Thoughts on Julian Assange

[inboundpaper]

He got a whole bunch of the world butflustered, but other than that, I really don't care.

[Weirdbear]

I don't like him. He put the lives of American citizens in danger to suit his political beliefs.

Awww, thats cute. Your government does the exact same thing. Your precious capitalistic lifestyle does the exact thing. Putting your lives at risk for profit.
Wikileaks was trying to make the world more transparent. No secrets that endanger human lives or is used for personal gain in power.
Still, Assange is a coward seeing himself above law.

[ringpriest]

You see, I'm SORRY that Manning is in jail still... I really am... I don't think he should be in jail at all... I think he belongs in a coffin... he should have long been executed for his treason and jeopardizing thousands of lives around the world... Manning wasn't and never will be a 'hero'... he'll be no better than any number of spies throughout the years.

Yeah, like that notorious spy Nathan Hale. You know, the official state hero of Connecticut.

As far as Assange, I think its a shame he's still drawing breath as well. in his zeal to force transparency in the government of the world he forgot to explain that he has no damn intent to be as transparent for himself, (ie, actually face the courts to clear his name).

Manning and Assange should be bunkmates in hell for what each has done.

It's amazing how you know exactly what Manning did. Even the US military seems to think there's enough question to warrant a formal court martial. As for Assange, he's been accused, and if they ever do get him in front of a Swedish court, he'll almost certainly be charged. But even if Assange is found guilty, Sweden doesn't even have a death penalty. What makes you superior to their legal system? The same magical-thinking self-righteousness that lets you 'know' Manning is guilty?

And how do you feel about the torturers employed by Bush and given a free pass by Obama? The United States charged hanged Japanese soldiers and Filipino rebels who used waterboarding, and hanged them for it. Should they be judged for their crimes too? Or is it more important to punish people who question the US grubbymint?

[mape1992]

We don't need to know everything, sometimes we're better of not knowing and we just have to accept that's the way it is.

I think the British should put up some snipers around the embassy and shoot Assange on sight, then there would be one less douchebag on Earth. It's just a problem that all the South Americans would be pissed and the hippies will start their annoying whinning.

[Bauwagast]

All in all I think he's an attention whore, as others have said. Of course it's good to expose corruption where ever it is found, but a lot of the things that wikileaks have exposed is what I'd just call gossip at a higher level.

[Seranthor]

Yeah, like that notorious spy Nathan Hale. You know, the official state hero of Connecticut.



It's amazing how you know exactly what Manning did. Even the US military seems to think there's enough question to warrant a formal court martial. As for Assange, he's been accused, and if they ever do get him in front of a Swedish court, he'll almost certainly be charged. But even if Assange is found guilty, Sweden doesn't even have a death penalty. What makes you superior to their legal system? The same magical-thinking self-righteousness that lets you 'know' Manning is guilty?

And how do you feel about the torturers employed by Bush and given a free pass by Obama? The United States charged hanged Japanese soldiers and Filipino rebels who used waterboarding, and hanged them for it. Should they be judged for their crimes too? Or is it more important to punish people who question the US grubbymint?

ringpriest, IF Manning is convicted, I think he should be executed... give him a fair and impartial court martial... he's entitled to that... sadly, those that have died because of what he did didn't get that same courtesy.

As far as my comments they are my PERSONAL OPINION (you should check your IMs as well)

[Wikiy]

All in all I think he's an attention whore, as others have said. Of course it's good to expose corruption where ever it is found, but a lot of the things that wikileaks have exposed is what I'd just call gossip at a higher level.

What gossip? The US diplomatic cables? What's the harm in showing the "true" colors of the US?

[semaphore]

What gossip? The US diplomatic cables? What's the harm in showing the "true" colors of the US?

It didn't really show any such thing.

The harm is that it reduce the willingness of people to talk to the United States in the future. It disrupts trust and communications between governments, all to disclose documents that contain essentially no public interest.

[ringpriest]

ringpriest, IF Manning is convicted, I think he should be executed... give him a fair and impartial court martial... he's entitled to that... sadly, those that have died because of what he did didn't get that same courtesy.

As far as my comments they are my PERSONAL OPINION (you should check your IMs as well)

You say "IF Manning is convicted," but then you give your opinion that others have died because of the information he (allegedly) leaked. Do you have any evidence for this belief? His defense team has (partial) access to the US government official damage review, and claims it supports their contention that no people were harmed, no sources were compromised. To the best of my knowledge, the US government has yet to produce any evidence (although plenty of unsupported claims) that the leaks resulted in any damage, much less deaths.

By contrast, in the trial of "Scooter" Libby - then Vice President Cheney's advisor - it was revealed that Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage did leak the identity of a covert CIA agent investigating Iran's nuclear program. That unquestionably hurt America's intelligence efforts in an area that the US government continually claims is vital to both national and global security. Yet Armitage was never even charged, and Libby - while found guilty of lying and obstructing the investigation - soon had his sentence (30 months in prison and a $250,000 fine) commuted by then President Bush.

Why should Manning, who has not been found guilty of leaking information that has yet to be proven to be harmful to the US, face a much harsher penalty than high-ranking government officials who unquestionably abandoned their duty and damaged their countries security for an agenda of political gain?

(You also ignored my contention that spies, like the aforementioned Nathan Hale, can indeed be heroes.)