Biden: no 'substantive' damage from Wikileaks

[kpete]

Source: New York Times

Biden: no 'substantive' damage from Wikileaks

(AFP) – 1 hour ago

WASHINGTON — US Vice President Joe Biden says there has been no "substantive" damage to US foreign policy from the WikiLeaks drama, despite embarrassment caused by thousands of leaked diplomatic cables.

Biden commented on the fallout from the WikiLeaks campaign in an MSNBC interview broadcast on Thursday and recorded a day earlier at the United Nations, where he chaired a Security Council meeting on Iraq.

"I don't think there is any substantive damage, no," Biden said, when asked about the WikiLeaks revelations.

"Some of the cables that are coming out here and around the world are embarrassing," Biden said.

"But nothing that I am aware of that goes to the essence of the relationship that will allow another nation to say 'they lied to me, we don't trust them, they really are not dealing fairly with us'."

Read more: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/16/biden-blasts-republicans-over-christmas-comments/

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. "...but let's kill him anyway!"

:woohoo:

[stevenleser]

2. Assange has a lot more to worry about from China, Russia, the Saudis and the Iranians IMHO

Those four are extremely pissed off at him, more than enough to off him.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

3. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?

[liberation]

9. Funny...

... I have heard multiple people use the same argument. Funny how that works, eh?

I am amazed how after having invaded a country which led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians, all based on basically false pretenses. That many Americans still consider almost anyone else around the glove to be the ones with the itchy trigger, where the good Americans remain the bastion of reason and rule of law. That now they have to compound the old commie bastard threats (China and Russia) with the new and improved terrorist bastard threat(s) (Iran) tells me, sadly, how daft and gullible many Americans are.

I weep.

[RZM]

18. Poppycock

Your logic is flawed. You seem to be arguing that because of the Iraq War, China, Russia, and Iran are above criticism from any American? How about from those who didn't and don't support the Iraq War? All countries have pretty nasty authoritarian regimes and that fact has little to do with Iraq.

[fascisthunter]

21. that's not how I read that post

:eyes:

[bemildred]

20. Kevin, the lost bunny of the Apocalypse

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/.a/6a00d8341c60fd53ef0133f24307b9970b-800wi

[treestar]

8. Hyperbole, no one is going to kill him

But whatever laws he broke he has to answer for like anyone else.

[liberation]

10. Like the people whose law breaking is documented by the leaks?

Or does the "rule of law" only apply to non-Americans living in other countries who have broken no American law?

[pitohui]

11. whatever laws DID he break?

as far as i can tell, he has broken no usa law

if sweden thinks it's against the law to have sex w. somebody after the rubber breaks, i laugh in their general direction, i am not gonna pretend to respect that law as anything except harassment

i'm glad biden said this, the more i look into it, the more i agree -- sure it's "embarrassing" but these other countries aren't idiots, they already know what we say about them behind their backs -- only the "people" (some people) didn't know

we should take the lead and show we're not afraid of transparency, i say if bolivia is hosting wikileaks, the usa should step up and do the same

it would calm down a lot of nonsense, plus it would piss off stupid people and pissing off stupid people is ALWAYS fun

[treestar]

17. There is a law against exposing classified documents

If he is ever in this country, he will be charged with it.

[RZM]

19. I highly doubt he will turn up dead

If so, I wouldn't bet on the US being responsible. That would be a truly boneheaded PR move on the part of the administration and I'm sure it's been 'off the table' from the beginning.

[breadandwine]

15. Damn straight! Round him up!

Here's the PROOF of his moral turpitude ------

Degenerate Aasange is a pervert!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!------

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x12561

[Arctic Dave]

4. Sounds like everyone is on the same talking point.

"Nothing to see here, move along".

Considering the amount of information published so far is less then 1%. However, this is part of the plan, make it look passe and have the masses go quietly back to their slumber. I noticed this last night when I was watching the announcement of the POTY on NBC. They were so smug and dismissive of Assange because he wasn't really important enough.

[Pavulon]

5. I think they changed the link. The video there does not have that quote.

I do not doubt he said it, just that the link may be off.

[KoKo]

6. Well Biden is speaking and telling the "Truth" as he sees it. Good Thing...No?

:shrug:

[bemildred]

7. So all the secrecy was just bullshit? nt

[pitohui]

12. not bullshit exactly, just tactfulness

say i'm in high school in the south, i don't say right in your face, you're a shitty cheerleader and a member of the russian mafia, no, that's just rude

i say it behind your back

diplomats, etc. have to be able to speak frankly to their own gov'ts and to the state department, but it's one thing to say in a secret cable "russia is run by the freakin' mafia" and another to say right to putin's face, "you dumb ass, your country has overtaken by the criminal element..."

you can have secrets that don't cause harm to anything except etiquette...

but the more i follow this story, the more i think biden is right, assange just appears to be reporting information, this is not illegal activity, it's just being a reporter -- we haven't had any real reporters in america for so long that we don't recognize the real thing when we see it

[bemildred]

13. I'm not saying this stuff ought not be kept confidential.

I'm saying it ought not be classified as a national security threat. When everything is a national security threat, nothing is REALLY a national security threat.

Also, diplomats ought to be diplomatic. Acting like a junior high school kid is not appropriate, and diplomats that do mouth off ought to be exposed and fired.

[Jefferson23]

14. I think this helps Assange, no substantive damage, but we'll continue to keep a

wall up around every damn thing we do/say anyway? Pathetic.

[thesquanderer]

16. Here's a link that works

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101216/pl_afp/usdiplomacywikileaksbiden_20101216213954

[Turborama]

23. Thanks! n/t

[glinda]

22. Red herring. Statement most likely to deflect outside criticism of US image. They will imprison

Assange in an unfair trail.