Posted on 12/04/2010 7:07:52 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) is defending WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's release of thousands of classified diplomatic cables.
In an interview with Fox Business Thursday, Paul went against the opinions of many of his Republican colleagues, asserting that Assange should be given the same protections as the media.
"In a free society we're supposed to know the truth," Paul said. "In a society where truth becomes treason, then we're in big trouble. And now, people who are revealing the truth are getting into trouble for it."
“This whole notion that Assange, who's an Australian, that we want to prosecute him for treason. I mean, aren't they jumping to a wild conclusion?” he added. “This is media, isn't it? I mean, why don't we prosecute The New York Times or anybody that releases this?"
Earlier this week, Attorney General Eric Holder said that the Justice Department is investigating Assange's case to determine whether he can be charged with a crime for leaking the secret documents.
Arkansas Goveror Mike Huckabee went so far as to say Tuesday that Assange should be tried for treason and face the death penalty if proven guilty.
Most U.S. politicians claim that the leaked cables will damage relations with U.S. allies.
Did you know that more people had daily access to this information than the daily circulation of any paper in the country? More than the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, etc...
More than 2,000,000 people were provided access this supposedly “Top Secret” information. The number is staggering and tells a story. The government classifies over 8,000,000 documents a year as “Secret” with the vast majority of them classified to hide the truth from the American public, the secrets covertly justify/protect bad policy decisions and actions.
“He added that WikiLeaks “formally asked the State Department for assistance with that. That request was formally rejected.”
I think I understand why Hillary Clinton announced she will never be a candidate for public office again this week. If true, that is a remarkable administrative faux pas.
So did Thomas Jefferson....
This State Dept. is moled. The DoJ is moled. The WH is moled. So now what? And to what end is Assange's release of data dumping serving?
>> How can you prosecute an Australian for “treason” against the United States? <<
Obviously, you don’t.
But if AG Holder were doing his job, rather than going off to Geneva for the World Cup negotiations, there would seem to be number plausible of alternatives:
1. Indict and arrest Assange for:
a. receiving stolen property
b. illegally intercepting telecommunications
c. divulging the contents of telecommunications
d. espionage against the United States
e. revealing US intelligence sources and methods
e. subborning any of the above
f. conspiring to commit any of the above
f. assorted other felonies and middemeanors
2. Put him on the terrorist list, catch him, and send him to GITMO
3. Have Congress declare (and/or have the TOTUS certify) that WikiLeads has committed an act war against the USA, then order the Pentagon to proceed according to the laws of war.
4. Have the CIA contract with the MOSSAD for termination with extreme prejudic.
"The law is not what Hillary Clinton says it is."
My, how times have changed . . . and how so many conservatives have allowed themselves to be blinded by their steadfast beliefs about events that have unfolded over the years. Ten to fifteen years ago, this guy Assange would have had a massive cult following here on FreeRepublic.
I’m going to be the first to say that I’ve completely flipped on my views of him.
He has done this nation a real service by enlightening the people as to what our government is doing TO us.
Bump.
I think Obama will use it as an excuse to take control of the internet.
Point is...they can't. If not him this week, someone else next week.
Most people don't want to fight. They want to play. All bureaucratic power structures accumulate authority from conflict. Those conflicts are simply becoming too costly for the world to bear.
Yep, this is just one message sent to the American people and world; If a pedestrian Private has gotten his hands on so-called Top Secret "classified docs," then you can be sure this is not an isolated case.
I agree.
I do not agree with Ron Paul on the Wikileaks situation, but your opinion strikes me as dangerously confused. Maybe you mistated your true thoughts. Freedom of speech gives us a constitutional right to divide the country with dissenting opinions. No ifs ands or buts.
I couldn’t agree more. Those responsible for not securing the information should be the ones held accountable. If Assange is demonized/punished for ‘publishing’ the information so should the NYT every time they release sensitive information. What hypocrites!
SERIOUSLY!!!!
What's going on at Free Republic these days regarding Wiki is tanatamount to Free Republic calling for the execution of Drudge for breaking Jonathan Alter's story in the Lewinsky drama.
I think you need to explain what you mean here. Weren't the founders trying to divide the country (England)? I think they would argue that trying to divide a country was a perfectly reasonable purpose of speech.
I have to be brutally honest here, too. I didn't pay all that much attention to the whole WikiLeaks story until recent days (if you check my FR posting history you'll find nothing about this topic until very recently).
Initially my eyes kind of glazed over when I read about the massive volume of information that was leaked about Iraq/Afghanistan. I remember reading one report about more than 280,000+ pages of documents in their materials. There's no way I could even begin to comprehend what was being discussed with that quantity of information.
My radar really perked up the other day when I saw an article indicating that a trove of information about one or more major U.S. banks would be coming out soon -- and I've become downright suspicious of my own government when I've seen how much effort has gone into silencing this guy only after the threat of this additional information was released.
So, in a ‘free society’ it is OK to steal something from someone else (even if it is just information) or commit treason (Bradley or the hackers) IF someone out there claims a moral high ground that it is ‘truth’.
Our nuclear secrets are ‘truth’ per say, maybe they should stolen and published for the world to see?
Assange isn’t just someone who happens to post something on his site, like giving it to the NYT. Assange is a professional hacker himself and his history shows he has attempted (and succeeded at) influencing elections, harming soldiers, revealing intelligence sources and more.
More info throughout this thread including possible connection to BO.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2636638/posts
I disagree; I believe they could have stopped him easily. Months ago.
Assange serves a "greater purpose."
Most people don't want to fight. They want to play.
Yes, but people also feel impotent.
All bureaucratic power structures accumulate authority from conflict. Those conflicts are simply becoming too costly for the world to bear.
Conflict means war. War mean profit and power. It's just "business" to them. Mafia on a grand scale. The serfs don't matter to the Elites.
Huh?
The HELL IT DOESN'T!
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