Is the US just saying this so that when the actual leak comes out, it seems softer? Are they just making this up for some reason, or is the leak actually real? What kind of thing could possibly be leaked, and how badly will it damage international relations?
Well, back in July, Wired quoted Manning as saying
“Everywhere there’s a U.S. post, there’s a diplomatic scandal that will be revealed,” Manning wrote. “It’s open diplomacy. World-wide anarchy in CSV format. It’s Climategate with a global scope, and breathtaking depth. It’s beautiful, and horrifying.”
The article also says "a previously unreported breach consisting of 260,000 classified U.S. diplomatic cables that Manning described as exposing “almost criminal political back dealings.”"
( http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/06/leak/ )
I think it's real, and I think it's bad. Time will tell though.
You're absolutely right. Contrary to what parent claims, the US and our allies do a lot of good around the world that is made possible by having strong international diplomacy with other countries.
If there are 'criminal' political back-dealings, then don't the people perpetrating them, bear some responsibility? Otherwise we end up in the 'too big to fail' position where anything bad these people do will always be covered up, and they basically get a blank cheque to do what they please. (by 'people,' I mean the specific politicians/diplomats/etc involved).
After reading this thread I've come to the conclusion that it's ethical to leak secret government documents (from a democratic country) if and only if the document provides evidence of someone in the government behaving illegally.
Random dumps of four hundred thousand random government documents, however obtained, don't cut it.
>What kind of thing could possibly be leaked, and how badly will it damage international relations?
Well it might be tricky politically for Germany to get behind the US if the leaks contain plans for a 'final solution' to the problem of muslims living in America.
Mostly it's just lots of governments that have opposed torture in public statements are going to be embarrassed when it's detailed how their security services stood there while the person was electrocuted then asked their questions.
The UK just made a big payout to lots of Gimto inmates to avoid this coming out in court.
International espionage makes my head hurt.