Julian Assange should be hailed, not jailed. He should be respected, not suspected. Because, in a hugely “manipulated” world – in more ways than one – he had the “audacity” (Great, keep it up!) to expose the real.
Human beings are essentially weak. We are also incapable of taking care of our life. And, we do not know how to live in our world. Thus, we have “forced” the “stronger” in the world to “take care” of us – our life – in more ways than one. The world history is full of such instances. Otherwise, the earth wouldn’t have had suffered footsteps of numerous monsters and dictators. Sadly, the torment continues even in contemporary times.
In today’s world, “diplomacy” is the buzz word which legitimizes all forms of manipulations by the self-appointed world powers and powerful. The lesser mortals – nations - are subjected to forceful adoption of their whims and fancies – foreign policies! - suited to their grand plans for self gratification. International diplomacy; diplomat; negotiations; back channel talks; track II diplomacy; foreign policy; bilateral discussions; demarche; dispatch; protocol; sanctions; rapprochment; interlocution; treaty; diplomatic illness; privileges and immunities; declaration; delegation; attaches; ambassadors; diplomatic bags; espionage; counter-intelligence; arbitrations and mediations; recognition; thinktanks; friendly nation; hostile nation; geopolitics; cultural diplomacy; multilateral diplomacy; state diplomacy; paradiplomacy; hard power; soft power; … - terms are numerous which are beyond comprehension of normal humans – citizens of a country – but are capable of trapping world population in a manipulative maze.
Interestingly, the world seems to be quite comfortable with all these wheeling and dealing which go unperturbed – intentionally - in the name of international diplomacy. What is apparent is not quite the case often. Friendly handshakes are merely photo-ops. The definition of “friend” spreads across a wide spectrum with dimensions aplenty. Underneath active are major calculations devoid of any principles or reasons. Equations in international relations are kept “balanced” with diplomatic maneuvers. A nation gets used – abused – by powerful to maintain the latter’s supremacy. In spite of full-proof cases – 26/11 – countries find difficult to garner international support to nail the culprits. “National interests” including “security” concerns always come as refuge in diplomatic negotiations and areas like economy, trade, arms purchases, defence deployments, environment protection, human rights, etc. get majorly influenced in order to advance strategic advantages of the mighty. In short: the real world diplomacy is quite dirty and ugly.
And Julian Assange’s WikiLeaks has simply put a mirror to the murky world of manipulative geopolitics exercised by international diplomats all across the globe. The exposes have left the world leaders enormously uncomfortable. The cloaks of fake friendliness exhibited by the so-called strategic allies have slipped off and what lies beneath is not palatable. The inaccessible world of diplomacy has suddenly entered parlance of a common citizen’s everyday’s existence. Governments have been left red faced. Therefore, we see all the “impacted” – exposed – diplomats and leaders scurrying for cover – diplomatic curtains - and busy issuing apologies and explanations. The otherwise drab world of diplomacy - for ordinary public only - has suddenly acquired an incredibly interesting hue. And it is going to remain so for times to come.
But what is NOT “interesting” is the arrest of Julian Assange. When the world powers could not “control” the leaking of “classified/secret” documents detailing dishonest dealings of diplomats on WikiLeaks, they “falsely” – I feel strongly – implicated Julian Assange in sexual molestation cases and got him arrested. By doing so, they have proved their culpability and guilt, therefore. If the powerful nations, including a democratic
All those talks of escalating tensions in international relations and global security getting jeopardized due to WikiLeaks exposure is a sham. Everybody knows how cohesively non-state actors and states work and spread terror on the globe and how incapable the powerful nations find themselves in containing the rogue states like Pakistan – crucible of terror - and abandon terrorism. Instead, they opted for the easier option: forcing the shutdown of WikiLeaks. Gagging and wrongfully nabbing Julian Assange will not ensure a safe and secure world. Soon there would be many more Julian Assanges “leaking” the truths to the world.
The world always knew how diplomatic machinery worked. The only difference WikiLeaks has created is that the practice of duplicity-in-diplomacy has become a common knowledge now. Though the world of international affairs will continue to function as it has been since time immemorial, still the damage is done. Credibility - ??? – of international diplomats is the victim. Nobody is ever going to believe in rhetoric – great speeches?! - being indulged into by heads of states on their state visits, howsoever loved or respected they are - had been - in host nations.
Global leadership cannot be practiced without moral authority. And moral authority is not a legitimate right of mighty even in the arena of geopolitics; it has to be acquired through transparency and honesty. A global leader should be sincere with impeccable integrity and not a mere geo-politician. (Barack Obama, I have always put you in this category.)
Now, I do not have even an iota of doubt about the global geopolitics heading towards any kind of reforms to salvage its prestige post WikiLeaks. Rather, it would try to enhance opacity of its functioning even more. The mechanisms would be employed so as to prevent any further “leaks” and make the system absolutely “WikiLeaks-proof”. Diplomats will soon be back practicing masquerades. The diplomatic charade will continue in name of international diplomacy – WikiLeaks or no WikiLeaks.
Still, I throw a challenge – at the cost of sounding extremely naïve and juvenile – to all those global leaders – Barack Obama in particular – that they should show courage and release Julian Assange from detention and face the changed world of diplomacy – a world of diplomacy in the times of WikiLeaks.
My challenge is also to the people of the world to come out in full support for Julian Assange and continue his crusade forward for a transparent world, a world free of manipulation of lives and humans...
Julian Assange, soon hope to see you back updating WikiLeaks! :)
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