WikiLeaks

Is that blood? Or ketchup?

From what I have seen, the Wikileaks documents that have come out do not, on balance, seem damaging to the US at all. They are more embarassing to some other governments, and put the US's public claims in a rather better light than the left is generally inclined to allow them.

We have learned, for example, that China does not think much of North Korea, expects it to collapse within three years of Kim Jong Il's death, and has no problem with Korea being reunified from Seoul.

Hmm--very damaging to North Korea, less so to China. But for the US? Looks like a troop of Boy Scouts.

We have learned that the Gulf Arabs are far more concerned with Iran than with Israel, and would not only support, but have encouraged, any pre-emptive strike—even a land invasion.

Hmm--very damaging to Iran, less so to the Gulf Arabs. But for the US? Look like a troop of Boy Scouts.

We have learned that Iran has acquired from North Korea missiles that, while not a threat to the US, could hit most of the capitals of Europe.

Hmmm--very damaging to Iran, less so to Europe. But for the US? Looks like a troop of Boy Scouts.

It all almost sounds like a needed wakeup call for those who have been doubting US foreign policy and saying silly things about "US hegemony" and supposed plots involving oil.

Has it all been a clever CIA ploy, to get favourable information out there without alienating friendly governments who would be embarrassed by it? Sure, there are a few embarassing revelations: that US diplomats have been spying, for example. That US intelligence is so insecure. But you almost have to throw at least that much chum into the water to make it all look bona fide. I note that nothing “top secret” has been leaked; and I note that the chief suspect in the leak is an Army private. It does sound rather implausible that mounds of US secret documents were within easy hacking reach of a private soldier. If, on the other had, you need a scapegoat, an Army private is a pretty small fish to have to fry.

But I doubt, in the end, that this is the case. It is a conspiracy theory. There are indeed conspiracies, but on the whole, governments are not that smart. On average, probably somewhat less smart than an Army private.

I think the fact that the leaks tend to support US interests and embarass other governments is more likely simply due to US foreign policy being fundamentally reasonable, well-meaning, moderate, and transparent. What they have said in public has generally been what they have said in private; so there are few real secrets to reveal.

In other words, the US simply turns out to be the good guys.

Who knew?