The WikiLeaks Files Summary

What happens when a powerful nation manipulates international systems and conceals its actions? The WikiLeaks files offer startling answers.

1. WikiLeaks as a Platform for Truth

WikiLeaks was established in 2006 to enable whistleblowers to expose unethical practices through an anonymous platform. Led by Julian Assange, it aimed to target corrupt actions committed by governments, corporations, and institutions worldwide.

The website quickly gained notoriety by disclosing a significant trove of documents, most famously exposing the US National Security Agency’s mass electronic surveillance. These revelations shed light on how governments spin narratives to cloak controversial policies under a guise of benevolence. For example, the US State Department devoted over $1 billion annually to what they called "public diplomacy" — a sanitized term for propaganda.

The platform’s sheer scale of disclosures stunned many. By 2016, WikiLeaks had published over 2.3 million confidential US State Department records, equivalent to around 30,000 books’ worth of information. The backlash was fierce, with US administrations labeling WikiLeaks as a cyber-threat.

Examples

• WikiLeaks’ exposure of State Department-funded propaganda efforts.
• NSA surveillance programs uncovered through leaked records.
• US officials branding Julian Assange a "cyber-terrorist."

2. Blocking Access to WikiLeaks

Governments, especially the United States, have taken significant measures to discredit and suppress WikiLeaks. These actions reveal how transparency is resisted when it threatens authority.

Official institutions like the Pentagon implemented filters blocking emails referencing WikiLeaks. Libraries and academic organizations have discouraged or outright banned the use of WikiLeaks records. For instance, the International Studies Association blocked its members from citing WikiLeaks’ material, effectively stifling academic discourse.

These suppression tactics indicate the potency of WikiLeaks' revelations. Institutions fear the platform’s ability to challenge official narratives and spark investigations into government overreach.

Examples

• Library of Congress blocking access to the WikiLeaks site.
• Pentagon filtering out emails containing the term "WikiLeaks."
• The International Studies Association forbidding citations of leaked documents.

3. Disregard for the Rule of Law in War

The WikiLeaks files expose consistent violations of international law by the United States during wartime. Despite public claims of adherence to justice and morality, US military conduct often paints a bleak picture.

One shocking incident in 2006 in Iraq saw ten civilians, some as young as five months old, executed and left unarmed. Helicopter strikes also killed Reuters journalists, incidents documented on film that later leaked. Additionally, detainees at Guantanamo Bay were imprisoned without trial and subjected to abuse.

Such actions contradict government rhetoric, where officials claimed their wars were noble pursuits of freedom. Instead, these leaks reveal violations at odds with the US’s insistence on being a symbol of global democracy.

Examples

• The Ishaqi massacre, where Iraqi civilians were handcuffed and executed.
• Helicopter strikes killing journalists in Baghdad, documented in a leaked video.
• The unjustifiable treatment of detainees at Guantanamo Bay.

4. The CIA’s Torture Practices Exposed

Under the leadership of George W. Bush, the CIA’s use of torture against detainees was institutionalized, though American intelligence agencies publicly denied it.

Leaked documents reveal the disturbing treatment of Abu Zubaydah, a prisoner who endured severe physical and psychological abuse in custody. He spent weeks confined in a coffin-shaped box, faced sleep deprivation, and was denied medical care for his injuries. The CIA continued these practices while justifying them as necessary for protecting lives.

To avoid accountability, officials curated lists of instances where Congress was briefed on “interrogation methods,” indirectly granting them legitimacy. This deflects criticism and masks reality under the pretense of institutional checks.

Examples

• Documentation of Zubaydah’s torture, including extreme confinement and neglect.
• CIA justification that these methods prevented potential terror attacks.
• Attempts to validate torture practices by referencing congressional briefings.

5. Undermining the International Criminal Court

The United States actively weakened the International Criminal Court (ICC) to avoid prosecution for its war crimes. While the ICC was established in 2002 to hold individuals accountable for atrocities, the US wanted immunity for its citizens.

Under the Rome Statute, the court could act only where crimes occurred within signatory nations or were committed by a citizen of one. Through diplomatic maneuvers, American negotiators pushed to limit prosecutions. Later, George W. Bush officially withdrew the US signature, shielding American soldiers and officials from legal repercussions.

Such actions eroded the ICC’s authority and prevented it from challenging major powers. To date, most ICC prosecutions involve African nations, leaving US actions unchecked.

Examples

• George W. Bush’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute in 2002.
• Restriction of ICC jurisdiction through American lobbying.
• Disproportionate ICC enforcement focused on Africa alone.

6. Economic Imperialism through Trade Agreements

The WikiLeaks files show how the US cemented its control over global markets through controversial trade agreements. These treaties often benefit American corporations while disregarding environmental and workers’ rights.

For instance, leaked drafts of the Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) marked a significant push for expanding US market dominance. These agreements sought to increase service exports by removing barriers for US companies while sidestepping international labor protection standards.

The treaties also exemplify how the US uses legal systems to promote capitalism abroad. By aligning trade policies with American financial structures, the leaks demonstrate how economics has become a tool of US foreign policy.

Examples

• TPP drafts eliminating environmental safeguards to boost US exports.
• Adopting a legal structure that favors American corporations in global trade.
• Agreements projected to grow US services exports by over $800 billion.

7. Financial Power Shapes Global Policy

Wall Street’s influence extends beyond economics, shaping political decisions at home and abroad. The US government frequently consults financial institutions, relying heavily on their expertise.

The finance sector’s profits surged from 16 percent in the 1970s to 41 percent of the economy by 2007. Such growth cemented its authority in decision-making. Leaks show that policymakers often put Wall Street’s interests above democratic oversight, dictating policies that reverberate globally.

This dynamic encourages financial deregulation and amplifies wealth inequality, concentrating power in the hands of a few.

Examples

• Financial sector profits growing disproportionately between 1973 and 2007.
• US dependence on financial expertise to shape policy.
• Deregulations that prioritize corporate gains over democratic interests.

8. The Us Versus Them Narrative

The WikiLeaks files reveal how US officials use morality to justify questionable policies. This dichotomy often reduces complex issues into "good" versus "evil," simplifying war strategies and domestic policies.

Figures like Dick Cheney perpetuated this notion, branding Guantanamo detainees "bad guys" regardless of evidence. By framing every action abroad as protecting freedom and security, US administrations quelled criticism while furthering military goals.

This narrative allows the US to bypass scrutiny while engaging in actions it condemns in others.

Examples

• Dick Cheney’s remarks labeling detainees at Guantanamo as universally evil.
• Pentagon promotion of wars as moral obligations to enforce justice.
• Justifications for military aggression as defense of democracy.

9. Media and Information Suppression

The US government worked to discredit WikiLeaks not just through legal means but also by controlling narratives in the media. Leaks show intense efforts to silence whistleblowers and punish transparency.

Media stories were intentionally shaped, omitting damning information about government misconduct or painting leaks as dangerous rather than illuminating. Journalists found it increasingly difficult to cover these topics without facing consequences.

This suppression reflects broader issues of power concentration within democratic systems.

Examples

• Media avoiding coverage of torture evidence published by WikiLeaks.
• Prosecution threats to whistleblowers discouraging information sharing.
• Misrepresentation of leaks as threats to national security.

Takeaways

1. Question official narratives and seek out alternative sources of information that challenge authority structures.
2. Examine the economic implications of trade agreements and how they shape global dynamics in favor of powerful nations.
3. Advocate for transparency and support whistleblowers who expose unethical practices.