Will WikiLeaks unravel the American 'secret government'?

[David Guyatt]

I agree with your analysis David, and while still friends and colleagues, I find certain members here overly-anxious to look for and post any 'dirt' on Assange and Wikileaks they can, beyond what I can see is reasonable, called for and back up by facts. This issue seems to have the potential to divide the DPF. I hope not.

I don't think honest debate will ever divide the forum Pete. And I am by no means entirely confident that Assange is who we hope he is. But I think he may be and am prepared to give him the doubt unless or until evidence to the contrary becomes available.

But at the end of the day we don't yet know for sure whether there is a greater game going on behind Wikileaks to stifle all future leaks, whistleblowers etc., from having an internet voice - and whether this simply may have been an opportune reaction to the current Cablegate leaks, or whether this possibility was "gamed" beforehand and then allowed to take place in order to snap the trap shut on us all.

I would like to believe that Assange and Wikileaks are what they make out to be - but all my experience to date says to tread carefully and not allow hope to cloud my ingrained cynicism of deep political possibilities. Many innocent people in the past have been made involuntary dupes by more sinister forces.

But on balance, as it stands, the sheer volume of vitriolic angst again Assange does suggest he is what he claims to be.

But the fact is that we just don't know for sure. Not yet.

And it is, therefore, entirely valid for other members to raise concerns and explore other possibilities and I welcome that interaction.

It is, after all, the underlying rationale and purpose of this forum.