re: #11 sattv4u2

This really isn’t a hard concept to grasp. Wikileaks release of these cables is not mainly concerning because of what radical individuals might do, but how authoritarian governments will use the information contained therein. As an example, I give you the Zimbabwean opposition leader, who, after the release of the cable detailing his connections with the US, was arrested on charges of treason— not by a radical individual, but by an authoritarian government. The link is above. Here is text from the story:

The reaction in Zimbabwe was swift. Zimbabwe’s Mugabe-appointed attorney general announced he was investigating the Prime Minister on treason charges based exclusively on the contents of the leaked cable. While it’s unlikely Tsvangirai could be convicted on the contents of the cable alone, the political damage has already been done. The cable provides Mugabe the opportunity to portray Tsvangirai as an agent of foreign governments working against the people of Zimbabwe. Furthermore, it could provide Mugabe with the pretense to abandon the coalition government that allowed Tsvangirai to become prime minister in 2009.

Obviously, the Zimbabwean government didn’t have this cable before it was released by Wikileaks, or they would have already charged him with treason.

Can you explain why you think radical individuals are of more concern than authoritarian governments?