Wikileaks is NOT about either "opening up" or "punishing" the government

The idea that we can enhance honesty and transparency in such an utterly compromised global system is a chimera. The idea that we can do this is actually the elite's “preferred approach” that is being bruited about by the powers that be in order to de-legitimize the growing swell of global protest – protest that is at its core about the consolidation of power out of the hands of the citizens. Think of Wikileaks as the latest expression of the anti-globalization and anti-free-trade movements, both of which were at their core about the disempowerments of citizens.

Similarly, it’s not about the simple dislike of some government policies. It’s far more basic than that. It’s a fundamental revulsion against what government has become in an era of globalized power structures. Changing this or that policy is the band-aid approach that TPTB offer us instead of the structural reform that is required.

That leads to the questions of whether such structural reform can be achieved, and if it can’t what can be done to improve the situation? I personally believe that the system cannot be reformed, and I suspect from what he’s written that Assange doesn’t either. IMO all attempts at reform will be directed precisely by those who already have the power, and have no interest whatsoever in relinquishing any of it. As a result, attempts at reform will be subverted at every turn. We know they are capable of such subversion because we have seen it in action at environmental conferences in Kyoto, Copenhagen and Cancun.

So it we can’t trust the foxes to reform their guardianship of the hen-house, what options are we left with? As citizens our hands are kept far from the official levers of power. This leaves only the time-honoured tradition of asymmetric warfare using the tools at our disposal. Sort of physical violence (which plays directly into the hands of the global power elite) we have civil disobedience and disruption.

This is precisely what Assange is engaging in. He is using governments’ institutional reliance on secrecy against them, making them distrust their lines of communication, making them unsure of what or who has been compromised. He is doing this because he no longer sees the institutions of government as legitimate representatives of those they govern.

As citizens who are being progressively disempowered by our rulers we have very few options left and the hour is getting late. I see Wikileaks as an effective blow for freedom, and am in full agreement with Assange’s approach.

I patiently await further fuck-ups from them. The people are grains of sand in the hand of this oligarchy, the harder it closes its grip, the more sand falls through.

And US Americans sit back in their lazy chairs and do nothing?

Much of what has been released is verification of past rumors that will frame the way many events will be written about and viewed in the future. It shows the "meatgrinding" that has always been a part of diplomacy and isn't unique to this country...its rare that this much data has been put out there in such a short span and so close to the actual events. Many times we only learn about these type of communications in someone's biography. While I wish it would do more...prod the World Court and bring a groundswell of demands calling for the prosecution of those who took this country to war for profit, our government, media and public don't nuance well.

While one shouldn't trust the foxes, one must be wary about which henhouse we enter. For all its good works so far, what guarantees are there that prevents someone from using this site and name to propagate false flag information? The rush to make headlines seem to drive these revelations as much or more than the material contained.

Assange is merely the messanger...it's those who provide the information that need protection should that information be credible and exposed should it be otherwise. As long as this matter focuses on Assange it distracts from the value of the information being released.

true. he failed. and his later threat with info shows how much he too cant be trusted with something so important as a mass of info. whether he put it all out or not, the threat says a lot about him.

The point is neither Julian Assange the man nor the actual information in the leaks.

The point is conducting asymmetrical warfare by applying pressure to leverage points within a hopelessly compromised global power hierarchy.

as well as our govt should. and he failed. i will not overlook it and make him a hero or i am no better than the bush worshippers or obama worshippers that ignore when they cross that line.

that is the point.

His actions are heroic.

not.

I think it's been a stunning success.

about secrets and criminality, and the reactions to the exposures are educational in themselves.

to allow original thought to develop

in cablegate. Some of it is gossip -- why does our government classify even gossip?

And the "threat" you are talking about was not even said by Assange but by a lawyer in negotiations with the police, so it says nothing about Assange whatsoever.

go out and bomb the women and children. that could be said with much of that list you put out but it does no good to address this shit with you cause it will be

women and children bomb.... pathetic person, for advocating women adn children being bomb. not the story, is it EF. so i didnt bother

that being said.... he DID put out the bullshit that was childish gigglin gossip. and that pisses me off beyond mad with the responsibility and obligation he ahs and it says a lot about who this man is. but head in the sand works for so many

And that's only ONE of stories that has come out in this release.

And why aren't you asking why the government classifies gossip? Speaking of head in the sand.

(Just kidding)

The PTB will continue to impose control, inventing new machines to do so all the while. Eventually, there will be only a few positions of seemingly absolute control and security... and everyone on the tiers below, compelled by the same fear and insecurity that created the structure to begin with, will eternally seek to usurp.

And in doing so, those on the not-quite-highest echelons, will strategically destabilize or disrupt the system and give glimpses of the truth, inadvertently or not, to the lower ranks.

As a race, we will either grow up and do away with the fear and insecurity that drives us to create such abominable structures, or we will perish forever.

The leaks are about the abuse of the powers of secrecy in a society that requires openness to function properly.

And the leaks are also about the failure of the watchdog media to do its job and sniff out corruption. It has been bought and leashed by the crooks and thieves.

Because human beings naturally form into groups with competing interests, our brains have evolved to want secrecy in order to further our self-interest. Unfortunately, as soon as we institutionalize, normalize and socialize the keeping of secrets, the temptation to use secrecy as a cloak for the consolidation of power is irresistible. I suspect that the war between secrecy and transparency will be fought as long as there are humans.

Wikileaks can be viewed as yet another manifestation of this dynamic quality of the human experience.

layers and through the filters of what we are *told* is going on.

Thank you.

We all need to contribute what we can to the discussion. This is an exceptionally important event for the future of our society, and it deserves a lot more depth than most people are giving it.

for all of us to consider - that's a form of community service if you ask me. A global community service because it strengthens our vision, our clarity and thus our resolve to act decisively.

Wish I had more time this morning to comment further but for now, a big K & R.

off so much.

And we know for a fact it won't be US citizens who will lift a single finger against the Fascist state.

:)