An Analysis of the Media Coverage of Wikileaks

In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act.

-George Orwell

Before Wikileaks began posting State Department cables on its website, the Internet whistleblower organization sent the same information to five widely respected newspapers with a Spanish (El Pais), German (Der Spiegel), French (Le Monde), and English audience (New York Times- The Guardian). While all of the news outlets were chosen by Wikileaks for their reputation of being more independent than other newspapers in their respective countries, an analysis of how the State Department cables are being covered, closely reflect the level of press freedom in the country where these newspapers are located and the willingness of the press to exercise their constitutional right to challenge those in positions of power. The recent remarks by Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman, Republican Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee and other politicians in America, are chilling reminders of how war, secrecy, and calls for more security, are leading to fewer civil liberties and less democracy for Americans.

Although Americans have been largely insulated by the news media of the brutality and ugliness of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, other news outlets in countries such as Germany and Great Britain have not self censored their coverage of those wars. While Americans were only recently able to view images of flag draped coffins arriving at Dover Air Force Base, people living in European countries regularly see the brutal and disturbing images of civilian causalities caused by American air strikes in Afghanistan, and the sectarian violence caused by car bombs in Iraq. The self-imposed censorship of American news outlets of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as compared to other newspapers in Great Britain and Germany, is reflected in the annual Press Freedom Index by the non-governmental organization, Reporters Without Borders.

Due to the excellent continuing research and advocacy conducted by the non-governmental organization, Reporters Without Borders, the mediocre coverage of the State Department memos by the New York Times represent why America is only ranked as the 20^th most free country in the world for press freedom. Threats of government prosecution by political leaders like Joseph Lieberman, fears of upsetting advertisers, and appearing to be unpatriotic, have all contributed to the inferior coverage of the New York Times and many American news outlets of the State Department memos given to Wikileaks by Private First Class Bradley Manning. Contrary to The New York Times, the press coverage by the British newspaper The Guardian and the Germany newspaper Der Spiegel has been more extensive and there have been no threats by the government against the media in those countries. Great Britain where The Guardian is located is currently ranked 19^th in the world for press freedom, while Germany where Der Spiegel is located is currently ranked as the 18^th most free country in the world for press freedom.

Some of the more notable artilces related to the US Department cables taken by Manning that you may not see in the mainstream US news include:

The Rocky US Relationship with Little Austria (Der Spiegel)

Saudi princes throw parties boasting drink, drugs and sex (The Guardian)

Chávez and drugs finance Nicaragua, say US dispatches (El Pais)

In 1941, the influential publisher of Time magazine Henry R. Luce, told his fellow Americans to “accept wholeheartedly our duty to exert upon the world the full impact of our influence for such purposes as we see fit and by such means as we see fit”. The public statements by Joseph Lieberman that prosecutors should look into the release of the information by the New York Times could set a dangerous domestic precedent for more government regulation of the press and does not set a good example for the world. The remarks by Lieberman and other leaders in America corrupted by power will embolden repressive leaders in such countries as Saudi Arabia, Rwanda, and Turkmenistan to keep an ironclad hold on their own power by suppressing the press in their countries.

Instead of trying to score political brownie points with campaign contributors associated with Connecticut defense corporations, who all have a vested interest in maintaining perpetual war and conflict around the world, perhaps Senator Lieberman should start an investigation into why a corrupt Afghan leader was allowed to embezzle $ 50 million dollars out of his worn torn country of Afghanistan. A sum twice the amount of money the State of Connecticut has spent to develop a rail corridor from Springfield, Mass. to New Haven.

For Americans who cherish the First Amendment and the right of free speech, and all the other rights bestowed to its citizens in the U.S. Constitution, the recent remarks by Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman that prosecutors should investigate news organizations like the New York Times should be frightening.

At a time in American history when more information and transparency is essential for combating the negative consequences that war often imposes on a democracy, the public statements by Joseph Lieberman reflect a man more focused on protecting his own power and privilege than protecting the rights given to American citizens in the U.S. Constitution and the First Amendment.