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2010-12-06 -Signs, Portents, and the Weather-

Wikileaks' "Poison Pill" Threatens Doom Worse than Global Warming

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Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2010-12-06 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11127 views ] Top

#1 Dead men don't divulge encryption keys... just noting....

AssMange just put a pretty high price on his own life.

Posted by CrazyFool 2010-12-06 00:25|| 2010-12-06 00:25|| Front Page Top

#2 can he release the key is he is suddenly incapacitated during a rendition? If this mope is willing to essentially blackmail the US with great economic and political damage through the receipt of stolen information, does this not constitute the equivalent of war, and warrant actions commensurate with it? He is not a US Cit and does not even have any presumed protections of the first amendment.

Posted by NoMoreBS 2010-12-06 00:27|| 2010-12-06 00:27|| Front Page Top

#3 I feel sure the AES key in question is already in the possession of trusted associates of Assange, who will release it should he come to an untimely end of some sort. Perhaps he has even already transmitted an unencrypted version to US intelligence to back up his threat. The question is how much of a problem the cache would create if it were decoded.

Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2010-12-06 00:37|| 2010-12-06 00:37|| Front Page Top

#4 If more than he has the key then his website already proves that eventually the key will out..
Therefore his threat is empty as the key will out so grab him.

Posted by Water Modem 2010-12-06 00:51|| 2010-12-06 00:51|| Front Page Top

#5 So basically, the KGB (or its modern successors) can be reasonably sure that if they whack him a whole lot of stuff of interest to them will be released?

Explain to me again how this prolongs one's life?

Posted by Thing From Snowy Mountain 2010-12-06 00:56|| 2010-12-06 00:56|| Front Page Top

#6 But, but but if Assange is terminated, who will lead us to the Holy Grail.

Posted by Besoeker 2010-12-06 01:13|| 2010-12-06 01:13|| Front Page Top

#7 Bank of America! Now that's playing with fire.
But seriously, there is really nothing that can be done about Wikileaks. Everyone will have to grin and bear it. The guy, as far as I can see has done nothing legally wrong. Morally, of course is another question.
The Pentagon Papers set the president. If he, as a journalist is charged, they will also have to charge the NYT, Guardian, etc.
Not going to happen. Although I did see he called for Obama to resign, if he is found to have caused the UN to be spied upon, so maybe Obama could get some heavies from Chicago to do the job.
The only ones who would assassinate him would be BofA or the Russians and they probably won't because they are enjoying the discomfiture of the US too much.

Posted by tipper 2010-12-06 02:02|| 2010-12-06 02:02|| Front Page Top

#8 It was strongly suggested that former Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown sold the Chinese a list of US listening posts surrounding their country, with the names of those individuals manning them, severely compromising US national security. And this resulted in his accident, with extreme prejudice.

At this point, everyone affiliated with the core staff of Wikileaks should be subject to termination. Assange and Manning, however, are destined for ADX Florence, as what they did deserves living hell, not just death.

Posted by Anonymoose 2010-12-06 04:20|| 2010-12-06 04:20|| Front Page Top

#9 Pire que le réchauffement climatique? Impossible!

Posted by Spot 2010-12-06 08:13|| 2010-12-06 08:13|| Front Page Top

#10 Experts said last week it was virtually unbreakable.

'Experts' don't work for the NSA. Once a third party has it and cracks it, they too can use it for the same sort of 'muscle' to make friends and influence people.

Posted by Procopius2k 2010-12-06 09:37|| 2010-12-06 09:37|| Front Page Top

#11 He would release it eventually anyway. Kill him now. Not to stop this information, but to prevent the next leaker from starting.

Posted by rammer 2010-12-06 12:47|| 2010-12-06 12:47|| Front Page Top

#12 Major governments don't NEED encryption keys. But go ahead, Joolian, pull that trigger. See what happens.

It's probably not going to be what you expect.

Posted by mojo 2010-12-06 13:49|| 2010-12-06 13:49|| Front Page Top

#13 If the quality is the same as what was delivered recently, i continue to be underwhelmed with the "History will have to be rewritten" content.

Amusing so-far but a storm in a tea-cup that will soon die down.

Posted by Crusort Lumplump6113 2010-12-06 15:01|| 2010-12-06 15:01|| Front Page Top

#14 Over the years I have agreed with many of the views on Rantburg. But Assange is one issue we will be differing on.

He is a whistleblower.

Our freedom does not depend on which of the two parties wins an election but on how well-informed we the public are about what is really going on.

The bureaucrats and politicians that make the decisions and keep us in the dark on many issues so we never challenge or question what they are doing.

It is very easy for we the population to be controlled that way.

Our greatest threat is big, intrusive, spying, controlling Government that turns its bureaucratic organs against the individual. Witness what is now happening to Assange: the trumped up rape charges, the frozen bank accounts, the highly unusual requests by the Australan Attorney-General to the AFP to investigate him.

Due process and the rule of law means Assange should be treated as any other citizen.

Otherwise none of us have any individual rights. In which case the pretext of our Governments having legitimacy because they protect our democracy and freedom is just a sham.

In a dictatorship such as the USSR under Stalin, the ruling class did not need to worry too much what the population thought because they could be sent en masse to gulags or shot.

In democracies such as ours, it does matter what the public think as we can vote out elements of the ruling class if they are too corrupt or pursue bad policies.

The biggest light the Assange incident has thrown on our societies is just how much the ordinary people are controlled and managed by the ruling class.

I think - and I know most here disagree with me - that Assange has thrown a light switch on many dealings of Governments internationally and that greater transparency is ultimately a force for good in the world.

He is my countryman and I am proud of him. I would help him in any way I could.

It is absolute piffle that wikileaks is endangering lives right now.

The biggest threat to our lives is our own Governments making bad decisions: eg sending our countrymen off to fight foreign wars with potentially little chance of success etc.

And our ruling classes will continue to make bad decisions unless they are held accountable.

You cannot hold them accountable if you are in the dark.

That is why Wikileaks is important.

Also a couple of facts you might not have heard.

1) Julian Assange was not "in hiding" from the authorities. He offered assistance to the Swedes and stayed in the country an extra 30 days - but his offers were refused.
2) British police have known where he was at all times.
3) Big Media has systematically silenced his side of the story, never quoting his spokesperson - they have no desire for Wikileaks to interfere with their role as public opinion controller. I was fortunate to hear an unedited interview with Assange's lawyer on ABC radio national this morning. On the website, those vital quotes were cut out.

We are all being lied to and spun right now by our Governments.

If we value freedom at all, then we will try to listen to Assange's side of the story and treat him as what he is: an Australian citizen with the right to due process of law.

I think he is the most important journalist of our time and I respect and admire the website he has created. I think it will change our world for the better and prevent corrupt and inept bureaucrats from hiding their mistakes.

Better Governance comes from freedom of information. Long live freedom.

Posted by anon1 2010-12-06 16:51|| 2010-12-06 16:51|| Front Page Top

#15 "The lady doth protest too much, methinks."

Posted by Procopius2k 2010-12-06 17:17|| 2010-12-06 17:17|| Front Page Top

#16 Those of us that have put our lives on the line for freedom know what freedom is and know the true costs. Pissants like you who pontificate on the internet form the comfort of your chair yet ignore the very real and deadly consequences of your stupidly naive approach, are a danger to that very freedom by endangering those who maintain it.

Anon1, you are an irrational, fucking fool. Thanks for proving it with your emotionally laden but ignorant and consequence-free defense of the indefensible. Guys like me end up bleeding because of fairyland idealist assholes like you.

Posted by OldSpook 2010-12-06 17:37|| 2010-12-06 17:37|| Front Page Top

#17 Anon:

If he stole your bank account numbers and balances and published them, would he still be a "whistle blower?" He is dealing in stolen, sensitive USG property, classified documents and intellectual property if you will. He is a spy, a saboteur, a killer. He should be dealt with accordingly.

Posted by Besoeker 2010-12-06 17:55|| 2010-12-06 17:55|| Front Page Top

#18 OldSpook: what is the point of putting your life on the line if the people who direct you to where to go and do that have made the wrong decision?

Unless there is greater transparency the people who put their lives on the line could be doing so for nothing.

like all the US soldiers who died in the last year of the Vietnam war - imagine if they had brought the close of that war forward by just one year. We lost anyway, so no harm done, and lives saved.

Next time there is a Vietnam, organs such as Wikileaks might ensure the war is ended sooner.

Posted by anon1 2010-12-06 18:54|| 2010-12-06 18:54|| Front Page Top

#19 Besoeker: the US Government is accountable to the US people. It should not be keeping so much information secret.

The same goes for my Government double. And for the UK Government.

Knowing that the Sri Lankan Government committed war crimes against the Tamils is important.... that is another thing to come out of Wikileaks.

Why should that type of thing be kept secret.

We deserve to know what our Governments know.

They are only angry because the unaccountable bureaucrats, spy chiefs and politicians have been embarrassed. Not because lives are at risk at all.

They have been endangering lives for years.

It is a threat to the power structure of our own society, in favour of the citizens being better informed and having a greater say on what our Governments do.

It is not stupid or foolish.

It is our own Governments that threaten our freedom the most. Not foreign powers.

Posted by anon1 2010-12-06 18:58|| 2010-12-06 18:58|| Front Page Top

#20 All that being said, this is still a tempest in a tea-pot.

Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2010-12-06 19:10|| 2010-12-06 19:10|| Front Page Top

#21 yes, #20 I agree with you in this - i think the wikileaks releases will be fascinating for people interested in foreign affairs

but ultimately a storm in a teacup

diplomatic relations will all go back to normal

but Big Media and Big Government will continue to try to shut down Wikileaks as it is a threat to the control of information.

Posted by anon1 2010-12-06 19:16|| 2010-12-06 19:16|| Front Page Top

#22 Anon1:

Sorry mate, you're dead wrong on this one. Our US Gov't and Department of Defense have something called "NEED TO KNOW" with regard to government documents and information. Neither I, or nearly anyone else has unlimited NEED TO KNOW. The classification of documents, information, and activities is not a new concept. It is a practice that goes back to colonial times and the birth of this nation. In fact, the keeping of State secrets has it's origins in the earliest of civilizations. What might have been the outcome of the WWII D-Day invasion had some Wikileaks broadcast the beach landing sites? Think about it my friend, just think about it.

Posted by Besoeker 2010-12-06 19:22|| 2010-12-06 19:22|| Front Page Top

#23 This is what President Assange said:
My Administration is committed to creating an unprecedented level of openness in Government. We will work together to ensure the public trust and establish a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration. Openness will strengthen our democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness in Government.

Transparency promotes accountability and provides information for citizens about what their Government is doing.

Sorry, slip of the tongue, meant to say President Obama.

Posted by tipper 2010-12-06 19:29|| 2010-12-06 19:29|| Front Page Top

#24 Yea Tipper, Obama's talking dog Holder didn't say squat about Wikileaks while they were attacking DoD. When they started in on the US State Dept, the doo-doo suddenly hit the mixmaster.

Posted by Besoeker 2010-12-06 19:36|| 2010-12-06 19:36|| Front Page Top

#25 Besoeker, I agree with you. I agree there is no unlimited right to know.

But what i believe is that our governments (US, UK, Australia) have had an increased ability to control and restrict the flow of information in recent years.

I have witnessed it - 15 PR flunkies dribbling spin for every reporter.

Freedom of Information requests that try for years to get a video or document released to no avail.

Remember the helicopter gunship that shot the wounded Reuters reporter and rescuers? Reuters filed FOIs for months to no avail. Wikileaks released the video.

The problem is our Governments restrict too much information.

Much more than in the past. Even the Vietnam War era, more information got out than now. Now everything is so carefully stage managed that the general population has got no idea what is really going on.

That is not healthy.

Wikileaks would probably not exist but for that fact.

Now any employee of the Government or a company or a department must sign confidentiality agreements to work there. None of them can talk to the media unauthorised.

No information gets out. If someone talks out of turn they are sacked or demoted or isolated or marginalised.

Something had to give somewhere.

Our governments need to be more open and accountable.

But I agree, not everything should be open slather.

It is waay too easy to say : don't release that information, it could endanger lives

that gets said even when no lives are endangered and the only thing on the line is a bureaucrat's pride.

Posted by anon1 2010-12-06 19:37|| 2010-12-06 19:37|| Front Page Top

#26 Wikileaks is NO WAY to change the over-classification problem or the system.... if as you say, there is a classification problem. Wikileaks is terrorism in my view.

Posted by Besoeker 2010-12-06 19:46|| 2010-12-06 19:46|| Front Page Top

#27 verbose and wrong is no way to go through life, hon

Posted by Frank G 2010-12-06 20:27|| 2010-12-06 20:27|| Front Page Top

#28 In a nutshell.
Assange on sex charges.

What the proprietorship of these papers is aiming at is power, and power without responsibility the prerogative of the harlot through the ages. Stanley Baldwin 1931.

By definition Assange is a harlot. But how is he different from most of the media, other than the fact that his PR would make Barnum and Bailey jealous?

Posted by tipper 2010-12-06 20:58|| 2010-12-06 20:58|| Front Page Top

#29 In a nut shell, Assange on tenterhooks.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2010-12-06 21:12|| 2010-12-06 21:12|| Front Page Top

#30 With all due respect, I've been spending the last few years primarily in diaper duty.

Wikileaks disclosed NOTHING that I couldn't have gotten on my own during my kids' nap time. If there were any big "bombshell" disclosures, you haven't been paying attention.

anon1, I think you haven't been paying attention. Considering that you are a long-time poster here, that's one of the few shocking things to come out of this mess to me. (Oh, and I thought Qaddafi preferred Russian nurses to Ukrainians. My bad.)

Posted by Swamp Blondie 2010-12-06 22:21|| 2010-12-06 22:21|| Front Page Top

#31 Comment #16 is NOT the kind of civil, well reasoned discourse that I have come to appreciate on the Burg. I'm offended that you, Oldspook, would be so unchivalrous as to speak to a female in that fashion. Shame on you!

Since Rantburg is read daily by those in power in Washington then why have the mods not dealt with this nonsense? If I use the very same words and phrasing as Oldspook has I will no doubt be banished. His lack of courtesy, lack of imagination in his choice of words and the mods inaction have upset me a lot.

I thought that adults visited and commented on this site but now I see that ill-behaved and undisciplined children are also allowed.

BAH!!!!! Perhaps things will be back to an adult level tomorrow. Perhaps Oldspook will have found the courage and true masculinity to apologize for his outburst, not just to Anon1 with whom, by the way, I rarely agree, but also to us all.

Posted by Canuckistan sniper 2010-12-06 23:42|| 2010-12-06 23:42|| Front Page Top

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