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.
I wouldn't know about that. But I get the point. We didn't get a computer until 2005. And only then because the high school announced they would no longer accept handwritten assignments. It was way to much hassle to get the kids to the library and back so they could use the resources there.
But I'm glad I found ya'll. Screaming in the closet by myself gets kinda lonely. :-)
“People who don’t already realize that has happened already never will.”
I had to scan this far down this thread to find a comment that explains (in large part) why the two opposing camps on the benefit / harm these leaks present to US “national security” are so diverse.
Viewpoints on this issue truly expose their holder’s level of critical thought and understanding of the relationship of the State to the People.
Nobody better touch my junk, though. :-P
I get the gist; Give this truth of this story a bit more time to assimilate and evaluate, and many will come around.
What was presented and digested at first is evolving. Exposing the dirty deeds of International Banking cartels and those connected may be "classified" info, but it's NOT "Treason." What it is is real "interesting."
That's why this country was founded. To change that. And we are losing that as a nation.
Its why our own Federal bureaucracies try to hyphenate us all in to different “interest” groups-to play one off against the other-basically international political games exercised internally to the aggregation of authority in the bureaucratic structure.
Ron Paul, the closest member of Congress ideologically to the Founding Fathers, IMHO, sees all this.
The light of truth sends all cockroaches scuttling...including those in our Dept of State.
It’s absurd that “nobody had a problem.” What are you talking about? Everyone I knew, and certainly Rush and most of the commentators, “had a problem.” Of COURSE we have a problem with someone who is trying to destroy our military and our diplomacy. This is a straw dog, and I don’t know where it came from, but the guy is a criminal and should have been locked up a long time ago and to hell with stupid, ridiculous bank-conspiracy theories.
I can live with that, and I’ll volunteer to be on the firing squad.
I used to consider Drudge a legitimate news source.
I never thought that of the Treason Times, et al. Nobody with any sense believes much of what the MSM reports; a lot of us came to rely on Drudge.
Anyone on our side who thinks this little Peter Pan is a hero needs their head examined.
I probably make a lot more sense than the Huckster on most occasions, and I don’t even drink.
This information harms our foreign policy and war effort, aids our enemies and could lead to personnel being killed. Similar to any law that prohibits a "free speech" (i.e. yelling 'Fire' in a crowded movie theatre) that endangers lives. Granted, this applies more to Bradley Manning than Assange.
People seem to have forgotten "WE THE PEOPLE" are the true ruling elite in this country. Rich, poor, Ph.D, or third grade education. If you are a citizen YOU RULE. About time that was set straight.
“Has he finally jumped the shark?”
Why is he wrong asking “Why don’t we prosecute The New York Times or anybody that releases this?” If the Times can publish the Pentagon Papers without prosecution, and Hanoi Jane can give aid and comfort to the enemy without prosecution, how is it that this Australian dork is somehow deserving of a treason charge for embarrassing the boys at Foggy Bottom? Why is it the leftists get a pass for this behavior?
FWIW...this probably has been sprung on us all ..just in time for the pending “Net Neutrality” bill....which WILL come up in this “lame duck “ Congress...as the last gasp of the Feds desperate power grab....
Of course, we agree that bureaucrats claiming secrecy for all of their bungling should be exposed and that genuine national interest must be kept private.
Where do we draw the line? Is private conversations with our allies or intelligence sources something we should reveal to everyone including our enemies?
I agree whole heartedly with you Alberta. And with Ron Paul also. The truth sometimes hurts (sorry to use a cliche) but I want to hold my elected officials accountable and if we are not privy to to things how can we keep them in check... Wiki-leaks is like Matt on Steroids... Thank god... Hilary won’t run now... and the chess game that politicians are playing around the world has been dealt a serious set back all because they have been check mated by the “MEDIA” — wiki-leaks in this case.
“I hate it when politicians presume on our trust and good will, fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. We should be ashamed and profoundly angry with our policians - burying us with 13 trillion in debt that they then have the nerve to call the “public” debt. And that’s just one area they’ve absolutely blown trust and good will from the rest of us. Trust but verify - these leaked documents are about the only way we peons can verify trust for what goes on behind doors normally closed to us.”
BTTT.
You both may or may not be old enough to remember the landmark legal case, New York Times Co. v. United States, 403 U.S. 713 (1971). That case, which was brought over the publication of the so-called "Pentagon Papers", was litigated by a guy named Floyd Abrams. Abrams has become arguably the preeminent authority on First Amendment cases. He is an unfailing champion of speech.
Last week, he spoke to NPR and explained why this case is different, and why Assange is in some legal peril, and because of his conduct after the fact, he's increasing his exposure to criminal proseuction under the Espionage Act of 1917. The interview with NPR, may be found here.
Beyond what Abrams explains, and perhaps more directly to your point(s), this particular case differs from the previous New York Times or New Yorker cases in no small part do to Assange's possible involvement before the data breach occurred. Some have alleged (although the government has remained fairly closed-lip about their case), that Assange, either directly or acting through an intermediary, supplied material support to Manning, perhaps before during and after he stole that the classified materials.
That is going beyond just the purview of a publisher. That is acting as a co-conspirator, possibly.
Yeah, thats kinda why I'm for it. War? what war? Don't even get me started on this "war" business because back in March of 2003 a freaking Delta team could have grabbed that son of a bitch and saved us trillions of dollars in cash and unknown trillions in goodwill. War? what war.
Foreign policy? - Breaking news . . the current US foreign policy consists of agreements made by the elite to accomplish primarily 2 objectives -
1. Create permanent alliances with foreigners
2. Speedrush the transition from the National Security State to the Global Security State.
Expose away, Assange!
Did Ron Paul agree with leaking military secrets? If so, he needs to go. Our military men were put in danger because of that leak.
However, the State Department is a different matter. It is well known that the so called diplomats “go native” and are, in my opinion, traitorous to the core. I am thrilled that the State Department has been exposed as the laughing stock it is.
The American people need to understand what happens to their tax dollars. On this particular set of leaks, I agree with Paul’s view.
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