4 ms·

He's entitled to his opinion, but I'm still waiting for someone to point me to information in the wikileaks dump that is a genuine public service. I'm not argui

by JunkDNA 16y ago

He's entitled to his opinion, but I'm still waiting for someone to point me to information in the wikileaks dump that is a genuine public service. I'm not arguing that the wikileaks dump is trivial. There is information in there that is genuinely harmful from the perspective of the State Department and US government. What I'm arguing is that there's nothing actionable there. I haven't read a single thing that made me say, "wow, what I thought I knew about US foreign policy is all wrong". If that were there, it would be a different ballgame.

ajays 16y ago
Are you still waiting for someone to put some food in your mouth too? These leaks are more than just about the US foreign policy; they're a glimpse into the shady dealings of the "Powerful" all over the world! Want examples? How about the revelation that Jordan, UAE, Saudis, etc. are urging the US to attack Iran? The details about who ordered the hacking of Google in China? The revelation that rich royals in Saudi Arabia are snorting cocaine, while the average citizens there are caned for showing some skin? Come on! Open your eyes and read the damn things.
- potatolicious 16y ago
  > "Are you still waiting for someone to put some food in your mouth too?" This is not the level of discourse I've come to expect from HN. Please, lay off the ad hominem snarkiness.
  - mikeklaas 16y ago
    "Ad hominem" doesn't mean "arguments that are phrased meanly/snarkily"
    - potatolicious 16y ago
      You're right, it isn't quite ad hominem - it is however uncivil, mean-spirited, and a personal put-down, all of which IMHO does not belong on HN. That's the problem with this WikiLeaks thing, even highly educated, supposedly level-headed people start frothing at the mouth and lose any semblance of rational discourse. There are few moderates and way too many extremists - on both sides.
- zcid 16y ago
  Again, it needs to be pointed out that there is nothing revolutionary there. Any surprise at these items serves to demonstrate your naivete more than any groundbreaking insight into the lives of the rich and powerful.
bumbledraven 16y ago
http://sowhyiswikileaksagoodthingagain.com/ http://sowhyiswikileaksagoodthingagain.com/
Caspian 16y ago
The stuff about pressuring the Germans not to prosecute a kidnapper may be useful for any anti-kidnapping factions in the US government. I doubt the US government has a united perspective about that.

by JunkDNA 16y ago

ajays 16y ago

Are you still waiting for someone to put some food in your mouth too? These leaks are more than just about the US foreign policy; they're a glimpse into the shady dealings of the "Powerful" all over the world! Want examples? How about the revelation that Jordan, UAE, Saudis, etc. are urging the US to attack Iran? The details about who ordered the hacking of Google in China? The revelation that rich royals in Saudi Arabia are snorting cocaine, while the average citizens there are caned for showing some skin? Come on! Open your eyes and read the damn things.

potatolicious 16y ago
> "Are you still waiting for someone to put some food in your mouth too?" This is not the level of discourse I've come to expect from HN. Please, lay off the ad hominem snarkiness.
- mikeklaas 16y ago
  "Ad hominem" doesn't mean "arguments that are phrased meanly/snarkily"
  - potatolicious 16y ago
    You're right, it isn't quite ad hominem - it is however uncivil, mean-spirited, and a personal put-down, all of which IMHO does not belong on HN. That's the problem with this WikiLeaks thing, even highly educated, supposedly level-headed people start frothing at the mouth and lose any semblance of rational discourse. There are few moderates and way too many extremists - on both sides.
zcid 16y ago
Again, it needs to be pointed out that there is nothing revolutionary there. Any surprise at these items serves to demonstrate your naivete more than any groundbreaking insight into the lives of the rich and powerful.

bumbledraven 16y ago

http://sowhyiswikileaksagoodthingagain.com/ http://sowhyiswikileaksagoodthingagain.com/

Caspian 16y ago

The stuff about pressuring the Germans not to prosecute a kidnapper may be useful for any anti-kidnapping factions in the US government. I doubt the US government has a united perspective about that.