Monday, media sources began covering the Wikileaks' leakage of State Department secrets. Important state secrets and opinions that were exchanged between ambassadors and embassies abroad and the State Department revealed some highly controversial opinions and occurrences. Personally, I think there is a reason these were secrets, and I think it's outrageous that news sources across the world (including the New York Times) are openly reporting the Department's secrets. Five newspapers, the New York Times (excerpt above), Le Monde (France), the Guardian (Britain), El País (Spain), and Spiegel (Germany), have been privy enough to the cables.
Not only will the revealing of these secrets have negative repercussions for the United States, but for the world abroad. Our opinions on foreign states, especially in the Middle East, could lead to disastrous actions and attacks that would not only affect our nation, but others as well. This leakage also damages our reputation and alliances abroad. I think it is irresponsible of the news sources, who are all international news sources, to print these cables. Since they are focused on an international audience, they should understand their global repercussions. However, it is especially irresponsible of the New York Times, for revealing secrets on its own country. I think this is an instance where the media has taken their crusade of honesty in politics to the citizens of the world too far, because this instance actually threatens stability everywhere.
This leak is also calling into question the honesty of the American government and what it reports to the American and global public. Jon Stewart's interview with Aasif Mandvi, an actor, reveals the uncertainty of the American public, in Stewart's typically humorous manner. However, I believe behind the humor lies truth: can we, as an American public, trust what our government now tells us?
