Another day, another WikiLeaks document dump

This is becoming beyond embarrassing. A global superpower is incapable of preventing a rag tag organization from publishing national secrets. Yet, this is exactly what we are dealing with now that Wikileaks has dumped a third set of classified documents.

This time the documents are of a diplomatic flavor.  Some of the juicy items released are:

• What America things of various world leaders like Putin, Berlusconi and Sarkozy.
• Hillary ordering diplomats to spy on UN leaders.
• Saudis urging America to attack Iran over nukes.

The video below helps to detail more of the information that was released.

The frustrating thing about these Wikileaks document dumps is that Wikileaks openly stated they were going to release more documents after they first dump, yet nothing was really done about it. Sarah Palin was quick to pick up on this fact and was one of the first to ask why nothing has been done so far.

Sarah Palin’s Facebook Page: We all applaud the successful thwarting of the Christmas-Tree Bomber and hope our government continues to do all it can to keep us safe. However, the latest round of publications of leaked classified U.S. documents through the shady organization called Wikileaks raises serious questions about the Obama administration’s incompetent handling of this whole fiasco. 

First and foremost, what steps were taken to stop Wikileaks director Julian Assange from distributing this highly sensitive classified material especially after he had already published material not once but twice in the previous months? Assange is not a “journalist,” any more than the “editor” of al Qaeda’s new English-language magazine Inspire is a “journalist.” He is an anti-American operative with blood on his hands. His past posting of classified documents revealed the identity of more than 100 Afghan sources to the Taliban. Why was he not pursued with the same urgency we pursue al Qaeda and Taliban leaders? 

What if any diplomatic pressure was brought to bear on NATO, EU, and other allies to disrupt Wikileaks’ technical infrastructure? Did we use all the cyber tools at our disposal to permanently dismantle Wikileaks? Were individuals working for Wikileaks on these document leaks investigated? Shouldn’t they at least have had their financial assets frozen just as we do to individuals who provide material support for terrorist organizations? 

Most importantly, serious questions must also be asked of the U.S. intelligence system. How was it possible that a 22-year-old Private First Class could get unrestricted access to so much highly sensitive information? And how was it possible that he could copy and distribute these files without anyone noticing that security was compromised? 

The White House has now issued orders to federal departments and agencies asking them to take immediate steps to ensure that no more leaks like this happen again. It’s of course important that we do all we can to prevent similar massive document leaks in the future. But why did the White House not publish these orders after the first leak back in July? What explains this strange lack of urgency on their part? 

We are at war. American soldiers are in Afghanistan fighting to protect our freedoms. They are serious about keeping America safe. It would be great if they could count on their government being equally serious about that vital task. 

- Sarah Palin 

This is the question everyone (especially the media) should have been asking after the second Wikileaks dump. By not aggressively going after Wikileaks the Obama administration does look weak and as Will Jacobson from Legal Insurrection suggests a lot like the Carter administration.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: The New York Times

Via: UK Mail Online

Via: Spiegel Online

Via: UK Mail Online

Video h/t: The Right Scoop

Via: Sarah Palin’s Facebook Page

Via: Legal Insurrection

Obama gives commencement speech at West Point, hints at National Security strategy

I just read the commencement speech Obama gave at West Point today. The full text of that speech can be found here and for those of you who can still listen to Obama, the video can be found here.

For the most part the speech is typical stuff you would expect any president to give to a graduating class at West Point. As a liberal, Obama obviously tosses in references to liberal ideals such as diversity, women in the military and even a few references to clean energy. The real meat of the speech are the references Obama makes that hints at the new National Security strategy that he will unveil next week. 

The burdens of this century cannot fall on our soldiers alone. It also cannot fall on American shoulders alone. Our adversaries would like to see America sap its strength by overextending our power. And in the past, we've always had the foresight to avoid acting alone. We were part of the most powerful wartime coalition in human history through World War II. We stitched together a community of free nations and institutions to endure and ultimately prevail during a Cold War. 

Yes, we are clear-eyed about the shortfalls of our international system. But America has not succeeded by stepping out of the currents of cooperation - we have succeeded by steering those currents in the direction of liberty and justice, so nations thrive by meeting their responsibilities and face consequences when they don't. 

So we have to shape an international order that can meet the challenges of our generation. We will be steadfast in strengthening those old alliances that have served us so well, including those who will serve by your side in Afghanistan and around the globe. As influence extends to more countries and capitals, we also have to build new partnerships, and shape stronger international standards and institutions. 

This engagement is not an end in itself. The international order we seek is one that can resolve the challenges of our times -- countering violent extremism and insurgency; stopping the spread of nuclear weapons and securing nuclear materials; combating a changing climate and sustaining global growth; helping countries feed themselves and care for their sick; preventing conflict and healing wounds. If we are successful in these tasks, that will lessen conflicts around the world. It will be supportive of our efforts by our military to secure our country.  

Obama is pretty much closing the door on America acting unilaterally. Obama, like most liberals, is for America simply being another voice in the international chorus. This suits Obama’s agenda fine. By shuffling off our international problems to the UN and the like, Obama is free to concentrate on his first and only true interest, fundamental transformation through domestic policy.

Think back over the course of the last 16 months. All of our foreign policy issues have been a band-aid and shoved off to the back burner. North Korea and Iran have not been slowed in the least bit. Terrorism in the homeland has reared it head three times already. What has Obama done to provide a lasting fix to any of these issues?

When Obama officially rolls out his National Security strategy, expect it to look an awful lot like something from Europe, with tons of talk and “co-operation” and very little action on the issues.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: CBS News

Via: The Moderate Voice