Wikileaks: US embassy cables leak sparks global diplomacy crisis - Polidicks

[QUOTE=.Dave;26419197]I agree that all other countries commit the same actions, yet personal relationships between the US and other countries could be damaged in one way or another. Just think of it like a high school. If you catch a friend gossiping about you, then it's not like you'll just cease contact with said friend, but you may be less prone to being as friendly in the future, and contact may become more or less awkward. True, nothing major may come from this; yet, smaller, less critical problems may arise. Such as, a country may be less prone to sharing information with the United States, or tensions may increase between other nations (Such as Iran and Israel). It just doesn't seem like the responsible thing to do.[/QUOTE] I think you have hit it dead on to be honest, it seems that international diplomacy is no different to childhood gossiping; so bitching, lying and generally being two faced. And like with childhood gossiping someone eventually slips up and everyone realises what's going on. I don't think this is the first time a country has been shown to be doing this sort of thing, but not on a scale like this.

[QUOTE=.Dave;26419017]This is ridiculous. It seems that all Assange is aiming to do is damage the United States diplomatic relations and its reputation. Whether we have the "right to know" or not, leaking such information simply puts the well-being of a nation, its people and its relationships at risk.[/QUOTE] None of the documents released are Top Secret. Only 15000 out of 250000 are Secret. Over half are unclassified. This "putting the well being of the nation at risk" is a total load. Any damage done by Wikileaks is like keying a written-off car; what the US is doing is far more injurious to its own relations and reputation than Wikileaks could possibly do.

[QUOTE=Jsm;26419451]Have you seen the cable which involves the phrase "Persian speaking mountain Jews"?[/QUOTE] The one with the Russian wedding? Yea, that was pretty good. Doesn't compare to the story I mentioned though.

[QUOTE=Elizer;26420463]The one with the Russian wedding? Yea, that was pretty good. Doesn't compare to the story I mentioned though.[/QUOTE] The Russian wedding one is more of a case of "why is this being recorded in such detail". The epic escape truly is amazing.

I liked the part where the drunk guy pulled out his gun asking who needed protection.

[QUOTE=Reaver1991;26420723]I liked the part where the drunk guy pulled out his gun asking who needed protection.[/QUOTE] "We were more worried when an Afghan war buddy of the Colonel’s, Rector of the Dagestan University Law School and too drunk to sit, let alone stand, pulled out his automatic and asked if we needed any protection." LOL I had only skim read this. At least these leaks have provided some minor humour.

[QUOTE=Athena;26419857]None of the documents released are Top Secret. Only 15000 out of 250000 are Secret. Over half are unclassified. This "putting the well being of the nation at risk" is a total load. Any damage done by Wikileaks is like keying a written-off car; what the US is doing is far more injurious to its own relations and reputation than Wikileaks could possibly do.[/QUOTE] Documents don't have to be classified as "Top Secret" to be harmful. Sure, they may not start a war within the next thirty days; but they could create newfound tensions.

[QUOTE=.Dave;26420879]Documents don't have to be classified as "Top Secret" to be harmful. Sure, they may not start a war within the next thirty days; but they could create newfound tensions.[/QUOTE] It's only stating on the record what people already knew.

[QUOTE=OddLawnGnome;26421310]It's only stating on the record what people already knew.[/QUOTE] Maybe shared with whom the documents were intended for, yes. But you wouldn't go around making public to all what you've said harshly behind someones back to their face. Maybe a good friend or two, but telling everyone could damage your reputation. And If the other party involved found out, things may grow more weary between you two.

Ugggh... there's part of me that wants to continue this thread, but with the lack of 'juicy' information, it almost seems useless.

[QUOTE=.Dave;26434763]Maybe shared with whom the documents were intended for, yes. But you wouldn't go around making public to all what you've said harshly behind someones back to their face. Maybe a good friend or two, but telling everyone could damage your reputation. And If the other party involved found out, things may grow more weary between you two.[/QUOTE] Probably because gossip to the everyman and gossip that shapes foreign policy are slightly different.

[QUOTE=OddLawnGnome;26435959]Probably because gossip to the everyman and gossip that shapes foreign policy are slightly different.[/QUOTE] If anything the consequences are far worse when dealing with diplomacy than individuals

[QUOTE=.Dave;26440287]If anything the consequences are far worse when dealing with diplomacy than individuals[/QUOTE] Then don't put your gossip on record, are you thick or what? You don't go and write everything you say about other people down either do you? They should have thought about what they were doing before doing it.