The reality of independent news sources

In the last few weeks Wiki-Leaks, an online data base that contains classified, and unclassified files, memos, articles, and videos from governments and corporations alike, has been under fire after receiving 91,000 secret US military documents relating to the war in Afghanistan. After receiving the secret information, Wiki-Leaks published the material onto their web page.

The United States Government has held a stream of press conferences condemning the release of the classified information and vowed to find the source of the leaked information and press charges against the person or persons responsible. President Obama said the leaked information from the battlefield, "could potentially jeopardize individuals or operations." It is interesting that the President and the State Department have been unable to specify what leaked information could jeopardize individuals in Afghanistan or operations therein. This leads me to believe that the root of the White House's and the Pentagon's anger concerning the release of these classified documents is the growing popularity and credibility of independent information sources, such as Wiki-Leaks. This website has challenged the power of the state's control of information, and thus, the public has the ability to know more of the truth from the battlefields.

Julian Assange, founder and editor of Wiki-Leaks, defended his website against the criticism that he has faced for publishing the classified information that the documents could give away state secrets and jeopardize security. In a press conference in London, last week, he said that "It is not our role to play sides for states. States have national security concerns. We do not have national security concerns."

Their goal is clear: they do not have any national ties that they affiliate with. Wiki-Leak is opposed to state secrets and they believe that the truth of the United States' and Britain's wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere should be uncovered and made public.I agree. Tell the public the truth so the wars can end.

The only true threat that Wiki-Leak poses to the United States and Britain is public relations. As more information is released, there is a possibility that the support for war will fade as more war crimes surface.
The control of information about the wars overseas has been highly regulated throughout the years by the government, and Wiki-Leak has found a way to bring unfiltered information about the war to the eyes of the public.

However, even though the American and British public will have access to the leaked classified information, it is doubtful, in my opinion, that they will read it. I doubt that the issue of war for both American and British citizens, will be something that they make a stand against or for; they will neither support nor challenge the almost decade long wars. We live in times of war, but for many, it is easier to pretend that we don't.
The majority of Americans and Brits will continue to go to work, pay taxes, and raise their children, and not pay attention. They will pretend that they are not involved, neither supporting nor opposing, living in a delusional peaceful garden alone. This is a lie that many will be willing to accept in exchange to remain obedient that gives many a false senses of safety and security.

Therefore, I believe that the popularity of Wiki-Leaks will fade, and with the mainstream news unwilling to show the realities of war, the US and British Governments will have complete control over the flow of information, and business like usual will continue into the next decade.