Australian Senator Peter Whish-Wilson Calls on US to Drop "Totalitarian" Case Against Julian Assange

[Uncle Joe]

A delegation of Australian lawmakers has arrived in Washington, D.C., to urge the Biden administration to halt its prosecution of WikiLeaks founder and Australian citizen Julian Assange. More than 60 members of Australia’s Parliament from across the political spectrum have called for Assange’s release. We speak to Australian Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, who co-founded the Bring Julian Assange Home Parliamentary Group, about the growing Australian movement to free Assange and its implications for U.S.-Australia relations. Whish-Wilson warns that Assange’s extradition to the U.S. to stand trial on espionage charges is “something you would expect from a totalitarian regime” and would set a dangerous precedent for press freedoms around the world.

[WhiteTara]

1. He's an alleged rapist and Russian puppet

he's no journalist. He looked for and received stolen materials to interfere with an election. So, F you too.

[Uncle Joe]

4. It's "alleged" and a separate issue than the freedom of the press rights

enshrined in our 1st Amendment.

[stopdiggin]

6. it infuriates me when 'freedom of press'

(something that I and many others believe deeply in, and are at pains to defend) is degraded and contorted to cover the actions of a scurrilous scumbag such as Assange.

(and Joe Stalin was a freedom fighter .. )

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[Uncle Joe]

7. Popularity was never the motivation for the creation of the 1st Amendment. n/t

[stopdiggin]

8. true. also true that it is not

Assange's popularity or politics (or press pass) that have landed him in this spot. But criminal action.

[lapucelle]

14. Protecting criminals who claim to be "journalists"

was never the motivation for the 1st Amendment either.

[Magoo48]

17. Assange provided intel about secret government activities carried out in every American's name.

That is the 4th estate’s job.

[stopdiggin]

18. if that information is a result of

criminal activity (and that criminal activity is actively encouraged in the pursuit ..) Tends to throw a little different light. But never fear, Mr. Assange will have the opportunity to bring that argument when he appears before a judge.

Also begs the (fairly large) question of whether any government has a right to secrets - or the protection thereof. I think any rational examination and weighing of circumstances - would say clearly they do. If you feel differently on that score ... Well, you are welcome to your opinion.

[Magoo48]

19. Thank you for welcoming me to my own opinion.

Focus on messenger, and away from the information brought to light, works all the time. When our leaders decide to hide from us information about our own spies questionable behavior in the War On Terror, what should we do?

When it’s exposed that helicopter pilots treat live targets like a game, I want to know. When our spies obtain technology to invade much of the technology we use in our daily lives, I want to know.

After all, I helped pay for all their killing machines and snooping gizmos, as well as pay for their implementation, have I no right to know how they are used and misused?

[stopdiggin]

27. you want to know ...

The point is, are you capable of separating that from your 'right' to know? And therein we have such things as laws, and people charged with making those decisions.

You can disagree - but taking action contravening ... That brings you to criminal.

[Magoo48]

29. How would I have an opportunity to disagree, if I don't have access to the possibly embarrassing

or illegal governmental actions in the first place? That’s why good police departments have community oversight boards which quite often find said departments hiding embarrassing or illegal actions.

[stopdiggin]

32. it's called voting

And there is also civil disobedience, if you feel that you absolutely cannot abide by ... But then - be prepared to enter the land of breaking the law - and prepared to suffer the penalty. (which is precisely where Assange, and cohorts, stand)

What I find completely untenable - and in fact a little bit silly - is the proposition that you - by your own little self, and with absolutely no sanction - have the 'right' to decide what should and should not be disclosed. Or, even more dumbfounding - that ALL should be disclosed ... Dear lord ...
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[Magoo48]

36. No worries,

transparency is still mostly a myth, and popular legislation attending to the will of the majority is rare in our present political interpretation of representative government. Peace

[cab67]

22. Not really relevant.

The issue isn’t ‘Do we approve of what Assange did?’ It’s ‘Did he break the law?’

Assange most likely won’t be regarded as a member of the fourth estate for legal purposes.

[Magoo48]

23. Does that change the nature of the information revealed or it's relevance to our common welfare?

[cab67]

24. Again - not the question.

We can't look away when someone breaks the law because we might like the intent or outcome. That's the beginning, middle, and end of this discussion.

[emulatorloo]

10. He's not a "journalist". Dumping raw disinformation from Putin on the web isn't journalism.

[Uncle Joe]

11. Define "journalist" as defined by the U.S. Constitution. n/t

[emulatorloo]

13. No, not going down your rabbit-hole.

You are a good person but I’ll will always disagree about bad faith actors and Putin propagandists like Assange.

[cab67]

16. As it happens....

....different states have different definitions of "journalist" for legal purposes. Most of them would most likely not include Assange.

Disseminating information, in and of itself, doesn't make one a journalist. I publish scientific papers in my line of work - that doesn't make me a journalist.

Otherwise, anyone who releases classified information can call themself a "journalist" and claim protection as such.

[Magoo48]

21. Does any of what you said reduce the relevance of the information released?

[stopdiggin]

26. or the fact that it is classified, and criminal action?

[Magoo48]

30. And who oversees the classifiers if half of congress is corrupt? Half is being generous.

[WhiteTara]

12. It's alleged because he is such a coward

he won't go face his accusers. F him on that count.

It is not journalism to receiver stolen emails from an adversary and post5 them on the Internet to interfere in an election. F him on that count too.

[cab67]

15. "press rights" don't cover all violations of the law.

Based on everything I know, Assange broke the law. Calling him a journalist (which is debatable) doesn't necessarily absolve him.

He should be extradited and tried in a court of law. If a judge decides his actions were protected, then so be it.

[lapucelle]

2. Rapey Julian should have manned up years ago and returned to Sweden.

Why anyone would consider him a journalist or a hero is bewildering.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50473792.amp

[prodigitalson]

3. Julian Assange the Russian spy? That Julian Assange? Fuck that guy

[comradebillyboy]

9. Amen brother!

[stopdiggin]

5. the Aussies would have a very different

Last edited Wed Sep 20, 2023, 07:18 PM - Edit history (1)

take on this if dear Julian had performed the same actions targeting their government and secrets.

(or maybe not - because there are softbrains dispersed around the world)

I say Assange should go home - - in maybe about another 30-35 years?

[Magoo48]

20. Is everyone who disagrees with you a "softbrain"? What is a softbrain, anyway?

[stopdiggin]

25. in this case yes.

softbrain is a shallow thinker
as an example: the sort that solemnly instructs his pre-schooler that "We always tell the truth" - and then is somehow surprised when mayhem social ostracization shortly ensue.

[Magoo48]

28. Hummm, who is the pre-schooler in your allegorical example, the American public?

[stopdiggin]

33. it really isn't that hard to figure out

the pre-schooler would be the innocent dupe. Unknowing and unheeding.

The soft brain would be the one that has reached maturity and adulthood - and still clings to such hoary notions as, "And the truth shall set them free." And is truly surprised when the result is -- chaotic - and unpleasant.

[Magoo48]

34. So, if the truth is chaotic and unpleasant, and as the Republicans frequently reaffirm, lies are

dangerous psychological manna, nourishing ignorance and gullibility, what remains?
Perhaps, a sort of gray wasteland of unknowing requiring wise-guides to help navigate?

[stopdiggin]

35. the truth is of course not

always chaotic and unpleasant. But it is pretty much given that ever adult in the room - realizes that is not a universal nostrum either.

[struggle4progress]

31. Assange is currently in a UK jail while he litigates extradition. He is in a UK jail because

of his own previous history when litigating extradition in the UK: Sweden had sought to question him on a sexual assault charge; he had posted bond so was free while contesting; then jumped bail and hid some years in an embassy, until the embassy finally ejected him and he was imprisoned for his bail jump

So our very dear Aussie friends should currently be chatting with the UK authorities

There's some reason to suspect Assange is a stooge of Putin. His own politics appear to be rightwing; and Wikileaks played some visible role in the 2020 election of Trump

Curiously, during Assange's most recent confinement, the Trump Justice Department suddenly produced an indictment and requested extradition. Perhaps this move was intended to insulate the Trump administration from being tied to Assange's Putinist activities?

The real question, of course, is exactly how Assange obtained some of his documents; and the credibility of his oft-repeated claim that he should just be regarded as a species of journalist turns on the exact answer to that question

I consider him an unprincipled opportunist and nasty little misogynist. But I mainly care whether or not the evidence shows him actually engaged in espionage activities: if not, I expect the courts will eventually set him free. Meanwhile, his legal problems are largely of his own making, and the continuing delays result from his own actions

.