What do you think of Assange and Wikileaks?

About the rape case. There are different laws in Sweden regarding 'rape.' Assange and the girl/girls had consensual sex, however he did not wear a condom. The charges were soon dropped by the women, within the same day I believe. Now, weeks/months later, the court itself brought up the charges, just as a reason to smear his name so people think he's some evil fellow. Since the charges were brought up, his lawyer has constantly requested a meeting with the court, but they would not reply.

Who even said that Assange knows these girls? They are both CIA agents, I assume.

He admits to having consensual sex with them.

In my opinion.... if you're going to kill thousands of people for a war, you better damn well let the rest of the country know what the hell they're fighting for. There shouldn't be ANY SECRETS if people are putting their lives on the line.

I don't think any reason they have for going to war would justify it regardless. The whole war was stupid to initiate, I don't think any truth uncovered about it will make me think otherwise.

If country has done nothing criminal or illegal, it wouldn't care about it's secrets running out.

Illegal or criminal secrets aren't the only things that need to be hidden. Regardless, every country has their own scandals that they keep under wraps. I'm not saying that it's right, I'm saying that such things need to stay secret to prevent chaos. You say you don't care if these secrets revealed would lead to war, but I feel the opposite. If a crime is kept secret in prevention of a war, I feel it should be kept secret. Does that mean I encourage the crime? No, but what's done is done, and if you have to form a white lie to save the credibility of your nation and save lives from entering war, then I say it's a lie that should be made. Or would you like the idea of World War 3, simply because the secrets leaked from the world's largest countries keeps everyone at each other's throats?

But if United States has done something that would "danger lives", then US really deserves to face all possible consequences, even if it is war. Even americans would want to know who REALLY killed Kennedy and the real story about 9/11.

I haven't been keeping up with the leaks, because the news doesn't really interest me. What are you referring to?

Even americans would want to know who REALLY killed Kennedy and the real story about 9/11.

Conspiracy theories? Not saying that some of those have no backing behind them or anything. What exactly makes you bring up 9/11? Don't bring up that Loose Change movie.

Obviously US has skeletons in the closet, otherwise they would be like other countries and not really give a pineapple about Wikileaks.

Isn't the US being the primary target of Wikileaks anyway?

I suggest you all to watch season 8 of 24, thats fiction, but the story unfortunately may not be far from the truth.

Eh, give me a summary. Government corruption, coverup, superhero dude saves the day?

Who even said that Assange knows these girls? They are both CIA agents, I assume.

Conspiracies, EVERYWHERE!

He admits to having consensual sex with them.

CIA agents brainwashed, CIA agents threatening him, CIA agents planting a secret device that manipulates his vocal cords, etc.

One of the two girls pushing for rape charges has known links to the CIA.

http://www.disinfo.com/2010/12/non-surpr...ed-to-cia/

I believe that wikileaks is essential to having governments across the world be more transparent, as well as more accountable. The fact that this man is becoming a martyr for this is very commendable. The reason the US is being targeted by wikileaks to start, is that the US has the most high profile, unknown secrets which should be revealed. Anyone who is accusing the organization of being a terrorist front, or helping terrorism is a person who doesn't value truth, transparency or government accountability.

Hopefully wikileaks continues on and is able to make our governments more open, accountable and with less illegal torture.

One of the two girls pushing for rape charges has known links to the CIA.

http://www.disinfo.com/2010/12/non-surpr...ed-to-cia/

I believe that wikileaks is essential to having governments across the world be more transparent, as well as more accountable. The fact that this man is becoming a martyr for this is very commendable. The reason the US is being targeted by wikileaks to start, is that the US has the most high profile, unknown secrets which should be revealed. Anyone who is accusing the organization of being a terrorist front, or helping terrorism is a person who doesn't value truth, transparency or government accountability.

Hopefully wikileaks continues on and is able to make our governments more open, accountable and with less illegal torture.

I do agree that after all the chaos is done from said leaks, it may very well lead to a changed world where governments are less likely to keep crimes hidden and such, but at the same time I don't feel everything would be fine and dandy, with sunshine and lollipops. Thinking of the world now as corrupt, and something like this making it less corrupt, is rather wishful thinking.

It probably wouldn't happen in our life times anyway, if such a reform does happen. I'd expect many years of bickering and chaos, and if we don't blow each other up in the end and learn to accept that we're all scumbags, we may get along better. But just because secrets are being released doesn't mean everyone will still put on their best behavior. People will still try to find ways to hide secrets. Scandals will still happen when there's stupid people in power. The problems will still exist, everyone will just be known about them, and constantly fighting over them.

Assange performed his job perfectly. He's not the spokesman or conductor of Wikileak's operations, he was the lightning rod. Focus all attention on him. It doesn't matter if they lock him up, Wikileaks continues.

Assange performed his job perfectly. He's not the spokesman or conductor of Wikileak's operations, he was the lightning rod. Focus all attention on him. It doesn't matter if they lock him up, Wikileaks continues.

Unless ISP's blacklist the site, which some have.

Unless ISP's blacklist the site, which some have.

There are tons of mirrors that I'm sure ISPs don't know about.

There are tons of mirrors that I'm sure ISPs don't know about.

Brings me to question; FCC ever rule on net neutrality?

Over 700 mirrors of Wikileaks.

They're only at 960 / 251,287 cables released so far.

I really want to know whats in that mysterious encrypted Insurance file.

Wikileaks IS a criminal organization. Be it in their intentions for the better or worse, they have blown a giant hole in our country's security. The only way we can get good out of this is how we handle it. Do we shove it under the carpet as per normal, or do we allow a truly free press. The information they are releasing shouldn't be, but it is. But the more we fight it, the more we fight against freedom of speech and the more our country sets ourselves up for a bigger fall. The government needs to act justly to this situation.

But, this kind of transparency act isn't at a good time. Some of the stuff being revealed is a danger to our national security. As you know, places are against us. We still are at war no matter if Obama wants to admit it or not. Wikileaks revealed the other day over 100 "critical infrastructure" sites which are essential for the operation of our country, and various other countries. None of these sites are inside our country. They range from vaccine and medicine manufacturers in europe, to the Strait of Hormuz where crude oil passes through, undersea cables, mines, etc. It has also incriminated our country, which as much as we are guilty, there should be no finger pointing. All of the world's hands are dirty with guilt, because all of our governments are governments are shrouded in secrecy. There was one about some Italian guy who was a politician. We reported that he throws wild house parties at his mansion. He and the government are outraged that we would think that and he throws "orderly, conduct parties". Do you really think out government would lie to themselves? They're trying to cover their asses.

Tl;dr: (somewhat) right idea, wrong time. There's a reason our governments are not transparent. No one person or collection of people can satisfy everyone.

There's a reason our governments are not transparent. No one person or collection of people can satisfy everyone.

There shouldn't be ANY reason why our governments aren't transparent. Therefore all your argument is moot.

Government Tyranny, global police, etc.
Can't do pomegranate to stop it cause they get power from you. Boohoo.

There shouldn't be ANY reason why our governments aren't transparent. Therefore all your argument is moot.

Rob, that's not an argument and you know it. Spidey has outlined several reasons why a completely transparent government is not ideal at this time.

I think the American people fear too much. We're a large nation with a lot of weapons. No one is going to accomplish much against us. Our real threat are nuclear weapons, and if anyone gets those and uses them then they'll be wiped off the f'ucking planet. We need to focus on local reform and not on reforming everyone else for them. While we setup governments in Iraq and Afghanistan, we're slowly giving up our own rights in the name of safety. We can have both you know, and there isn't much evidence showing us that our surrendered liberties have made us any safer. A free society needs an accountable government, and transparency is key to an accountable government. If a government can operate secretly from its own people, we have a problem. WikiLeaks has helped prove the atrocities the US government is responsible for, and I hope it leads to reforms in the US. The biggest threat we face is our own leaders who attempt to censor these documents. The biggest threat to our freedom are the people we trust to protect us. If we continue to support and elect people who promote for a more oppressive and secretive government, then we are inevitably eroding our own civil liberties that our founders fought so much for. The US government was a very revolutionary idea at its time, and it is a shame to see people not support its basic principles that have us to thrive and change the world.

Really guys, what real threat do the "terrorists" pose as a whole to our nation. The most deaths we have faced on this war on terror are from things we started. The terrorists have only succeeded since they caused us to hurt ourselves. Because of 9/11 we have pretty much waged two large, costly wars and accomplished little to nothing. They have caused us to abandon some core American ideals. We have not even confirmed whether or not we've killed Osama Bin Laden. The terrorists have accomplished what they wanted to accomplish and we've accomplished relatively nothing.

Wikileaks IS a criminal organization. Be it in their intentions for the better or worse, they have blown a giant hole in our country's security. The only way we can get good out of this is how we handle it. Do we shove it under the carpet as per normal, or do we allow a truly free press. The information they are releasing shouldn't be, but it is. But the more we fight it, the more we fight against freedom of speech and the more our country sets ourselves up for a bigger fall. The government needs to act justly to this situation.

Seeing as you Americans have been unable to find anything they have done with which to charge Assange or the organization, I'm going to go with they aren't criminal yet. You can denounce them as much as you want, but they aren't criminal. The person who released information to them is though.

...Have you done any research on this at all? I mean seriously?

Half the reason this is a problem is it puts people at unnecessary risk. The guys a traitor to this country and trying to atone his obvious villanous intentions by saying "THE GOVERNMENT IS AGAINST US". Ya know if he really gave a pomegranate he wouldn't have forced people to pay for those documents now would he?

@above

Yeah, distrubuting illegal documents holding incredibly fragile information on individuals, rather than the government, is completely legit.

...Have you done any research on this at all? I mean seriously?

Half the reason this is a problem is it puts people at unnecessary risk. The guys a traitor to this country and trying to atone his obvious villanous intentions by saying "THE GOVERNMENT IS AGAINST US". Ya know if he really gave a pomegranate he wouldn't have forced people to pay for those documents now would he?

@above

Yeah, distrubuting illegal documents holding incredibly fragile information on individuals, rather than the government, is completely legit.

How can someone be a traitor to your country if he isn't from your country? I don't understand Americans at all. Now, if he had been an American citizen and then attempted to overthrow your government, he could be called a traitor. He isn't from the USA, so I don't understand how you can call him a traitor.

What are you talking about, "paying for those documents"? As far as I know, all wikileak material is free.

Also, the vast majority of the information in the leaked diplomatic cables is government related, not 'fragile information on individuals'. You sound like Palin with your traitor crap. The guy released diplomatic information that was so heavily classified, a lowly member of your military was able to provide all of this information to him. I think the fault lays with your government being completely incompetent.

Note: by your tone, I assume you are American.

The guys a traitor to this country

I laughed.

By the way, several officials as well as the Pentagon has denounced any claims that the documents put anyone at risk/have harmed anyone.

How can someone be a traitor to your country if he isn't from your country?

This is the one thing I'm surprised more people don't realize. His last name alone gives away he isnt american, and his voice would do that anyway to show he doesn't have any kind of an american accent.

What are you talking about, "paying for those documents"? As far as I know, all wikileak material is free.

Information there may be free, but what's to say the method(s) used to obtain the information isn't illegal? If it's just a single person or group of people within the government giving the documents over to assange and his group then Assange is the least of this nation's obvious threats/issues of concern.

Also, the vast majority of the information in the leaked diplomatic cables is government related, not 'fragile information on individuals'. You sound like Palin with your traitor crap. The guy released diplomatic information that was so heavily classified, a lowly member of your military was able to provide all of this information to him. I think the fault lays with your government being completely incompetent.

Note: by your tone, I assume you are American.

I want to clarify something for you; not anyone in the military can have access to any kind of document. There's, speaking from the perspective of someone going into the navy in june, 3 levels of security clearance: top-secret -> secret -> unclassified. If someone has access to only unclassified documents within the military then they can be charged for obtaining and releasing information above their level of security clearance. Court martials, dishonorable discharges, heavy fines and penalties, and even jail sentences.

But yes, there are many incompetant people in the nation, both in the common masses and in the leaders thereof. However, not everyone is ignorant to the world around then, nor oblivious to the things that go on. While we do have some very educated people in the nation, the one hindrance i see most prevalent and annoying is all the bureaucratic red-tape that only serves to slow down and complicate an otherwise simple process for something as stupid as getting a license to be able to own/operate a firearm.