WikiLeaks is the website famous for calling out the government around the world. I first heard of the anomalous website when they caused a flurry after releasing embarrassing airport security risks. Many applaud the site for its “outing” of the government while others see the site as a grave national security risk. I can’t say I disagree with either side as both have good points. On the one hand calling out the government can help keep it in check, on the other; its report about American soldiers in Iraq could put them in serious danger. Amidst all of this government officials have been scrambling to find a way to shut WikiLeaks down. Can the United States government really do that? Would shutting down WikiLeaks violate the first amendment we all love?
After the most recent embarrassing scandal dubbed ‘Cablegate’, a play on the infamous Watergate scandal with Nixon, Hilary Clinton among other officials have been slamming the site left and right. The document contains some colorful descriptions of different world leader via Clinton, among others. Some diplomats shrug it off, while others are enraged. Obviously they just a tad chagrined. Having your muddled comments tossed about online doesn’t seem to justify the U.S. government violation of the first amendment. However, the cables have been taken off the air, but mirror site still have them. As unlikely as it may be, if Assange were to be arrested and the case got dragged to the Supreme Court, the outcome would most likely be in favor of WikiLeaks. The site is said to be posting new document sometime around February or March 2011, in the meantime Clinton will stay red-faced in front of her colleagues.
TwinCities.com
I agree with the your overall opinion, but I think the information this site makes public to anyone who cares to look at it puts in danger more than just the reputation of those politicians who are mentioned in its articles. It can be said that this is just an excuse for those politicians to bring the site down, but I believe in some cases our right to freedom of speech should be somewhat limited, especially in cases in which we can put others in harm, not to mention the security of our nation.
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