It's a joke.

But now that Julian Assange has been arrested, and likely soon to be extradited to the US, what say you?

I feel like he did a public service with what he exposed.  The damage he allegedly did to our intel services didn't seem to ever materialize.  But given Cheslea Manning is still in jail, it seems unlikely that he would get whistleblower status.

Although I have no idea what the laws are regarding classified information and reporters.  Leaks happen all the time and reporters don't go to jail for illegal/classified leaking.

I've actually done a 180 on Assange. At one point I thought he was totally in the wrong - thinking that he was just doing it to make a name for himself. But after educating myself more about that whole situation, I've changed my mind. Like you, nothing ever seemed to come out of what he published.

I'm hoping that Trump pardons him, as he seems to be able to look at persecution in ways that others might not. I'm giving Trump this chance to maybe change my mind about him a little bit. That is to say that it will not exonerate Trump in my eyes, but it will certain allow me to have some sort of respect for him.

I guess my own version of TDS isn't easily curable, but it could be helped along with little doses of antibiotics such as this.

posted by CenterBHSFan

I've actually done a 180 on Assange.

I guess I'll have to wait to see what evidence they have against him.  The charge is that he assisted in the hacking, which is why it's different then media reporting other stolen intel.

We'll see if they can prove he actively assisted in the hacking.  I'd presume he didn't hide out in an embassy for 7 years if he didn't, although that doesn't mean he expected a fair trial.  Also, Manning probably provided evidence against him.

When the government and media dont follow the checks and balances that we are supposed to have......the common man needs to step up.  I think that what he did was the right thing, just the wrong execution.

We should be praising the guy, not arresting him. 

posted by gut

I guess I'll have to wait to see what evidence they have against him.  The charge is that he assisted in the hacking, which is why it's different then media reporting other stolen intel.

We'll see if they can prove he actively assisted in the hacking.  I'd presume he didn't hide out in an embassy for 7 years if he didn't, although that doesn't mean he expected a fair trial.  Also, Manning probably provided evidence against him.

I know that one country is pursuing him for some sex crime and using that as leverage to go after him for other things dealing with publishing. Many people put hacking and publishing into the same morality basket. I can understand how easy it is to do that, but one doesn't necessarily equate with the other in a philosophical manner. Legally? I have no clue. My guess is it depends on how much trickery and word magic they use in court.

He didn’t hack …….he published some of what was hacked.

Back in the day the Wapo and Times published the Pentagon Papers …they were praised.

If all he did was publish, he should definitely be pardoned.  I can see the argument if he helped with hacking, but generally I take the side of whistleblowers exposing our Government. 

There is still a lot of power and force from side that thinks he cost Hillary the election; and they NEVER play nice.

posted by SportsAndLady

We should be praising the guy, not arresting him. 

Agree...

Don't forget that Assange linked Seth Rich to Wikileaks

Bill Clinton Hillary Clinton Julian Assange Seth Rich ...... OH MY!

posted by QuakerOats

 

He didn’t hack …….he published some of what was hacked.

 

Back in the day the Wapo and Times published the Pentagon Papers …they were praised.

 

 

Totally agree with this.  People like Assange bring a level of scrutiny to government.  Government always claims that its secrets are national secutiry.  But that is an easy cover to assume carte blanche and to abuse power.  If the US prosecutes him, we look like a crooked state that truly does have stuff to hide. - ala Soviet Russia.  

From what I understand, publishing in and of itself isn't the crime. As far as anything to do with hacking, that remains to be seen if Assange ASKED somebody to hack to get that information. If that is the case, and there is proof of it, then that's the rub of it all.

posted by CenterBHSFan

From what I understand, publishing in and of itself isn't the crime. As far as anything to do with hacking, that remains to be seen if Assange ASKED somebody to hack to get that information. If that is the case, and there is proof of it, then that's the rub of it all.

Yeah, if he helped hack then he committed a crime.  But it would be interesting to see what a jury would say to that.  The govt can't get me with an illegal search, even if there is an underlying crime.  But should the govt get the same protection [obviously not]?  The fact that Obama pardoned Manning would have to have some influence over a jury, right?  Because I don't know there's even an accusation, much less proof, that he helped Snowden hack or he had anything to do with Hillary's emails.

Thought I heard he was only facing 5 years.  That can't be right?  Of course, the govt could bury him with a bunch of trumped-up and made-up charges.

posted by gut

Yeah, if he helped hack then he committed a crime.  But it would be interesting to see what a jury would say to that.  The govt can't get me with an illegal search, even if there is an underlying crime.  But should the govt get the same protection [obviously not]?  The fact that Obama pardoned Manning would have to have some influence over a jury, right?  Because I don't know there's even an accusation, much less proof, that he helped Snowden hack or he had anything to do with Hillary's emails.

Thought I heard he was only facing 5 years.  That can't be right?  Of course, the govt could bury him with a bunch of trumped-up and made-up charges.

“pardoned”, or commuted the sentence ?

posted by Dr Winston O'Boogie

Totally agree with this.  People like Assange bring a level of scrutiny to government.  Government always claims that its secrets are national secutiry.  But that is an easy cover to assume carte blanche and to abuse power.  If the US prosecutes him, we look like a crooked state that truly does have stuff to hide. - ala Soviet Russia.  

I hear ya.  Look what they just did to Michael Caputo.  There is a reason he told the committee “God damn you to hell!”.

Hillary said Assange must be held accountable. I think Vegas will probably change the odds of a pardon now. Trump is petty enough to pardon him to spite Hillary lol.

posted by like_that

Hillary said Assange must be held accountable. I think Vegas will probably change the odds of a pardon now. Trump is petty enough to pardon him to spite Hillary lol.

I was laughing how she said "Assange is the one person that Trump welcomes to this country".  Ummm, what happened to "Trump only wants white people coming to this country"? 

Also, Trump said he doesn't know anything about it and doesn't care.

But this might be the beginning of an effort to troll Trump into interfering with the prosecution of Assange.  Dems could get him yet on obstruction!

Pretty sure Hillary knows that Assange knows where the bodies are buried.  So between that, and the fact that she thinks he was a large reason for why she lost, and the potential exposure of deep state abuses, he needs to watch his back.  No more Seth Rich endings.

posted by QuakerOats

Pretty sure Hillary knows that Assange knows where the bodies are buried.  So between that, and the fact that she thinks he was a large reason for why she lost, and the potential exposure of deep state abuses, he needs to watch his back.  No more Seth Rich endings.

Hmmmmm....I'm not going to buy into that conspiracy theory, but it does make one wonder if Assange hasn't held back some "insurance" for himself.

But if he had such insurance, then there would have been little need to hole-up in the Ecuador Embassy for 7 years.

posted by gut

Hmmmmm....I'm not going to buy into that conspiracy theory, but it does make one wonder if Assange hasn't held back some "insurance" for himself.

But if he had such insurance, then there would have been little need to hole-up in the Ecuador Embassy for 7 years.

Apparently he has some sort of dirt on Ecuador but they arrested him in such a way to prevent the release of the info. 

#ThingsINeverThoughtIdSee

Jimmy Dore giving props to Tucker Carlson lol! He's giving props not because he likes Carlson but as he says - Carlson is the only one in mainstream media who is reporting accurate information.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnwC_1Pf9VQ

He also brings up (more extensively) in another video the Pentagon Papers and compares the two. I'm not really sure if that is a good comparison. Somebody who is more studied on that matter would better be able to say more about that.

Also, as far as I'm aware Tulsi Gabbard is the only dem running for President that is standing up for Julian Assange. I do not follow all of the dems running and haven't been paying that much attention to news for the past two days. I guess we'll see more as time unfolds.

posted by CenterBHSFan

Jimmy Dore giving props to Tucker Carlson lol! He's giving props not because he likes Carlson but as he says - Carlson is the only one in mainstream media who is reporting accurate information.

I didn't listen to the whole thing.  But it seemed like Tucker was saying Assange didn't steal anything, which in my book is not exactly true.  Maybe it's all the fake news, but my understanding was Assange would be charged with conspiracy for assisting the acquisition and transmission of classified material.  It's unproven, but I'm not clear on what the "true story" is that isn't being reported.

I think Fox News may have reported that, itself...also noting that Assange was somewhat deliberately not being charged with the publication or anything that could run afoul of infringing on freedom of the press.

What Assange did was no different then every other media outlet that leaked info the past few years

posted by Spock

What Assange did was no different then every other media outlet that leaked info the past few years

I think this is the second or third time I've mentioned it in this thread - that's not what he will allegedly be charged with.  He supposedly provided technical expertise/software to help Manning steal and transmit the data.  THAT is felony conspiracy.