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Dec. 6th, 2010 12:35 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
coldblossom.livejournal.comSo. Wikileaks. Julian Assange. His "insurance" file.
He has stated that, if the governments of the world should start enforcing the law on him, he will release this encrypted "insurance file" that will be incredibly damaging to the U.S.. Isn't that blackmail? And last I checked, blackmail is a tangible, provable crime. Even if the laws are murky on his releasing all of this information (which is why he's been trotting around free thus far), surely we can get him for this, right? I mean, Al Capone was locked up for tax evasion.
One of my co-workers, who in the past usually agreed with my political stances, called Assange a "freedom fighter." I absolutely couldn't believe it. Not only does Assange have his own political agenda that doesn't involve "freedom," all of his actions thus far have resulted (it is already documented that U.S. agencies have buttoned-up and reduced information sharing with each other) or will result in less transparency as governments are forced to reduce access to information, both within themselves and information previously shared with other governments. Further, there will be a break down of trust within and between governments which will result in increased isolation of countries worldwide. If Assange didn't forsee and intend this as a consequence of his actions, then he is a bigger tool than I could have imagined.
Right now he is embarrassing the U.S., which, because we are always playing the role of the "good guy" that gets along (especially under Obama), hasn't taken hostile action against him. Eventually, the information he has will play out and he'll have to change targets. Aside from Western Europe and similarly aligned nations, who else could Assange go after with a modicum of assurance that he wouldn't find himself dead within a few months (or sooner)? None. There were whispers he might start going after Russia but the Russians have no problems killing their own citizens (and slowly, I hear). Same with China. I would bet that Assange's Crusade Against Hypocrisy and For Truth will end with the U.S. simply because he knows he'd never survive an attack on anyone else and I don't think he has the stones to martyr himself.
Someone wrote somewhere that, when things go south, Assasnge had better pray its us who gets him. Ironic, isn't it?
He has stated that, if the governments of the world should start enforcing the law on him, he will release this encrypted "insurance file" that will be incredibly damaging to the U.S.. Isn't that blackmail? And last I checked, blackmail is a tangible, provable crime. Even if the laws are murky on his releasing all of this information (which is why he's been trotting around free thus far), surely we can get him for this, right? I mean, Al Capone was locked up for tax evasion.
One of my co-workers, who in the past usually agreed with my political stances, called Assange a "freedom fighter." I absolutely couldn't believe it. Not only does Assange have his own political agenda that doesn't involve "freedom," all of his actions thus far have resulted (it is already documented that U.S. agencies have buttoned-up and reduced information sharing with each other) or will result in less transparency as governments are forced to reduce access to information, both within themselves and information previously shared with other governments. Further, there will be a break down of trust within and between governments which will result in increased isolation of countries worldwide. If Assange didn't forsee and intend this as a consequence of his actions, then he is a bigger tool than I could have imagined.
Right now he is embarrassing the U.S., which, because we are always playing the role of the "good guy" that gets along (especially under Obama), hasn't taken hostile action against him. Eventually, the information he has will play out and he'll have to change targets. Aside from Western Europe and similarly aligned nations, who else could Assange go after with a modicum of assurance that he wouldn't find himself dead within a few months (or sooner)? None. There were whispers he might start going after Russia but the Russians have no problems killing their own citizens (and slowly, I hear). Same with China. I would bet that Assange's Crusade Against Hypocrisy and For Truth will end with the U.S. simply because he knows he'd never survive an attack on anyone else and I don't think he has the stones to martyr himself.
Someone wrote somewhere that, when things go south, Assasnge had better pray its us who gets him. Ironic, isn't it?
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