What do you think of Wkileaks?

[Limewater]

I don't really have a problem with this information coming out to American citizens. Where I have a problem is the fact that it really can't be revealed to general American citizens without also revealing it to enemies as well. In my mind it is one thing to want to know the details about what's going on in government and another thing to reveal what may be critical information about ongoing military activities where peoples' lives are at stake.

I do fully recognize, however, that any system based on keeping information from the public is quite easily abused. I feel a little better, however, knowing that most of the people with access to such information are really just normal people like you and me. Not everyone involved is a faceless government dark-ops character out of 24 or something.

[Octopod]

Wow, that site can get a hold of anything, can't they?

I don't know if this is what is going on or not with Wikileaks. There are some people who have very strong revolutionary political ideals. These people are willing to avoid associating themselves openly with movements that they would otherwise support with the sole aim of going underground and doing things like getting jobs for the government just to do stuff like leak information and other workplace sabotage.



See: http://www.crimethinc.com/


People will also gain employment with industries that they disagree with for the same reason. Companies like Monsanto.

[CRTGAMER]

Freedom of Press and Public right to information vs National Security. A thorny issue. I believe any story that would put our soldiers at the battlefront at risk should be censored. There was also the leakage of flag draped coffins on board a cargo plane a couple years ago. Was the Military trying to cover that up for respect of the grieving families or to save face of a soldier not invincible? How far should censorship go?

Tragic events of war do take place as in that journalist shooting, but only one that has been there is qualified to judge a soldier's actions in battle. As far as who leaked footage taken from that military Helo camera, be it military personnel or contractor, needs to be "shot" or at least thrown in jail.

[Limewater]

As far as who leaked footage taken from that military Helo camera, be it military personnel or contractor, needs to be "shot" or at least thrown in jail.

Apparently, the same guy was responsible for both the video and the leaked documents. He was turned in about a month or two ago, and is now in custody.

[Octopod]

As far as who leaked footage taken from that military Helo camera, be it military personnel or contractor, needs to be "shot" or at least thrown in jail.

Apparently, the same guy was responsible for both the video and the leaked documents. He was turned in about a month or two ago, and is now in custody.

Do you think he will be tried as a terrorist or will it be a treason case?

[Limewater]

Do you think he will be tried as a terrorist or will it be a treason case?

I'm pretty sure he won't be tried as a terrorist. From what I read, I believe he is being held on the charge of "mishandling classified information." Stuff like this is always in lawyer-speak. I don't know if it would fall under treason. The wording sounds pretty mild, but since I'm not a lawyer, that doesn't mean much.

[CRTGAMER]

As far as who leaked footage taken from that military Helo camera, be it military personnel or contractor, needs to be "shot" or at least thrown in jail.

Apparently, the same guy was responsible for both the video and the leaked documents. He was turned in about a month or two ago, and is now in custody.

Do you think he will be tried as a terrorist or will it be a treason case?

Make him answer up to the wounded and dead in that footage.

[Hatta]

Freedom of Press and Public right to information vs National Security

There is very little conflict here. Allowing those in power to do whatever they want in the name of national security is gravely damaging to national security.

I believe any story that would put our soldiers at the battlefront at risk should be censored.

I believe that any politician who would put our soldiers at risk at the battlefront should be censured. If a good story about the horrors of war can drum up public support to bring the boys back home sooner than later, that saves lives. That's the job of a free press.

Keep in mind that the greatest threat we face as a people comes from our own government. Yes, some people from Afghanistan sent terrorists over here and killed nearly 3000 Americans. In response, our government turned around and sent over 4000 Americans to their deaths in Iraq. This is why we have to keep an extremely strict watch over everything the government does. They are far greater threats than any terrorist.

[jfrost]

I agree completely with Hatta. Government shouldn't keep any information from the citizens.

Government itself is a much more immediate threat to the citizens than any foreign terrorist.

[Octopod]

I agree to an extent also but I think the same applies to the corporations. Probably even more so.