If a single foreign national is rounded up and put in jail because of a leaked cable, this entire, anarchic exercise in "freedom" stands as a human disaster. Assange is a criminal. He's the one who should be in jail.
–Joe Klein, Swampland (12/1/10)
Actually, Julian Assange didn't leak anything–he can't, because he didn't have access to classified documents. Someone (or someones) who did have such access leaked those documents to Assange's WikiLeaks, which, as a journalistic organization, made them available to the world, both directly and through other media partners.
This distinction, which is widely ignored in commentary on WikiLeaks, is actually quite important, because the ethical obligations of a government official with a security clearance are quite different from those of a media outlet. An official makes a promise to protect classified information, and should break that promise only when the duty to keep one's promises is outweighed by the public interest in disclosing wrongdoing. Journalists, on the other hand, are not in the business of protecting secrets, and should have a general presumption in favor of informing the public unless disclosure would cause specific foreseeable harms. The two ethical situations are pretty much opposite.
To treat Assange as a leaker when he is, in fact, a journalist is not only morally confusing, it's quite dangerous to journalists in general. If the government can declare Assange to be spy or a terrorist because he's published classified documents he's received, every investigative journalist who does the same thing is in deep trouble.
About Jim Naureckas
Helen what can i say but she absolutely did say it.Though i have tinnitis in one ear my hearing and sight are pretty good,as is my memory.Often things people like Hannity and Rush release are scrubbed from the airwaves.Yet you can find it on their sights.Why that is i dont know.Beck often points this out.Try to track Obamas arrest record talked about by Hannity this week.Scrubbed clean and never brought up during the election.We on our side of the coin work with it.What else is there to do?If i find it i will send it on.Do you believe she does not agree with the statement?Read her thoughts.She is not dancing for joy in any of her statements.
Yes Assange did not threaten suicide in his blackmail attempt. I took the release literally.
"what can i say but she absolutely did say it…As she said it -i jotted down her words"
Ack! Ziz Micheal e not only admitz to hearing thingz, he writes zem down!…I zuggezt therapy!
@naturalist1…Yeah, I saw Mikey's ode to the rule of law on that other thread. "Execution first, trial later."
He also reads minds: "Why do I know that if you new [sic] it was SHE who said it- you would attribute great intelligence and erudite meaning to it."
That's impressive, ya gotta admit.
[...] about Wikileaks, none of which are original or interesting (if you want that, try here, here, here, here, here, here and [...]
Actually natuaralist im against the death penalty….excecution.Bush was hard for it.Obama seems Ok with it.Im not for a variety of reasons.Not that some don't deserve it.Just a personal/professional thing.It would be against my oath….
As far as Hilary goes.Ya know you are correct.I should never put the onus on anyone- that they are in the minority that believes Hilary is a candidate worth more than a sniff and a snort.You have my apologies.
michael e
I am an Australian and I find it very disturbing the way you see the world. As an Australian your definition of a 'terrorist' insults me and every other Australian some of whom have died through acts of real terrorism, Americans are NOT the only ones who have suffered through this so-called 'war on terror'. Australian soldiers died and still are standing beside American soldiers in Iraq & Afganistan so do not think for one second that all Australians do not have a vested interest in knowing ALL OF THE FACTS – as many facts as possible. Not spin not journalists personal opinions not our governments foreboding attitudes and self serving rhetoric just the facts – raw facts.
It is certainly your perogative to not want to know, however what is not your perogative is to dismissively label a person a terrorist – hacker. What your father was saying to you michael e 'if you play you pay' be good don't draw attention to yourself play by the rules at all times (even if those rules are made up arbitarily) and you will be safe. Anybody who adheres to what a politician is telling them to think and say is really do exactely what your father wanted. You need to present a part of America as uninformed dismissive arrogance, the American showpony! It is telling a lot of what I read is acting out of jealousy – people a lot of people would never stand on their convictions knowing wished they would never have the guts to do something groundbreaking.
How far do you want to go -oh yes this invention that Julian Assange was 'blackmailing' !!! suicide threats !!!! Julian Assange has never said anything remotely close to this – which means your inventions of reality & truths are a poignant reminder to a lot of people just why WikiLeaks DOES exist.
[...] Post columnistDana Milbank (12/19/10) derides WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange for being "insufferable"–apparently because he emerged from prison talking about [...]
[...] 1 FAIR Blog post here. It's a short and important read. Leave a Comment LikeBe the first to like this [...]
[...] to understand what is justified and what will lead to the end of the Internet as an open space. FAIR has pointed out that WikiLeaks didn't actually leak anything. Someone inside the US government leaked it, and [...]
[...] To treat Assange as a leaker when he is, in fact, a journalist is not only morally confusing, it's quite dangerous to journalists in general. If the government can declare Assange to be spy or a terrorist because he's published classified documents he's received, every investigative journalist who does the same thing is in deep trouble. – LINK [...]
Mr. Assange is a definitely a great man, maybe a hero is a bold word. He is bringing much needed light on very….very…dark and stagnant subjects. Hopefully someone will come forward on the Vatican archives. You have my respect and best regards, Julian Assange.
Namaste