Tuesday, November 30, 2010
WIKIMADNESS
Actually the world seems to be responding rather well to the latest data dump by WikiLeaks.
I liked the NYTimes editorial this morning.
I don't think that I have heard anything unexpected in the reports so far. Some things are funny. Sarkozi as the "emperor without clothes". I suppose some things are personally embarrassing. But we know all this stuff more or less.
There will be some bits about the Bush renditions and all. There are notes about Guantanamo.
Perhaps some lives are now in danger but that is hard to credit at this point. In any event, we will not learn who they are.
Some think that this will lead to more secrecy. Perhaps. But I imagine not. People will always exchange frank comments behind the lines of public knowledge. It is part of the human game. Have a front, keep it up and snicker behind and talk rough and tough when you want to get a point across.
I lived through the period of The Pentagon Papers.
While their exposure of government lies, including those of President Johnson, was shocking, it wasn't the information itself that was the surprise. It was that the lying had been so systematic and planned out. Everyone knew they were lying. This was merely the proof.
The idea that someone would steal the high security reports was the shocker. And then that the NYTimes would publish.
Maybe there is a smoking gun in this dump of data. I think not. All the speculation that goes on about what is "really" happening is usually rather accurate. It is the group cloud of opinion and data gathering. Almost always right.
I do get pissed off at the head of the WikiLeaks gang, Assange. I think that he is a slippery arrogant bastard on a power trip but most people who take risks like this are. Assholes with a purpose. Watch out for them. They are often successful because they don't give a shit what people think of them.
Labels: government
