Wikileaks reveals identity of Afgan informants

[Skullheadhq]

Is it ok to publish an article about your masturbation habits with your real name mentioned in it? I'm sure you wouldn't mind, freedom of speech being absolute and all that...

This is an interesting point. Of course, I wouldn't like it, but should it be banned and you locked up for publishing it? Of course not!
That being said, no-one is really interested in these kinds of 'reports'.

Nope I'm arguing that you are getting exactly what you wanted, can't cherry-pick here. Government is repression, always.

I can't remember advocating internet censorship or me creating the government, can you?

[Andres]

This is an interesting point. Of course, I wouldn't like it, but should it be banned and you locked up for publishing it? Of course not!

But of course

And you certainly wouldn't want me to face consequences for publishing your name and address in an article about how you had sex with the daugther of John the Titan, a 2 meter tall 250 kg lifting martial arts champion who just got released out of jail where he served a sentence for butchering and eating the last guy who had sex with his daughter.

I can't remember advocating internet censorship or me creating the government, can you?

You've got your quote tags wrong... Fragony posted that, not me.

[Skullheadhq]

But of course

And you certainly wouldn't want me to face consequences for publishing your name and address in an article about how you had sex with the daugther of John the Titan, a 2 meter tall 250 kg lifting martial arts champion who just got released out of jail where he served a sentence for butchering and eating the last guy who had sex with his daughter.

I'm shocked and stunned by this amazing story!

It wasn't necessary to publish those names to inform the public. They could have published it as evidence that we were being told lies, without mentioning those names. Because he didn't replace those names with X, these people are now unnecessarily in danger.

And then the White House would say it's all edited and forged, show the X's as proof and that brings back Wikileaks credibility to 0.

[Fragony]

I'm shocked and stunned by this amazing story!

Rich kids are from a different planet, these people are now in mortal danger, what leftist rich kids think is just will never be more than a hobby. Why so egocentrical, as if this is just merely a difference of armchair-cosmopolitist opinion, these people are dead and so are their family.

[HoreTore]

these people are dead and so are their family.

Yes, because it's completely impossible to ship them over here...........

[Fragony]

Yes, because it's completely impossible to ship them over here...........

I guess that makes sense in the sphere of moral superiority, thank you for taking the time whining for all our sins.

[Skullheadhq]

Rich kids are from a different planet, these people are now in mortal danger, what leftist rich kids think is just will never be more than a hobby. Why so egocentrical, as if this is just merely a difference of armchair-cosmopolitist opinion, these people are dead and so are their family.

I was refering to 250 kilo John who eats humans, and I'm not a rich kid *sips his champaign*

[Myrddraal]

Why so egocentrical, as if this is just merely a difference of armchair-cosmopolitist opinion, these people are dead and so are their family.

I agree. I'm stunned that some members here are so callous. You are condoning the deaths of people here, with a cheery grin and a 'I just dare you to contradict me' attitude.

No freedom is limitless. Consider that philosophical point for more than five minutes and you'll realise that you're talking absolute when you talk about absolute freedom.

[Skullheadhq]

You are condoning the deaths of people here.

I don't, all those who kill people should be punished severely, you will never see me advocating or condoning murder or any other crime that hurts others. This goes for the Taliban and the NATO forces who, according to "the Death sentence", don't mind innocents dying at their hands.

And Fragony, you're constantly hammering about the safety of the informants, but when HoreTore mentions the possibility of shipping them over, you talk about 'our sins' as if you already left them there.

[Fragony]

And Fragony, you're constantly hammering about the safety of the informants, but when HoreTore mentions the possibility of shipping them over, you talk about 'our sins' as if you already left them there.

Why do you assume they want to be here? Maybe they want to live where they do? Maybe they have a good reason to not like the fundi's? What are the odds of that, someone who doesn't want a flatscreen, call out the hounds a sheep is confused.

[HoreTore]

I agree. I'm stunned that some members here are so callous. You are condoning the deaths of people here, with a cheery grin and a 'I just dare you to contradict me' attitude.

Civilians are killed or wounded by NATO forces all the time; that's okay, but I'm supposed to be all tear-up because 20-something informants are in danger of dying(unless they're already dead or they escape)? Puh-lease.

And might I note that people are also calling for the murder of the people working for WikiLeaks.... But that's okay too, right?

I guess that makes sense in the sphere of moral superiority, thank you for taking the time whining for all our sins.

People who work for one side in a conflict all know that it's very likely that they will have to flee at some point. Gawd, that's a basic fact of life, and something they must have considered when they chose to help NATO. As they still wanted to help NATO, it must mean that they would not object to relocating to another country.

[seireikhaan]

Civilians are killed or wounded by NATO forces all the time; that's okay, but I'm supposed to be all tear-up because 20-something informants are in danger of dying(unless they're already dead or they escape)? Puh-lease.

And might I note that people are also calling for the murder of the people working for WikiLeaks.... But that's okay too, right?

So informants and their families are killed all the time but I'm supposed to be all tear-up because some no name 20-something Afghani ventured to the wrong village?

Either you're soulless or a hypocrite who just came to the thread to vent and hate on teh evil west.

[Andres]

Civilians are killed or wounded by NATO forces all the time; that's okay, but I'm supposed to be all tear-up because 20-something informants are in danger of dying(unless they're already dead or they escape)? Puh-lease.

Ok, so you don't give a damn about an additional 20 victims, not including their families. Fine.

And might I note that people are also calling for the murder of the people working for WikiLeaks.... But that's okay too, right?

Not me. I'm not calling for anyone's dead. But mister Wikileaks deserves a serious spanking.

People who work for one side in a conflict all know that it's very likely that they will have to flee at some point. Gawd, that's a basic fact of life, and something they must have considered when they chose to help NATO. As they still wanted to help NATO, it must mean that they would not object to relocating to another country.

Ehm, are you seriously thinking that the their enemies will now sit and wait for a couple of weeks to give these people and their families a fair chance to flee the country? For all we know, they're already dead as we speak.

[seireikhaan]

What's the purpose of a site such as wikileaks? What's the origin of its function? My impression is that the function of "whistleblowing" derives from an ethical standard- the concept that accountability breeds more responsible behavior. To say they(and by extension other citizens) have a duty to keep governments and their respective military responsible is to imply an ethical standard. To publish, not just the names, but the families, of informants is exceedingly likely to lead to their deaths. Did these informants accept risk as a part of their job? Yes. Did the families accept this responsibility? Did their grandmother, or daughter, or son, or wife? I'm with Andres- there was no need to name names. At best, it was grossly negligent, and at worst, it was outright malicious. Given the comments to Dierspiegle, I'd venture to say the latter.

And then the White House would say it's all edited and forged, show it as proof and brings back Wikileaks credibility to 0.

They have lost their credibility, at least to me. Their job is one rooted in ethical conduct. And they gave a death sentence to innocent people.

[HoreTore]

What's the purpose of a site such as wikileaks? What's the origin of its function?

It was created to be a place where journalists and others living in dictatorships in east asia could publish their reports without risking their lives.

Did these informants accept risk as a part of their job? Yes. Did the families accept this responsibility? Did their grandmother, or daughter, or son, or wife?

So, NATO should stop using informants alltogether then? Informants are killed all the time, and so are their families, who never accepted that responsibility. So.... NATO is being irresponsible and unethical then? Well, wouldn't be the first time...

[Sasaki Kojiro]

What's the purpose of a site such as wikileaks? What's the origin of its function? My impression is that the function of "whistleblowing" derives from an ethical standard- the concept that accountability breeds more responsible behavior. To say they(and by extension other citizens) have a duty to keep governments and their respective military responsible is to imply an ethical standard. To publish, not just the names, but the families, of informants is exceedingly likely to lead to their deaths. Did these informants accept risk as a part of their job? Yes. Did the families accept this responsibility? Did their grandmother, or daughter, or son, or wife? I'm with Andres- there was no need to name names. At best, it was grossly negligent, and at worst, it was outright malicious. Given the comments to Dierspiegle, I'd venture to say the latter.


They have lost their credibility, at least to me. Their job is one rooted in ethical conduct. And they gave a death sentence to innocent people.

We need a wiki-leaks for wiki-leaks. They oughtta release their files--at least their informants will just be arrested