The Core

This was a very smart and timely thing to do:
http://www.zazzle.com/julian+assange+tshirts

Gack - its a bloody mess whatever happens now.

Stating the obvious, we need an avenue like WikiLeaks as we simply can't trust any of our governments, but we also need to be able to protect some information.

Can't trust one party to start telling the truth when they should, and the other to stop telling the truth when they should.


I can't help feeling that whoever comes out on top it isn't going to be 'a good thing'.

Normally, I would agree with you on this.. it is a very powerful argument - can't argue with history etc

.. my concern though, is that at least governments are elected - however flawed the electoral system may be - WikiLeaks and Assange aren't.
They can be selective about what they release and when to suit whatever agenda they may have.

Even if it were the case that we agreed with that agenda, the precedent is set, and the next 'leaks' organisation may have a very different agenda.

Its a tricky one.

And the media choosing what to print and what not to? That's hardly anything new, is it?

.. that is the point - so far the 'conventional media' has been based in a physical location, easily subjected to local legislation.

Elected governments pass laws to control those bits of the media that are within their control etc.


Internet based 'leaks' sites are more difficult to control, and more difficult to legislate against.
For example, if it had been a national newspaper trying to release the leaks, a Govt could have blocked them on national security grounds.

It is, of course, still just a matter of degree, and I expect the 'Governments' to win in the end, but in doing so they will establish precedents that are worrying.

Yes - I am broadly in favour of more independence - if that is indeed what wikileaks represent - as a balance against the tame local media - but I fear that is not where this is going.

I suspect that one of two things will happen:

* Assange will get jailed, Wikileaks will get demonized or shut down, and any new version will be labelled by Governments as a 'criminal organisation' and attacked the same way.
When Governments start working together to keep their dirty linen hidden, that is not good.

* Assange gets off scot free, governments made to look foolish (hoorah!) .... 'leaks sites' thrive, and secrets get leaked at the will of the site owners.
This is not good - it sounds it initially, but long term it isn't  - there is some information that needs to be kept secure.

I am not really arguing with you here - you know pretty well where I sit on these issues - but I just think this may end up as 'too much of a good thing' on the 'freedom of information' front - although, more likely, Assange will be swatted like a bug with a raft of trumped up rape and spying charges, and we will be left worse off than before.