Cables Shared So Far Only 226 / 251,287 (1966 - 2010): "Released In Stages Over The Next Few Months"

Secret US Embassy Cables

Wikileaks began on Sunday November 28th publishing 251,287 leaked United States embassy cables, the largest set of confidential documents ever to be released into the public domain. The documents will give people around the world an unprecedented insight into US Government foreign activities.

The cables, which date from 1966 up until the end of February this year, contain confidential communications between 274 embassies in countries throughout the world and the State Department in Washington DC. 15,652 of the cables are classified Secret.

The embassy cables will be released in stages over the next few months. The subject matter of these cables is of such importance, and the geographical spread so broad, that to do otherwise would not do this material justice.

The cables show the extent of US spying on its allies and the UN; turning a blind eye to corruption and human rights abuse in "client states"; backroom deals with supposedly neutral countries; lobbying for US corporations; and the measures US diplomats take to advance those who have access to them.

This document release reveals the contradictions between the US’s public persona and what it says behind closed doors – and shows that if citizens in a democracy want their governments to reflect their wishes, they should ask to see what’s going on behind the scenes.

Every American schoolchild is taught that George Washington – the country’s first President – could not tell a lie. If the administrations of his successors lived up to the same principle, today’s document flood would be a mere embarrassment. Instead, the US Government has been warning governments -- even the most corrupt -- around the world about the coming leaks and is bracing itself for the exposures.

The full set consists of 251,287 documents, comprising 261,276,536 words (seven times the size of "The Iraq War Logs", the world's previously largest classified information release).

The cables cover from 28th December 1966 to 28th February 2010 and originate from 274 embassies, consulates and diplomatic missions.



How to explore the data....

http://cablegate.wikileaks.org/



Guardian Video on this...

They're really living up to their logo with this one...



http://cablegate.wikileaks.org/index.html

I'm already suffering from sleep deprivation and it's only entering into day 2 where I live, lol.

:hi:

the more I know we need to focus on this.

:party:

first and if the people who hold elected positions do not deserve to be there, isn't it better for the country to know this and remove them?

These cables go back to 1966. There have been far too many secrets, always using 'National Security' as an excuse. How secure are we under these policies of lying and spying and overlooking crimes etc? By their own assessment the policies have failed. We are told we need to keep giving up rights because we are SO insecure. If that is true, then it is an indictment on those who have been running this country and maybe a good clean up and a change of policies will actually make us more secure.



If they would for once just be straight-forward with the people, admit that our policies have been wrong, even criminal, our associations, allies, such as third world dictators, have not made us safe at all, but many people have become extremely wealthy under these policies. I think we are way past the stage of political parties now. Many people died as a result of these policies, it's way past time for an accounting.

The longer it gets dragged out, the less it is about the public's right to know/journalism/whatever lofty goal he's been claiming, and the more it is about Julian Assange's ego.

Julian Assange is putting HIS LIFE on the line to expose this government.

If only more people had "his ego" and willingness to sacrifice to promote the free-flow of information.

I think this current leak is just the calm before the storm. We still don't know what's in the "insurance" file, for instance.

And this calculated leak is likely to cause more leakers to come forward in the future, with more damning information.

But I agree that the several month drag out of it sure gives the impression that it's more about fame, ego and notoriety than altruism.

It's been months of build-up and now more months to release it... just dump it all if it's so damn important that we know.

Their policy is now to go over everything slowly and meticulously, posting information only once they confirm no innocents will be seriously harmed by the release. I imagine they are posting as fast as their small, close-knit team of reviewers can.

This is an interesting topic that I've been completely agnostic about and I can definitely buy into both arguments: full transparency vs potential harm to diplomatic relations/people/etc. So I shall remain blissfully on the fence for now and take in every point made with an open mind.

There are few topics in politics on which I am able to take that stance and remain interested. So I will enjoy it for the moment. I know that there are people passionate on both sides and it's been interesting to read the discussions. I am withholding actual judgement until it's done and over. It'll happen whether I scream for or against it.

I would really hate to see diplomatic relations hurt, harm done that could escalate tensions in NK/SK, all for the sake of juicy gossip about the royals (ok, I know there's more than that already... but still).

And the more people focus on Assange, the more suspicious I'll be of their motives. I don't care if they're right or wrong either, because this is NOT about Assange.

Sid

I guess running for the White House is about someone's ego also, or for Congress. Maybe it is also about trying to do something good.

If you are fine with war crimes going unpunished, that is your business. But for those of us who are not fine with it, just because time has passed, every way they can be exposed can only benefit humanity.

30 years after the criminals in countries like Chile eg, committed their crimes against humanity, they are now being prosecuted. I'm sure they have their supporters, or even those who think since it's such a long time ago, they should let it go. All that does is encourage more crimes. As we can see in this country. When the Iran/Contra crowd were let off the hook, they simply moved on to committing more crimes, in Iraq, in Afghanistan, Pakistan and even here in the U.S. History shows that when torture and violations of people's rights go unpunished, they only get worse.

If this government or any other whose secrets were revealed by whistle-blowers, had nothing to hide, this should not be any problem for them. We can only assume they have a lot to hide, considering how they are acting. I don't support war criminals.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9647592#9650843

and here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=9647592&mesg_id=9650939

You read that, you're just trying to start a fight. Please look elsewhere to someone who is strongly on one side of this issue. I am trying to be open-minded and would appreciate a discussion rather than passive aggression.

"But such is the irresistible nature of truth, that all it asks, and all it wants is the liberty of appearing." Thomas Paine