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Well the territory that he will be tried under is a hair better than continental USA from this perspective, but extraordinary rendition would still be a concern.
Julian Assange has reached a plea deal with the U.S., allowing him to go free
131–140 of 1001 posts
Re: Julian Assange has reached a plea deal with the U.S., allowing him to go free
#132It amazes me that so many people care more about the act of whistleblowing, which informs us, the citizens, about what our governments are doing that's illegal, than about the illegal activities themselves. What does that say about those people? Are they easily led by emotion? They certainly don't care about the rule of law, if breaking the law by others can so easily be ignored. They aren't particularly patriotic, i…
I think people like the idea of whistleblowing because we have a lack of trust in Governments and corporations. Whistleblowing "lifts the lid" so to speak on potential large breaches of trust and breaches of the law to a greater degree of perceived damage than whistleblowing.
Essentially uncovering hypocrisy in the way our Governments and corporations works.
People can both care about the act of whistleblowing and the illegal actions incurred as a result.
But it's all nuanced, there's whistleblowing and then there's whistleblowing in a way that puts other innocent people at risk.
Re: Julian Assange has reached a plea deal with the U.S., allowing him to go free
#133Earlier quoted context omitted.
There was a mood change in Australia, with all sides of politics wanting Assange's case to be closed [1]. Consequently in the last 12 months there has been pressure from Australia, on its "five eyes" US and UK partners, to close the case. [1] https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/albanese-expresses-f...
I'm not sure that the US gives too many fucks about Australian public opinion, or what Albanese says. I think it has more to do with US politics and the upcoming election. But whatever, I'm glad he's free and is not being extradited to whatever hellhole the US had planned for him. I hope he's able to get a beer and a swim and put his life back together.
I mean we are one of a few places they have relays for their submarine comms.
Re: Julian Assange has reached a plea deal with the U.S., allowing him to go free
#134Earlier quoted context omitted.
>It amazes me that so many people care more about the act of whistleblowing... This is true in both directions and Assange is the perfect example of that. Someone being a whistleblower is not a get out of jail free card and there are still laws regarding how whistleblowing should be handled and what qualifies. Assange leaked a lot of important stuff that qualifies, but that wasn't all he leaked or did. A shockingly f…
I am not aware of anything he has leaked being problematic. In fact, the US couldnt demonstrate that he had lead to the death of any soldiers or spies. And in a lot of cases, the spying was certainly unjustified. I find it troubling that people dont have the nuance to identify that hes a bit of a smelly housemate and problematic manager but ultimately a clear net benefit to mankind.
> In fact, the US couldnt demonstrate that he had lead to the death of any soldiers or spies.
Isn't "it's difficult to prove that people literally died because of his actions" a pretty low bar to set?
Re: Julian Assange has reached a plea deal with the U.S., allowing him to go free
#135[flagged]
The best move would be for his supporters to disappear him to somewhere in the hills asap tbh.
Re: Julian Assange has reached a plea deal with the U.S., allowing him to go free
#136It amazes me that so many people care more about the act of whistleblowing, which informs us, the citizens, about what our governments are doing that's illegal, than about the illegal activities themselves. What does that say about those people? Are they easily led by emotion? They certainly don't care about the rule of law, if breaking the law by others can so easily be ignored. They aren't particularly patriotic, i…
Julian's not a whistleblower, he's a journalist. Whistleblowers are people within the organization.
Re: Julian Assange has reached a plea deal with the U.S., allowing him to go free
#137Kudos to the Biden administration for putting an end to yet another long running US boondoggle.
Re: Julian Assange has reached a plea deal with the U.S., allowing him to go free
#138He was already effectively a political prisoner. The US made enough of an example of him I guess. Expose US war crimes and this will happen to you.
He worked as a conduit for Russian interests.
Bad faith.
He acted in the interests of everyone who doesn't like the US, you could justifiably say the same thing about him acting in China's best interest, or Iran.
Absolute codswallop that you can't hold a government to account else you are criticised for aiding their enemies. Does that mean we should just sit down and take it because it makes us look bad?
I'm the first in line to criticise my government (UK) but that doesn't mean I'm intentionally working in the interests of it's enemies.
Sod off with these bad faith attacks espousing an opinion that no reasonable person could possibly hold.
Re: Julian Assange has reached a plea deal with the U.S., allowing him to go free
#139Re: Julian Assange has reached a plea deal with the U.S., allowing him to go free
#140Earlier quoted context omitted.
The case is federal, it's not confined in jurisdiction. But the plea deal is being entered there because of "defendant’s opposition to traveling to the continental United States to enter his guilty plea and the proximity of this federal U.S. District Court to the defendant’s country of citizenship, Australia, to which we expect he will return at the conclusion of the proceeding" https://storage.courtlistener.com/reca…
Interesting. So he'll have to physically be present in the CNMI? Presumably he'll fly London-Tokyo-Saipan, since this is just about the only way to get there without transiting the US (including Hawaii).
Yes, he'll be in court in Saipan on Wednesday morning to enter the plea. Apparently he's already left London, according to WikiLeaks twitter account and other reports. Don't think he's flying coach though : )