WikiLeaks about to hit the fan

The AP is reporting that he published a classified list of foreign electronics firms, fuel depots, food providers and other contractors for the US military. The AP does say that some of that is public info, but not all of it is. How easy do you think it would be to poison a ships crew if you knew exactly where they were getting their foodstuffs from? Even if all you did was make them all extremely sick, it could compromise their mission.

You hold this crazy notion the US laws apply to the world. Perhaps you've gotten this from the US illegally invading Panama and illegally taking Manuel Noreiga [sp??] back to the USA for a kangaroo court trial.

back to the USA for a kangaroo court trial

As long as we have the most powerful military the world had ever dream of our laws will apply where ever we say they apply.

... let us remember that the military deal of our country has never been defensive warfare. Since the Revolution, only the United Kingdom has beaten our record for square miles of territory acquired by military conquest. Our exploits against the American Indian, against the Filipinos, the Mexicans, and against Spain are on a par with the campaigns of Genghis Khan, the Japanese in Manchuria and the African attack of Mussolini.

No country has ever declared war on us before we first obliged them with that gesture. Our whole history shows we have never fought a defensive war. And at the rate our armed forces are being implemented at present, the odds are against our fighting one in the near future.

No country has ever declared war on us before we first obliged them with that gesture.

George Kennan, Cold War Planner for the USA in 1948:

"We have 50% of the world's wealth, but only 6.3% of its population. In this situation, our real job in the coming period is to devise a pattern of relationships which permit us to maintain this position of disparity. To do so, we have to dispense with all sentimentality...we should cease thinking about human rights, the raising of living standards and democratisation."

JTT kindly rephrase from

I'm pretty sure Japan attacked the US without declaring war, but the US responded by declaring war on Germany and Italy as well as Japan. So technically Smedley is right, and MM is wrong (about Germany and Italy).

Gillard 'prejudicing Assange's right to trial'
Updated 2 hours 47 minutes ago

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has been accused of possibly prejudicing any future case against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange by claiming he is "guilty of illegality" for leaking US diplomatic cables. ...<cont>

Open letter calls for Gillard to defend Assange
Updated 14 minutes ago

Prominent US figures have called for Mr Assange's death since WikiLeaks began releasing hundreds of US diplomatic cables.

Prominent US figures have called for Mr Assange's death since WikiLeaks began releasing hundreds of US diplomatic cables. (Reuters: Valentin Flauraud)

A group of almost 200 prominent names have appealed to Prime Minister Julia Gillard to defend WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

Many prominent US figures have called for Mr Assange's death since his whistleblower organisation began releasing hundreds of US diplomatic cables last month.

And Ms Gillard has been accused by Mr Assange's lawyers of prejudicing any case against him by claiming he is "guilty of illegality" for leaking the documents.

But in the open letter posted on the ABC's Drum website, figures such as writer Noam Chomsky, former Family Court chief justice Alastair Nicholson, retired intelligence officer Lance Collins and actor Max Gillies call on Ms Gillard to ensure Mr Assange's safety in light of the inflammatory rhetoric surrounding WikiLeaks.

"We therefore call upon you to condemn, on behalf of the Australian Government, calls for physical harm to be inflicted upon Mr Assange and to state publicly that you will ensure Mr Assange receives the rights and protections to which he is entitled, irrespective of whether the unlawful threats against him come from individuals or states," they write.

In the letter, almost 200 signatories including Chaser star Julian Morrow, Greens MP Adam Bandt and author Helen Garner, say the Prime Minister needs to make a strong statement in support of freedom of information and resist calls to punish Mr Assange for the leaks.

"We urge you to confirm publicly Australia's commitment to freedom of political communication; to refrain from cancelling Mr Assange's passport, in the absence of clear proof that such a step is warranted; to provide assistance and advocacy to Mr Assange; and do everything in your power to ensure that any legal proceedings taken against him comply fully with the principles of law and procedural fairness," the letter states.

"A statement by you to this effect should not be controversial - it is a simple commitment to democratic principles and the rule of law."

It says the leaks represent a "watershed" in the cause of freedom of speech, and the Government can make a difference by speaking out in defence of Mr Assange.

"In many parts of the globe, death threats routinely silence those who would publish or disseminate controversial material," it writes.

"If these incitements to violence against Mr Assange, a recipient of Amnesty International's Media Award, are allowed to stand, a disturbing new precedent will have been established in the English-speaking world."

Mr Assange has become the focal point for anger over the latest leaks, which detail private cables of US diplomats and have revealed damaging and embarrassing information about senior government figures around the world.