There�s A Repugnant Selective Application Of Wikileaks� Cables - Kwaku Baako

Editor-In-Chief of the New Crusading Guide, Malik Kwaku Baako says his beef with the WikiLeaks expos� is the �repugnant selective application of the leaks for partisan propaganda purposes�. According to him, there is desperate attempt for a mass consumption of what is contained in the WikiLeaks, albeit for propaganda purposes. He has therefore cautioned against placing too much premium on the reports since they were simply a rehashing of statements and claims and opinions of other people. Contributing to discussions on Peace FM�s Kokrokoo Morning Show on the WikiLeaks expos�, Mr Baako said the leaked cables do not emanate from the main stream intelligence agencies of the country. He said the cables have not been evaluated, validated and proven based on intelligent analysis, so it should not be selectively applied for one�s parochial propaganda purposes. According to Mr. Baako, the diplomats did not anticipate that the information they are relaying to their superiors might become public knowledge stressing that �there is an aura of complacency because they know there is not a chance that the information will be subjected to strict proof or cross validated�this makes some of them become very lazy, negligent and they tend to exaggerate and embellish it�� �My problem is what I see as very uneducated ignorant attempt to do a mass consumption (uncritical mass consumption as Francis Poku puts it) of whatever is contained in the WikiLeaks expos�for partisan propaganda purposes; that uneducated approach constituted the mess and for that matter we are messing ourselves. If WikiLeaks has said something, it doesn�t mean we should uncritically consume it as if it is a gospel truth and it also doesn�t mean that we should also be selective applying it for parochial propaganda purposes. We are doing a lot of injustice to ourselves and our intelligence as a nation, that is how I see it,� he said. According to him, some of these correspondents are based on rumors, gossip, speculations and perceptions; while some are factual, others are based on events that have happened publicly and their own evaluations. Therefore, he said, it is unfortunate that people are proceeding on these to draw conclusions, stressing that �the WikiLeaks cables are been mishandled and it is becoming a distraction�. ��the specific issues can be interrogated to know where we stand as a nation and also guide individuals who interact with embassy officials to know how to go about it but it can also dampen relationships and create situations where people will not be willing to have serious discussions�.