Controversy and Confusion Over the Latest WikiLeaks Revelations: 8 Things You Really Need to Know

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/story/152343/controversy_and_confusion_over_the_latest_wikileaks_revelations%3A_8_things_you_really_need_to_know/

September 9, 2011 |



LIKE THIS ARTICLE ?
Join our mailing list:
Sign up to stay up to date on the latest headlines via email.



TAKE ACTION
Change.org|Get Widget|Start an Online Petition �


WikiLeaks has become a symbol of resistance to total government and corporate control over information and by extension, our lives.

Yet it often seems lately that the drama surrounding the organization is given more coverage than its actual revelations. Aside from founder Julian Assange's ongoing battle to avoid extradition to Sweden on rape and sexual assault charges, there's growing conflict with the leaks organization's former media partners over unredacted documents, arguments in the press about the proper way to handle sensitive information, and of course the ongoing concern of many for the treatment in prison of alleged leaker Bradley Manning.

After the recent exposure of all 251,287 diplomatic cables that WikiLeaks possessed in their original forms, with names of sources and sensitive information intact, the swirl of controversy has all but overshadowed the value of the information itself. Still, WikiLeaks continues to shape the public debate over war, diplomacy, US power, secrecy, information technology, and the role of journalism.

We've got eight things you need to know to be up-to-date on the latest with WikiLeaks.

[EFerrari]

1. K&R

[bemildred]

2. Future historians will be extremely grateful for this data dump.

Whatever politicians may think of it now.