Those damn Wikileaks.....

[poltr1]

Earlier this year, I first heard about a web site called Wikileaks. I didn't know what it was, so I stayed away from it. Last week, or two weeks ago, the people behind WIkileaks published many pieces of diplomatic correspondence that had previously been classified. This has resulted in damage to my country's reputation in the world.

Why am I so upset about this? Because it's totally against what I was taught as a defense contractor from 1989-2000. I worked at a large Air Force installation. I held a Secret level clearance from 1997-2000. I can't -- and won't -- say what I worked on back then. But security was always a big concern. We had quarterly briefings emphasizing proper security procedures. And we learned that people who leaked classified information were considered traitors. Their names live on in infamy: Aldrich Ames. Robert Hanssen. To name a few.

So I'm trying to figure out why Julian Assange founded the website. What was his motivation? What was his intention?

I really can't see how or why leaking any classified information is a Good Thing, whether it's my country's information or somone else's.

Comments

[redaxe.livejournal.com]

Whistleblowers are not always traitors. See also Ellsberg, Daniel and Silkwood, Karen as good examples. There's some judgment required, and I haven't read the entirety of the documents put out, so I can't judge completely. However, it seems that some of them may have endangered individuals without substantively increasing the point the leak is making in the first place. That's not okay, in my book. Overall, however, I have to think that secrecy is the basis of tyranny, and require it to be absolutely essential, which in this case, it largely was clearly not.

For a really good post on the subject from a retired military intelligene officer, see here.

[athenawindsong.livejournal.com]

In my head, the jury is still out on this one. I see your point as to keeping classified info classified, but I also see a need for more transparency (resulting in accountability) in the the political world. I don't 100% agree with either side - the supporters or the detractors - but REALLY don't like what the hackers are doing in response.