Now that's one thing that didn't surprise me. In fact I've said many times Iran scares the shit out of the neighboring Arab states worse than Israel does. And it didn't even surprise me to see them rooting for Israel or the US to put a hit on them. They actually only exist because of their oil reserves and business friendly relationships with the west. And they're more like ruling families than actual leaders and governments. They're vulnerable as it is.

But it does go to show the amount of treachery and double talk anyone dealing with middle east problems has to wade through and perhaps the less than fully competent governments we must deal with.

 

I know....maybe we should just send them all of our buxom blondes. That might calm them right down.

 

Hey it worked for Muammar Abu Minyar al-Gaddaf (which I just cut and paste rather than even try to spell). That was one of the more interesting cables. And as far as we know the CIA could have sent him a big titted blond. They were handing out Viagra in Afghanistan.

 

I think its all a ruse to get people intrested.

 

Well I admit its got my interest alright. Even though what I've seen so far reminds me more of inner-office gossip than anything really surprising or damaging.

 

Oh, this is really pretty interesting on hand and not all on the other... Make sense? Probably not.

Carry on...

 

Since the media had nothing to do over the long weekend this was and is the best they could come up with.

 

Well I have to admit Wikileaks is a pretty new phenomena and its sort of amazing to find several million confidential cables ended up out of the government's hands.

But I agree it does not matter what the story is the media has to try to whip it into a frenzy and not in a good way.

 

No me sorprende, todos los politicos son corruptos, no importa el pais del que sean

 

I don't always agree with CNN analyst David Gregen but I think he really cut to the chase on this thing.

One: We need to be concerned about our security if a Private sitting outside of Bagdad can not only get into all this information but send it out. Some changes need to be made there.

Two: On the other hand we should actually be encouraged that the cables so far have been consistent with what the government has been saying so there's no big secret scandal. And the cables reveal a lot of intelligent, very hard working diplomats that are good at their jobs.

I agree with that from what I've seen.

 

I'm sure they aren't completly new to the game. They just havet done things that the public is aware of.

But it is very weird that the media can't just take time off and shut the fuck up for once. The public I'm sure just want to have a good holiday season and not deal with anybody's bullshit. Or at least I don't.

 

leaks

blow the politics i want to know what improper sexual conduct prince andrews been up to again:excited:

 

USA FAIL

another USA FAIL

 

But you didn't consider Madeleine Albright to be a greater Sec'y of State? Or Powell? Or Jefferson? Or Madison or Monroe? How about Bryan, he holds the record for negotiating treaties and peaceful resolutions to problems.

I missed your answer on the question of Iran's democracy.

 

I consider this story pretty newsworthy, actually. The information published may not be particularly surprising, but it represents confirmation of what many of us only suspected. And obviously, the fact that the leaks occurred at all is news.

 

Leaks are funny things, when they occur in affairs of government. We go to great lengths to keep secrets, when as a child we soon learned that secrets can never remain secret.

Yet our government deems so much to be too sensitive for the eyes of the public, only to have someone who disagrees, leak the secrets.

It would be interesting to discover the true motivation behind the leaks.

 

I know this much...one shouldn't expect things to be kept secret when a million people have access to them.

As for motivation...in the case of the soldier blamed for all this, I'm betting on the 15 minutes of fame, followed by a book deal.

 

How many times is the true divulger of secrets kept secret.

 

I've always liked Madeleine Albright and think she's certainly one of the most intelligent Secretaries of State until Hillary came along. But no out there in the world, not just thinking on her feet, but getting things done and more importantly having the balls to stand behind what's happening and face hostile audiences and questions from people that have good reason to be pissed, I've never seen anyone with not the ability but the personal honor and courage Clinton demonstrates.

And as far as the founding fathers well they had a much simpler world to contend with and still weren't all that inspiring.

Now what was your question on Iran's democracy?

 

I think that's the real story so far but maybe the REAL story is whether or not Wikileaks can continue to get this kind of information.

Its stunning to me on one level that such a breach of security could occur so easily. But then I also have to wonder if the complexity of our world and society and our technological advancements haven't created something like worm holes. See I still don't see how an Army guy gets into the state department and wonder if he just got lucky.

But what happens next? Is this a one time shot where Wikileaks hit the jackpot, or is this something that others will leak information to and keep it going.

The other thing I'm wondering about is what's left. I mean so far I just haven't been that impressed, although entertained would be a fair description. But if these are the lead stories I'm afraid its actually pretty dull stuff.