What Would Lamo Do
Source: Wired
Arian Lamo is still getting a lot of flack for turning in Manning. That he happily engages with those who both support and oppose his decision [on Twitter] seems like an act of pouring gasoline on the fire — a lot of it too. This raises the question, is he doing it to see to it the truth about what happened comes out, or is Kevin Mitnick right about him only doing it to get attention?
Earlier today he wanted to turn the tables and be the one asking the questions. Being a supporter of Manning I was not provoked. It was a hypothetical question that intrigued me. So much I knew it would be impossible for me to give him a proper and honest answer in maximum of 140 characters.
I will do my best at answering these questions with as little bias as possible, but I will most likely answer them from a journalistic point of view — the truth can not be silenced!
I can't find my original question. If you had to risk an unknown number of lives, or guarantee the confinement of one, what would you do?—
Я. Adrian Lamo (@6) June 06, 2011
Who are these unknown number of lives? Are these innocent civilians or are they considered to be the enemy? Who are they? It is also important here to ask, what if the sacrifice of these people will mean that we will save even more lives? And how will this person be treated that will be confined if we hypothetically spare these unknown number of lives?
I did not anticipate to answer a question with more questions. But what else can you expect with an open-ended question? For me as a person, I need more facts and details.
Another way for me to answer this question is to use hindsight. Look at what happened and hope I would actually do what I am about to claim. Based on the events that have happened and what we know so far.
If Manning contacted med I would not think twice about not turning him in. The truth must come out, no matter the cost. I would not be able to live with myself if I knew I had silenced the truth — silenced freedom of speech.
These unknown number of lives is most likely part of the military. They knew what they signed up for when they joined. Information can get leaked. It might sound cold, but this is part of their risky job. If they do not want to risk their livves they should not have signed up.
These soldiers who have been stationed there have already killed enough civilians and journalists, but that seems to not be important to Lamo. As long as the American troops are safe, then everything is good. Right?
Caveat: The person trusts you, and the lives are strangers you'll never see, but always wonder about.—
Я. Adrian Lamo (@6) June 06, 2011
As a journalist, if I felt uncomfortable with what I might be told next I would terminate the communication. But I would never in my life betray the trust of a source — never! Claiming I would wonder about those strangers is you projecting your guilt on me. It is how you think and feel. Of course, I would hope no one would get hurt if I published the truth, but I would most likely feel even worse every time I would see or hear about something awful I could have stopped if I spoke up.
If some dude told you he'd leaked 1,000,000 secret documents and was going to leak more, would you assume no harm would result?—
Я. Adrian Lamo (@6) June 06, 2011
Assume makes and Ass of U and Me. Never make decisions based on assumptions. They should be based on what you know and what you feel is right. Of course, it is easy to assume that more secret info being leaked would cause more harm, but again, to whom? If it would seem like leaking that information would be for the greater good of the whole world, not just USA, I would again have no issues at all publishing this information.
It is done. Lamo reported Manning for leaking classified information. It has had some impact on the world, but maybe not as much as we hoped for. US troops are still occupying countries. US diplomats asked colleagues to spy on EU diplomats, but that seemed to have been swept under the rug. The list can go on and on. And we can use our hindsight to go over this and say what should have been done and what should have not been done. Hindsight is only useful if we decide to learn from it. Using it to point the finger at someone helps no one.
Lamo did what he thought was right at that time, but so did Manning. Forty years ago Daniel Ellsberg also made a decision that he thought was right and patriotic at that time. The same what Manning did. Only difference is that Ellsberg was seen as a hero and by releasing the Pentagon Papers actually had a huge impact. Manning is seen as a traitor and not much has changed at all. The Patriot Act is still in effect, US troops are still fighting for peace and US spies are getting away with espionage in the Nordic countries.
The only good thing I can think of that was the result of Lamo’s action was that we now know that the whole world is USA’s bitch.
