Is the U.S. going after Julian Assange, founder of WikiLEAKS, by leaning on our British and Swedish friends? It is too soon to tell, but as recent history demonstrates, we will eventually know the truth. The New York Times and many other news outlets have been reporting on both the content and the legality of the release of over 250,000 U.S. government diplomatic cables. Meanwhile, Julian Assange sits in a UK jail, awaiting a bail hearing relating to an extradition request by Sweden where two women have separately accused him of sexual assault.
My real question: does anyone really find any of the information that has been released all that surprising? It shows to me a diplomatic core largely doing its job, collecting information, feeding it to their superiors for further analysis, and taking instructions. Is anyone really surprised that Saudi Arabia isn’t getting along with Iran, or that the administration has a low opinion of Vladamir Putin?
Sometimes an airing of dirty laundry has positive consequences. Perhaps other countries will think about standing up to Iran more than they have been. Perhaps Russians will reconsider their views of Vladamir Putin. Perhaps the U.S. will consider not providing a lowly private so much unaudited access to information that assuredly isn’t relevant to his job. Certainly the late night shows needed fresh material!