John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY MARK CURTIS IN CONSORTIUM NEWS
“WikiLeaks’ Legacy of Exposing US-UK Complicity
“WikiLeaks is vilified by governments (and increasingly by journalists) for its exposures, including of the U.S.-UK “special relationship” in running a joint foreign policy of deception and violence that serves London and Washington’s elite interests…”
The label “secret” is largely used by governments to cover up blunders and what would be regarded as dark practices from their own citizens.
This is especially true for a government like America’s which constantly is doing dirty deeds and manipulations for its huge empire. There simply is no other way to have an empire, a fact I think most ordinary Americans still have no appreciation of.
Britain has become a kind of constant maidservant in the effort, demonstrating no independence at all. This especially true in the Middle East because Britain is under just as heavy an influence from the Israel Lobby as is the United States. We saw this with blinding clarity during the long siege effort, assisted by most of the press, to unseat Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party.
WikiLeaks has worked against these government practices with secrecy, and with considerable effect.
That’s why Assange is so hated and under threat, even though they try to be restrained and not make too much public noise about him. They work behind the scenes as with pressure against Ecuador’s government. Assange has a gained a good deal of almost-mythical hero status, and going after him too openly looks bad.
WikiLeaks truly has only done what old-fashioned investigative reporting did.
But we don’t have investigative reporting anymore. We have a consolidated corporate press working loyally to protect the privileges and prerogatives of empire.
