CableGate

Alright, time to weigh in on something that has been all over the news these days: CableGate.

If you've been under a rock for the past few weeks, here's the rundown...

Infamous publisher of sensitive information, Wikileaks, is realeasing "cables" at a rate of about 80 per day on their web page.  These cables contain diplomatic information generated by the US government.  Most of them are not classified, some are deemed confidential, and a minority of them "secret" (meaning you need a clearance to get them).  The information is a nice mix of communications between diplomats, personal emails, economic and political analysis of other countries, etc etc etc...  The US is very embarrassed, and rightfully so.  Many of these cables reveal us to be arrogant and insincere in our international negotiations.

For more information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_diplomatic_cables_leak

Since the leaks began on November 28th, Wikileaks has been in hot water and its founder has coincidentally been charged with rape.  Corporations that have ties to Wikileaks, including VISA (Paypal donations) and Amazon (web-hosting) have been threatened with federal investigations and so have cut their ties.

And, most recently, the US Air Force has blocked access to websites, including the New York Times, that have made the cables available.  The White House even issued a statement advising all federal employees who may have "inadvertantly" seen any classified information to contact their US Security Office immediately.

Yes, Big Brother is watching you.

I want to know your opinion on all this -- especially those who don't live in the US.  How is this perceived abroad?  Is the response of the US government met with sympathy or critcism?  How do people feel about Wikileaks as an organization?

Discuss.