So this is what the eclipsing of American power looks like, with the disgorging of so much of its sensitive diplomatic correspondence in one fell swoop. Arguably not since Berlin fell to the Red Army in 1945 has there been a compromise of state secrets as breathtaking as that brought about by Wiki-Leaks. Yet while the drift of much of the ensuing commentary has been that there is not much new in the 250,000 leaked cables, the truth is that the damage to American credibility and diplomacy is incalculable.
看來這就是美國實力衰落的表現:一下子外洩這麼多敏感外交函件。可以說,自柏林1945年落入蘇聯紅軍之手後,國家機密的洩密規模從未像維基解密(Wiki-Leaks)事件這樣驚心動魄。儘管隨後很多評論的大意是,在25萬份被洩露的機密電報中沒有很多新資訊,但事實是,它對美國可信度和外交的損害是不可估量的。