There are two big problems with the Alternet article regarding "5 Wikileaks Revelations..."

[stevenleser]

Problem #1 - When you read at least one of the 5 supposed Wikileaks revelations, the one on Haiti and the minimum wage, it doesnt say what the folks at Alternet says that it does. It does not contain any suggestion that the US is meddling in the minimum wage laws.

Problem #2 - The # 1 function of every embassy and consulate of every country in the world is to promote the businesses of that country. So, right away, the article is a non issue.

[Cid_B]

1. I suppose the real question is...

... why do you bother clicking on any link that leads to alternet?

[stevenleser]

2. It was an OP here on DU. While I have the OP author on ignore, it showed up in latest posts.

I thought it important to address the topic and counter the lies.

[JDPriestly]

3. The article is a huge issue if certain companies are favored.

I had no idea that promotion of corporate interests was the primary purpose of the diplomatic corps.

That concept is inconsistent with the idea that we have free enterprise in which our government has no proprietary interest.

And indeed, there is a flaw in our diplomatic corps' involvement in selling the products of our corporations.

The taxpayers fund the diplomatic corps, wouldn't you agree?

Look at this:

The sale of Boeings to Saudi Arabia and other countries including Turkey has taken a big investment of taxpayer money and diplomatic efforts.

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/07/11/1122_company_tax/index_01.htm?campaign_id=msn

So, taxpayers subsidize Boeing in this way.

But what about Boeing? Does it pay a reasonable amount of taxes in return?

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/Extra/CompaniesWithTheFattestTaxBreaks.aspx

Sorry. I don't have the date on the article, so it may be no longer the case that Boeing pays no or extremely low taxes. But I think our deficit problems are explained by this sort of government give-away.

[stevenleser]

4. It is the primary function of every embassy and consulate of every country in the world. You can do

your own experiment. Call the embassy or consulate of any country and ask about the length of stay allowance on a typical visa. Call back two days later and tell them you want to start a business in that country and invest about 10 million dollars and employ 500 people. See which of those calls gets more attention from that embassy or consulate.

[JDPriestly]

5. Yes. There would be nothing wrong with it provided the corporations

that get these special services would pay their share of the taxes.


But promoting specific corporations' deals is not a part of the diplomat's job. What if we had two airplane manufacturers competing for the same purchase? Would it be appropriate for the diplomats to favor the company that gave the biggest kick-backs or the biggest campaign contribution to the diplomat's boss?

So, you see, we get into a nasty tangle of ethical and financial issues here.