WikiLeaks is making a mistake
Despite earlier stating my support for the work of WikiLeaks in cooperation with major newspapers to publish only those cables that were in the public interest and after redaction of names to protect informants and whistleblowers, I do not support their recent unilateral decision to publish all the raw cables. It is a mistake, both ethically and strategically, and is very likely to distract from their previous good work.
Many of the critical comments from politicians and pundits when the first documents came out assumed that they had already done this, and so much their criticism was (at the time) incorrect and fell wide of the mark. But this latest move means they have earned some of the recriminations they didn't deserve a few months ago.
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...though it's unclear which is their mistake. The Oz a couple of days ago was saying that their contact at the Guardian had published the password to their encrypted data file in a book. And this week, the file name and location became public knowledge.
They blamed the G, the G said they were told it was a temporary password and so printing it in a book months later would hardly matter.
James Ball: Why I had to leave WikiLeaks. An insider's account of the good intentions, but terrible methods, of WL.
Five papers who partnered with WL all condemn the action.
The moral of this story: Never Trust Traitors.
Luke - Are you saying that Assange is a traitor? Why? Of whom? And what is your opinion of what WikiLeaks have contributed?
Guardian: Wikileaks payment blockade sets dangerous precedent.
Bright Green Scotland: Reflections on Assange and extradition.
Guardian editorial: Assange is mis-using refugee convention.
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