Wikileaks Reveals U.S. Government’s Delusional Foreign Policy
by Ron Paul
We may never know the whole story behind the recent publication of sensitive U.S. government documents by the Wikileaks organization, but we certainly can draw some important conclusions from the reaction of so many in government and media.
At its core, the Wikileaks controversy serves as a diversion from the real issue of what our foreign policy should be. But the mainstream media, along with neoconservatives from both political parties, insist on asking the wrong question. When presented with embarrassing disclosures about U.S. spying and meddling, the policy that requires so much spying and meddling is not questioned. Instead, the media focus on how so much sensitive information could have been leaked, or how authorities might prosecute the publishers of such information.
No one questions the status quo or suggests a wholesale rethinking of our foreign policy. No one suggests that the White House or the State Department should be embarrassed that the U.S. engages in spying and meddling. The only embarrassment is that it was made public. This allows ordinary people to actually know and talk about what the government does. But state secrecy is anathema to a free society. Why exactly should Americans be prevented from knowing what their government is doing in their name?
In a free society, we are supposed to know the truth. In a society where truth becomes treason, however, we are in big trouble. The truth is that our foreign spying, meddling, and outright military intervention in the post-World War II era has made us less secure, not more. And we have lost countless lives and spent trillions of dollars for our trouble. Too often “official” government lies have provided justification for endless, illegal wars and hundreds of thousands of resulting deaths and casualties.
Take the recent hostilities in Korea as only one example. More than fifty years after the end of the Korean War, American taxpayers continue to spend billions for the U.S. military to defend a modern and wealthy South Korea. The continued presence of the U.S. military places American lives between the two factions. The U.S. presence only serves to prolong the conflict, further drain our empty treasury, and place our military at risk.
The neoconservative ethos, steeped in the teaching of Leo Strauss, cannot abide an America where individuals simply pursue their own happy, peaceful, prosperous lives. It cannot abide an America where society centers around family, religion, or civic and social institutions rather than an all powerful central state. There is always an enemy to slay, whether communist or terrorist. In the neoconservative vision, a constant state of alarm must be fostered among the people to keep them focused on something greater than themselves — namely their great protector, the state. This is why the neoconservative reaction to the Wikileaks revelations is so predictable: “See, we told you the world was a dangerous place,” goes the story. They claim we must prosecute — or even assassinate — those responsible for publishing the leaks. And we must redouble our efforts to police the world by spying and meddling better, with no more leaks.
We should view the Wikileaks controversy in the larger context of American foreign policy. Rather than worry about the disclosure of embarrassing secrets, we should focus on our delusional foreign policy. We are kidding ourselves when we believe spying, intrigue, and outright military intervention can maintain our international status as a superpower while our domestic economy crumbles in an orgy of debt and monetary debasement.
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I just donated $30 (25 Euros) at Wikileaks.ch.
They take Visa/MC.
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Ron Paul is, once again, one of the few that makes real sense of the matter.
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Ron Paul is, once again, one of the few that makes real sense of the matter.
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Man, that’s a respectable politician. I hope this dude runs for president, he has my vote if he does.
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Man, that’s a respectable politician. I hope this dude runs for president, he has my vote if he does.
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hey you spookin idiot, it doesn’t matter if he’s dead, the message is the point. You dumbass idiot, the government of the US is only a puppet of the International Banksters, and they could give a shit less who is the figurehead Government is ‘supposedly’ in charge, they win, we all lose. You’re obviously a moron who can’t grasp the magnitude of the shit we’re in. I can say one thing positive about you, at least your on here trying to figure things out, Good Luck with that.
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Still 301 here hey what’s wrong with this picture, lame attempts at suppressing the truth????
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Wiki hasn’t done anything that I would consider treason! i think they are nothing but a distraction! Why don’t the publish something worth while like why Sibel Edmonds was gagged!
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Yes! Thank you Ron, you are an outstanding specimen of our species. Your carefully thought out words that come from the heart are always the voice of reason for the country.
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more guys like this
end the federal reserve system
it is the most important thing 1st
»crosslinked«
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Give me hell Ronnie.
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the whole world is in an orgy of debt
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I COULDNT HEAR YOU IN 2008 ,RON BUT I HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR NOW! We are going broke from giving money to corrupt leaders that will do what they choose when we split …..Money is the best friend maker known to mankind. Nation Building and policeing the world has broke the bank . 2 billion a week in iraq alone . UTTER MADNESS but we feel powerful and safe..well not so safe
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I love Ron Paul.
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Thanks for the straight talk from the great state of Texas. I hope John from AZ will listen up.
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Here, Mr Paul, I must say you are not right.
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Wikileaks is a dual front Israeli Op
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We support freedom of press !
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Thank you Ron
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I hope Ron Paul runs for President for 2012.
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The US followed a isolationist policy up to the federal bank taking over.then seemed to become more and more involved in world politics ,spacificly wars .id like to think the two wernt connected and also that the policy didnt involve the profits that could be made from war ,but then do the math …..
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excellent points
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America, shoot the messenger ignore the message god will save you. Yes everything is fine.
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yes
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Excellence in leadership begins with truth and honesty for the subject matter. I commend Dr.Paul for his candor, honesty and for his leadership which is largely missing from our other so called lawfully elected representatives.
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It is truely a contradiction in terms.
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I find it ironic that the Gov seems to be spending more time trying to shut down Assange and wikileaks, then finding Osama Bin Laden.
We are in big trouble, for sure.
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because Wikileaks is going to leak that the US had OBL in its sights shortly after 9/11.
This has been well documented in a number of books (Tora Bora mountains, OBL was cornered but the US left the door to Pakistan open. Excuse was they did not want to ‘escalate’ into Pakistan. Now the US has troops in Pakistan, as Wikileaks has shown).
I would love to see the cables of the Iraq invasion, and contrast that to GW’s recently released memoirs.
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great info
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Thank you Ron for being the only sane voice in american poitics.when all hilary moans about is that she got caught and thats the problem you know that there is very little hope with the present system of unconstiutional government of the US surviving let alone being a power for very much longer .when fooling the people is more important than carrying out there will ,history will end the reign of those involved
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Ron Paul shoud be tried for treason.
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How U.S will tell the other countries to respect freedom of press, if itself was banned the press that tell the trust as Wikileaks ?!
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Dr paul always ontop of the real issues.
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Evil Assange must be arrested and groped by our TSA heroes. We allowed the release of sensitive US government documents, but we must never allow releasing the secret information about our patriotic bankers who stand at the core of our political and monetary system!
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this man deserves a stage an the media keep a closed curtian..
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Expose the elite’s agenda, Dr. Paul.
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