly government needs an entire change of blood!

    Then after looking at the video (published by wikileaks on youtube) about the 'trigger happy' US army killing innocent children (even tho they saw these children's faces) during the iraq war... hundreds of thousands of innocent people, families were killed by US army... the government deliberately hide the truth... it just made me think USA deserves everything that had happened to them... I am sorry to say although 911 was so sad with the loss of so many innocent lives, but I can understand why so many people in the mid-east are willing to give up their lives to defend themselves...

    anyway, I now have absolutely no sympathy for USA for whatever bad that happened there, because I think they deserve everything that happened to them (if not more).

    Shame on you USA!!

    and Julian is doing god's work, to bring truth to light! this is what the world needs to know. The world will become a better place without dirty dark secrets, assassination tasks, spies, wars, most of which originated from the most evil government of all time – USA!

    So well done Julian, you are the hero! and I absolutely support you. You are sacrificing yourself for humanity!

    December 3, 2010 at 5:29 pm | Reply
  80. Fred Bouwman

    The U.S justifies a war in Iraq by saying they want to give the people freedom, which includes freedom of information. If that is true, the same freedoms should apply to people who elect governments to act of their behalf. For some reason, the U.S government seems to forget that they act on behalf of the people who elected them and the people have every right to know what is going on behind closed doors.

    December 3, 2010 at 5:29 pm | Reply
  81. SteveL

    First time investigative journalism has created a global spark.
    Spark has resulted in smoke from every major capital. There is no smoke without fire! WikiLeaks has done a good job.

    December 3, 2010 at 5:32 pm | Reply
  82. Astrid Bergman

    Assange should not be hunted down; it only serves to highlight the guilt and shame of the parties involved. Wikileaks is a great idea but it is putting many innocent lives at risk-the nature of politics is not about to change and for the US for be a world power,we ALL know some dirt has to run through the waters. Let us sit back and watch.

    December 3, 2010 at 5:46 pm | Reply
  83. Ben Lavari

    Julian Assange is a true hero for human kind and freedom. I hope that in the future statues of him will rise around the world as the true fighter for human rights. All these politicians running scared now, if they where honest and true representative of Humans and there rights then they had no reason to fear Assanges work and in the end there would be no need for a site like Wikileaks. People like King of Saudi Arabia who recommend chipping prisoners like horses..And he is a American friend. American should be more careful who they get into bed with. And people who betray freedom of speech and say that Assange should be punished by death. That sounds very similar to People like Ahmadinejad and in my opinion are the true Terrorist. Unfortunately we live in a unfair world where innocent get punished and criminals and murderers are worshipped like heroes. American politicians like Bush and the CIA and there friends around the world are the true enemy of the world and are holding the world population as hostages and the only thing left is the simple hope that one day evil like them are wiped out from the face of the earth.

    December 3, 2010 at 5:56 pm | Reply
  84. TrentW

    xiaobao December 3rd, 2010 4:22 pm ET


    There's only 2 paths for Wikileaks to go down:


    December 3, 2010 at 6:45 pm | Reply
  85. John Hatz

    At last we have a glimpse of the way International US diplomacy works.
    Transmarency is Democracy. People are elected to act for the People. At any moment people "HAVE TO KNOW! AND PEOPLE ARE WISER THAN THE LEADERS THINK THEY ARE". Instead of trying to percecute and kill Mr. Assange, and make another martyr, its better to let the truth come out.
    The possibility of an "intended leak" by authorities, is always also an option that we can think about.
    Its a curious game in the middle of an economic world war.

    December 3, 2010 at 6:45 pm | Reply
  86. TrentW

    The guy who runs Wikileaks is an enemy and DEADLY THREAT to the United States, and should be dealt with accordingly (in my humble opinion).

    Also, amen to Xiaobao's comment:


    There's only 2 paths for Wikileaks to go down:

    2. Start slandering other countries, which would bring the world against it"

    December 3, 2010 at 6:48 pm | Reply
  87. TrentW

    Also, apparently all these posts were made in the future...

    December 3, 2010 at 6:49 pm | Reply
  88. Chris Bode

    since the dawn of history, diplomacy evolved to stem needless frictions and attain higher yields from human interactions. Rather than allow poor ego-satisfaction from unguarded revelations of what one person deeply felt about another, we flavor our utterances in socialy acceptable formats and couch our public pronouncements in more flattering terms to achieve desirably balanced results. Although this is easy for mature humans, children and computers find this incomprehensible. African mythology says that was why the gods withdrew the ability to talk from babies. Assange's recent unwarranted disclosure of a nation's vast trove of private communications with blatant disregard for the feelings and interest of others portrays him as either infantile or robotic. Does he live no life behind close doors, performing all his functions in public? As my mother always said, not all clothes should be aired in the sun.

    December 3, 2010 at 7:19 pm | Reply
  89. Sylvia

    I have been following the leaks and can ontly gratulate Julian Assangi, for his curage, to make them available to the american people. He will be one of those, who has put his live an the line for his country and his people to wake them up, to be more aware, of what is happening with the so called "democratic-model" and its systematic reduction
    He helped renew the structure of healthy journalsime which seems ever so more to become a difficulte task, all over the world. Its a markstone for renewel of freedom of expressing, which has more and more been turned down to get lost. It should wake up everyone to look at their leaders and ask more questions. Free speech must be exercised for a healthy democratic country.

    from Switzerland

    December 3, 2010 at 7:40 pm | Reply
  90. Mateo

    Oh ye who are blind to the corruption that has taken over this world!

    We need to wake up! WikiLeaks is doing the right thing by releasing these "sensitive" documents.. policitians talking trash about other politicians.. HA! that's like fecal matter telling its fellow fecal matter it stinks! and THESE are our leaders!? I see no leaders here. Liars, manipulators, charlatons, and a whole bunch of other names I can't say here..

    Time to clean house! Bring it out in public and DO THE RIGHT THING people! "Democracy won't work unless it's behind closed doors!?" – jeez, I feel sorry for whoever TRUSTS in you if that's the depth of your ethical belief..

    Do the right thing. Wikileaks, send it out, keep it up, show the world what they really are.. even politicians loath looking in the mirror. and when someone sticks one in them, they get all fussy.. hand in the cookie jar "leaders"! shame on you..

    December 3, 2010 at 7:49 pm | Reply
  91. Noor

    I think it is acceptable. If you think this stuff does not go on you are naive. We are given a white(house)washed and sanitized diplospeak version of what is said. The truth is the truth. USA damages its relationship around the world itself. Diplomats – of all ppl – should know better than put in writing anything they do not want on the front page of every newspaper. Its your government – you own it – you are entitled to the truth of it.. not just the sanitized truth. And.. its not like most of us don't know how it goes – anyone with common sense knows this is what goes on. So what is the big deal??? seriously??

    December 3, 2010 at 8:10 pm | Reply
  92. Noor

    as far as wanting my private convo's posted...if I put it somewhere on the internet it is going to quite possibly be posted – that is reality. As for privacy for diplomats – they are employees – representing their govt – using govt equipment. So...big difference. If they want private convo's use their personal email. If not..the ppl of USA own every word that is said and is free to know what they say..and should be demanding to know what they say.

    December 3, 2010 at 8:21 pm | Reply
  93. Meg

    In Europe, this Wikileaks question has become a bomb. Our governments are cheating us, are being investigated by USA and playing dirty with them. So the result is that we are REALLY angry with them, not with the USA investigations but with them. So it's funny to read how many US people are so indignant for what you call "attacks to our country", but there's no indignation for what your government's doing. We Europeans have no fear to say things clear about our own countries or governments when they behave like cockroaches. Think you should learn to do the same when it's needed, cause your country, like the rest of the world, is not perfect.

    December 3, 2010 at 8:22 pm | Reply
  94. Joe S.

    Hey, 'First Ammendmenters'. You will need to get something straight, first: Julian Assange is an Australian citizen, to the best of my knowledge. He IS NOT a U.S. citizen. As such, he is afforded NO PROTECTION UNDER THE CONSTITUTION. Shut it. Thank you.

    He is suspected of being a sexual predator. He has endangered many lives (indeed the loss of), and all diplomatic endeavors the world 'round. How are we to conduct diplomacy in the middle east, for example, when all countries seem to be at odds with one another. Transparency is great in principle, as is communism on paper, but does it work? Not in every circumstance (i.e. limited, domestic).

    I agree with all my fellow (citizens and others) that a great degree of transparency is necessary and good, but there are some things that only a very few among us should ever know... that's why there are diplomats, doctors, lawyers, postal clerks, all of society is made of this... in confidence. That is what Obama was talking about; domestic transparency of government, not the spilling of every minutia involving confidential diplomatic wires and foreign countries!

    If Wikileaks dropped that you're gay and in the military, is that 'useful'? It might be the truth and hurray for transparacy, but is that appropriate? I think not. Who decides what to leak (edited, no doubt), and to what agenda, whose intrest(s)? Who blows the whistle on WikiLeaks? They should be 'technologically erased' for the greater good of the entire world.

    We have far too many more pressing issues to deal with, such as, oh I don't know, the continued existence of our species on this planet over the next 30 years... this list goes on. Let's just learn to love a bit more, trust enough, and keep your eyes and ears open. Just don't snoop TOO much. Peace.

    December 3, 2010 at 8:37 pm | Reply
  95. GWB

    If you want to keep something secret, don't let a MILLION people have access to it. Don't blame WikiLeads, blame the state department for not having adequate means for keeping secrets.
    If one or two documents leak out, ok that can happen. But 250.000 documents? Thats just plain stupid.

    And yes, this does harm American politics, but if the diplomats would be smart and sophisticated enough to use "diplomatic language" instead of "Batman and Robin" the harm would be far less.

    December 3, 2010 at 9:57 pm | Reply
  96. H.M. Kraanbus

    Why is no one upset about the respectless tone of communication among (US and other) diplomats about democratically chosen leaders?

    December 3, 2010 at 9:57 pm | Reply
  97. Melba Higbee

    It is a crime to deal in stolen information. In his megalomania Assange has endangered people around the world. We will not see him dealing in Russian or Chinese secrets....they elimitate spies there. He would not live to tell the story. And it would serve him right!

    December 3, 2010 at 9:58 pm | Reply
  98. Joao Ribeiro da Silva

    It's govenment's responsability to protect their data. It's public mandate that we discover what our governments are doing if they aren't doing the right things.
    If we understand this as a crime, then it will be the end of the freedom of the press. Any news papar in the world would publish this leaks if they had access to them as well. So I don't understand why in Wikileaks it must be viewed as diferent.

    December 3, 2010 at 9:58 pm | Reply
  99. sigthor jonsson

    Wow, I am surprised.

    I can easliy understand that US citizens do not like this leak, but on the other hand billions of people do not like US foreign policy.

    I also wonder what happened to neutral media, Connect the world said they had huge response for the story but out of 6 prewies they only showed 1 that was in favor of the leak.

    That is weird, concerning that CNN is a world wide media outlet that pretends to be neutral like media is supposed to be, and 80% of people support the leak and most of the one who do not are americans, understandably as this leak hurts US citizens.

    CNN has failed the world but fulfilled US politicians needs.

    Anyhone who reads news here and belives it is as stupid as a goat

    December 3, 2010 at 10:00 pm | Reply
  100. Only Human

    i would've never known the truth had it not been for wikileaks. I was before one of those whom the world refers to as the the mango people. No one is seeing the big picture here. Every one is getting paranoid about wikileaks. Just try being optimistic and practical about the knowledge you finally have on your hands.Merely taking the leaks as invasion of privacy is, well, an act of stupidity. But then again, That's just me, or may i say, the world. Only Human.

    December 3, 2010 at 10:05 pm | Reply
  101. Zahid Ali Afridi

    Everybody has the right to know the truth.Wikileaks has done the right thing,atleast we know what is going on in the international and national arena.

    December 3, 2010 at 10:06 pm | Reply
  102. Zahid Ali Afridi

    Everybody has the right to know the truth.Wikileaks has done the right thing,atleast we know what is going on in the international and national arena.Writing from Dubai.

    December 3, 2010 at 10:08 pm | Reply
  103. Marc

    As a citizen, I am consistently told that I have no privacy towards the state. I am consistently told that "those who have nothing to hide, have nothing to fear". Well, WikiLeaks is just giving control over the government (and state) back to those who have the power: we, the people.

    No government in this world was able to prove that the Afghanistan war logs or the Iraq war logs did actually harm informants. It'll be the same with the cables: they won't harm any informant. As the government is aware of that, they're citing the weapon-of-choice against civil and human rights: "but it's a threat to the national security!". It's not. Never was. Never will be. However, it is a threat – but towards governmental lies, crimes and misconduct.

    Today, it's a threat to national security if a bag of corn topples down! The theatre, on view worldwide and not just in the US (just look to France, the UK or Germany...) is ridiculous. They're behaving like kids when caught red-handed. How will we ever be able to criticize Russia or China for their treatment of journalists, if our free world stages a manhunt for a group who do nothing else than make our nations transparent – just as they should be?

    December 3, 2010 at 10:11 pm | Reply
  104. Peter

    No official blames WikiLeaks that documents have been faked, so everything really exists, and it is – even it is hard to believe and to accept – the truth. But it was hidden until now. Not Assange has to be accused, politicians have to look into the mirror and adjust their perverted way of thinking.

    One thing on privacy: If an ambassador sends a report to somebody official, it is not a private conversation. It is an official document. And if somebody in insulted in this document, who else should be responsible than the author?

    December 3, 2010 at 10:14 pm | Reply
  105. Brando55

    Julian Assange should received the Pulitzer Price for his great work unvealing the arrogance of the intenational diplomatic scène. This is the world upside down, the way the US government is overreacting. The WikiLead publications proves what is really happening behind our backs. The diplomats around the world, and Americans in particular, are endangering the world with their actions. This proves that politicians can't be trusted. What is happening here reminds me of Watergate, only now Robin Hood is not named Wooward and Bernstein but Assange. How can overnments solve large problems in the world when, at the same time, they view eachother like idiots. I really hope the WikiLead Action will

    December 3, 2010 at 10:25 pm | Reply
  106. Brando55

    lead to more openess from governments to their citizens. But I am afraid that the CIA and the Pentaon will find Mr Assange faster then Osama Bin
    Laden and will scapegoat him to avoid that the truth will come out.
    This embarresment to the US is due to themselves. Why are you afraid for WikiLeads? Because they have something to hide.

    Yes you can Julian Assange! You have my support!

    December 3, 2010 at 10:33 pm | Reply
  107. miha

    If politicians would be held personally responsible for their actions (and words) world would be a better, safer and sincere place without hypocrisy.

    Go wikiLeaks, good job! Assange should get a Nobel price!

    Slovenia, EU

    December 3, 2010 at 10:36 pm | Reply
  108. Junkie Madness

    Well, I am from Turkey and we considered the leaks as common knowledge. Most of the leaks were talked in many intellectual circles for years. As one of the frontier countries in the cold war, Turkey did suffer from American counter-communist agenda. It is a known fact that the situations that resulted in the military coup of 1980 was prepared by CIA and Turkish GLADIO. Otherwise how can you explain the sudden ceasefire after the day of the coup? Just a day before the coup, there was shootings between leftists and rightists students and innumerable deaths had occurred everyday. And just a day after the coup, nothing. Peace. Interesting, isn't it.

    In my opinion it is extremely important to have transparent relations with every country. Honesty is the primary for every relationship, from being a couple to diplomatic negotiations. It is important for the foreign ministries to stop spying and actually do foreign relations work. Even the current James Bond is more human now and does not consort to violence as much!!! Cold War is over and there are only a few countries left in the world that are openly against each other and all of them were created in the time of Cold War, from North Korea to Iran and even Israel. Relations could be improved significantly by telling the truth and apologizing to each other for the harms done and try to make amends. After all, we are all humans, nothing more.

    Wikileaks just fills the gap of information emptiness. It sorts out the gossip around people from the facts and that is good. It will neutralize the paranoid states that suspects everybody, like US and UK. With less gossips and more facts, people can decide efficiently. I hope states will learn from Wikileaks and take measures to provide transparency and ease of access to their files for common people. This will provide the states to be responsible for actions they take, they will not just hide the truth and get away with it AND handle consequences later, i.e. Afghanistan in 80s. Who trained Osama? US, to be used against Soviets. Then who is directly responsible for Osama's actions?

    Also, covert operations shall not be used in the near future with the help of sites like Wikileaks and hackers and that is a good thing too. If you could not handle the problem, why be a bully and consort to violent ways? Be wise and mature and take direct responsibility.

    Some official proposed assassination of Wikileaks spokesperson. Come on, which century are you living? Don't you learn that assassination just delays the problem, it does not solve it. Do the humane thing and talk more. Try to negotiate. Yes, it is harder, but it has also more lasting effects. No need for coups, assassinations, falsifying information...etc.

    December 3, 2010 at 10:41 pm | Reply
  109. Saimiri

    I am journalist. I am ftom Albanian. I know veri well what is a govermant that is not transparent. My opinoon for Wikileaks is positive, becauese the goverment, all the institution are for the public,. Why the public dont knwo everything. If one day I will be able to open a WikiLeaks will, would do. But do not think I would do in this way. There are many ways to do such a thing, and without having a media after such action to open a debate whether or not I acted towards that I published the truth. I think that Wikileaks does not have to be a secret organization, but I think also that she was compelled to do so. I have a question for the editors of CNN. How you felt when your colleagues revised killing of Reuters? Wikileaks also published this ... How to feel offended when a country's military said it your kujtuam ekzekutuam that they had rocket launchers .... This is my opinion. Thanks

    December 3, 2010 at 10:57 pm | Reply
  110. Mike

    Our system of checks and balances that were instituted by our founding fathers to protect Americans from government, bank and corporate business abuses have broken down or been circumvented. We need the transparency wikileaks provides to understand what our government does in our name. It is unfortunate that we are relying on wikileaks to provide the means for the exposing of documented policies and actions of our leaders.
    The exposure is not limited to the US and we also benefit from the data available from other nations and banks and corporations. I also think that the deeper reason Hillary is so upset is that this could put a dagger in her presidential aspirations.

    December 3, 2010 at 11:17 pm | Reply
  111. Sergiu

    You know that these documents put not only USA in a bad light, but also a lot of governments and big companies. What won't people do just for money and influence.
    I read some of the documents, really great to find out some new stuff about a lot of the governments. Of course most of us knew about a lot of bad things that are taking place in our countries or some others, but now we already have the proof.

    December 3, 2010 at 11:28 pm | Reply
  112. MisterWriter

    There are three sides to the question: Is government in need of a babysitter to ensure the highest standards are met; is the information relevant to a pattern of misconduct that would deem whistle blowing appropriate? And finally, should Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward have revealed the Watergate scandal through their whisteblowers? Isn't WikiLeaks that same model with technology applied? Where does our right to know end?

    December 3, 2010 at 11:56 pm | Reply
  113. Jusfiq Hadjar

    Yes, it is right and it is time to publish them.

    In this age of global village all the world citizens are entitled to know what American government – and not only American government – are doing.

    Jusfiq Hadjar
    Leiden, The Netherlands

    December 4, 2010 at 12:07 am | Reply
  114. dsada

    What about the fact that all that crap really happened? The biggest problem in the world these days is HYPOCRISY.

    December 4, 2010 at 12:26 am | Reply
  115. Stephen

    All of you writing a book.. Nonsense..
    If you buy stolen goods knowingly, you are liable.
    It is same if somebody would steel your information and would publish it on WikiLeaks. I do not think you would be happy about it.
    If you think governments do not lie and conduct honest politics then please wake up. I do not think that a new thing. Now the guy who stole it he will be punished and Julian will celebrated by all of you.
    No matter what is this and the freedom of speech, he did and he does have stolen property. I do not believe this is a question of right and wrong.
    WickiLeaks should be taken to the court because they do possess stolen property and they must surrender it.

    December 4, 2010 at 1:24 am | Reply
  116. Oresme

    1. No real amazing things have been disclosed, it's all pretty "no thrill" info. The real stuff was obviously on another network !!
    2. I think it is good to keep the pressure on individuals.. they can never be sure that no one will know... each individual is forced to think of others.. that's good when it comes to public affairs.
    3. In many ways, the US is double standard, double faced.. the leak will force the US to go back to more integrity, that can only be good.
    4. It will emulate others to do the same and that is good as well because most of the time will disclose private sector dirty secrets that make profit in an unfair way on the back of consumers.
    5. 21st century is coming !! in fact, it's already here.

    December 4, 2010 at 1:36 am | Reply
  117. Hamish

    GO WIKILEAKS, you are doing what our elected politicians should be doing – holding the executive accountable and reporting the truth back to their constituencies.

    Yes, all this comes out in the course of history but having the information now allows us more to contemplate at the next ballot box we face.

    I look forward to finding out what John Howard and co REALLY did with George Bush and Iraq/Afghanistan et al – not to mention the banks

    N Dorrigo NSW Australia

    December 4, 2010 at 2:14 am | Reply
  118. Sam

    could it be the banking documents that wikileak talked about to release, that made every one to attack them.
    Henry Ford said

    December 4, 2010 at 4:24 am | Reply
  119. Longtim

    Good on Assange. Nothing bad said about US and there citizens, they are mostly nice people but If more of this calibre of news came out more frequently then we probably have been living in a better world by now.

    Why is US so worried for theses leaks that has come out so far? There is not more news than anyone could have guessed. The reason US are worried is that other more inflicting leaks comes out. That sort of leaks that can justify war crime trials for both soldiers and politicians.

    December 4, 2010 at 5:15 am | Reply
  120. Hrishi

    Julian Assange is a Hero. Everyone knows the consequences when you do things like he did. But, he stood for what is right. Thats more important than anything. I salute the guts and strength of this guy.

    WikiLeaks is outnumbered small team against huge forces from various countries. We should need to understand that.

    About, leaks. He has absolutely done the right thing. Democracy is not a entity for politicians to make their livelihood, its an organization by people for people.And people have right to know if there is hypocritical views presented by the Government for their people.

    I understand there is a need to conceal some topics. But, in recent days, governments have used the Top Secret Shield to defend all their unscrupulous activities. These needs to be stopped.

    In this age of Information Technology , more and more mediums will rise up to disclose information. Thats why its information technology.
    Government should act cleanly and accept some of their faults rather than targetting WikiLeaks.

    WikiLeaks is an organization monitoring our Governments. This is something that is really needed in current world for all countries not just US.

    December 4, 2010 at 5:29 am | Reply
  121. Narapati

    Well... at some point, we knew that US didn't have pure intention to enforce human rights, deminishing poverty or making other countries as better world to live. It's all about US interest only to occupied resources and feeding its greedy economy.

    I understood now what US congressman wanted to our Papua Island. it's not about human rights at all. It's about gold and copper mining and protect freeport.

    I wish there are many Julian's clone live all over the world to uncover how sucks and corrupt the world police run its business. May all American not too blind to see the truth.

    December 4, 2010 at 6:18 am | Reply
  122. Birdwoman

    Excellent work by WikiLeaks.

    Problem is if you speak the truth to power, you diminish power, and the powerful don't like that, hence all the efforts to close down WikiLeaks and destroy Julian Assange. Pitiful, really.

    December 4, 2010 at 7:28 am | Reply
  123. gen

    The governments are only making themselves look worse by attacking WL. I love the way everyone says "we all knew they were lieing anyway". Just like we all knew it was a lie that Iraq had nuclear weapons. The people who are angry that the truth came out are the ones who benefit from and prefer to live in a world of lies. Shame on the journalists who don't stand up for freedom of information. Since when is covering up deaths of innocents diplomacy? I hope this doesn't cause our government to become more secretive but instead reminds them what their job is: diplomacy, not spying and not covering up. American living abroad

    December 4, 2010 at 9:11 am | Reply
  124. Seke

    Wikileaks is an absolute force for good. The documents are not only about the US, it is about many other countries. Wikileaks is there to show us all how corrupt, dark and harsh the current world order is. Just because these governments are elected by the people doesnt mean that they can do whatever they want behind doors..if it continues, it will pave the way for futurer generations to think for better systems and be morre constructive in solving world issues. You can say i am a dreamer, but i am not the only one 🙂

    December 4, 2010 at 9:14 am | Reply
  125. khan ivo

    wikileaks acted like a ny news agency will do but info that is meant to distabilise diplomatic relationships and world peace is criminal.but how could the Usa be so careless? am surprised robert gates has not yet resigned......

    December 4, 2010 at 9:38 am | Reply
  126. chris

    as an australian citizen i feel ashamed at the stance taken towards wikileaks from our ring in prime minister. if you are out there assange, I would like to let you know that I proudly brandished the name of your organisation on my t-shirt in sydney today. the response from the people who approached me was one of respect for what your portal is achieving. the peoples support appears to be overwhelmingly in your favor and in a true democracy that is all that should matter. go wikileaks.

    December 4, 2010 at 9:46 am | Reply
  127. fox

    hi i think wikileaks should be stoped at once its people like this team that could start another war and cost lives to servis personel and countless civilians on all sides ;i ask you this is wikileaks working for a well known terrorist group because he seems to be hell bent on world disorder and anorchy by sturring the sh..t with the cover of ;;oh its in the publics interest ; so what happend to the american secret servis have they forgot how to do their job ;ie to stop people like this threaterning the security of a nation ;why j edgar hoover would be pissed ;;;yours fox ;;;

    December 4, 2010 at 10:53 am | Reply
  128. Lisa

    The most surprising and disturbing aspect of this affair is the reaction of so called 'democratic' governments to the leaks. There are calls for assassination of Julian Assange, political pressure on web organisations to ban Wikileaks, and most shocking, high ranking government officials talking of inventing laws to arrest one man .

    These actions are the ugly face of our so called 'western democracies'. The next time the US or Australia or France condemn China, remember their reaction to Wikileaks.

    I am particularly ashamed that my own Australian government refuses to support a fellow citizen in his time of need. I am disgusted and genuinely upset that the ideals of freedom that I believed the US and Australia represented have been destroyed by greedy, scared and pathetic governments.

    December 4, 2010 at 11:19 am | Reply
  129. sophia

    Wikileaks had a right to publish these dcuments because the show the real face of the empire ..they are warlogs which belong to history anyway.

    December 4, 2010 at 11:58 am | Reply
  130. OluwaTobi Johannes

    Brilliant!! That's how I describe Mr Assanges effort at achieving governmental and international transperency! Its sure going to produce controversy, its like passing a security personell through a body scanner, which he operates!!...
    Did someone just ring the bell anticipating Word War 3????

    December 4, 2010 at 12:41 pm | Reply
  131. Reese P.

    For all those of you who believe that WikiLeaks and any other organization or private individual has the freedom to publish any information that they wish, let me ask you one question: Would you be happy if they published your full name, address, phone number, social security number, bank account numbers, health information, passport number, and all of your other personal information online for anyone to see? If an identity thief then used that information to drain your finances, ruin your credit history, and damage your reputation, would you not then feel upset that WiliLeaks had published your "private" information? Are governments then not allowed "private" information? I believe many of you do not understand the realities of diplomacy and how the world works. It would be fabulous if we could conduct all diplomacy out in the open for anyone to see, but that is not how the real world operates. These do nothing but damage international realations, and not just for the US, but for many countries.

    December 4, 2010 at 1:01 pm | Reply
  132. bill wynne

    The UK and USA need to be careful on how they handle Julian Assange
    once and if he is apprended.

    The world is watching, and the age of the internet will ensure this.
    The experience of Wilileaks will hopefully ensure that improved
    security surrounds government operations, but it should also
    tell democratic governments that they need to be far more
    honest and open in their dealings. We all have a right to know about
    what countries are doing that endanger our survival as a world community.

    The same applies to economics and business practice. The definition
    of a market economy embodies the principal that consumers
    have as much knowledge of the market of business they are dealing
    with to make reasonable judgements on investing.
    It also relies on ethical business practice.

    It was the lack of these things that gave us the Global Economic Crisis.
    If Wikileaks has focused the attention of the powerful, that their decisions
    and past actions will be under further public scrutiny , then this is
    good for all of us .

    Thank you


    December 4, 2010 at 1:06 pm | Reply
  133. ha

    I think that public need to know what is the truth, and the world leaders should know that nothing can't conceal forever. I always give support to WikiLeaks.
    Ha from Vietnam

    December 4, 2010 at 1:29 pm | Reply
  134. Cathrine

    The reason the leaked cables have focussed on the US is no doubt because they were leaked by US citizens, I don't think Wikileaks would hesitate to do the same to other countries.

    Can't wait to see Sweden's version of justice when the rape trials start.


    December 4, 2010 at 1:36 pm | Reply
  135. Henry in Germany

    I am in two minds about this. My first reaction was that it must
    be unacceptable to make documents which were meant to be private, even if they were Government sponsored, available to the public, especially when they pertain to security. Would you like your private or personal documents splashed around on the internet? On the other hand, the true thinking of some government and other officials and their lack of transparency, integrity and accountability can be profitably aired to some extent in public to let us know what is really in the minds of such individuals whose decisions affect all of us. It is hard to know at this point, until we've seen all the documents whether the benefits of everybody knowing their contents will be greater than any damage caused in the ability of the United States to conduct its various missions. I suppose it would be only fair if corresponding documents were made available from all the players on the world stage, not just the US which is the only victim so far..

    December 4, 2010 at 1:58 pm | Reply
  136. Ricardo

    show to the world, that the planet is under US control, and that shouldn't be like that. All the countries has to work together for a better development of humans actions, like democracy, no war... working at closing door is not right

    December 4, 2010 at 2:07 pm | Reply
  137. bk

    I think it is the best thing happening to democracy for years. And do not think this only focuses on the US. Also the dutch government had stuff to hide which is out in the open for good.

    The people have a right to know what the actions of their government is. This is crucial in a democracy in which ever country you live.
    B from the Netherlands.

    December 4, 2010 at 3:02 pm | Reply
  138. mauro

    I just saw the video "collateral Damage" when they killed the routers
    guy. What a bunch of unprepared cowboys, I mean, how can it be possible that educated people could behave like these pilots. killing civilians, mistaking a video cam with a gun. And laughing when the tank runs over a body. It really is ashamed. it is not fair this type of technology of killing. It´s not noble, it´s a dirty war. These people will burn in hell forever. That´s why i see why USA is a crumbling and rotten NAtion. The evil in USA surpasses the Good. Sad

    December 4, 2010 at 3:45 pm | Reply
  139. Lin

    If you are right for the U.S, you are right for the human in the world, why do you need to hide these documents?

    December 4, 2010 at 3:51 pm | Reply
  140. Theo

    Our politicians and government always lie to us, as proven by the Pentagon Papers, Watergate scandal, etc. etc.Our present government is not better that any of the past or the future.

    The Wikileaks release did prove one thing for sure, our President is a weak and ineffective leader, who promised a lot, but cannot deliver even a part of those promises. Although Israel cannot exist without our military, diplomatic and financial support, he is unable to control their illegal building in occupied territory. One must wonder, who is the superpower and who is the client state.
    Now we offer 20 fighter planes worth 3 billion dollars for a three months stop of construction. Great idea, they take the planes and start building theree months later.

    Since the US media is controlled by special interest groups and will edit any news, I turned to BBC, Sky News, Al Jaseera, Russia Today, France24 and other international TV to get a better idea of the truth behind a piece of news.
    Those, who good two years ago were hot for Obama, today they laugh at his childish efforts. Hillary Clinton, with her long years in Washington, sure doesn´t show any more progress in world diplomacy, we continue our rapid decend to the ranks of second class powers.

    December 4, 2010 at 3:53 pm | Reply
  141. dinesh mehta

    wikileaks has opened the real face of american imperialism.always preaching and doing reverse,the world has realised,usa is not a faithful friend.wikileaks is doing a wonderful job in exposing hypocrisy of american democracy.

    December 4, 2010 at 5:36 pm | Reply
  142. Randalf the Grey

    I don't know whether Wikileaks is right or wrong in publishing this info, but, i've got a question: if it is wrong, then, publishing the watergate affairs was also wrong?

    December 4, 2010 at 5:39 pm | Reply
  143. Hector

    Julian keep it up, I wish I could say keep the bastards honest but I can't so let's keep pounding them until the time these people tell us the truth so there will not be a need for wikileaks. And , on that day pigs will fly, and I will change my name to Donald duck.

    December 4, 2010 at 5:40 pm | Reply
  144. Hector

    For a country in which people have the rights to carry a weapon, they sure get upset about someone exposing the truth. Incidentally, I'm in Ukraine at the moment.

    December 4, 2010 at 6:06 pm | Reply
  145. Taka

    Unlike most conspiracy theorists there are no lies and no theories with this round of disclosures. Just uncontestable and Irrefutable facts which look as ugly in the morning as when you went to bed..

    Technology and openness helped people rethink their attitudes towards torture, attitudes towards war, attitudes towards global problems. Wikileaks is helping give Americans the opportunity to assess the gap between what they want govt to be doing and what govt actually does. Ironically Technology is also trying to shut-down Wikileaks.

    Wonder whether more attention should be placed on the musings of people at Speaker's corners across the globe. Robert Gates response was a lot better than Hilary Clinton's. Oh and CNN you could have and still can do more.

    If the purpose of Assange is to just cause trouble then that is an issue, but if it is to go some way to reforming the practice of government then that is admirable and should be supported. We all need to swallow the red pill ! !

    December 4, 2010 at 7:10 pm | Reply
  146. Jim Dakota

    It was right to publish the docs. The public has a right to know what our elected leaders are doing with our money and in our name. As those docs. show, there is a lot of dirty, unfair tactics and lies at work.

    The public has been lied to for so many times that it has come to a situation when these lies must be shown to the public.

    The whole Iraq war is based 100 % on lies and today we have +115,000 dead Iraq civilians and another +5,000 dead US troops.

    The DEA let the vice president of Afghanistan pop up with US$ 52 million in cash in Dubai, knowing that it's drug money – and they let him go while at the same time people are dying of illegal drugs in the USA.

    Some people think that it’s just the USA that is targeted, wrong. In Germany 21 people died during a mass trampling in the city of Duisburg (Loveparade, June/2010). WL made secret docs about that available and the public couldn’t believe what they read.

    The public has no right to know that? I pretty much doubt that.

    Germany, Xanten.

    December 4, 2010 at 7:11 pm | Reply
  147. bho

    A factual study of political science ....

    December 4, 2010 at 7:22 pm | Reply
  148. Swede

    it is your goverment that is f**cked up ...it is their own fault ...they try to play world police way too much ...grow up Americans take a look what is behind the curtain that is so secret ...only you can change the politics ... enough with the sweeping under the carpet shit

    December 4, 2010 at 9:00 pm | Reply
  149. Simon

    "Why has Wikileaks attacked only the US ?"... no-one is attacking USA, it's not wikileaks fault that the US diplomatic/governmental systems leak like sieves.

    Any diplomatic or political system which can't with-stand having the public know how it functions should be disbanded.

    We get to see wars, live on television.... why shouldn't all the "behind the scenes" stuff by displayed for public scrutiny.

    It's can only strengthen the diplomatic processes if the involved parties all know that their citizens may know the diplomatic process.

    Some may argue that it's becomes an unfair system if the citizens of "free countries" will be able to see exactly what their governments do. While the leaders of totalitarian states can do what-ever the want because they complete media control.
    This should give the "free" countries greater incentive to force change in the countries where the citizens don't have the liberty to elect a government, never mind criticize it.

    It's just so simple.... the governments, etc. should just never do/say/think anything that the general public can't handle.

    I personally don't think that any form of governmental system should be allowed from withholding and information which doesn't directly put people in danger.
    So no leaking current military information, etc, but as soon as any intelligence looses strategic value.... make it public.

    One should start distributing the wikileaks documents as torrents to ensure a "global backup system"

    December 4, 2010 at 9:49 pm | Reply
  150. Hector

    Assents is not just attacking the US only you moronic bleeding hearts, the thing is that it appears the US has more skeletons in the cupboard than anyone else, as well as having the people working for these frauds, cheats and liars we call government with the courage to take a risk for all of us. So if you today still believe that's is ok to go and kill people in another country by fabricating lies, I do strongly suggest you should be reading mein kampf and not wikileaks.

    December 4, 2010 at 9:53 pm | Reply
  151. Greg

    Several Points:

    1. The government comes always with the "if you have nothing to hide then show it" argument when they take our freedom away(patriot act, tsa naked body scanners/groping). They are now outraged when somebody does the same thing with them....
    2. The system is rotten to its core. Hard core capitalism for the masses, socialism(bail out) for the rich. We only can commend the brave who expose this fraud.
    3. The powers that be do not understand the information age and its representatives(Assange). The information warriors are smarter then you think and you can't shut them down in the traditional way because if you do they keep popping up in other parts of the internet.

    December 4, 2010 at 10:43 pm | Reply
  152. Talha

    WikiLeaks is the best thing to have happened to this world in a long time! We certainly had an idea of how hypocritical our leaders were but didn't think they'd actually go that far! Great to know the real picture of it all. I'm sad how this world operates today, with our leaders masked behind facades and the real story hidden from us. Unfortunate.

    Talha K
    Karachi, Pakistan

    December 4, 2010 at 11:15 pm | Reply
  153. Astrid Castro

    Julian Assange is just a common criminal who doesn't care if his actions endanger the lives of the citizens of other countries. Being a thief, he should be held accountable in a court of law for his actions. Like the coward that he is, he is now hiding. Now that his ego trip is is over and he finds himself being repudiated by most reasonable people, he is hiding in some rat hole. How appropriate!

    December 5, 2010 at 12:00 am | Reply
  154. Don Chingon


    December 5, 2010 at 1:53 am | Reply
  155. George Vreeland Hill

    We are sick of government lies and fraud.
    Go WikiLeaks.
    Not WikiLeaks.
    We demand the truth and we will not be stopped.
    I am,


    December 5, 2010 at 3:45 am | Reply
  156. Andy

    After the Salman Rusdie styled fatwas from AMERICA as we have heard from professor and Gorvernment advisor Tom Flanagan, former governors Mike Huckabee and Sarah Palin, as well as from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who wants Wikileaks to be classified as a terror network in order to freeze assets and turn Mr. Assange into a taliban styled legal military target, one immediatly think about some kind of Stalin styled Enemy of the State death list, as in the Chinese infamous "gang of four" outcasts and executions. This world is now in serious jeopardy. 1984, Star Wars and the Matrix is right here on our doorstep! Assange is leading the Freedom of Speech movement in the Information Age, Neo style.

    The issue has thus turned far above tactical considerations on some foreign battlefield and its information game, and it has turned far above the consequences of opened diplomatic letters and embarrassments of western governments in front of the peoples they serve.

    Far more important issues are at stake here.

    What is at stake are the very fundamentals which those generals, those diplomats and those Governments are employed to defend. The most core values once originating from the ideas of Enlightenment in Europe, the very ideas that once were written in the document called The Constitution of The United States and the Bill of Rights.

    Liberty itself is at stake.

    The Government of the United States is pressing country after country in the western world to shut down Wikileaks News Agency and incarcerate, even maybe execute their leaders, in the same manner as the West always have accused China, the Soviet Union and similar states to treat dissidents. How is Hillary Clinton thinking? Julian Assange is becoming one of the first dissidents in the western world to reappear since democracy and freedom of speech where ever introduced in Europe and America. To defend people like Julian Assange and WikiLeaks, to prevent Western societies from ever turning into Soviet Styled Evil Empires is the very reason the Statue of Liberty is holding her torch so high in the air. Both in New York and in Paris. Where are the minute men?

    Does Hillary Clinton even share the same values as the Statue of Liberty?

    December 5, 2010 at 3:58 am | Reply
  157. wishabhilash

    The way diplomacy is being done has reduced to being a play in many countries. In this case US is the protagonist.

    keeping secret is not bad at all. some times for national security its important. however, the way US has shown its tendency to poke its nose in everyone else's matter masquerading it to be diplomatic it just not done.

    if you are creating secrets to cheat or have an upper hand in a world where power dominates then its called mis-utilization of power. Which US seems to be doing.

    behind back doors premier political leaders are mocked upon. no way can this be called anything other than sheer underestimation and disrespect towards a country.

    Secret programs to gather information about the allies to help someone is no way justified. the way US government delayed release of documents post 26/11 by India as per the request of ISI is an act of shame when they talk openly of helping India in investigations. It were all a pretensions.

    US diplomacy as it seems is motivated by ideas of manipulating countries for personal benefit and less co-operation.

    It's a shame not only for US but for any country who does it. For now it's US who has to take the hardship.

    i just wish good for all. For Julian Assange who has allegedly stolen the documents may not be called right on all instances, especially on this. however, as it is said,

    "you are doomed to sink into the hole that you yourself has dug".

    Assange for what he has done brings many positives which can't be denied. At least governments around the world will be more watchful for self preservation.

    I respect Assange for his intellect, intelligence and courage to come up with such sensitive and world changing information. I congratulate him for this.

    "When torch of truth was flickering in a storm of pretensions, he gave his hand to keep it lighted."

    maybe this was what was needed to move the world around us.

    "Destruction leads to rejuvenation. And I bet on optimism."

    December 5, 2010 at 10:45 am | Reply
  158. wishabhilash

    @Fernando Sánchez

    I would apologize in advance. however this gentleman here has a strange humor to compare the secrecy of a governmental operation to the personal life of an individual.

    how can someones personal life be a deciding factor in the whole world???

    I hope this be kept separated as these reactions solely comes from a emotional mindset.

    December 5, 2010 at 11:13 am | Reply
  159. Alexia

    I first thought China and North Korea were dictators until now. The USA`s hypocricy is unbelievable. Great dictators. Talking all the time about human rights and free speech when it involves other countries. What a shame. How can you propose assassination of Assange? Unbelievable. Go wikileak and God protect you Julian Assange. Assange if you read this do not come to Sweden. They are working together with the USA. Thankyou Assange keep on the good work.

    December 5, 2010 at 3:16 pm | Reply
  160. Jan Wiesemann

    HERE is a subject that I would like those who funish WikiLeaks with classified material to investigate:
    CNN Docu: "Losing Lennon: Countdown to Murder"
    The Mossad does it and whenever they do it leave their signature calling card: A large number of active co-conspirators that require massive logistics. That’s they way they did it in January 2010 when they assassinated senior Hamas commander al-Mabhouh in his hotel room in Dubai. And that’s they way they did it when they hunted down members of the Black September to take revenge for the murder of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany.

    The Russians do it and whenever they do it leave their signature calling card: Little-known esoteric poisons often concealed in weird gadgetry. That’s how the KGB helped the Bulgarians murder their dissident Georgi Markov on the Waterloo bridge in September of 1978 when an unknown individual injected a pellet of ricin into Markov’s leg with a device concealed in a specially reconstructed umbrella. And that’s how they murdered former FSB officer Alexander Litvinenko when someone poisoned his tea with a small dose of radioactive Polonium 210.

    Experts examining these murders immediately recognize the method of operation. It’s the method of operation that points investigators into the direction of the government involved.

    It should come as no surprise that the United States also does it. And whenever the United States does it, leaves a hidden signature calling card, just like everyone else. The method of operation chosen allows the U.S. government to play a double role. Each role is diametrically opposed to the other. The first is in the limelight and therefore quite obvious: A democracy based on law and order holding up the beacon of light for the rest of the world. The second role is contradictory to the first and the actions undertaken on its behalf are mired in disinformation, secrecy and official denials: A superpower determined to enforce ist pax Americana, no matter what the cost.

    Out of this dilemma a top-secret solution has emerged: A method of operation that allows the US. government to simultaneously play both roles at the same time, independent of each other.

    Mind Games is the beautifully dark story on how to perfectly create yourself a delusional assassin. Ever wanted to get rid of that nagging stepmother, that ruthless boss or that unbeatable political opponent? Check out the techniques by which the U.S. government assassinated Robert F. Kennedy, John Lennon and a few others.

    Sirhan Sirhan is in jail for a crime that the autopsy of Robert F. Kennedy proves he could not possibly have committed. RFK was shot from behind, Sirhan stood in front of RFK. Sirhan held his gun at a straight, perpendicular angle but the bullets that killed RFK travelled upwards until they all ended up stuck in the ceiling tiles that the LAPD immediately removed and destroyed. All witnesses to the shooting agree that Sirhan never got closer to RFK than about a yard, yet the bullets that killed RFK left burn-marks on the back of his clothing which means that the gun that really killed RFK was fired at close contact from behind, not more than a few inches or so. Sirhan hallucinated that “RFK must be assassinated assassinated assassinated assassinated” and fired in his direction, but he never killed anyone. The people he injured all recovered.

    If the autopsy of Robert F. Kennedy proves that Sirhan was manipulated, could there be others?

    How was Sirhan manipulated and if he was manipulated, why does he seem incapable of pointing the finger at those who made him do it?

    Twelve years later the U.S. government hates John Lennon. Suddenly Mark Chapman starts to hallucinate that the Catcher in the Rye says John Lennon must die.

    Mind Games examines the evidence and contends the only reason certain unfortunate individuals turned into delusional, hallucinating assassins is because, unknowingly, they first became the victim of a covertly induced model psychosis. All it takes is an involuntary, unwitting overdose of amphetamines to initiate the psychosis, culminating in a delusional state of mind up to three months thereafter, regardless of the state of sanity at the outset. A covert overdose the subject will not even be aware of. Once reality starts to slip away the subject can be manipulated without the ghost of a chance of becoming aware of the manipulation.

    No longer capable of comprehending the significance of his actions, he is tricked into psyching himself up until he suddenly can’t help himself but to carry out the assassination.

    The U.S. government can then make a big show of its commitment to democracy and thoroughly prosecute the delusional shooter.

    Since the subject is in no position to understand the covert means of his manipulation the secret will remain dormant until another politically inconvenient figure comes along.

    Since anyone can be turned into a delusional psychotic, anyone can be made to assassinate anyone. All it takes is the top-secret know-how.

    Formerly the exclusive propriety of men operating in the shadows on behalf of the United States government, you can now try these techniques out for yourself.

    Learn how to take advantage of the special effects auditory wizardry that hallucinating schizos have a much greater reaction to.

    Discover the secret protocol that, if followed correctly, will leave the schizo at the mercy of your technology with no other choice but to carry out your barely audible commands, even against his own interests.

    Best of all is the schizo’s complete inability to point the finger at you for making him do it. But just in case he should, that individual will inevitably sound so delusional that no one will believe him.

    In 1992 the author defected from the Central Intelligence Agency to prevent George Bush Sr.’s anticipated “October Surprise” assassination plot against Saddam Hussein so that the issue of the 1992 presidential election would be the economy so that Bill Clinton would win.

    Mind Games begins with the author’s background, then delves into the covert history of the various assassinations and explains the secret manipulations involved. Mind Games contains information found nowhere else. It is the only book of its kind that will teach you step by step how to turn a sane subject into a hallucinating, delusional schizophrenic assassin, even against his will.




    http://www.LucineDistribution.com/Jan MG.html

    Will furnish CNN with a complimentary copy of Mind Games upon request.

    If you apply the steps I have outlined and the schizo does not try to assassinate the target, I will give you a full refund. 🙂

    December 5, 2010 at 9:10 pm | Reply
  161. Jurgen R. Brul

    Hello CNN friends,

    According to U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes and U.S. Representative Michael G. Oxley (Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002) ALL American People, who are Paying Taxes must know the Truth about their Government!

    Jurgen R. Brul
    Hometown: Paramaribo
    Country: Suriname

    December 6, 2010 at 1:17 am | Reply
  162. verystrange mann


    December 6, 2010 at 6:18 am | Reply
  163. Shelley

    the smaller the amount of courage, the more one relies on lies – if our strength and character can be damaged by the things we write – STOP WRITING THEM – you are a public figure when you are voted into office – get some scrupes instead of dismay

    December 6, 2010 at 4:10 pm | Reply
  164. Ammar Abbasi

    Wiki Leaks documents were released across the Globe and i see it as a very good sign that the things which were behind the doors are being brought to the public.Certainly the diplomats will be facing some difficulties as a result of these cables leaks but its very encouraging that they docs are being released.Frankly speaking it wont harm relations between different nations spread across the 7 continents since the leaders and diplomats across the Globes would already be aware of these comments so it would be nothing new for them.Public awareness will be enhanaced as a result of these leaks and thats a very encouraging thing.I am very hopeful that people will take these things positively and that would be a very good sign !

    December 6, 2010 at 9:09 pm | Reply
  165. TERRY


    December 16, 2010 at 6:45 pm | Reply
  166. STANLEY

    just a question about weapons.in many places in the world drone attacks are becioming the weapon of choice could this happen in sweden or even the english countryside ?

    December 17, 2010 at 2:50 pm | Reply
  167. Dodie

    @ CNN

    I was just in China and Seoul Korea this past September/October 2010. In a discussion with a small group of University students, the consensus was the torpedo of the south Korean ship was most likely NOT by the DPRK and the Korean University Students felt their government was trying to manipulate mine (USA). My question is why would we continue to engage in military maneuvers when the DPRK is feeling very vulnerable. China will NOT take a back seat if South Korea continues to provoke agitation by playing “war games” and maneuvers with the US in the area of the DMZ that was never accepted by the DPRK. The concern I have with the DPRK is that Kim Jong il is very ill and his youngest son, only age 26, Kim Jong Un (depicted as a 'hothead") might end up being his father's successor very soon. Kim Jong Un was promoted to the Workers' Party Central Committee and the Party's Central Military Commission at a party convention in September 2010, at the rank of four-star general of the Korean People's Army the day before, putting him in line to succeed his father. This could cause the DPRK to become very unstable and aggressive as Kim Jong Un will feel the need to prove his power to party officials and could lead to a potential war. This information came directly from China and South Korea in September and October 2010.

    This is clear harassment by South Korea and engaging the US to back them. I apologize this is off topic, but the information "is important"

    December 20, 2010 at 12:56 am | Reply
  168. Ijames

    It was wrong to obtain and publish such information! Diplomacy is the 'oil that lubricates the machinery' of international relations. It is the art of debating, listening, influencing and communicating 'behind the scenes' and must be allowed privacy to work. opinions and counter-arguments must be heard and balanced in confidence to arrive at workable solutions, which can then be safely made public.

    Politicians expose themselves to embarrassment as 'part of the job' but they are, ultimately, elected by the population they serve. They have a duty to inform the public at the right time. Their constituents have the right to deselect them if they disagree with their performance in this, or indeed any, respect.

    Julian Assange has no elective mandate and has appointed himself, and his organization, as arbiters of which information to disseminate. He is answerable to nobody, except perhaps to the rule of law, though this is not yet certain.

    I prefer to be informed, or not, by those whom I elect, and not to rely on a self-appointed arbiter who cannot be deposed.

    January 4, 2011 at 9:52 am | Reply
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