WikiLeaks, led by Julian Assange, stunned the world with revelatory releases of documents that told everyone what the U.S. has been up to in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and in other of its activities, information the U.S. government viewed as top secret, even from Americans, or perhaps especially from Americans.
In response, the U.S. government effectively cut off most of WikiLeaks income and for about two years has been in active pursuit to put him on trial and lock him away, as well as locking away Bradley Manning, a young soldier accused of leaking national security documents to WikiLeaks. The latest effort has Manning behind bars, away from public access and Assange seeking asylum in Ecuador from their British Embassy, rather than face questioning in Sweden for alleged rape and other sexual accusations.
Assange views this as a conspiracy. Perhaps it is a conspiracy perpetrated by the U.S. to destroy his credibility. Time will tell. But what time has already told us is that the revelatory WikiLeaks release of documents has ended, at least for now and may be for always. That is deeply unfortunate for we Americans who under the 1st Amendment of our Constitution are entitled to know what our government is doing, but so often find it "classified," and secreted from us.
Other would be whistle blowers will look at what has happened to WikiLeaks, Assange and Manning and will be fearful and hesitant to share such information. That apparently is the intent.
Dick
To learn more, please see http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/21/world/europe/twists-in-julian-assange-bid-for-asylum-in-ecuador.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20120621
No comments:
Post a Comment