tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030878198120933396.post6603098437823770142..comments2023-10-30T15:34:57.958+00:00Comments on Random Musings: WikiLeaks and Free SpeechSridharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07526495516327471443noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030878198120933396.post-32278886216212849122010-12-21T16:41:16.283+00:002010-12-21T16:41:16.283+00:00Agree that USA and other countries seem to have ov...Agree that USA and other countries seem to have over reacted and gone after the proverbial messenger. Perhaps the awkwardness at being caught with their pants down? The State department does concede that their security systems are pitifully short. From my POV, Assange seems to have an ax to grind with the US, in particular, and his take on things come off as anarchist. His motives are fuzzy at best and do not impress me as being noble and altruistic. Do not believe he is being persecuted - the media and international attention are giving him near martyr status. Is it so surprising that countries react the way they do when they are concerned about what he will 'expose' next?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030878198120933396.post-6204606364193608672010-12-20T19:20:41.848+00:002010-12-20T19:20:41.848+00:00@ Chris - Thanks. Agree, there is absolutely no a...@ Chris - Thanks. Agree, there is absolutely no accountability and the nexus between corporates, politicians, mainstream media is just too strong....instead of focussing on the root issues, they are indulging in shooting the messenger...<br /><br />@ Jay - Wiki is typically refers to an open site for people to come and contribute and wikileaks is a site that enables whistleblowers to leak without fear of reprisals...so long as they don't go and gloat as Brad Manning did...<br /><br />@ Janani - What you need to bear in mind is that Assange is not a spy trying to snoop; his site enables people to come and squeak when they see unethical practices or illegal activities in their institutions. He is a facilitator and not someone engaged in espionage. Somewhat similar to the recent scoop by the Telegraph in the UK on MPs expenses scandal. Public has every right to know of any unethical practices carried out ostensibly under its approval. Such actions should neither be confidential nor a secret. Persecuting the messenger is just not on... instead they need to address the fundamental issues and raise ethical standards.<br /><br />@ Anonymous - Agreed he is a code breaker but the information he has released thus far has been gained through a whistleblower. If whistleblowers vent unethical or illegal practices in their organisations..his site brings it into the open. Even if it is commercially run, certainly the cause espoused is worth it and welcome...<br /><br />I agree with you that Assange need not be the guardian of security. Security of the country is with the administration but more than a million people had access to that!! The focus is misplaced...instead of persecuting Assange US should review its data security and access control and not mislead the public with disinformation.Sridharhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07526495516327471443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030878198120933396.post-81800536743903191472010-12-20T18:18:15.454+00:002010-12-20T18:18:15.454+00:00Agree with a lot of your views, however I am not s...Agree with a lot of your views, however I am not sold on Assange's integrity nor his motives. All we can gather so far is that he is a hacker par excellence and is wielding his power in a sensational way.I do not believe his 'non profit' status either. In principle and theory, freedom of speech is a sacred privilege, but do I trust this man and Wikileaks with the security of my country and myself? Heck, NO!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030878198120933396.post-11895070841371006902010-12-20T15:54:33.478+00:002010-12-20T15:54:33.478+00:00Sorry to be contrary Sridhar...who is Assange to d...Sorry to be contrary Sridhar...who is Assange to decide what secrets to expose or not? How do we trust his ethics?<br />What next if he trains his sights on corporates, and makes public things which for good reason are kept confidential. How does one draw the line between confidential and sectret?S.Nandajananinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030878198120933396.post-73699707730462818372010-12-20T02:20:04.242+00:002010-12-20T02:20:04.242+00:00What exactly is meant by wikileak?? still not clea...What exactly is meant by wikileak?? still not clear :(jay @ online hubhttp://www.onlinehub.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030878198120933396.post-36989097609861045722010-12-19T15:12:55.779+00:002010-12-19T15:12:55.779+00:00Well written Sridhar!
Real leaders would apologiz...Well written Sridhar! <br />Real leaders would apologize to their people for allowing injustice and crime to happen under their leadership. And, most importantly, they would present and implement actions that would ensure that repeated power abuse cannot happen.<br />But what are these weaklings doing instead? They are rejecting responsibility and blaming the whistleblower. That is certainly not how to rebuild a shattered repution! They are just digging themselves deeper into the mud.Chrisnoreply@blogger.com