# Wikileaks releasing thousands of diplomatic cables. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 27, 2010, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikileaks-releasing-thousands-of-diplomatic-cables/562041 "2010-11-27T02:58:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2010, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikileaks-releasing-thousands-of-diplomatic-cables/562041/21 "2010-11-27T14:42:34Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > One thing I find interesting is the timing of this. Wikileaks could have released this month ago. Why didn’t they? They have some sort of screening process to make sure the release of the documents wouldn’t directly endanger someones life. The screening is executed by a few journalists on a volunteer basis, and given the number of documents, its not particularily surprising that its taken several months. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2010, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikileaks-releasing-thousands-of-diplomatic-cables/562041/22 "2010-11-27T14:49:44Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > They have some sort of screening process to make sure the release of the documents wouldn’t directly endanger someones life. The screening is executed by a few journalists on a volunteer basis, and given the number of documents, its not particularily surprising that its taken several months. Good point. I do recall this process being mentioned when the war documents were released. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2010, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikileaks-releasing-thousands-of-diplomatic-cables/562041/23 "2010-11-27T16:34:55Z")
Previous releases have done little to topple governments or cause much trouble at all. The government screams about the damage every release will cause. Then nothing. Governments love their secrecy, too damn much, I believe. The governments lie to their people over and over ,then want us to vote for them because we can trust them and believe what they say. Let the truth out. I wish someone would release all the double dealing and lying Kisslnger was involved in. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikileaks-releasing-thousands-of-diplomatic-cables/562041/24 "2010-11-27T17:47:11Z")
[quote=] “We are worried about additional documents coming out,” US ambassador to Baghdad James Jeffrey told reporters at an embassy briefing. "WikiLeaks are an absolutely awful impediment to my business, which is to be able to have discussions in confidence with people. I do not understand the motivation for releasing these documents. “They will not help, they will simply hurt our ability to do our work here.” [/quote] [Is he right?](http://www.france24.com/en/20101126-us-slams-wikileaks-ahead-release-diplomatic-cables) I’m not sure. For me it’ll depend entirely on what gets released. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2010, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikileaks-releasing-thousands-of-diplomatic-cables/562041/25 "2010-11-27T17:58:53Z")
Interesting link: > **[StateLogs: Wikileaks begins to reveal 250,000 diplomatic files](http://owni.fr/2010/11/27/wikileaks-statelogs-diplomatic-assange-application-insurance/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A%2BOwni%2B%28Owni%29)** > > Wikileaks might be on the verge of releasing new information on a scale larger than before. We will provide the tools and context to explore the new logs. > [@](#): > > [Live] StateLogs: Wikileaks might reveal 250,000 diplomatic files > > When we published the Iraqi Warlogs, Wikileaks contacted us directly and we worked with them on the browsing interface that helped users analyze the 400,000 Sigacts from the US Army. This time, as Wikileaks might be on the verge of releasing new information on a scale larger than before, we decided not to be bound by a Non-disclosure Agreement, as last time, and to keep our hands untied. Together with Le Soir in Brussels and [Slate.fr](http://Slate.fr) in Paris, we will provide the tools and context to explore the logs. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikileaks-releasing-thousands-of-diplomatic-cables/562041/26 "2010-11-27T18:37:40Z")
I keep picturing emails like > [@](#): > > GW Bush) Hey Laura doesn’t Hillary have a big ass? or > [@](#): > > Laura Bush) Geroge after you’re done invading Iraq and pick up some vanilla ice cream or > [@](#): > > Laura Bush) You can’t let your daughter rot in jail for underage drinking, bail her out. or > [@](#): > > GW Bush) No Monica, I won’t do that. You’ve already proven you can’t keep a secret ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2010, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikileaks-releasing-thousands-of-diplomatic-cables/562041/27 "2010-11-27T19:21:12Z")
> **[WL Central | An endorsed WikiLeaks resource](https://wlcentral.org/)** > [@](#): > > Der Spiegel is expected to go live with the full edition at 22:30 Sunday, local time, according to a front page announcement. > **[US envoys forced to apologise in advance as Wikileaks release looms](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/us-envoys-forced-to-apologise-in-advance-as-wikileaks-release-looms-2144993.html)** > > America fears disclosure of diplomatic cables will offend allies > [@](#): > > US envoys forced to apologise in advance as Wikileaks release looms > > Frantic behind the scenes wrangling was under way last night as US officials tried to stem the fallout from the expected release of up to three million confidential diplomatic communiques by the Wikileaks website. > > Over the past 48 hours, American ambassadors have had the unenviable task of informing some of the country’s strongest allies that a series of potentially embarrassing cables are likely to be released in the coming days. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2010, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikileaks-releasing-thousands-of-diplomatic-cables/562041/28 "2010-11-27T19:30:11Z")
According to that wlcentral link in my previous post, One cable dates back to 1966. For some reason that one really piques my curiosity, but it’ll likely be inconsequential. ---
**Author:** ![godix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/278dde/32.png) [@godix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/godix)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2010, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikileaks-releasing-thousands-of-diplomatic-cables/562041/29 "2010-11-27T20:17:54Z")
Based on wikileaks past performance, I doubt much will come of this. As before, it’ll probably be a bunch of fairly low level stuff that has little if any surprises in it. Most likely the biggest secret that gets exposed is that the ambassador to XYZ once said something less than flattering about XYZ. It’s hard for me to call revealing that sort of crap to be heroic, but it’s also hard to call it villainous. It’s just a kinda dick move of little concern to anyone not directly involved. Assange wants to be the NYT releasing the Pentagon Papers, but so far he’s hasn’t even managed to be as influential and relevant as the National Enquirer reporting on a politicians affair. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2010, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikileaks-releasing-thousands-of-diplomatic-cables/562041/30 "2010-11-27T21:11:32Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > It’s not. Bradley Manning, an Army intel analyst who has reportedly admitted that he downloaded the diplomatic cables, has been charged with leaking classified materials. Manning should get the death penalty. Has the connection to [Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell](http://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/24239/wikileaks-did-bradley-manning-leak-beacuase-of-dont-ask-dont-tell/) been reported much? I was at the gym today and switched the audio to MSNBC as soon as I saw his picture but I didn’t hear anything about his motives. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2010, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikileaks-releasing-thousands-of-diplomatic-cables/562041/31 "2010-11-27T23:57:49Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > Manning should get the death penalty. > > Has the connection to [Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell](http://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/24239/wikileaks-did-bradley-manning-leak-beacuase-of-dont-ask-dont-tell/) been reported much? If that is his proven motive, fine. Does this constitute as treason though? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikileaks-releasing-thousands-of-diplomatic-cables/562041/32 "2010-11-28T00:27:57Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > Manning should get the death penalty. Like Scooter and his boss did? Or that democrat who stuffed the classified documents in his pants at the national archives? ---
**Author:** ![Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/aca169/32.png) [@Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inbred_Mm_domesticus)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikileaks-releasing-thousands-of-diplomatic-cables/562041/33 "2010-11-28T00:50:36Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > What seems one-sided to me is the treatment of Assange as a hero versus the treatment of the people in the Valerie Plame affair (rightly) as scumbags. They would have to be analogous situations for this statement to make sense. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikileaks-releasing-thousands-of-diplomatic-cables/562041/34 "2010-11-28T01:22:41Z")
> [@Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](#): > > They would have to be analogous situations for this statement to make sense. Agreed, Assange would have to be as callous and personally vindictive as the perpetrators of the Valerie Plame business. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikileaks-releasing-thousands-of-diplomatic-cables/562041/35 "2010-11-28T01:28:21Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > Agreed, Assange would have to be as callous and personally vindictive as the perpetrators of the Valerie Plame business. Also by definition he isn’t as treasonous as they are, even if he were outing CIA operatives in the field. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikileaks-releasing-thousands-of-diplomatic-cables/562041/36 "2010-11-28T01:29:02Z")
[http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/28/stories/2010112857880100.htm](http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/28/stories/2010112857880100.htm) > [@](#): > > India, world brace for new WikiLeaks flood > > NEW DELHI: American diplomats have warned India to prepare itself for potential embarrassment from the expected release by WikiLeaks of three million confidential U.S. diplomatic cables. The message was conveyed to the Indian embassy in Washington after a senior State Department official tried unsuccessfully to reach Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, who is travelling in Sri Lanka. > > India is not the only country the U.S. has alerted. The documents, which will go live on the Internet beginning in the next 24 to 48 hours, consist of cables sent by American embassies around the world — especially in India, Israel, Russia, Turkey, Canada and Britain — to the State Department in Washington. Since such cables are meant to be confidential, it is a standard practice for the diplomats writing them to be candid and blunt in their assessments and sometimes even disrespectful to officials and leaders in their host countries. It is this aspect of the forthcoming leak which is particularly worrying U.S. diplomats. Some cables could also contain information about surreptitious activity by U.S. missions. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikileaks-releasing-thousands-of-diplomatic-cables/562041/37 "2010-11-28T01:37:15Z")
Wikiiedia cofounder addresses Wikileaks: > > [@](#): > > @wikileaks Speaking as Wikipedia’s co-founder, I consider you enemies of the U.S.–not just the government, but the people. > > Larry Sanger > > [@](#): > > @wikileaks What you’ve been doing to us is breathtakingly irresponsible & can’t be excused with pieties of free speech and openness. > > Larry Sanger ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikileaks-releasing-thousands-of-diplomatic-cables/562041/38 "2010-11-28T01:47:46Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Wikipedia cofounder addresses Wikileaks: > > [http://twitter.com/lsanger/status/8617774721015808](http://twitter.com/lsanger/status/8617774721015808) > [http://twitter.com/lsanger/status/8618100681347072](http://twitter.com/lsanger/status/8618100681347072) …cite for his connection to wikileaks? ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikileaks-releasing-thousands-of-diplomatic-cables/562041/39 "2010-11-28T02:00:01Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …cite for his connection to wikileaks? Oh boy, did I screw that up. His a cofounder of Wikipedia, not Wikileaks. I just thought his comments might be interesting. I did not intend to connect him to Wikileaks. The thread was about Wikileaks, I had repeatedly typed Wikileaks, so when I meant to type Wikipedia my fingers typed Wikileaks. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2010, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikileaks-releasing-thousands-of-diplomatic-cables/562041/40 "2010-11-28T03:25:35Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Oh boy, did I screw that up. His a cofounder of Wikipedia, not Wikileaks. I just thought his comments might be interesting. I did not intend to connect him to Wikileaks. > > The thread was about Wikileaks, I had repeatedly typed Wikileaks, so when I meant to type Wikipedia my fingers typed Wikileaks. :smack: I corrected the typo in the previous two posts. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikileaks-releasing-thousands-of-diplomatic-cables/562041.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikileaks-releasing-thousands-of-diplomatic-cables/562041.md?page=3)