Defense Secretary Gates says wikileaks no big deal.

[superduperfarleft]

Gates on Leaks, Wiki and Otherwise
via http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/30/gates-on-leaks-wiki-and-otherwise/">New York Times

“Now, I’ve heard the impact of these releases on our foreign policy described as a meltdown, as a game-changer, and so on. I think those descriptions are fairly significantly overwrought. The fact is, governments deal with the United States because it’s in their interest, not because they like us, not because they trust us, and not because they believe we can keep secrets. Many governments — some governments — deal with us because they fear us, some because they respect us, most because they need us. We are still essentially, as has been said before, the indispensable nation.

“So other nations will continue to deal with us. They will continue to work with us. We will continue to share sensitive information with one another.

“Is this embarrassing? Yes. Is it awkward? Yes. Consequences for U.S. foreign policy? I think fairly modest.’’

[EFerrari]

1. I hope all the BushCo fixers chime in to reassure us!

[EmilyKent]

2. Talk about delusional!

:rofl:

[TwilightGardener]

3. Gates is a smart guy, and he's probably right on this.

[Sherman A1]

4. Agreed

Other nations will continue to deal with us, because they have to, just as we must deal with them.

It's the nature of things.

[kayakjohnny]

5. But I don't really believe we're an 'indispensible' nation. That's just some chest-beating.

Maybe in the past, but not now.

I think we are plenty dispensible to certain countries.

Many nations can find what we once provided elsewhere.

I think we are on the downward side of the apex now, as a superpower.

And as a culture in general.

We've outlived our usefulness to many parts of the world.

Not to mention our own.

[somone]

6. So he's not gonna sic Special Forces on Assange?

The bankers might beg to differ, though.

[joeybee12]

7. The only one reacting sanely to this is Gates??? A Bush holdover???

Jesus Christ.

[intheflow]

10. No kidding!

I am feeling very much like Alice through the looking glass these days, our political landscape is just SO surreal. :crazy:

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. "..not because they like us, not because they trust us,.."

Sounds like the way the American people feel about our government...and, how the government feels about the people.

[mmonk]

9. Even when you cut out all the hubris, he is correct.

If there is any damage, it is to the image of our so called free press.