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Tag: wikileaks

If you have never lived through a day like this before, remember what if feels like to see history turn

Published December 7, 2010 by Jo Jordan

Sea Cliff Bridge Water by Jon... in 3D via FlickrEmperor’s Clothes

I am not sure that the content of Wikileaks is really much to write home about and I still see the reaction as being a classic case of Emperor’s Clothes.  It seems the Guardian has the same view.

Scientific Journalism

But I do take Assange’s point that Wikileaks has ushered in an era of scientific journalism.  Yes, it is good to have evidence for what we write about and what we believe in.

Who has put the frighteners on Amazon and Paypal?

I can’t see why Amazon, Paypal etc are running scared.  Who is putting pressure on them?  And why?

As for delayed warrants of arrest  . . .

As for the extradition, I am afraid I believe Assange’s lawyer.  The Swedish authorities have had more than three months to issue that warrant.  It is sub judice now but I am curious to know what questions are asked by British judges.

If you have never lived through a turning point in history . . .

This is one of these moments when history turns.  We are in a room that turns cold as everyone realizes that we are a fork in the road from which there is no return.  We go this way or that.  Let’s hope it is not that.

Remember the feeling . . .

As we get older, we accumulate experience and we recognize the signs.  And the deep dread of prolonged trouble ahead.

Remember the feeling. It is one of those visceral reactions to life that you should never forget.

Good luck to everyone.  We are going to need it.

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Wikileaks and the Emperor’s Clothes

Published December 3, 2010 by Jo Jordan

855am by Trinity via FlickrNon-event of the week

Wikileaks – so I found out about the lame political analysis coming out of Embassies.  Surprised – not really – they hear the same lame analysis I hear at cocktail parties. Surprised – sort of – surely, well I mean these guys are the crème de la crème – surely they think more deeply than that.  It seems not.

Wikileaks was a nothing.  We all know this stuff. We just didn’t know that THIS IS ALL!

Wikileaks and the Emperor’s Clothes

The powers-that-be are writhing precisely because Wikileaks turned out to be a nothing event.  So a boy in the crowd has yelled out that the Emperor is wearing no clothes.   The tailors who sold him make-believe clothes, if they have their smarts about them, cashed in and headed for the hills along time ago.

Those who didn’t have the guts to point out the scam before are looking foolish. That’s all.

But maybe we are the ones with no clothes?

It is a logical possibility.  Let’s look at the squeals of outrage.

Critics say that our officials can’t govern unless their inane analysis is secret. Hardly. There was little secret or analytical about it.

Anyway, the basic requirement of their position is that they do nothing without our consent or that would be consistent with our consent on inspection (maybe that is why the analysis has been so lame?)

Privacy and confidentiality refers to the people they describe.  Yes.  Other people’s details are private but not the politicians they ‘play’ with. Those people consort with foreign embassies to be heard.  There interaction is not a secret; nor cannot it be.  The lamentable state of Joe Soap’s bank account or the personal foibles of a  politician’s mother – those are confidential to those people.  Actions taken on behalf of voters is never secret.  Ever.

The only secret that has been blown is that it doesn’t take a lot of expertise to do what Wikileaks has exposed.

But still, maybe they do other stuff we don’t know about.  Hands up if you believe that.  But still, maybe we suffer from outstanding ignorance and they are wearing clothes after all.  It is possible.  But that is how the scam works.

Simple solution: wear clothes

If they are wearing clothes, I think we would have seen another reaction and different body language.  Wearied looks. A condescending pat on the head.  We would even have heard what was reputed to have been said to Hilary Clinton:  you should read what we say about you.  The world is simply roaring with laughter at a case of emperor’s clothes.

There is a simple solution.   Put on some clothes.  I am sure we will like what we see when you do.

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