[LINK] wikileaks back

[Jan Whitaker]

It's interesting to read some of the earlier dated cables, like this 
one from 1972 (declassified -- not everything released is 'secret')

http://wikileaks.ch/cable/1972/02/72TEHRAN1164.html

This one shows the way things have changed geopolitically in the last 
almost 40 years. Iran and Iraq have switched allegiances. In the 1972 
cables, things were starting to deteriorate, but get this one from 
1975 shows how the Shah went off the rails, if he ever was on them: 
http://wikileaks.ch/cable/1975/03/75TEHRAN2069.html
"CREATION OF IRANIAN RESURGENCE PARTY ANNOUNCED BY SHAH
MARCH 2 IS MOVE TO SEEK BROADER SUPPORT FOR MONARCHY AND THE SHAHPEOPLE
REVOLUTION. ALL IRANIANS OF VOTING AGE ARE EXPECTED TO
EXPRESS ALLEGIANCE TO NEW PARTY OR RISK BEING VIEWED AS OPPONENTS
OF SHAH AND EVEN TRAITORS WHO SHOULD LEAVE IRAN OR GO TO PRISON."

This one from 1979, after the Revolution, is fascinating: 
http://wikileaks.ch/cable/1979/08/79TEHRAN8980.html
You could reverse the parties mentioned quite easily in today's 
world, or at least put the mirror up to the commenting party. Get this:

THE REVERSE OF THIS PARTICULAR PSYCHOLOGICAL COIN [they were talking 
about egoism in the preceding paragraph],
AND HAVING THE SAME HISTORICAL ROOTS AS PERSIAN EGOISM,
IS A PERVASIVE UNEASE ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE WORLD IN
WHICH ONE LIVES. THE PERSIAN EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THAT
NOTHING IS PERMANENT AND IT IS COMMONLY PERCEIVED THAT
HOSTILE FORCES ABOUND. [sound familiar?] IN SUCH AN ENVIRONMENT EACH
INDIVIDUAL MUST BE CONSTANTLY ALERT FOR OPPORTUNITIES
TO PROTECT HIMSELF AGAINST THE MALEVOLENT FORCES THAT
WOULD OTHERWISE BE HIS UNDOING. HE IS OBVIOUSLY
JUSTIFIED IN USING ALMOST ANY MEANS AVAILABLE TO EXPLOIT
SUCH OPPORTUNITIES. THIS APPROACH UNDERLIES THE SOCALLED
"BAZAAR MENTALITY" SO COMMON AMONG PERSIANS, A
MIND-SET THAT OFTEN IGNORES LONGER TERM INTERESTS IN
FAVOR OF IMMEDIATELY OBTAINABLE ADVANTAGES AND COUNTENANCES
PRACTICES THAT ARE REGARDED AS UNETHICAL BY OTHER
NORMS. AN EXAMPLE IS THE SEEMINGLY SHORTSIGHTED AND
HARASSING TACTICS EMPLOYED BY THE PGOI IN ITS NEGOTIATIONS
WITH GTE.

The other thing that's interesting is the speed that Wikileaks was 
relocated and the new domain attached. I wonder where in the world 
the data really is. Does anyone think it's really in Switzerland?

One last point. Julian is egotistical. His photo is in the banner. I 
never looked at wikileaks before, so maybe it's always had his photo. 
May as well put a target on his face. If he didn't self-identify so 
strongly and let the site just be, he might avoid the personal animosity.

Jan


Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
jwhit at janwhitaker.com
blog: http://janwhitaker.com/jansblog/
business: http://www.janwhitaker.com

Our truest response to the irrationality of the world is to paint or 
sing or write, for only in such response do we find truth.
~Madeline L'Engle, writer

_ __________________ _