Assange to be Indicted Under the U.S. Espionage Act
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, the man behind the publication of more than 250,000 classified U.S. diplomatic cables, could face spying charges in the U.S. under the U.S. Espionage act.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/assange-lawyers-prepare-u...
His lawyer contends that it puts all media organizations at risk but activating rather than repealing the act, contending that the government will now take the actions in the future to censor papers and reporters through using this old legislation.
IMHO this argument is utter idiocy. In fact the newspapers who published the cables actually had the Pentagon and State Department redact the cables for security purposes. Assange is being prosecuted for illegally obtaining the cables for the express purpose of promoting his own goals.






Comments
Completely agree. The guy is
Completely agree. The guy is getting railroaded by a bunch of angry diplomats and career pols. If this were the 1800s, there would be an insurrection before he was carted off to jail.
Work hard, play hard.
This guy is a huge tool bag.
This guy is a huge tool bag. As Anthony/MSFHQ has pointed out over the last week or two, this guy has no intention of righting some wrongs or of shedding light on some crazy government scandal, his goal is to be a jerk and his intent is to damage America's reputation.
Sadly he has done far worse than that. He has jeopardized the lives of Afghani informants, this country's foreign relations and potentially the lives of American soldiers.
It's also worth noting that the soldier (I use that term loosely) that stole much of the leaked information is a homosexual, which, oddly enough, I did not know until today. I guess the media must have been too busy to report that pertinent fact...coincidentally at the same time all of the "Don't ask, don't tell" debate is ongoing. Must be a coincidence.
Regards
"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so."
- Ronald Reagan
cph - you just hate gay
cph - you just hate gay people and are anti-freedom
In all seriousness, this guy deserves whatever he gets. I hope they 'randomly' pair him up with a great roommate in prison...
If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
Your point? Even dimwits
Your point? Even dimwits have the right to free speech. Especially when they are foreigners receiving documents legally and then turning around and publishing them. Also, what is so wrong about the American public finding out what's going on behind the scenes? If the government doesn't want the world to discover its secrets, maybe it shouldn't keep them.
I like Ron Paul's response to all of this. A bunch of neocons are getting angry because their strategy depends on government secrets rather than a straightforward foreign policy.
Next time one of you publishes something on Tiananmen Square, you'd better watch your back. You might get extradited to China.
Work hard, play hard.
IlliniProgrammer wrote: Your
Your point? Even dimwits have the right to free speech. Also, what is so wrong about the American public finding out what's going on behind the scenes? If the government doesn't want the world to discover its secrets, maybe it shouldn't keep them.
I like Ron Paul's response to all of this. A bunch of neocons are getting angry because their strategy depends on government secrets rather than a straightforward foreign policy.
Are you seriously suggesting that the government shouldn't keep secrets of any kind? At all? Wait til dude releases how far certain missiles can penetrate into armor or caves, or wait until they release the specs for new weapons, equipment, etc. To think that government needs no secrets is a bit short sighted. I'm not saying that anything thus far has been akin to what I've suggested but it's only a matter of time
If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
^^^ It's the government's job
^^^ It's the government's job to keep that info secure, not Mr. Assange's.
Work hard, play hard.
^^^ doesn't matter who's job
^^^ doesn't matter who's job it is, if it's illegal it's illegal
not that I've read these leaks or anything though
n just because something's illegal doesn't necessarily mean it's bad
but saying that it's not his job to keep it secure is not a good point
If your dreams don't scare you, then they are not big enough.
"There are two types of people in this world: People who say they pee in the shower, and dirty fucking liars."-Louis C.K.
By definition it can't be
By definition it can't be illegal because:
1.) The US has no more jurisdiction over this than the Chinese government has over me saying the words "Tiananmen Square."
2.) Even if the US did have jurisdiction, Assange obtained the documents legally and has the basic human right to free speech, regardless of what governments choose to call "illegal".
3.) If the US government can take away Assange's right to free speech, the Chinese government can take away my right to discuss Falun Gong or Tiananmen Square.
If governments do not wish for people to spread their private information with impunity because they have the fundamental human right to share information, perhaps governments should keep better control of their own secrets before they get to the general public.
Regardless, SCOTUS is going to throw this out based on existing case law from the Pentagon Papers. That's what we need to hope for. Otherwise, more disgruntled secret-keepers will show up and release even more embarassing info to Assange's replacements. This is going to be like Iraq. Without an effective strategy of supporting free speech, the US's efforts will make the problem worse rather than better.
Work hard, play hard.
ron paul to the rescue!
ron paul to the rescue!
How can anyone who calls them
How can anyone who calls them self a conservative support the prosecution of a man who published information that he didn't steal? And if you do support the prosecution of a journalist for publishing, or making available information, would you support the prosecution of the newspapers that actually made the information possible. Remember, it was the newspapers that acted as the true conduits of information. You may not like Assange, but you can't, in good conscience, support the machinations of a completely political prosecution.
And what would they charge him with?
I am not cocky, I am confident, and when you tell me I am the best it is a compliment.
-Styles P
mania wrote: ron paul to the
ron paul to the rescue!
When did he become the face of sanity?
I am not cocky, I am confident, and when you tell me I am the best it is a compliment.
-Styles P
IlliniProgrammer
Regardless, SCOTUS is going to throw this out based on existing case law from the Pentagon Papers. That's what we need to hope for. Otherwise, more disgruntled secret-keepers will show up and release even more embarassing info to Assange's replacements. This is going to be like Iraq. Without an effective strategy of supporting free speech, the US's efforts will make the problem worse rather than better.
This isn't going to make it to SCOTUS; no federal prosecutor in his right mind would bring charges that he knows can't be withstood after 10 minutes of a judge's deliberations.
I am not cocky, I am confident, and when you tell me I am the best it is a compliment.
-Styles P
While I agree in
While I agree in transparency, I think Wiki Leaks has gone to far this time. I was fine with the site in the past but my opinion has changed.
If you want to reveal our troops killing innocent Iraqis that is good. Ideally change will be brought about.
But releasing all of these cables puts the lives of field workers in danger as well as the general population. Not to mention it has the potential to provoke geopolitical instability.
Another thing that I find bothersome is why all the leaks are directed at the United States. I find it unfathomable that other nationals, especially the real players - UK, France, Germany, Russia, China, etc - don't operate their clandestine/diplomatic services in the exact same manner as the US. If Wiki Leaks was so concerned with transparency it would be releasing the same caliber of information from all countries, especially the more closed ones such as China.
I fully support throwing Assange in the slammer for a very long period of time. And while I'm not attorney, I don't really buy the whole he didn't steal the info argument because he is still an accomplish to the crime, not only is he inducing criminal behavior but he is distributing stole information. An analogy could be a guy that tells criminals if they steal laptops he'll give them away to kids for free, while he may not be doing the stealing he knowingly receiving/distributing stolen goods. Both of which I'm pretty sure are illegal.
cphbravo96 wrote: It's also
It's also worth noting that the soldier (I use that term loosely) that stole much of the leaked information is a homosexual, which, oddly enough, I did not know until today. I guess the media must have been too busy to report that pertinent fact...coincidentally at the same time all of the "Don't ask, don't tell" debate is ongoing. Must be a coincidence.
Regards
Private Mannings sexual orientation was revealed a week after he was arrested.
http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/archive/ldn/2010/...
I am not cocky, I am confident, and when you tell me I am the best it is a compliment.
-Styles P
cphbravo96 wrote: Sadly he
Sadly he has done far worse than that. He has jeopardized the lives of Afghani informants, this country's foreign relations and potentially the lives of American soldiers.
That is nothing more than a Sarah Palin talking point. The news agencies that actually published the information gleaned from Wikileaks had the federal government redact all information that could result in the deaths of Afghani informants.
http://www.pakalertpress.com/2010/12/04/shocker-us...
I am not cocky, I am confident, and when you tell me I am the best it is a compliment.
-Styles P
He has every right to release
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eokpar02 wrote: cphbravo96
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ke18sb wrote: I fully support
I am not cocky, I am confident, and when you tell me I am the best it is a compliment.
-Styles P
See, here is the issue. 1)
MSF Website
MACC Website
MSF Twitter
eokpar02 wrote: ke18sb
MSF Website
MACC Website
MSF Twitter
MSFHQ wrote: Newspapers fact
I am not cocky, I am confident, and when you tell me I am the best it is a compliment.
-Styles P
lol, I find it funny he's in
Anthony- the reaction you
Work hard, play hard.
eokpar02 wrote: So, by
IlliniProgrammer wrote: The
I am not cocky, I am confident, and when you tell me I am the best it is a compliment.
-Styles P
Ack, proof that he is guilty
Work hard, play hard.
ke18sb wrote: eokpar02
I am not cocky, I am confident, and when you tell me I am the best it is a compliment.
-Styles P
IlliniProgrammer wrote: Ack,
I am not cocky, I am confident, and when you tell me I am the best it is a compliment.
-Styles P
I am quite shocked at some
America is by no means the
K maybe it's not illegal but
If your dreams don't scare you, then they are not big enough.
"There are two types of people in this world: People who say they pee in the shower, and dirty fucking liars."-Louis C.K.
16rl wrote: I am quite
Work hard, play hard.
scottj19x89 wrote: K maybe
Work hard, play hard.
IMO whatever Assange's
The biggest crime that is
This is BS, he can't even
GWB wouldn't stand for
MSF Website
MACC Website
MSF Twitter
MSFHQ wrote: GWB wouldn't
Dude, neoconservativism is
Work hard, play hard.
Whoops! Didn't realize the
ke18sb wrote: eokpar02
"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so."
- Ronald Reagan
eokpar02
"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so."
- Ronald Reagan
cphbravo96 wrote: ke18sb
CDM820 wrote: The biggest
"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so."
- Ronald Reagan
cphbravo96 wrote: eokpar02
Nachos wrote: cphbravo96
"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so."
- Ronald Reagan
cphbravo96 wrote: I've also
I am not cocky, I am confident, and when you tell me I am the best it is a compliment.
-Styles P
cphbravo96 wrote: Not to
I am not cocky, I am confident, and when you tell me I am the best it is a compliment.
-Styles P
Nachos wrote: Firstly, it
If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
happypantsmcgee