Since the unanticipated release this week, in complete and unredacted form, of all 251,287 U.S. State Department cables held by WikiLeaks, there has been plenty of blame to go around -- and the possible repercussions have grown increasingly dire.

Most obviously in danger are the informants in places like Iran, China, and certain countries in the Arab world whose names have now been made public.

In addition, Glenn Greenwald points out that "it likely increases political pressure to impose more severe punishment on Bradley Manning if he's found guilty of having leaked these cables."