Publishing Classified Information

[ginnyfizz]

Maharth, I believe a comprehensive list of Very Important Places, such as was published, is indeed helpful to a terrorist, for example? Of course it is! "Great..." they say "That gives us a brilliant action plan for our next stunts..."

[brokenergy]

Like... a nickel mine in Australia? Seriously, we should just shrug it off. Many of these cables is what political analysts have known for years. It's not like that terrorists are going to plan attacks at nickel mines anytime soon or even if it is in their list of places to bomb. Some are overplaying the importance of the cables, these are thoughts of diplomats and have nothing to do with official policy of any administration. Like I said before, it gives more information about the nature and behind-the-scenes of the diplomatic world, nothing really important that can damage the US longterm. If it was Pentagon documents stating plans to attack Iran for example or locations of US military sites of importance, then it will be really bad for America. Wikileaks is the same as any other newspaper who decides to publish this material, are we going chase people down for that? I suggest that you get use to this as it will happen more often and no matter what you do, you can't stop the power of the Internet. Edited December 11, 2010 by brokenergy

[ginnyfizz]

Not strictly true. Assange and his like will eventually push their luck so far that they are in danger of the authorities reacting to effectively censor the internet, by fair means or foul. If a load if silly kids can crash websites like Amazon and Paypal, just think what the Pentagon can do.

[Aurielius]

Like... a nickel mine in Australia? Seriously, we should just shrug it off. Many of these cables is what political analysts have known for years. It's not like that terrorists are going to plan attacks at nickel mines anytime soon or even if it is in their list of places to bomb. Some are overplaying the importance of the cables, these are thoughts of diplomats and have nothing to do with official policy of any administration. Like I said before, it gives more information about the nature and behind-the-scenes of the diplomatic world, nothing really important that can damage the US longterm. If it was Pentagon documents stating plans to attack Iran for example or locations of US military sites of importance, then it will be really bad for America. Wikileaks is the same as any other newspaper who decides to publish this material, are we going chase people down for that? I suggest that you get use to this as it will happen more often and no matter what you do, you can't stop the power of the Internet.

 

Well then BE since we agree that disclosure of sites of importance would be a bad thing, that is precisely what is among the data stolen.

[DarkWarrior45]

He didn't leak the information, he published it after he got it sent to him...

 

Guess who else published this information? The new york times is one of the groups who published it...

 

Once again, you can not have treason charges for publishing information that would not put lives at risk.

 

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

 

The Congress shall have power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.

 

Let me break that down...

 

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort.

This means that you can only charge for treason if you declare war against the USA, or purposely help a enemy of the USA.

 

No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

We can clearly see that there was a confession and at least two witnesses. This does not matter however, since he never declared war or helped a US enemy.

 

Can anyone seriously say that he is helping terrorist groups? He can not be charged for Treason for 2 reasons.

 

1. He doesn't live in the USA...

 

2. He isn't event committing treason.

 

Take note that the law does not say "the first person to publish the information". It is for ANYONE who publishes it.

 

That means a large number of news corporations are going to need to be put in trial along with assange if that goes through. He did not leak the information.

 

Assang is not an American citizen, this I know, and I know that he can't be charged with treason, but he can be charged with espionage (I believe). And I thought I posted that any American who "leaks" classified information can be (and should be) charged with treason, such as for example the people who actually are leaking this information. And it does aid America's enemies, and it also harms America diplomatically because it shows that America cannot keep a secret.

 

As for the debate of classified information, there are some things that governments do need to keep secret, especially military secrets when there's an active war going on in Afghanistan right now; they're secret for a reason.

[brokenergy]

Like... a nickel mine in Australia? Seriously, we should just shrug it off. Many of these cables is what political analysts have known for years. It's not like that terrorists are going to plan attacks at nickel mines anytime soon or even if it is in their list of places to bomb. Some are overplaying the importance of the cables, these are thoughts of diplomats and have nothing to do with official policy of any administration. Like I said before, it gives more information about the nature and behind-the-scenes of the diplomatic world, nothing really important that can damage the US longterm. If it was Pentagon documents stating plans to attack Iran for example or locations of US military sites of importance, then it will be really bad for America. Wikileaks is the same as any other newspaper who decides to publish this material, are we going chase people down for that? I suggest that you get use to this as it will happen more often and no matter what you do, you can't stop the power of the Internet.

 

Well then BE since we agree that disclosure of sites of importance would be a bad thing, that is precisely what is among the data stolen.

 

A nickel mine is not important to the US military, let alone to terrorists. To my relocation most, if not all of the cables are between low to med level of classification. If you want to continue fearing something silly as nickel mines and calling nation's leaders silly names then be my guest. If you truly care to know about Brok's apathy towards American cables then you need to go to wikileaks and read the cables themselves, they are nothing more than popcorn worthy. I repeat they are only a short term embarrassment to the US, it does nothing to hurt them long term. Don't try to twist my words against me, I'm already over that.

[ginnyfizz]

You are totally missing the point. Just because the nickel mine isn't a military target, doesn't stop a terrorist getting the idea to stick a bomb there and cause mayhem,destruction and fatality. I dare bet you would change your tune pretty smartly if a terrorist attack took place on that mine. Terrorists do attack soft targets and non combatants - we have had a helluva lot of that on the streets of Britain. I bet there is some crazy already using that leaked list as his reference guide. Attacks can come in other forms, blockades, cyber attacks, and much squeaking would there be, including no doubt from you, BE, if you were in any way touched by such attacks.

[JohannesGunn]

First, I would like to thank everyone that was kind enough to post, vote, PM, or otherwise respond to this poll and question. Without you guys, the Nexus would wither and die (or at least the forums would).

I understand that some of you have opinions which are very deeply entrenched, and that you are unlikely to change your minds, but I would like to point out that most other people on this site ALSO have very deeply entrenched ideas, opinions, and feelings. It is not our task to change someone's mind for them, but merely to present the facts in a polite, considerate manner so that they can make their own minds up.

As this thread has the possibility to get out of hand, and because I don't want to see anyone who posted here get strikes, or even banned, I am hereby requesting that the moderators lock this thread. Once again, I would like to thank all those who responded and/or voted.

[Balagor]

Off cause it´s not wrong. At the most it is daily gossip, at high level. Most of it, boring reading. What do I care what A. Merkel thinks about Sarchozy,lol?

Pentagon however, they should thank the guy. If nothing vital is exposed, then everything is ok. On the other hand if top secret matters are on Google now, then Pentagon better start rethink the meaning of the word "classified"

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/naomi-wolf/interpol-the-worlds-datin_b_793033.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1336291/Wikileaks-Julian-Assanges-2-night-stands-spark-worldwide-hunt.html?ito=feeds-newsxmll

[HappyHerring]

Britain is regarded by U.S. as an useful asset, an asset which foolishly worries about what citizens & subjects of both nations know is purely commercial & tactical arrangement for the U.S.

- no suprise.

the Pakistani security services plan t false wikileak data to feed the paranoia of an unstable state.

- no suprise.

A guy who has a high opinion of himself gets into legal fix over incidents which may or may not have happened.

- no suprise.

People with on they're hands conflate the leaks & the publisher. Support the leaks - he is innocent - be unhappy or cautious about the leaks - well guys do foolish things every day.

- no suprise.

There are a lot of people, governments & orgs who wish to stifle the net, this plays into the hands of them all.

- no suprise.

Most of the people who bleat of rights of expression and they're indomitable supports for wikileaks would collaborate and despise people of conscience for rocking the boat if they were in a country like China, Burma or North Korea.

- no suprise.