If WikiLeaks is Criminal, What About That Thing Called "Climategate"?

Oh, here's something more than somewhat interesting:

Via DeSmogBlog, Carrie La Seur reports:

https://plainsjusticeblog.wordpress.com/2010/12/12/french-wikileaks-coverage-...

Leading French newspaper Le Monde has been delving into WikiLeaks in depth with a growing online section devoted to new revelations. An article posted Dec. 12, titled Pirates informatiques contre climatologues (Computer pirates against climatologists), reveals a few American diplomats’ fears that cyberattacks on climate scientists might increase in the days leading up to the 2009 Copenhagen meeting. One email reveals an unsuccessful attack against the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Oceans, Environment and Science (OES) that has received very little coverage (none that I can find) in domestic press.

Let's recall for a moment, shall we:

Listen: Inhofe Says He Will Call for Investigation on "Climategate" 

Interview on Washington Times America's Morning Show

Monday, November 23, 2009

 

And then, from 23 September, 2010:

https://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2010/09/23/23climatewire-rep-issa-would-lead-cl...

 

Rep. Issa Would Lead 'Climategate' Probe if House Goes to GOP

 

"Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), the ranking member of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said a probe of the "Climategate" scandal will top his environmental agenda if the Republicans take over the House next year and he gets the chairmanship."

But back to Carrie Le Seur:

 

The note cited by Le Monde concludes (my translation of the French translation):

As climate negotiations continue, it is likely that attacks like this will persist…. Personnel involved in climate change research or related subjects should remain conscious of the elevated risk.

As loud voices call for prosecution of Julian Assange and warn of the risk of Chinese cyber warfare, I can’t help but wonder, where were the voices of outrage and the demands for investigation and justice when unknown parties attacked the U.S. State Department in an attempt to derail the Copenhagen negotiations? Or does the need for justice depend on the ends pursued by “cyberterrorists”? 

Good question. Republican leadership, two months after saying they were going to probe the "Climategate" scandal (which had already been proved a fabricated firestorm)?:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/nov/29/house-republicans-condemn-wik...

House Republicans condemn WikiLeaks disclosure

WASHINGTON (AP) — The top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee said Monday that the disclosure of thousands of classified State Department documents undermines U.S. credibility with the rest of the world.

It seems Ms La Seur has a very good point. Are Senator Inhofe and Representative Issa now going to apologize for reading "leaked" personal communications between scientists, and ask for the prosecution of the hackers responsible?

The "Climategate" emails release was unpleasant in that it gave awful people more conspiracy theories to gnaw at, achieving for them the gain they actually seek (obfuscation and nonaction), but did the actual science, and the actual scientists no harm at all (other than showing them to be human, and losing patience with endlessly crabbing pests like Steve McIntyre). 

It's funny how that happens with Responsible People, doing Responsible Work in the public interest.