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Random question, but are you a relatively strong supporter of Wikileaks? I only ask as I was looking into "Wikileaks Community"(I think was the term), a group o

Random question, but are you a relatively strong supporter of Wikileaks? I only ask as I was looking into "Wikileaks Community"(I think was the term), a group of people who would do in depth articles on the documents the group releases, after the fact.

jonathanstrange 6y ago
That doesn't sound like a "random question" to me.
- rory_isAdonk 6y ago
  It's just that I can find any trace of that sub-group of Wikileaks, I get its an organization that inherently benefits from a certain degree of secrecy. It just seemed if someone wanted to be involved that was a logically well separated means.
AllegedAlec 6y ago
I would not say I'm a strong supporter of Wikileaks, although I do believe their leaks have been critical in adjusting and making more realistic our views on the wars in Iraq et al, as well as exposing government overreach in the forms of extraordinary rendition, torture, and flagrant breaches of the laws of war. What bothers me most about this case is A: that America is doing this very much political hounding of a journalist becaues they were embarassed by them. B: the readiness of the UK to roll over and destroy its own justice system. First by having the judge be at the very least biased, but more likely having the judgement ready to extradite Assange. Secondly by having this public trial be very much private. First by limiting the public seats in the trial to less than a dozen and then also by excluding all NGOs and news sources who'd be critical of this sham. Lastly by the frankly horrendous treatment of Assange. Both by the conditions in which he's been kept in prison, putting him in a glass box so he can't hear the trial nor communicate with his legal team, but also by things like limiting the time he can spend with his legal team while awaiting the trial, to the point where the defense team wasn't sure they'd be able to do enough prep at all.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
LatteLazy 6y ago
I'm not OP but... I think there are so many reasons to call bullshit on this that are totally independent of whether I or you or anyone likes wiki leaks or Assaunge himself. This is about justice, the rule of law, press freedom and basic fairness long before its about whether anyone likes this particular defendant (let's face it, he's not as charismatic as say a dead fish).
- rory_isAdonk 6y ago
  Yeah I doubt they are totally independent, I assume its just a subset in the org that doesnt get access to how the rest of the organization works to protect the rest of the organization. Just effectively coordinating hobby bloggers.
  - LatteLazy 6y ago
    That might well be true here. I actually think it's probably not simply because if it were, the US would have provided at least some evidence to try and get public opinion on side or further muddy the waters. But it also wouldn't surprise me, the Russians love useful idiots (who doesn't?). That said, Its irrelevant. We've been through this many times in world history. The answer to people publishing things that undermine a government position is to rethink the position. Not punish the person. Punish the person leaves the government unquestionable. And we know that is much much worse than any damage the truth can do because we're not trying to win some pissing context with Russia over who looks good. We're trying to maintain good policy.

jonathanstrange 6y ago

That doesn't sound like a "random question" to me.

rory_isAdonk 6y ago
It's just that I can find any trace of that sub-group of Wikileaks, I get its an organization that inherently benefits from a certain degree of secrecy. It just seemed if someone wanted to be involved that was a logically well separated means.

AllegedAlec 6y ago

I would not say I'm a strong supporter of Wikileaks, although I do believe their leaks have been critical in adjusting and making more realistic our views on the wars in Iraq et al, as well as exposing government overreach in the forms of extraordinary rendition, torture, and flagrant breaches of the laws of war. What bothers me most about this case is A: that America is doing this very much political hounding of a journalist becaues they were embarassed by them. B: the readiness of the UK to roll over and destroy its own justice system. First by having the judge be at the very least biased, but more likely having the judgement ready to extradite Assange. Secondly by having this public trial be very much private. First by limiting the public seats in the trial to less than a dozen and then also by excluding all NGOs and news sources who'd be critical of this sham. Lastly by the frankly horrendous treatment of Assange. Both by the conditions in which he's been kept in prison, putting him in a glass box so he can't hear the trial nor communicate with his legal team, but also by things like limiting the time he can spend with his legal team while awaiting the trial, to the point where the defense team wasn't sure they'd be able to do enough prep at all.

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]

LatteLazy 6y ago

I'm not OP but... I think there are so many reasons to call bullshit on this that are totally independent of whether I or you or anyone likes wiki leaks or Assaunge himself. This is about justice, the rule of law, press freedom and basic fairness long before its about whether anyone likes this particular defendant (let's face it, he's not as charismatic as say a dead fish).

rory_isAdonk 6y ago
Yeah I doubt they are totally independent, I assume its just a subset in the org that doesnt get access to how the rest of the organization works to protect the rest of the organization. Just effectively coordinating hobby bloggers.
- LatteLazy 6y ago
  That might well be true here. I actually think it's probably not simply because if it were, the US would have provided at least some evidence to try and get public opinion on side or further muddy the waters. But it also wouldn't surprise me, the Russians love useful idiots (who doesn't?). That said, Its irrelevant. We've been through this many times in world history. The answer to people publishing things that undermine a government position is to rethink the position. Not punish the person. Punish the person leaves the government unquestionable. And we know that is much much worse than any damage the truth can do because we're not trying to win some pissing context with Russia over who looks good. We're trying to maintain good policy.