We are at a historic and dangerous crossroads right now in this country. The Trump Department of Justice has openly declared war on the First Amendment. And the case they have chosen to pave the way for criminally prosecuting journalists and publishers is that of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange under the Espionage Act. It is the first time in the history of this country, the first time since the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was enshrined in law, that the government is criminally charging a publisher for publishing truthful information.
This indictment centers around the exposure of war crimes committed by the forces of the most powerful nation on Earth. It is about publishing documents that laid bare the blackmail, the backroom deals, the threats, the lies of the U.S. government in nations across the world. It is retaliation against an organization that presented to the world video evidence of a U.S. helicopter gunship massacre on Iraqi civilians and two Reuters news journalists.
This prosecution is revenge for publishing documents on the U.S. kill campaign in Iraq and Afghanistan, for publishing documents about torture and the creation of proxy forces in Iraq. But this is not just about WikiLeaks and Julian Assange. At the heart of the 17 Espionage Act indictments against Assange is the most extreme threat to press freedom and freedom of speech in the modern era. Not even Richard Nixon went this far, despite wanting desperately to criminalize journalism.
The case against Assange is actually a de facto prosecution of all publishers. If this succeeds, then the pandora’s box is open. Tomorrow, this administration could be going after the publishers of The New York Times or Washington Post.
This administration wants to put journalists in prison. They want to shut down news organizations who aggressively investigate Trump. William Barr and Donald Trump and Mike Pompeo want you to hate Julian Assange so much that you will give up your own freedoms just to watch him burn at the stake.
If you don’t see this attack on Assange under the Espionage Act as one of the most absolutely dangerous threats this administration has launched against the media, then you aren’t paying attention, or you are allowing yourself to be tricked by Trump and his dangerous team of political prosecutors.
6 Comments
newtboyTLDW, but it should be pointed out that Assange was set to be prosecuted for helping Manning break into secure government computers, not posting the info Manning got on his own.
Perhaps that's no longer the case, but people have mistakenly said his prosecution was an attack on free speech since his arrest on those charges...when really it was an attack on hackers.
slickheadsays...Glen Greenwald 's Intercept has long had bias here. It doesn't surprise me they are trying to spin this a a free speech issue . I give him extra points for attempting to leverage anti Trumpian sentiment in order to further Trump/Putin's agenda.
Putin's propagandists couldn't have written this better.
Oh wait......
noimsThat's possibly the case - although I don't believe it myself - but in what way is the video wrong? As the it says, they're going after Assange for publishing true information gained from a valid source that shows something that (in my opinion) is in the public's best interest to see. The published footage doesn't significantly endanger American operations or agents - certainly not beyond the benefit the public gain from seeing what was done in their name.
I also don't believe that this benefits Trump's agenda, but then I don't think Trump is in effect a Russian agent (although I might agree with the argument that he's a massive tool).
Newtboy's point is at least relevant. Personally I believe that their motivation for going after him is the footage he helped publish, even if the weapon they use is only tangentally related, but it's a fair and interesting point to make.
Glen Greenwald 's Intercept has long had bias here. It doesn't surprise me they are trying to spin this a a free speech issue . I give him extra points for attempting to leverage anti Trumpian sentiment in order to further Trump/Putin's agenda.
Putin's propagandists couldn't have written this better.
Oh wait......
newtboyI'll interject.
The published information included the names of hundreds of undercover agents that had nothing to do with the footage, or criminal actions. It was an unfiltered dump of everything they, working together, stole. Exposing those unrelated agents did not benefit American public, cost us millions if not billions, hurt our intelligence agencies badly, and helped our enemies greatly.
It benefits Trump because it allows him the appearance of (at least now) not working with Assange to help Rusher...Er, ah, Russia....interfere in our election to get him elected....multiple instances with video footage of him lavishly praising their work and requesting further interference notwithstanding....his followers can't remember that far back and believe it's "fake news" when their nose gets shoved in it....because he says so.
That's possibly the case - although I don't believe it myself - but in what way is the video wrong? As the it says, they're going after Assange for publishing true information gained from a valid source that shows something that (in my opinion) is in the public's best interest to see. The published footage doesn't significantly endanger American operations or agents - certainly not beyond the benefit the public gain from seeing what was done in their name.
I also don't believe that this benefits Trump's agenda, but then I don't think Trump is in effect a Russian agent (although I might agree with the argument that he's a massive tool).
Newtboy's point is at least relevant. Personally I believe that their motivation for going after him is the footage he helped publish, even if the weapon they use is only tangentally related, but it's a fair and interesting point to make.
noimsCheers for the interjection. I always appreciate a well-formed argument that challenges my beliefs.
I wasn't aware of the exposure of undercover agents. That does at least partly counter my first point. I do still think the public interest aspect is very significant, although as I'm not American I see it more from more of a global point of view.
As for the second point, I was referring to the statements in the video, specifically its 'leveraging of anti-Trump sentiment', rather than the prosecution itself.
I still believe that my general point holds: that the statements in the video are generally correct, and that the approach the US has taken (under both Trump and Obama) will have - and is designed to have - a chilling effect on the publishing of information that shows the state acting in what many would describe as an evil manner.
I'll interject.
The published information included the names of hundreds of undercover agents [..].
It benefits Trump because it allows him the appearance of (at least now) not working with Assange to help Rusher[...]
BSRI'll interject.
I accept your challenge.
1) Do you believe love is all you need?
2) Are you aware who the undercover agents are?
3) What do you know about acting?
Can you crack this code?
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home*
GILLIAN: What you're hearing is recorded whale song. It is sung by the male. He'll sing anywhere from six to as long as thirty minutes, and then, start again. In the ocean, the other whales will pick up the song, and pass it on.
(Spock is seen swimming in the underwater tank)
GILLIAN: The songs change every year, but we still don't know what purpose they serve. Are they some kind of navigational signal? Could they be part of the mating ritual? Or is it pure communication beyond our comprehension? Frankly we just don't know.
--------------------------------------------
Hey you, out there in the cold
Getting lonely, getting old
Can you feel me?
Hey you, standing in the aisles
With itchy feet and fading smiles
Can you feel me?
Hey you, don't help them to bury the light
Don't give in without a fight
Hey you out there on your own
Sitting naked by the phone
Would you touch me?
Hey you with you ear against the wall
Waiting for someone to call out
Would you touch me?
Hey you, would you help me to carry the stone?
Open your heart, I'm coming home*
But it was only fantasy
The wall was too high
As you can see
No matter how he tried
He could not break free
And the worms ate into his brain
Hey you, out there on the road
Always doing what you're told
Can you help me?
Hey you, out there beyond the wall
Breaking bottles in the hall
Can you help me?
Hey you, don't tell me there's no hope at all
Together we stand, divided we fall
Songwriters: Roger Waters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymgYEQgSqLI
1) Cheers for the interjection. I always appreciate a well-formed argument that challenges my beliefs.
2) I wasn't aware of the exposure of undercover agents.
3) ...and is designed to have - a chilling effect on the publishing of information that shows the state acting in what many would describe as an evil manner.
Discuss...
Enable JavaScript to submit a comment.