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Some WikiLeaks Contributions To Public Discourse
Hugh Pickens writes "The EFF argues that regardless of the heated debate over the propriety of the actions of WikiLeaks, some of the cables have contributed significantly to public and political conversations around the world. The Guardian reported on a cable describing an incident in Afghanistan in which employees of DynCorp, a US military contractor, hired a 'dancing boy,' an under-aged boy dressed as a woman, who dances for a gathering of men and is then prostituted — an incident that contributed important information to the debate over the use of private military contractors. A cable released by WikiLeaks showed that Pfizer allegedly sought to blackmail a Nigerian regulator to stop a lawsuit against drug trials on children. A WikiLeaks revelation that the United States used bullying tactics to attempt to push Spain into adopting copyright laws even more stringent than those in the US came just in time to save Spain from the kind of misguided copyright laws that cripple innovation and facilitate online censorship. An article by the NY Times analyzed cables released which indicated the US is having difficulties in fulfilling Obama's promise to close the Guantánamo Bay detention camp and is now considering incentives in return for other countries accepting detainees, including a one-on-one meeting with Obama or assistance with the IMF. 'These examples make clear that WikiLeaks has brought much-needed light to government operations and private actions,' writes Rainey Reitman, 'which, while veiled in secrecy, profoundly affect the lives of people around the world and can play an important role in a democracy that chooses its leaders.'"
Not the best source, apparently, if they're still spouting this crap:
Assange isn't brave. His running and hiding when those two women nailed him for being a douchebag, and his blaming it on America, prove that.
His name is out there because when he first started promoting himself he did it for the fame; and now that it's turned to shit he can't hide.
I'd argue that on the contrary, the traditional media outlets have done a pretty good job of exposing corruption and abuse of power. Abu Ghraib? Traditional media. NSF domestic surveillance? Traditional media. Secret CIA prisons? Traditional media. In fact, the most surprising thing about Wikileaks is just unsurprising it all is. Putin is a tyrant, Berlusconi is an ass, Afghanistan is corrupt, the Chinese government was involved in attacking Google, we're killing terrorists in Yemen, Iraq is violent and noncombatants get killed by the U.S. military, the Guantanamo detainee situation is a nightmare... none of this is really shocking if you follow traditional print/online media sources like the New York Times, the Economist, or the Wall Street Journal. Wikileaks has taken the veil of secrecy away and America... looks pretty much like we thought it did. I see a country that tries but often fails to do the right thing, which is exactly what I thought before. Others see a corrupt, oppressive authoritarian system, which is exactly what they thought before.
I mean how when he got to the UK he hid so the Swedish police had to file for extradition and he fought it.
How about getting the facts straight before running your mouth about who watches Faux news and who doesn't.
Sweden were requesting extradition December 3. Assange's lawyer was releasting statements complaining about the warrant on December 5.
You're so full of shit you should be a dairy farm.
My point is that when saying people are uninformed it is best to be informed yourself.
And attempting to defend yourself legally in court constitutes hiding when it's a court in a totally different country from the one that's charging you with a crime.
The safest place for him to be during all of this was Sweden. He went there to avoid the possibility of extradition to the U.S. And now he said he fought extradition to Sweden because they might extradite him to the U.S.
Horseshit. He was hiding from the rape charges.
And then the actual filings in the case got leaked. Ironic, or just appropriate? And the testimony does tell what a douchebag he is, and if that's rape in Sweden, then I'm alright with that, because it should be rape anywhere.
The U.S. can deal with him when he gets out of jail.