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nevermind, neoliberalism has had it

the trial of free speech, without media/public access

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Dear all, today is the second day in Julian Assanges extradition hearing and the travesty of justice is like a smell of rotten eggs coming from the old Bailey. Judge Baraister, as well as her feverish sidekick who prepares all the judgements for her to read out, are now using the covid regulations to keep rows of seats unoccupied with only 5 people in attendance. Some very early risers managed to queue first and then offer their first place to Craig Murray, the only person in court, as the direct link was disallowed, leaving German MP's, amnesty international, the editor of Wikileaks, Kristinn Hrafnsson, John Pilger and many other mainstream press looking at empty screens.

Do appreciate this rather longish article with many links to related topics and a direct feed for those who are on Twitter, cause there is no other. what you read in the press today is cobbled together from hearsay and the past. Enjoy some real journalism.

https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2020/09/your-man-in-the-public-gallery-the-assange-hearing-day-6/

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Here is another view of the prosecution's trial at the old Bailey, today. Looks like the Judge does not like people who know the law better than her, but she can just refuse to accept their evidence of just shut them up when true facts are mentioned.

https://consortiumnews.com/2020/09/08/live-updates-assange-hearin-day-two-us-tries-to-narrow-its-espionage-charge-to-only-naming-informants-defense-quotes-indictment-to-prove-otherwise/

 

 

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Day 8 at the old Bailey. after two days of not saying very much at all, the prosecution realised that non of their prefabricated arguments had any validity or place in law.

Luckily there was covid and a possible infection of a couple within the prosecution, time to reorganise and get ready for a different approach on Sept.14th., it turned out the test came back negative.

One would expect that the defense team will ask for all the communications and extra evidence that was garnered over the weekend and to disclose what they have to disclose to the defense team.

The trial and excellent coverage from the court room will hopefully continue on Monday. Any young journalist not yet indoctrinated with the aims and objectives of the Atlantic council, Nato and the fairy tales of Bretton Gordon should read these reports from court, they are factual and passionate, the most perfect articles for a dissertation on free speech in the western world and the increasing lack of it.

https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2020/09/your-man-in-the-public-gallery-assange-hearing-day-8/

 

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Peter Hitchens, who recently wrote a lot of sense on the covid rules lately, has published an article in the mail on sunday condemning the idea of extraditing Julian Assange to a country we should break diplomatic relations with, theoretically, for their utter abuse of their own population ingrained racism and its America first foreign policy, walking over countries and leaving them in chaos.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-8725993/PETER-HITCHENS-argues-extraditing-Julian-Assange-threatens-press-freedom.html

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It's an interesting subject. And probably a worthy debate to be held over the relative rights and responsibilities of governments, companies, citizens and press with respect to freedom of speech, privacy of information, duty to report issues without bias.

Often the most imperfect person / case is used to advance some of the most important freedoms. Martin Luther King was vilified in his time. Julian Assange was pretty obviously a willing participant of a Russian hack on the last US election. Fox News obviously is not a news organization but a Republican party political propaganda channel. Facebook turns a blind eye to violence and hate speech by pretending its not a media company and so has no responsibility over the content published over its service. 

Edited by Surfer

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I always find it remarkable that for nations, particularly Western ones, giving away information, however private or secret, sells newspapers apparently.

As much as Putin is equally devious, I think his idea that a traitor is worse than your enemy has some merit.

While you cannot condone what Russia did in Salisbury, Skripal was enjoying the succour of the UK after betraying his own country. Not for idealism either.

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Where are Scripal and his daughter now? he is not in New Zealand, far away from our control of him.

Day nine in court, once again the direct video link into the court room broke down/was interfered with, as happened more than once before. James Lewis QC rather lost it, when he complained to the judge that 4 hours of cross questioning Eric Lewis was not enough time  to get through all the points. The defense only had half and hour to question the same witness, so we can all see that this fair and balanced....not.

There were three MSM journalists in the video link gallery, reporting on arguably the most important trial of the century.

https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2020/09/your-man-in-the-public-gallery-assange-hearing-day-9/

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It would be bad of me to say that this trial will exceed the Dreyfuss affair and his false prosecution, but every day looks worth, with US lawyers treating the courts here like a weekly market shouting their odds and getting irate in the process.

Day  9 of this extraordinary trial the MSM does not want to attend to, but write a lot about it.

https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2020/09/your-man-in-the-public-gallery-assange-hearing-day-9/

 

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one must not provide any holes in the education of young journalists, hence I shall endeavour to publish the whole short hand transcript and of late verbatim recording and reporting by one of the most historic political journalists that have ever trodden these isles, Craig Murray., eat your heart out Archant, you have not an iota of his truth in what your scribes write about.

After days of not getting anywhere, the prosecution today changed tack in their presentation, got more radical and enthused how they would in future judge journalists by the espionage act of 1917, a hideous piece of rubber that can mean nothing and everything, able to prosecute even the readers of a damned publication.

as always enjoy a little bit of real journalism, whilst it is still available and support the man in his endeavour to report a case to the public which is totally barred to many who wanted to join the public gallery.

Indeed if you live near courts, try and sit in a public trial, you will find that covid restrictions are being used to discourage any public at present, even when there is enough space to social distance, the public is largely shut out of the process, courts operate in isolation, are self judging.

day ten, when things got nasty. https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2020/09/your-man-in-the-public-gallery-assange-hearing-day-10/

 

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Day 11, when a Spiegel editor who sat in the same room as Julian Assange at the time when he made an alleged quote , was cut off in mid sentence and not allowed to give evidence and refute a lie defaming Julian Assange badly in a book published by Luke Harding and David Leigh. It can't get worse, UK justice, in cooperation with Trumps trumpet brigade of lawyers, at its worst.

https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2020/09/your-man-in-the-public-gallery-assange-hearing-day-11/

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Day 12 of this empty edifice called English justice, Justitia's plinth crumbling beneath here, the scales lying in the dust of Atlantic council history...

Today was the day were a lawyer who specializes in the Espionage act of 1917, was asked just about any other question than that he was billed to give evidence on, ending in a rather bizarre exchange of words.

As always young journalists beware, if you want to report the truth as to what you see and write about, its not always what you will be judged on when ire starts to rankle.

https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2020/09/your-man-in-the-public-gallery-assange-hearing-day-12/

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“I will not permit the testimony of a torture victim to be censored by this court”,

interjected Julian Assange, as the prosecution, in lockstep with the judge, cut the evidence of Khaled El Masri, tortured by the CIA in various global location. It is becoming clearer by the antics that are played out in court that the US wants to keep the most cruel aspects of torture, extraordinary rendition and collateral murder, off the court records as not to have to proceed with these 'bagatelles' ( my words) as the world drops to a new low when it comes to accountable states and their actions abroad.

https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2020/09/your-man-in-the-public-gallery-assange-hearing-day-13/

Julians words mark the last twitches of life from English justice, dragged into the dirt by the twisting and turning the prosecution and the judge use to waste time in court with a multiplicity of the same questions, whilst the defense, having a legal right to cross examine, is interrupted multiple times by the judge and curtailed as to what the defense can and can't say.

To see that the general public and the MSM have been well conditioned by years of stupefying falsehood and diversions and manipulations by the western powers, tax sapping outfits such as the Integrity Initiative, a dubious FCO funded ( 2 million plus) is quiet astonishing. With covid 19 available as a societal training ground to manipulate the slaves to whatever they say, for the ministry of truth and misinformation, George Orwell;s work 1984 will be lifted from novel to historic fact.

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Monday was the day the prosecution tried to further denigrate the professions of witnesses to make them unbelievable, but more important the judges attempt to cut the court proceedings down by asking the defense to bring witness statements to court rather than having to listen to a lengthy defense1/2hrs., whilst being able to further waste time with the same denigrating scenario that allows the prosecution 4 hrs for the witness. The judge does not want to hear harrowing witness statements that underlie this false narrative the US wants to pursue.

https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2020/09/your-man-in-the-public-gallery-assange-hearing-day-14/

the trial is becoming more Kaffkaeske by the day.

 

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Below are the last dasy of this prosecution demolition of justice. Mr. Lewis QC is going to be reported to the Bar council for his lying in court, whilst Judge Baraitser, bless her biased heart in hell, will read out another prepared judgement on Monday morning. His conduct in court left him with egg on his face, his denigration of educated experienced and learned witnesses was an abysmal punch and Judy farce.

I have to thank Craig Murray from the bottom of my heart for going though this physical and mentally challenging kangaroo court case marking England capitulation, for its submission to US crass laws. He has tirelessly climbed 132 steps more than once/day and his invaluable reports have gone around the world.

Surely an appeal will be launched, whether this will play with this Apartheid judge, is a matter of luck. Craig is the only source of reasonable evidence in this case around the world and I'm sure that he will be writing a book on what he bore witness to in Court.

Many people who read his report are absolutely appalled at the hard right moves that are being carried out, but the fact that Starmer has sacked 3 MP's for daring to oppose 'sanctioning torture' something he seems necessary in an ever diminishing world,  he is a red Tory who has lost Labour some 360.000 members since he's become leader.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54274605  Add to that this power and control grab of his Tory pals....

“Which agencies will be able to authorise secret crimes?
MI5 and other intelligence bodies
Police forces and the National Crime agency
Immigration and Border Officers
HM Revenue and Customs, Serious Fraud Office
UK military forces
Ministry of Justice (investigations in prisons)
Competition and Markets Authority, Environment Agency, Financial Conduct Authority, Food Standards Agency, Gambling Commission and Medicines and Healthcare Regulation Authority”

That last agency is particularly interesting:

 

 

https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2020/09/your-man-in-the-public-gallery-assange-hearing-day-15/

https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2020/09/your-man-in-the-public-gallery-assange-hearing-day-16/

https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2020/09/your-man-in-the-public-gallery-assange-hearing-day-17/

 

 

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“A show trial is a public trial in which the judicial authorities have already determined the guilt, and/or innocence, of the defendant. The actual trial has as its only goal the presentation of both the accusation and the verdict to the public so they will serve as both an impressive example and a warning to other would-be dissidents or transgressors.”

https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2020/09/your-man-in-the-public-gallery-assange-hearing-day-18/

Here is a quote from Harold Pinter, RIP, which fits far better than my words ever could.

"It never happened. Nothing ever happened. Even while it was happening it wasn’t happening. It didn’t matter. It was of no interest. The crimes of the United States have been systematic, constant, vicious, remorseless, but very few people have actually talked about them. You have to hand it to America. It has exercised a quite clinical manipulation of power worldwide while masquerading as a force for universal good. It’s a brilliant, even witty, highly successful act of hypnosis."

 

RtB When you have read anything at all about this case and informed yourself, I will tell you some more about the first step this Alex Salmond trial represents.

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If you type Julian Assange trial and craig murray into the google searchbox, it comes up as place #145, the reports are effectively being blocked, the site has been relegated, as does FB, when you share, you do not really share if they don't let you.

The punch and Judy secret show trial continued, as the prosecution carried on with their usual denigrating style of questioning.

The template for questioning by the prosecution goes as follows.

  1. undermine academic credentials as not precisely relevant
  2. humiliate by repeated memory test questions of precise phrasing of obscure regulations or definitions
  3. denigrate relevance of practical experience
  4. iterate official positions and challenge witness to say they are expressed by named officials in bad faith
  5. humiliate by asking witness to repeat from memory regulations for expert testimony in UK courts
  6. run though a list of qualifications and government positions relevant to the subject and make witness say one by one they have not held them
  7. claim testimony is biased or worthless because it does not include government assertions at full length.

 

https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2020/09/your-man-in-the-public-gallery-assange-hearing-day-19/

 

I'm glad to report that at least three Archant journalist are reading the daily reports and that they are disturbed by what the future of investigative journalism holds. They are aware that their writing is controlled and edited, some say far more than that of national broadsheets. I could not possibly comment.

 

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Today was all about what would happen  to Julian Assange in a US ADX supermax prison under Special Administrative measures, called SAMSs, what treatment he very likely will receive and what really goes on behind the fine words. It could also be called 'A drubbing for Dobbin', but sadly the journalists are scared something like this might happen to them should they dare and report on it.

 

This is an excert from the Daily Mail in 2015

"Prosecutors also submitted a letter from Jeffery Allen, chief of health programmes for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, who said Hamza would be given a full evaluation at a medical centre and assessed by a prosthetic specialist after he was sentenced.

Mr Allen said there were special cells for those with disabilities and if the prison would not address Hamza’s health needs, he would be moved to a prison medical care facility."

Do not associate me with Abu Hamza, I have mo time for hate preachers who have sent many young gullible believers to death, but human intellect should be able to instill humanity, even in a prison.

 

"This is the reality of being held under SAMS in the ADX SUPERMAX DETENTION CENTRE (Nicknamed the Rocky San Quentin)

Hate preacher Abu Hamza is suing US authorities over his ‘rotting teeth’ and ‘cruel and degrading’ conditions at his Supermax jail.

Hamza also says his first cell had ‘no natural light’ and measured 8ft by 16ft, with the lack of a suitable disabled toilet leaving him ‘often soiling his clothes’. He claims his arm stumps would bleed while turning on the taps.

He also says one time his toenails were left unclipped for 14 months, causing him ‘severe pain and difficulty walking’.

The cleric revealed he underwent a hunger strike for at least 10 days in protest of his treatment at the prison, where inmates are kept in ‘cage-like’ cells for as many as 23 hours a day and banned from contact with others.

If this is what the Americans do to a disabled person imagine what they have in store for Julian Assange for the serious crime of exposing American War Crimes?

https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2020/09/your-man-in-the-public-gallery-assange-hearing-day-20/comment-page-1/#comments

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On the last day of the secret show trial, very much ignored by the MSM, or were they warned off not to publish by their handlers?, witnesses were replaced by witness statements, further depleting the need for the 'public' to see and hear justice to be done. But it was a great day as it put Noam Chomsky's witness statement on to the record, without any questions or cross examining.

'Witness 2' was giving some very explosive evidence to the court in secrecy as his statement could endanger his life. It reveas to us that one of Trumps biggest backers, Sheldon Adelson, a Billionaire casino owner and major Trump backer, hired David Morales to spy on Julian Assange and his legal team, very likely for the US security services, or some other dubious outfit. He is the co founder of UC Global, a Spanish investigation Agency based in Jerez.

Dr.  Nigel Blackwood, Kings College London, the only prosecution witness to speak of Julian Assanges 'only mild depression' has been exposed as having received funding for his academic work from the US and UK military.

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-10-02-revealed-key-assange-prosecution-witness-is-part-of-academic-cluster-which-has-received-millions-of-pounds-from-uk-and-us-militaries/

 

And here is Craigs sole  report, containing Noam chomsky's excellent statement and the witness statement of the ex employee, giving evidence in secret.

 

The verdict will very likely be given on the 4th of January 2021.

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Please read this story and what happens when you are engaging in legitimate protest in this country. Old men and wone are being harassed by well fed police officers, under orders to break up the Assange protest in Trafalgar square, watch the video for a dose of reality, please

Then ask yourself how- a grown person can get into a Hotel in the middle of the night

-knock loudly on customers doors

-how the Hotel sheepishly could not give any further information

-how security is arranged in Hotels these days

In my humble opinion Craig should ask for the relevant CCTV coverage to be confiscated and safeguarded until the person is identified.

BTW:. you are not required to wear masks outside, as long as you socially distance.You do not have to give your name , address and or details of what you are doing to a police officer, should they ask you, unless you are in a car and driving.

HOW a POLICE STATE STARTS

ttps://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2020/10/how-a-police-state-starts/#comments

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How the media buried the Assange trial. An article from Medialense, a blog run by journalists critical of the Guardians security service staffers. The media has steadfastly followed the line of the threats and intimidation that emanated from our and US politicians with regards to Assange a one sided, top down regurgitation regiment of yes sayer's, who dare not speak up for free speech as they might be the next to be prosecuted under the US espionage act from the last Millenium.

Christ we are following a totally split society nearly at a stage of civil war, a society that has an ingrained problem with racialism, a society that has no idea of Thoreau's ideas of sustainable living in harmony with what keeps us alive, nature, water and air to breath.

All that matters to the MSM is to defuse the massive inequalities and the lack of lawful courts, with trivia and celebrity fairytales, also made up, sadly, rather than to report that the rich and selfish want more and they don't care how they get it. If it means a little control and order fascism, and the sheeple follow like the good slaves they are, then so be it, the BBC and combined media will follow.

excellent article, again,, enjoy...https://www.medialens.org/2020/none-of-it-reported-how-corporate-media-buried-the-assange-trial/

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All of those who have read the verbatim reporting from the court case, in the almost total absences of any comment by the puppet media pack, must have felt the absolute evil and loss of control the judge purveyed, the harassing questioning and denigration of witnesses, especially on day 17+18.

Craig has reported almost non stop every day and slept little trying to keep the reporting accurate and continuous, leaving a toll on his already fragile constitution, and hence he could not see himself picking up the notes from the last day of proceedings and write them up.

We have to patient and give him some rest, as he has his own sordid contempt of court action to fight as well, but he will eventually come round to it and it will appear here as well.

meanwhile here is what he wrote about the stresses and strains it has caused him. best to all.

https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2020/10/where-is-my-final-assange-report/

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23 hours ago, nevermind, neoliberalism has had it said:

We have to patient and give him some rest,

Absolutely.  He should definitely rest.

 I for one am not in a hurry to read his report and he should not feel the pressure to move quickly on this.

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Yesterday, judge Baraitser accepted all the US arguments in Julian Assange's case with ominous points on media freedom and free speech left in the air for the high court to decide. She nevertheless blocked his extradition to America on grounds of suicide risk in side inhumane US supermax prisons and his deteriorating mental health.

The US has 14 days to appeal, but next week there will be a bail hearing which should set him free to be with his two children and his partner Stella Morris. No doubt his children would have been told of yesterday's event and are looking forward to seeing him.

I would like to than Craig Murray for his courageous reporting on behalf of Julians parents.

A word of warning to our younger Archant journalists. When you become a journalist, be aware that you are selling your soul with every human rights story and or issue you write, issues you have to argue and edit once twice or discard, because your free speech does not concur with that of the editorial company line and political allegiances. This judgement will be very likely be appealed by Assanges lawyers, as it sweeps away free speech and legalities to do so, into the hands of a turbid and turgid US, currently at war with its electoral system, privileges of the establishment and utter covid devastation.

Enjoy

https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2021/01/julian-assange-imminent-freedom/

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Last Friday magistrate Vanessa Baraitser refused extradition but asked the defense team to wait with a bail application until Monday.

On Monday the US appealed on as yet unspecified grounds and the judge refused bail after raising hopes that Julian Assange will get to see his kids ad partner. This is torture, not just of Julian who has no more case to answer to bar an unspecified appeal and should have got bail.

It looks like the US/UK in that special violent relationship it has now become, want this journalist and all other who cower from here on, to die in our very own Guantanamo Belmarsh, ideally from covid which has already taken life's there. The case will now be heard in the high court, maybe in April, another three month of evil in a hell hole.

I'm gutted at the twisting and turning of the prosecution, gutted that Blair got away with ending jury trials, and Starmer loves this, gutted about our orientations to a country that has ruled the world with political violence and we sucked up to them with every inch they moved.

Another article from the only journalist who is bothering to sit in the court room and take short hand notes. Try not to laugh at the exceptional moaning and squirming and insinuation by  Mrs. Dobbin, the Ulster mule.

https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2021/01/both-tortuous-and-torturous

Edited by nevermind, neoliberalism has had it

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9 hours ago, nevermind, neoliberalism has had it said:

Last Friday magistrate Vanessa Baraitser refused extradition but asked the defense team to wait with a bail application until Monday.

On Monday the US appealed on as yet unspecified grounds and the judge refused bail after raising hopes that Julian Assange will get to see his kids ad partner. This is torture, not just of Julian who has no more case to answer to bar an unspecified appeal and should have got bail.

It looks like the US/UK in that special violent relationship it has now become, want this journalist and all other who cower from here on, to die in our very own Guantanamo Belmarsh, ideally from covid which has already taken life's there. The case will now be heard in the high court, maybe in April, another three month of evil in a hell hole.

I'm gutted at the twisting and turning of the prosecution, gutted that Blair got away with ending jury trials, and Starmer loves this, gutted about our orientations to a country that has ruled the world with political violence and we sucked up to them with every inch they moved.

Another article from the only journalist who is bothering to sit in the court room and take short hand notes. Try not to laugh at the exceptional moaning and squirming and insinuation by  Mrs. Dobbin, the Ulster mule.

https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2021/01/both-tortuous-and-torturous

Thanks for posting these updates, Nevermind. It's clear they want Assange dead.

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Thanks Rock the boat, this man should now be let out and I very much hope that the High court will end this charade and wilful detention of a journalist who published the most important facts to the general public taking care not to hurt anyone in the process.

The Grauniad however, via the security asset Luke Harding, published the access code of the unpublished unredacted files Julian did not want publishing. It was Julian that warned the Washington post and the media of these files asking them not to publish these, BUT THEY DID, like fly's buzzing a pile of warm excrement.

Events in America might help to solve this planned travesty of injustice.

Edited by nevermind, neoliberalism has had it

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I’m torn on Assange. There’s no doubt the Americans will want to make an example of him for the embarrassment he’s caused them, so I don’t expect he’d get a fair trial if extradited. However I also don’t class him as a journalist. 
Much of the information he released seems to have been obtained through illegal means, and he failed to protect his sources, or redact any information that could put people in danger, and the releasing of those documents without doing so undoubtedly signed the death warrants of many operatives working abroad. He also seems to have been a willing accomplice or maybe just a useful idiot for the Russians.

To be honest it doesn’t worry me either way. In regards to free speech, I’m much more concerned with the way the big tech companies seem to be censoring people whose views don’t match their own, or that they’re able to control which news stories people get to read. There’s a big debate to be had about how much power they’re allowed to hold, and their current straddling of the laws in which they claim to be a Platform and are not responsible for the content posted in their sites, whilst simultaneously acting as Publishers and choosing which content they allow needs to be looked at 

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5 hours ago, Fen Canary said:

I’m torn on Assange. There’s no doubt the Americans will want to make an example of him for the embarrassment he’s caused them, so I don’t expect he’d get a fair trial if extradited. However I also don’t class him as a journalist. 
Much of the information he released seems to have been obtained through illegal means, and he failed to protect his sources, or redact any information that could put people in danger, and the releasing of those documents without doing so undoubtedly signed the death warrants of many operatives working abroad. He also seems to have been a willing accomplice or maybe just a useful idiot for the Russians.

To be honest it doesn’t worry me either way. In regards to free speech, I’m much more concerned with the way the big tech companies seem to be censoring people whose views don’t match their own, or that they’re able to control which news stories people get to read. There’s a big debate to be had about how much power they’re allowed to hold, and their current straddling of the laws in which they claim to be a Platform and are not responsible for the content posted in their sites, whilst simultaneously acting as Publishers and choosing which content they allow needs to be looked at 

Do you mean news stories or people posting their opinions on the news of the day? The reality is that there is more freedom of speech for more people, both as an absoute number and as a percentage, than at any time in the history of the world.  And if people find they cannot get their views across via the established media and social sites all they have to do is set up their own website and say absolutely anything they like.

I am a complete techno-idiot but even I managed to set up a website about ten years ago (as it happens to explain Cullumgate) and it cost me something like five dollars a month to keep it going. I actually haven't looked at for some years but it is out there for anyone anywhere in the world with access to a computer to read.

I don't do the social media but many of the complaints I have seen recently (such zapping pro-Trump stuff) miss the point, by treating these sites as some kind of public service to which everyone is entitled. They are not that. They are businesses that have a perfect right to run themselves as they see fit, and if people find that unsatisfactory then they have the solution of creating their own outlet.

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