Interpol has issued an arrest warrant for Julian Assange, the Australian leftist founder of WikiLeaks. In addition to a love for leaking America's classified documents, Assange is suspected of rape, sexual molestation and unlawful coercion of two women during his visit to Sweden in August (Assange denies the charges). Much drama. Anyway, bookeristas from around the world discuss yesterday's document dump:
USA: Michael Bowen: "Why Assange Is Wrong"
The moderate-conservative Republican blogger in California writes about Julian Assange: "Julian Assange is probably the world's biggest ass, an anarchist of the first order who is convinced that everyone and everything is corrupt but him and his supporters. He aggregates nothing but publicity and takes responsibility for nothing but kicks in the teeth of authority. He can only be right one way; in theory."
More: "Assange has fallen for the idea that 'information wants to be free'. He has run afoul of what I call information thermodynamics. He thinks that transparency is good enough, but it is not. Free information, even if consistent and understandable requires the context of organization. If you took Bibles and distributed them around the planet for free, you wouldn't be building a church. If you put public libraries with books that explain the stock market in poor neighborhoods, you wouldn't be building an investment house."
Britain: Walaa Idris: "Simply Irresponsible!"
The Conservative Party activist in London writes: "The person who stole the information and his accomplice who published them have said they did it because the public had the right to know, know! Know what!? That Obama though[t] [British Prime Minister David] Cameron was a lightweight, and Prince Andrew has bad table manners or Saudi Arabia wants rid of Iran – how is any of these [things] going to improve anyone’s life, ease poverty, eradicate disease or end wars? Or how is knowing diplomats say one thing to your face and another behind your back going to help the world or matters of diplomacy? What the diplomatic circuit thinks about a host’s leadership, dignitary and there [sic] attitudes towards different matters are at the heart of diplomatic work. The information gathered by a nation about its allies is as vital as that they gather about their enemy."
She continues: "This latest [set of] leaks did not fill Joe Public with confidence that his human rights and freedom of information are being protected and respected nor did it serve any national or international endeavour. On the contrary it made most of us feel venerable [sic] and exposed. It also raised questions about the US and the manner in which it handles sensitive information and the world’s trust in those it puts at the top. It also increased doubts about its ability in managing its security and the security of those that work with them!"
France: Neoafricain: "Non A WikiLeaks!"
The conservative blogger in France writes (original post in French): "Unlike others, I decided not to read the "revelations" of Wikileaks, not wishing to participate in what may be either a big joke, is the greatest act of piracy in history. I don't understand Mr. Julian Assange and not because he doesn't inspire confidence and is accused of rape by the Swedish court. I don't share his need to reveal all the secrets to the world. The principle of ultra-transparency does not please me, because it may switch to a form of totalitarianism that eventually everyone will start judging everything and everyone in real time. I regret that so-called serious newspapers immediately relayed 'information' to the public square. To me this is not journalism, but rather a kind of 'concealment of information'."
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WikiLeaks: International Bookerista Perspectives
