I largely missed the latest WikiLeaks release the so-called "Cablegate" event while I was abroad. Since getting back, it's been interesting to catch up and hear the multitude of opinions about the organization and its mission. Being a young idealist lucky enough to have a column that people (supposedly) read, I want to write a brief defense of the website that I hope might start some other interesting conversations. To put it frankly, I believe WikiLeaks' release of classified documents is a net positive for citizens and their governments around the world.
Although the site has existed since 2006, WikiLeaks' real notoriety began with its July 2010 release of the Afghanistan War Logs, a leaked cache of 90,000 documents related to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since then, WikiLeaks has expanded its influence by regularly disseminating classified information to major news outlets. According to its website, the organization publishes documents provided by whistleblowers across the world with the goal of revealing "suppressed and censored injustices."
In the ongoing release of over 250,000 documents (technically only about 2,000 have been published so far, but WikiLeaks claims to have 251,287 documents that will eventually all be released), WikiLeaks has made available diplomatic cables essentially classified memos between members of the U.S. Foreign Service to the general public.
While a full discussion of the moral, philosophical and political arguments for and against an organization like WikiLeaks would require a dissertation, for this article I'd like to argue that WikiLeaks' existence is a net positive development for America and the world. Many disagree with the methods of site founder Julian Assange, arguing that his actions put innocent people in danger, set a bad precedent and compromise diplomatic missions. However, whatever ills come of the releasesand history will find few, I thinkthey are far outnumbered by benefits.
In an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, Floyd Abrams provides a good example of a misguided complaint, decrying the cables for exposing and thereby compromising the inner workings of valuable U.S. diplomatic efforts such as peacekeeping and conflict resolution. However, the most allegedly damaging effect that Abrams can identify is the potential embarrassment of foreign leaders. Balance that embarrassment against the positive outcomes of WikLeaks releases (assuming that exposing corruption, bad practices and lies is a positive thing, of course). Thanks to WikiLeaks, informed Americans now know that their tax dollars are funding a drastic and secret expansion of Drug Enforcement Agency operations abroad, the release of Guantanamo detainees to foreign countries and support for Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who regularly issues pardons to corrupt officials and drug king pins. The degree to which the American people need and deserve to know this information far outweighs the slight damage it causes to the reputations of the U.S. government and its officials.
Whether or not you agree with Assange's actions, the leaks have happened. The most important thing moving forward is that the citizens of this country be exposed to the releases. The information they provide will empower citizens to intervene in government actions that conflict with their values. So too will these releases serve as a warning to future government officials to act within the bounds of American law. Classified information has been leaked regularly throughout history in both the political and corporate world, typically because wrongs have been committed. Once exposed, they can hopefully be corrected.WikiLeaks is no different. Yes, sometimes bending the law might be a utilitarian option, and yes, perhaps some people doing good on behalf of the American public will be harmed by these leaks. But history will judge the guilt or innocence of those identified in the cables.
Though it might be an idealistic perspective, I think one of the most important outcomes of the WikiLeaks release is the discussion it will bring. Whatever the costs or benefits, it has gotten people talking about democracy, the nature of journalism, and most importantly, the nature of our world and whether or not it should change. So whatever your opinion on WikiLeaks, don't block it out. If you haven't, read the cables and War Logs and learn about how the world sometimes works. Good or bad, for once we have an opportunity to see the international system as it is, straight from the source.
