WikiLeaks: Julian Assange’s anti-political politics | The Economist

Why is everyone assuming that these leaks are directly intended to embarrass the US government. Has it occurred to anyone that perhaps arabs being lied to by their leaders about their leaders intentions is something worth exposing? Has it occurred to anyone that perhaps it isn't a god-given right of politicians to maintain a sparkling public image? If the public hadn't been lied to or misinformed in the first place, the leak wouldn't have mattered. Much of what the diplomats said, while representing their governments, were very sensible statements about the world, and the only reason to cover up these statements is that a misinformed public demands its politicians lied to reinforce their false knowledge rather than inform them.

Thus, the answer is to constantly, bravely, tell the global public the truth, to drown out the propagandists, in the hope that the beliefs that are difficult to budge become, in fact, correct beliefs. I think this is what Assange is trying to accomplish, although on a much smaller scale than will be needed.