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WikiLeaked Upon by the State Department
[Note: This piece is, in fact, an introduction by Engelhardt at his website. It had a piece of curious WikiLeaks news we thought it worth bringing your way.]
I have a friend who sends a note every year in December, pleading with me to pen one upbeat, hopeful piece before the next year rolls around. Mind you, I consider myself an upbeat guy in a downbeat world and, for me, when it comes to pure upbeatness, you couldn't have beaten this week if you tried. This was when my Oscar came in -- or the equivalent on the political Internet anyway.
On December 7th, the State Department announced its brave decision to host UNESCO's World Press Freedom Day in 2011. ("[W]e are concerned about the determination of some governments to censor and silence individuals, and to restrict the free flow of information...") Less than two weeks later, I learned that if you try to go to TomDispatch.com from a State Department computer, you can't get there. The following message appears instead:
"Access Denied for Security Risk (policy_wikileaks)
"Your requested URL has been blocked to prevent classified information from being downloaded to OpenNet."
OpenNet is what the State Department calls its unclassified Web system. Maybe it should now consider changing that name as it prepares for World Press Freedom Day. (Small tip to State Department officials: remember that TomDispatch is just as good a read at home as at work!) I'm sure this is all part of the Obama administration's fabulous sunshine policy, that "new standard of openness" the president embraced on his first day in the Oval Office. It's certainly part of the U.S. government's ridiculous attempt to bar its officials, contractors, and anyone else it can reach from the once-secret State Department documents that WikiLeaks is slowly releasing and that everyone else on Earth has access to.
As for me in this holiday season, I couldn't be happier. Among those sites banned by the State Department, I'm sure in good company and, of course, you're not likely to be banned if no one's reading you in the first place. And here's the holiday miracle: somehow TomDispatch made it onto The List without revealing a single secret document or even hosting one at the site, evidently on the basis of having commented in passing on the WikiLeaks affair.
So that's the news here at TD when it comes to upbeat. As for hope, hey, I've learned from the Bush years. As they privatized war, I've privatized hope, farming it out to Rebecca Solnit, who from her first appearance at TomDispatch has filled the endowed Hope Chair brilliantly. It's now nothing short of a tradition at this site that she have the last word of the year.
So, as the eighth year of TomDispatch.com ends, it's up the chimney with me. Enjoy the Solnitsian present I've left under the tree -- and to all a goodnight (until January 4th when TomDispatch returns).
Tom Engelhardt, co-founder of the American Empire Project, runs the Nation Institute's TomDispatch.com. His latest book, co-authored with Nick Turse, is Terminator Planet: The First History of Drone Warfare, 2001-2050. His other most recent book is The United States of Fear (Haymarket Books). Previous books include: The End of Victory Culture: a History of the Cold War and Beyond, The American Way of War: How Bush's Wars Became Obama's, as well as of a novel, The Last Days of Publishing. To stay on top of important articles like these, sign up to receive the latest updates from TomDispatch.com here.
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21 Comments so far
Show All"Among those sites banned by the State Department, I'm sure in good company ..."
And is CD also in that good company?
Michael Moore, Tom Engelhardt, .... How many more are there on the US "enemies list". CD? We need someone in the State Dept (or anywhere in the Govt) to ping known Progressive web sits to see who else is on the US "enemies list".
Al Queda, Hamas, etc web sites are known to the US Govt and are not blocked (yet are never revealed to the US public so that we can read and make our own determination of their "threat").
I had to laugh at the irony in Tom's report of the State Dept. preparations for World Press Freedom Day in 2011. It would be symbolic if Wikileaks dumped the mother load "Insurance" on that day.
For someone with the time and energy to take on a project and report back on the results, a complete list of the internet sites that the State Department block in this fashion should be available in response to a Freedom of Information Act request.
I also find it interesting what the State Department's claimed justification for the block on TomDispatch (and appareantly Michael Moore's website) is. These blacklisted sites are blocked to prevent the downloading of classified information (by State Department computer users who hold security clearances and who have access to classified information) to what the State Department calls "OpenNet." The purpose is not to prevent State Department employees from reading material that has already been leaked, nor to prevent employees from making comments on government/company time using government/company computers. The ostensible stated purpose is to prevent further, additional leaking.
Wholly apart from the fact that (as Tom notes) his site has never posted classified information nor commented upon classified information that was not already in the public domain, what is the logic of this State Department policy change? Federal employees holding security clearances are already subject to discipline, discharge, and/or criminal prosecution for divulging classified information to anybody who lacks a security clearance or who lacks authorized need to know.
The whole program seems to me to be sort of like disabling State Department telephones from making outgoing calls to certain designated outsiders who are on a blacklist. It's basically a pointless bureaucratic exercise, significant only for the symbolic value of figuring out the criteria used to compile the blacklist.
Do Hillary's State Department computers still access the websites of the American Enterprise Institute, the Federalist Society, or right wing blogs? I'd like to know.
Bill from Saginaw
I've noticed in the last month or so that when I type in the URL of a number of progressive sites at the local college, I get a message that it is insecure (can't remember the precise message). That's never happened before. Has anyone else noticed anything like this?
Great piece, Rebecca!
"The life of a human being can be full and free only if it is politically, economically and mentally liberated; that is to say when it is living in a state of political equality, socialism and universal adequate education. Without that much realization, liberty, equality and fraternity are mere words."
H.G. Wells, "The Fate of Homo Sapiens" (1939)
Hello Tom
In the 16th and 17th centuries there was an entertainment at inns known as “eggdance” (I believe that Pieter Breughel has painted one). Numerous eggs were placed on the floor, a musician (usually a fiddler) played tunes, and young lad danced trying to avoid stepping on any egg. That will be the major domestic strategy of the Obama administration during the next two years. It will be overlain by his Chicago political heritage which means award your supporters, punish those who opposed you, and try to return to the fold those who left you. I fully expect president Obama to begin gutting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid but in order to avoid stepping on eggs with a delayed strategy by which changes will not occur until in later years.
In the foreign arena there already are plenty of eggs broken by all of his predecessors. Obama will be busy breaking new ones with the full support of Congress but not necessarily the nation.
Korea: Anyone who has seriously considered the idiotically drawn border between North and South does understand that the islands awarded to South Korea will continue to be a flash point. I hold the undoubtedly rather lonely view that these three islands must be re-awarded to North Korea as an overture for reunification of some sort.
Iraq: An absolute wasp’s nest. Not too long ago I thought that Mr. Obama would renege on SOFA-Iraq but I have changed my mind. I think that he will accede to the view of the oil industry that Iraq must sort out its own destiny before that country can become a “safe” producer for them and that continued military presence there will merely delay the process. The oil industry does not care whether Iraq will eventually become a “democratic” or “dictatorial” state.
Afghanistan-Pakistan: No president willingly accepts “defeat”, hence Mr. Obama will step up the military efforts there if only to ensure that the trans-Afghan gas pipeline will be constructed. Pakistan wants that pipeline but it also wants the other pipeline through Iran. The more pipelines the merrier I suspect.
Iran: continue "regime change" by undercover activities.
China: dick with it. Russia: dick with it. NATO: give it new military tasks outside Europe.
Israel-Palestine: that egg has been broken so many times that hardly any government in the non-Muslim world cares whether it is broken yet another time.
Mexico: a state on the brink of collapse, hence a gigantic problem for Mr. Obama.
South-America: a rising power not necessarily friendly to the Obama administration.
Have a fine 2011. It will be a rough one for sure.
USA interest in TAPI is primarily for I-ndia ( although India has balked on Pakistans transit fee demands so for now the pipeline is TAP. And to prevent oil to China. Chomsky says the USA strategic report says the USA wants to control oil everywhere but procure oil from the Alantic basin.
The Iran pipeline may go directly from Iran to Pakistan (mutual border).
At the end of this nice piece is a link to a most excellent article on Tom's site - ("Enjoy the Solnitsian* present I've left under the tree..."):
Iceberg Economies and Shadow Selves
Further Adventures in the Territories of Hope
By Rebecca Solnit
Most heartening! Don't miss it.
* http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175335/tomgram%3A_rebecca_solnit%2C_a_shadow_government_of_kindness/#more
Here on CD as well:
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/12/24-2
It's good to see that you've still got a twinkle in your eye, Tom!
Making the World Safe for Hypocracy
Thank you, Tom, for all that you give us! And always so well written.
As for the misery that is the State Dept, well, I have already said my piece a hundred times over about that exponentially hypocritical, war mongering, cheap propaganda, and murderous institution.
Solnit missed a couple of things, prejudice has become worse for Muslims, possibly Mexicans and immigrants in general.
The guy on the Rocky Mountain Trail may have been protecting the butterflys.
Many deep ecologists lie to protect species from "human" deprecation.
Eliz. H writes:
"I've noticed in the last month or so that when I type in the URL of a number of progressive sites at the local college, I get a message that it is insecure (can't remember the precise message). That's never happened before. Has anyone else noticed anything like this?"
Yes.
While I lack the software to track back, I've noticed delays and random interruptions reading CD. Wouldn't be a bit surprised if anytime I go on line, there is surveillance. I just don't care anymore because anyone who expects privacy on line, unless they have spent an awful lot of energy on fancy encryption, is delusional.
I like to pretend that Arthur Koestler is my grandfather by one of his ex-jailers...
-30-
Tom, Tom; 0 never promised "openness" - he promised "transparency".
What do you think the TSA scanners provide?
:)
The Obama administration is using Orwellian rhetoric ("war is peace," "lies are truth"). Here is the message posted on the webpage that is used for sending email to the White House:
"President Obama is committed to creating the most open and accessible administration in American history. To send questions, comments, concerns, or well-wishes to the President or his staff, please use the form below."
http://www.whitehouse.gov/CONTACT/
Instead of calling for the investigation of the criminal malfeasance of administration officials that has been revealed by Wikileaks, Obama is trying to silence the messenger.
The censoring of progressive voices on the State Department website seems to indicate a return to the policies of Bush Cheney government.
"seems to indicate a return to the policies of Bush Cheney government."
"seems"?
"return"?
it's been a continuation from day one.
"We have met the enemy and he is us." Pogo