Best comment on the Wikileaks saga I've seen

[EtienneK]

We should be scared.

I spent ten years of my life as a "real" journalist in several major US media markets. The primary difference between the news "we" presented and what's being presented via Wikileaks is precisely that Wikileaks allows more or less unfiltered access to the source material. Ask yourself: do you really want someone else selecting what's fit for you to read? Trust me, having unfettered access to original sources, so that you can independently develop your own take on what's happening, is infinitely better for you -- and better for society -- than having the news dished out to you by a "professional" like me in my former incarnation.

What's happening to Wikileaks is astounding and should be scaring the living **** out of each and every one of you. They have been transformed into a "criminal" organization in the eyes of many members of the public and many members of the mainstream media inside of a week. From the beside-the-point rape case involving Julian Assange to the loss of hosting, DNS services and, now, the possibility to gain funding. That's how easy it was to get the job done.

I've been an observer of political life, professional and otherwise, for more than forty years. Never have I seen an assault on free speech like this one. It doesn't matter what your personal view is on the wisdom of exposing the day-to-day minutiae of realpolitik. Free speech -- and your right as citizens to live under an open government -- are under attack. I can only hope people will speak up to defend them.

Emphasis mine.

http://yro.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1896026&cid=34444302

 

[general_koffi]

Oh, I agree... The reaction to the leaks has been far more terrifying than the content.

Sorry for linking to a post on an unrelated forum as well, but this is a short list (with links) to various American media talking heads who have called for Assange to be killed.

This began as a post on another thread, but the list is growing so long that I figured it deserved its own. I'll try to keep it updated.



Newt Gingrich: "The WikiLeaks guy should be in jail for the rest of his life...He is an enemy of the United States, actively endangering people, and he's gonna get a lot of folks killed. And I think that's a despicable act, and we should treat him as an enemy combatant, and as an absolute enemy of the United States." Also watch his interview on Freedom Watch. Gingrich advocates foreign intervention in Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and North Korea.

Glenn Beck said that Julian Assange should be tried for treason and executed.

Mike Huckabee said, "Whoever in our government leaked that information is guilty of treason, and I think anything less than execution is too kind a penalty."

Bill O'Reilly said leakers are traitors who "should be executed or put in prison for life.”

Sarah Palin said to "target WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange like the Taliban."

Peter King, Congressman, wants Wikileaks designated a terrorist organization.

Eric Bolling of Fox News (~ 2:35 mark): "[Assange] should be put in jail or hanged in a public forum."

Wayne Simmons of Fox News calls Wikileaks a terrorist organization.

Lt. Col. Ralph Peters of Fox News: "I would execute leakers."

Liz Cheney (daughter of Dick Cheney) said Obama should shut down Wikileaks and prosecute Julian Assange.

Mike Rogers, Congressman, calls for treason charges and execution.

Conservatives tell Obama to send Julian Assange to Guantanamo.

Rush Limbaugh, radio talk show host: "Back in the old days when men were men and countries were countries, this guy would die of lead poisoning from a bullet in the brain..."

Todd Schnitt, radio talk show host: "Assange is a terrorist, an enemy combatant, and needs to be treated as such."

Steve Gill, radio talk show host, says Assange should be targetted as a terrorist, and captured or killed.

Tim Flanagan, University of Calgary Professor: ""Well I think Assange should be assassinated actually. . . I think Obama should put out a contract and maybe use a drone or something."

John Hawkins, blogger, says the CIA should assassinate Julian Assange:

Julian Assange is not an American citizen and he has no constitutional rights. So, there's no reason that the CIA can't kill him. Moreover, ask yourself a simple question: If Julian Assange is shot in the head tomorrow or if his car is blown up when he turns the key, what message do you think that would send about releasing sensitive American data?

Brad Thor, author, said Bradley Manning should get the death penalty.

Candice Miller, Congresswoman: "Julian Assange and WikiLeaks are criminals whose actions support terrorists and criminal regimes around the world. It is now long past time for our government to shut WikiLeaks down."

G. Gordon Liddy, former White House advisor and radio talk show host: Assange deserves to be on kill list.

Link

It's become mainstream to believe that Ignorance is Strength... Really very worrying.

Most of those pundits are considered "right-wing", but this frightening authoritarian aspect to contemporary society doesn't restrict itself to the Fox News Funnies. It's hard to forget that the Dems have their boy in the White House, and he's doing Dubya's legacy proud. :/

 

[VioAdmin]

We should be scared.



Emphasis mine.

http://yro.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1896026&cid=34444302

Wow great quote indeed. The Americans clearly run this world.

 

[w1z4rd]

Totally agree with all the sentiments so far in this thread!

 

[Alan]

Emphasis mine.

Thanks for clearing that up lol

 

[Palimino]

Sorry for linking to a post on an unrelated forum as well, but this is a short list (with links) to various American media talking heads who have called for Assange to be killed.

Or alternatively, they can present him with a bouquet of flowers, a medal, the nations thanks and a ticker-tape parade. A small pension for life and a condominium in Florida would also be a nice gesture.

 

[Alan]

Oh, I agree... The reaction to the leaks has been far more terrifying than the content.

Sorry for linking to a post on an unrelated forum as well, but this is a short list (with links) to various American media talking heads who have called for Assange to be killed.

I dunno why it surprises you. NATO have been killing those who have been actively opposing them being in Afghanistan for nearly a decade.

 

[LazyLion]

so if someone hands you stolen goods and you run with them... does that make you a criminal or not?

 

[general_koffi]

I dunno why it surprises you. NATO have been killing those who have been actively opposing them being in Afghanistan for nearly a decade.

Yes, but they think and say and proclaim that the people they kill in wars are all murderous terrorists and those that weren't must have been killed accidentally. Even if it isn't true, they pretend that they're killing the bad guys. And that the bad guys are bad because they are murderous terrorists, which definitely makes someone a bad person.

Now they think Julian Assange is so bad that he also must be killed. Does Julian Assange kill people? Is that why they want to kill him? No, Julian Assange publishes emails sent between politicians, diplomats and civil servants which are leaked to him by very low level people working in government, embassies and so on. Nothing that has been leaked is dangerous to soldiers or agents in the field, or anything that dramatic. All that the leaks do is embarrass people who deserve to be embarrassed. They harm national security in no way whatsoever. All that is endangered are the careers of people who deserve to be fired.

so if someone hands you stolen goods and you run with them... does that make you a criminal or not?

What are you talking about? Stolen goods? This is about leaked information.

If someone tells you the truth, do you believe it?

He's not publishing the names of undercover agents, for God's sake. How is anything released by Wikileaks dangerous in any way?

 

[Alan]

Yes, but they think and say and proclaim that the people they kill in wars are all murderous terrorists and those that weren't must have been killed accidentally. Even if it isn't true, they pretend that they're killing the bad guys. And that the bad guys are bad because they are murderous terrorists, which definitely makes someone a bad person.

Now they think Julian Assange is so bad that he also must be killed. Does Julian Assange kill people? Is that why they want to kill him? No, Julian Assange publishes emails sent between politicians, diplomats and civil servants which are leaked to him by very low level people working in government, embassies and so on. Nothing that has been leaked is dangerous to soldiers or agents in the field, or anything that dramatic. All that the leaks do is embarrass people who deserve to be embarrassed. They harm national security in no way whatsoever. All that is endangered are the careers of people who deserve to be fired.

What do you think would have happened to somebody who released a mass of operational details to the Nazis?

The guy himself openly admits he released the documents to undermine NATO. He makes it clear his motivation is to get NATO out of Afghanistan to the benefit of the Taliban. So their aims are the same.

He's not publishing the names of undercover agents, for God's sake. How is anything released by Wikileaks dangerous in any way?

*facepalm*

 

[general_koffi]

The guy himself openly admits he released the documents to undermine NATO. He makes it clear his motivation is to get NATO out of Afghanistan to the benefit of the Taliban. So their aims are the same.

Assange wants to undermine NATO by convincing people that it's evil. Al-Qaeda and the Taliban want to do it by bleeding America dry until they literally can't afford to do it any more.

*facepalm*

What? He isn't. What, specifically, is dangerous in what's been leaked?

 

[LazyLion]

He's not publishing the names of undercover agents, for God's sake. How is anything released by Wikileaks dangerous in any way?

Not that we know of... but he has threatened to release their names if challenged. That alone makes the guy at best a nutjob, at worst a murderer.

 

[Alan]

Assange wants to undermine NATO by convincing people that it's evil. Al-Qaeda and the Taliban want to do it by bleeding America dry until they literally can't afford to do it any more.

If that was the case why release a mass of operational data of benefit only to the Taliban. But like I said the ultimate objective is the same.

Anyway anybody who thinks NATO is evil is unhinged.

What? He isn't. What, specifically, is dangerous in what's been leaked?

The effects on international diplomacy have been explained here before.

You think informing the paranoid nuke armed psychopaths in North Korea that China are considering abandoning them is not irresponsible well what more can one say :erm:

 

[general_koffi]

The effects on international diplomacy have been explained here before.

No... International diplomacy was already screwed. Assange just made this fact widely known. I do not see how endangering someone's civil service job by revealing how badly they really do it is grounds to call for someone's murder.

Anyway anybody who thinks NATO is evil is unhinged.

They kill people.

You think informing the paranoid nuke armed psychopaths in North Korea that China are considering abandoning them is not irresponsible well what more can one say

So the world has to operate by the standards of openness and secrecy required by the North Korean government? I'm starting to think you're something of an authoritarian, even by mainstream standards.

Besides, give the North Koreans some credit... Somehow I doubt that this leak told them anything they didn't already figure. That the Chinese speak poorly of them when conversing with the Americans. Wow, I'm sure that never crossed Kim's mind. The Chinese speak poorly of him to his face.

 

[LazyLion]

They kill people.

Newsflash, governments and wars have been killing people for thousands of years. NATO just happens to be doing it for good cause.

 

[alloytoo]

We should be scared.

There is a responsibility exercised by professional journalists that writer doesn't realize or has abandoned. That includes a responsibility not to endanger the public good, or the state (Note the state is not the same as the government of the day), or the men and woman working to protect the same.

Wiki-leaks sensationalist indiscriminant decimination of information is the terrorist attack of the 21st century.

 

[Alan]

Newsflash, governments and wars have been killing people for thousands of years. NATO just happens to be doing it for good cause.

Evidently they're "evil" for killing people( violent religious nutcases) so others can get access to education, health care, basic human rights and dignity etc. Shame on them