Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Julian Assange Got What He Deserved

theatlantic.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 49 posts

Re: Julian Assange Got What He Deserved

#11

Post by Elof »

tinus_hn wrote: post #9
caymanjim wrote: post #2

I agree. Early on, I thought Assange was a bit of a hero. He provided a forum for people to reveal things that shouldn't be happening and shouldn't be secret. I understand the need for government secrecy, spying, and surveillance. I don't accept that it's ok for governments to break their own laws to spy on their own citizens without warrants or just cause, however. Assange wasn't simply doing this as a neutral party…

Hypocrisy is not a crime and people should not end up in jail for it. There is a reason Lady Justice wears a blindfold.

Looks to me, based on public facts, that there is a reasonable case against him being more than a hypocrite. Getting charged doesn't mean he will be convicted... which is why Lady Justice wears a blindfold.

Re: Julian Assange Got What He Deserved

#12

Post by colejohnson66 »

0815test wrote: post #7
mcherm wrote: post #4

I would not paint Julian Assange (or Chelsea Manning) as a blameless hero like Edward Snowden. But sometimes people do reprehensible things that are not (or ought not be) against the law. The primary objection against Julian Assange appears to be that he published true information that others (like the US Government and the Hillary Clinton campaign) did not want released. The US Government wants to extradite him beca…

> (or Chelsea Manning) as a blameless hero like Edward Snowden. Well, let's see, one of them went to Russia, the other didn't. Who is closer to being "blameless"? And I thought that collusion with Russia is something that people are somewhat concerned about, lately. Also, why are you saying that Assange never made any attempt to crack that password? Why then would he ever want to actively mislead Manning by suggestin…

> Well, let's see, one of them went to Russia, the other didn't.

Ah, the old “Snowden fled to Russia” trope. That’s false. He was in Russia when the US canceled his passport. As a consequence of that, he was unable to leave Russia.

Re: Julian Assange Got What He Deserved

#13

Post by greedo »

kpU8efre7r wrote: post #10
devhead wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not parent; possibly because he's not a US citizen and what he did falls under the umbrella of protections afforded to journalist?

Well then he will be found innocent right? What's the big deal?

Because when you're wrongfully charged, you're often imprisoned, etc etc. And the cost of defending yourself can be astronomical.

Re: Julian Assange Got What He Deserved

#14

Post by hnbroseph »

kpU8efre7r wrote: post #10
devhead wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not parent; possibly because he's not a US citizen and what he did falls under the umbrella of protections afforded to journalist?

Well then he will be found innocent right? What's the big deal?

"innocent" of what? i'm sure prosecutors will have ten thousand pages of varied charges. the us wants to make an example of him very loudly and very publicly.

Re: Julian Assange Got What He Deserved

#15

Post by hnbroseph »

0815test wrote: post #7
mcherm wrote: post #4

I would not paint Julian Assange (or Chelsea Manning) as a blameless hero like Edward Snowden. But sometimes people do reprehensible things that are not (or ought not be) against the law. The primary objection against Julian Assange appears to be that he published true information that others (like the US Government and the Hillary Clinton campaign) did not want released. The US Government wants to extradite him beca…

> (or Chelsea Manning) as a blameless hero like Edward Snowden. Well, let's see, one of them went to Russia, the other didn't. Who is closer to being "blameless"? And I thought that collusion with Russia is something that people are somewhat concerned about, lately. Also, why are you saying that Assange never made any attempt to crack that password? Why then would he ever want to actively mislead Manning by suggestin…

> one of them went to Russia, the other didn't

i really don't understand how this can possibly be seen as some kind of knock-down argument by some. what gives? are people being intellectually dishonest?

Re: Julian Assange Got What He Deserved

#16

Post by hnbroseph »

tinus_hn wrote: post #9
caymanjim wrote: post #2

I agree. Early on, I thought Assange was a bit of a hero. He provided a forum for people to reveal things that shouldn't be happening and shouldn't be secret. I understand the need for government secrecy, spying, and surveillance. I don't accept that it's ok for governments to break their own laws to spy on their own citizens without warrants or just cause, however. Assange wasn't simply doing this as a neutral party…

Hypocrisy is not a crime and people should not end up in jail for it. There is a reason Lady Justice wears a blindfold.

> Hypocrisy is not a crime and people should not end up in jail for it.

this seems like both a trivially true statement and also a strawman.

Re: Julian Assange Got What He Deserved

#17

Post by dragonwriter »

devhead wrote: post #8
kpU8efre7r wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why do you think he shouldn't even stand trial or be charged?

I'm not parent; possibly because he's not a US citizen and what he did falls under the umbrella of protections afforded to journalist?

Not being a US citizen doesn't seem relevant, and, what he is charged with is not within the “umbrella of protections afforded to journalists” (which mostly doesn't exist: the US protects the right to publish, but does not generally have special status-based or for journalists, though “freedom of the press” is sometimes misunderstood that way.)

Re: Julian Assange Got What He Deserved

#18

Post by jbharter »

colejohnson66 wrote: post #12
0815test wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> (or Chelsea Manning) as a blameless hero like Edward Snowden. Well, let's see, one of them went to Russia, the other didn't. Who is closer to being "blameless"? And I thought that collusion with Russia is something that people are somewhat concerned about, lately. Also, why are you saying that Assange never made any attempt to crack that password? Why then would he ever want to actively mislead Manning by suggestin…

> Well, let's see, one of them went to Russia, the other didn't. Ah, the old “Snowden fled to Russia” trope. That’s false. He was in Russia when the US canceled his passport. As a consequence of that, he was unable to leave Russia.

I've heard this too, looking for reputable source....

Re: Julian Assange Got What He Deserved

#20

Post by DoreenMichele »

greedo wrote: post #13
kpU8efre7r wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well then he will be found innocent right? What's the big deal?

Because when you're wrongfully charged, you're often imprisoned, etc etc. And the cost of defending yourself can be astronomical.

A quick google suggests the maximum sentence for the crime Assange is accused of is 5 years. He has already spent nearly 7 years in an embassy, kind of under "house arrest" type conditions.
Post reply on HN