Some alternative views on the "Wikileaks Crisis"

Two respected geo-political commentators have come up with separate, but interesting conclusions on the "Wiki-leaks Crisis" that point to further censure of the internet.  F. William  Engdahl warns us:

"The process of policing the Web was well underway before the current leaks scandal. In 2009 Democratic Senator Jay Rockefeller and Republican Olympia Snowe introduced the Cybersecurity Act of 2009 (S.773). It would give the President unlimited power to disconnect private-sector computers from the internet. The bill "would allow the president to 'declare a cyber-security emergency' relating to 'non-governmental' computer networks and do what's necessary to respond to the threat." We can expect that now this controversial piece of legislation will get top priority when a new Republican House and the Senate convene in January."


Michel Chossudovsky warns us that there is "more to the truth than meets the eye":

"In recent years, the CIA's relationship to the media has become increasingly complex and sophisticated. We are dealing with a mammoth propaganda network involving a number of agencies of government.

Media disinformation has become institutionalized. The lies and fabrications have become increasingly blatant when compared to the 1970s. The US media has become the mouthpiece of US foreign policy."

I like both these analyses.  Disinformation requires a high level of truth to be believable.  Long range political and psychological operations are flexible in goals and outcomes, have persistent emotional appeal, and serve state-based political objectives. The "wikileaks crisis" fits this bill. As a network security professional, I will warn that the popularity and spread of wikileaks could be easily monitored and that such surveillance produces important information - the IP addresses, domains, and supportive infrastructure of political opponents.


This surveillance of different sides over a polarizing issue produces an important calculus: the public opinion and reaction to censure and fascism.  The 'authors' of the operation now know how much they can 'push' others into tighter social control and who the 'resisters' are and where they are located. Operation Avenge Assange could then be viewed as an action that plays into the hands of those wanting to censure and control the internet with greater ferocity.


The most important result may be that the "wikileaks crisis" should be viewed as a strong call to arms for the supporters of free speech. This Christmas break, we need to find out what exactly is in Joe Lieberman's "Cyber Security Act for 2010". If you listen to Senators Lieberman  and Collins speak, you will have to admit the entire "wikileaks crisis" and Operation Avenge Assange seem tailor made to help smooth the passage of this large and encompassing bill.:


"In the event of an attack on America's cyberspace, or the the threat of an attack...our legislation gives the President of the United States the authority to impose emergency measures...Those emergency measures would expire within thirty days unless specifically renewed."