When Daniel Ellsberg made the classified Pentagon Papers available for publication by the New York Times, et.al. in 1971, I applauded both Ellsberg and the Times. The disclosed information revealed the Johnson administration had lied to both the Congress and to the public. Government misdeeds need public exposure!

I don't feel the need to applaud WikiLeaks, or its source, for their release of the classified State Department Cables that have been made available for publication. So far the cables have produced no allegations or proof of government misdeeds and instead the result appears to be an intent to share behind-the-scenes gossip and embarrass government officials. Published reports state the information primarily involves private diplomatic (albeit sometimes personal) exchanges between government officials throughout the world and that those involved believed in good faith their conversations were private and the content would be protected. Other than satisfying public curiosity, there appears to be little of public benefit that has occurred from publication of the cables.

Newspapers who have reported from the State Department Cable files made available by WikiLeaks are performing their natural function and it's not something I fault. They are not the ones who acquired the cables and made them available for publication. However, I do not view WikiLeaks in that same vein, for that group is the reported source for making the Cable files available. It's my opinion that WikiLeaks has not provided a beneficial public service that offsets the damage resulting from their juvenile efforts. In the current instance the case for public exposure has not been made.

Bond Shands
Palm Springs