American exceptionalism, American hypocrisy

By W.W. | IOWA CITY

AMERICA'S reaction to WikiLeaks' recent trickle of confidential diplomatic messages has not improved its reputation in Europe, at least according to this article by Steven Erlanger in the New York Times. Mr Erlanger offers an entertaining run-down of sharply critical opinions from pundits and politicos across the pond. Their theme, as Mr Erlanger puts it in his lede, is that "Washington's fierce reaction to the flood of secret diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks displays imperial arrogance and hypocrisy, indicating a post-9/11 obsession with secrecy that contradicts American principles".

Near the end of the piece, Mr Erlanger touches on a second theme which I think may shed some light on the first. The content of the cables, some commentators say, has hurt the American government's reputation less than has its bumbling, alarmed over-reaction. The United States' diplomatic corps itself comes off looking professional and well meaning: