WikiLeaks or 'WickedLeaks'?

In our modern vernacular, 'wicked' has two meanings. It usually means 'evil', 'cruel', 'terrible' or 'disgusting'; but it is also the slang term for 'very good', 'great', 'magnificent' or 'wonderful'. Frankly, I don't know whether to view WikiLeaks as an evil or wonderful organisation. The question, therefore, arises in my mind: is WikiLeaks actually 'WickedLeaks'?

WikiLeaks states that its goal is to "bring important news and information to the public". Essentially, it says that the organisation wants to reveal the 'truth' to readers and historians ... ostensibly to change the world. Its logo, therefore, un-surreptitiously depicts an hourglass within which a dark-looking representation of the world intractably leaks to create a brighter representation of itself.

I have several problems with the so-called 'truth'. Whatever is being sent electronically, intercepted/recovered, leaked and made public is only someone's interpretation or version of it. Conceivably then, the 'truth' may be a misinter-pretation or misunderstanding, the result of cultural and/or language differences or even someone's version of a lie! How does WikiLeaks know for certain that a document/message sent intra- or inter-governmentally is the truth - the whole truth and nothing but the truth? That's why we have courts to try to determine what that is. WikiLeaks revelations are, at best, factual representations of communications.

Opinion versus truth

If a bunch of government officials claim that they believe that a jurisdiction is dragging its feet on a matter ... it may be their opinion but far from the truth. Revealing that could estrange the countries and dampen future cooperative and potentially beneficial efforts. Furthermore, what about the prevailing circumstances of the messages? Things may have changed and, therefore, become obsolete or irrelevant, or perhaps taken out of context and appear to be far worse than they truly are.

Part and parcel of 'diplomatic relations' between countries involves the garnering of information to fully acquaint oneself with the friendly nation. Diplomats couch their (verbal, written and electronic) communication in such a manner so as to get certain messages and ideas across and achieve a desired response without offending anyone. WikiLeaks aspires to eliminate the confidentiality so essential to diplomacy.

Granted, governments can be exceedingly sneaky but covert operations are essential in specific situations. What if sensitive materials fall into the wrong hands, seriously compromise important missions and endanger lives? WikiLeaks addresses this by claiming that, "We do not censor our news, but from time to time, we may remove or significantly delay the publication of some identifying details from original documents to protect life and limb of innocent people."

Dubious goal

I must confess that it makes me extremely nervous to think that the national and individual security of any country could rest in the hands of an organisation whose goal it is to reveal sensitive material. Even news organisa-tions cooperate when asked to withhold some material, but WikiLeaks is above and beyond any governance and, therefore, answerable only to its own sense of right and wrong, danger or benignity.

WikiLeaks has given some credence to the conspiracy theorists. Many, perhaps most, citizens of any country harbour the impression that their politicians make major decisions and perform deeds that are not necessarily in the best interest of the majority. They also believe that politicians lie and hide important matters from them. They feel that these matters may have a negative impact on the nation in the long run.

Naturally, I have reservations and concerns about the activities of WikiLeaks. However, if nothing else, I hope that they will cause leaders to be more introspective, pause and think before saying and doing things that they would find embarrassing were they brought to light.

Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice. Feedback may be sent to garthrattray@gmail.com or columns@gleanerjm.com.