WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Julian Assange ably defends himself in an op-ed for The Australian:
WikiLeaks is not the only publisher of the US embassy cables. Other media outlets, including Britain’s The Guardian, The New York Times, El Pais in Spain and Der Spiegel in Germany have published the same redacted cables.
In its landmark ruling in the Pentagon Papers case, the US Supreme Court said “only a free and unrestrained press can effectively expose deception in government”. The swirling storm around WikiLeaks today reinforces the need to defend the right of all media to reveal the truth.
His most powerful point is that WIkiLeaks is not the only publisher of this material, yet it’s the only one being treated as a criminal enterprise, to the point of politicians publicly calling for its editor’s assassination.
WikiLeaks isn’t the source of these documents. They were allegedly leaked by a U.S. soldier, and if so, what he did is against the law. Publishing the information after it was leaked is not against the law. The New York Times has published more of it than WikiLeaks has. Is the Times also a terrorist organization? What’s the difference? Does Sarah Palin think the editor of the New York Times should be charged with treason, too?
UPDATE: Dianne Feinstein calls for Assange to be prosecuted under the Espionage Act.
“Does Sarah Palin think the editor of the New York Times should be charged with treason, too?”
Answer? Probably.
100% correct. On the downside, he’s an accused rapist.
Why didn’t Feinstein call for the NY Times editors to be tried? Why doesn’t any reporter ask these people these questions on camera?
Feinstein is a female dog
Don’t look for any sanity from the Democrats here. People are going to be falling all over themselves rushing to gut and fillet this guy. We Americans are torturers now, remember. 90% of us support the invasive patdowns, and 90% support the murdering of Julian Assange and elimination of a free press.
Diane Feinstein is the hind end of a horse.
“Does Sarah Palin think the editor of the New York Times should be charged with treason, too?”
@1,
Sarah Palin thinks anyone who does not rain adulation upon her should be charged with treason.
That soldier is going to spend a long, long time in prison for what he did. I hope he thinks it was worth it.
@8 I wonder how many of the soldiers that will spend the rest of their lives locked up in private hells for killing civilians in order “to protect our freedoms” think it was worth it.
@8: He will probably be executed. I think the charges against him warrant that penalty (not that I agree with it, just legally speaking)
This whole ordeal makes me ill.
Assange Accuser Worked with US-Funded, CIA-Tied Anti-Castro Group
http://my.firedoglake.com/kirkmurphy/201…
@10 No, he won’t be executed. The military hasn’t executed anyone in a long time – 30+ years, If I remember right. But he won’t be getting out anytime soon, either.
@9 To my knowledge, I’ve killed 11 men during two tours in Afghanistan. Probably a few more unconfirmed. I go back next year, and I’ll add more to that total.
I sleep like a baby.
@12 How lucky for you.