Here’s Robert Gibbs on the Wikileaks disclosures:
“such disclosures put at risk our diplomats, intelligence professionals, and people around the world who come to the United States for assistance in promoting democracy and open government.”
From all accounts, he delivered this line with a straight face. The Atlantic described it as Orwellian. In fact, his failure to see the irony in this comment is terrifying. Rather than acknowledging our State Department’s failure to secure apparently highly sensitive, secret information, our government is looking to shoot the messenger.
In the process, our so-called free and open society is becoming less free and open by the minute. Obama’s “more transparent government” promise has become a sad joke. First Amendment free speech and free press guarantees are more at risk than at any time in recent history.
Is Ron Paul our only elected official who recognizes the problem with the Obama administrations response to the Wikileaks “situation”?
He had the courage to defend Julian Assange on Fox News in the face of a complete media and government attack on the Wikileaks founder. Here’s what he said:
“In a free society we’re supposed to know the truth. In a society where truth becomes treason, then we’re in big trouble. And now, people who are revealing the truth are getting into trouble for it.”
The U.S. should thank Mr. Assange for revealing obvious flaws in State Department “security” measures. As a U.S. citizen, I’m concerned about our inability to keep sensitive information secure. That’s the real problem here. Does anyone really believe that Wikileaks obtained these documents, yet no foreign governments have managed to breach our security through the same methods?
The difference is that Julian Assange told the world about it. He’s done the U.S. a favor, and should help make State Department communications more secure in the future.
And for that he shall be punished.
