237. WikiLeaks: Comedy of Errors

WikiLeaks: The theatre or at a Carnival is the appropriate place for such remarks

What is so fascinating about WikiLeaks is not so much the content- opinions expressed on others, be they world leaders or otherwise, cannot be considered as world shattering secrets; but those opinions uttered when we think no one else is listening are always intriguing. Suddenly the world finds itself, like we would when we eavesdrop on two people whisper juicy gossip of someone we know well, our boss or best friend. How can we not stop in our tracks and take notice?

Some of the descriptions attributed to world leaders are really comical and can’t see how it will affect military classified accounts. I particularly liked about Gaddafi’s “voluptuous” nurse and having cosmetic treatment, also that someone else was simply a “fat slob”. So what? Some leaders simply got what they deserved, but such remarks do not endanger a nation’s security, does it?

What can be worrying is that someone has managed to break the U.S. national security system and at the end of the day, a major power should look well before insulting their allies since such allies have sacrificed human lives on the battle field for, not only their own security, but that of the United States too. Unless of course, this is not just another of those diplomatic, “accidents on purpose,” for which major powers are notorious in implementing from time to time or when the need arises.

I also enjoyed what they had to say about Berlusconi, Italy’s Prime Minister which revealed more than the diplomatic services involved wished. No, not because they said Berlusconi was someone who liked to show off and party all the time with sexy young ladies, this is nothing new- Italy and Britain’s tabloid have given more than ample coverage on that score- and is there really not a tinge of envy behind all this... not of course to point out that the Italian Premier could hardly find the time or the energy to do all they say he does.

What some countries from across the Atlantic can’t see in the same way as Southern Europeans, is that since the Renaissance, this part of the world discovered the wonders not only of the soul, but that of the body too. On the other hand what some Europeans can’t understand about the U.S. is its unprecedented ability to open its doors to immorality of all sorts, drugs, sex, abuse, gratuitous violence in the streets, fiction, films, allowing such to permeate all else; while at the other extreme one is faced with the nauseating self-righteousness of the “better classes.” None of such criticism can touch Berlusconi because it simply is regurgitated tabloid propaganda.

What was new and most revealing, uncovering the motive of those who said it, was they claimed Berlusconi had personal interests in Russia. Even though this too is old hat, if one doesn’t know how else to crucify Berlusconi taking a swipe at his wealth is always a safe bet. But the fact this Italian gent keeps gallivanting off to a once Communist Country does not go down very well with certain diplomatic attaches- he has to be curtailed and what better way than to say he goes there to replenish his own pockets? For one thing Berlusconi does not need to have his pockets replenished by anyone, and the other is, which in my view is the real reason that produced such a statement is that, supposing this said gentleman puts the notion in Putin’s head that Russia should become part of the European Community? Horrors of horrors! Though in effect there should be no surprise since it would only be the natural geographical consolidation of another European country in the European Community.

My conclusion is that comedy as used in these revelations is the same kind of comedy that Shakespeare used with his “fools” – to reveal what cannot be openly said.