Interpol issues 'red notice' for arrest of WikiLeaks' Julian Assange

[hammered]

Strongly recommended Read!

WikiLeaks: The Three Faces of Uncle Sam

Tuesday, 07 December 2010

From Asia Sentinel

Written by Michael Brenner *

What the disclosures tell the Americans about themselves, or should, if they listen

Know Thine Enemy is the famed dictum of the renowned Chinese military thinker Sun Tzu. He took for granted something even more crucial: know thyself. Yet, Americans routinely ignore that latter counsel – at their growing peril.

That uncomfortable truth becomes abundantly clear when immersing oneself in the dense cable traffic revealed to us by WikiLeaks. Their exposure of the mindset and outlook of the country's policy-makers and diplomats is more telling than any of the details. For it reveals who we are, who we think we are, and how that self conception is out of line with both world realities and others' perceptions of us.

Most striking is the unstated but pervasive belief that the United States is wiser, more skillful and dedicated than anybody else. Therefore, it is natural that America rules the roost. Our serial failures of judgment and action, at home as well as abroad, have left not a trace of modesty on our conduct.

That hubris has a number of practical meanings: One is the conviction that Washington should set the policy direction for allies and friends, jerk them back into line when they show a tendency to stray or are unresponsive to American leads, and cultivate a corps of informers and helpmates from among the native elites. Access to antechambers of imperial power and favors magisterially bestowed are the coin in which they are paid.

Long article continues here:

http://asiasentinel....2859&Itemid=367

* Michael Brenner: - Michael Brenner is a professor of International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh

Full Bio: http://www.huffingto...michael-brenner

LaoPo

From News Time.

Written by: David Gleason

LEAKING SECRETS LIKE A SIEVE.

The curious thing about Assange and WikiLeaks is that though it started out as a mix of the Arthurian knights Lancelot and Percival he and it have since been seized by a desire to bash America and things American, at the expense, perhaps, of sacrificing their own credibility. In the beginning WikiLeaks attacked Kenya’s outrageous corruption, asked questions of the offshore operations of private Swiss bank Julius Baer, partially exposed the unpleasantness attached to the prison at Guantanamo Bay, took apart Scientology’s warped philosophy and listed details of Sarah Palin’s personal email account (who cares?).

What has it done since then? Well, it published classified Pentagon and British military documents and released 90 000 odd documents about the Afghan war. No one knows yet how damaging that has been or whether any lives have been lost as a result. We shall probably never know because the NATO military is unlikely to give any details for fear of giving encouragement to its Taliban enemy.

http://www.newstime.co.za/column/DavidGleason/Leaking_secrets_like_a_sieve/89/2724/

History however will likley tell us how disastrous the unnecessary rush to war based on lies and probably an illegal war at that has been,. Already we know the unnessary death tolls for troops sent by invading ocuntries and of course the even larger civilian death tolls. It is unlikley though that anyone will evr have to answer for that, or at least it was unlikely until a new media source decided to release documents exposing it all to the people of every country involved. Whether they are watching, care or would prefer to hide under a shawl of nationalism or hatred though remains moot.

[KhunAussie52]

Poll Australian newspaper

Do you think Julian Assange's arrest is politically motivated?

• Yes. Authorities are out to shut him down.
• No. He should be subject to the law like everyone else.
• or view results

Thank you for voting.

89% yes. authorities are trying to shut him down

10% He should be subject to the law like everyone else.

Edited December 8, 2010 by KhunAussie52

[KhunAussie52]

Quote-

"We have no evidence pointing to a link between these allegations from August and the issue of the Interpol alert just two days after the WikiLeaks first release of US diplomatic cables," Stephens said.

"However, it is highly unusual for a red notice warrant to be issued in relation to the allegations reported as having been made, since Swedish law does not require custodial orders in relation to the allegation."

He said it appeared to be a "unique action" by Swedish prosecutors.

Stephens added: "We are also investigating whether the prosecutor's application to have Mr Assange held incommunicado without access to lawyers, visitors or other prisoners - again a unique request - is in any way linked to this matter (the WikiLeaks data release) and the recent, rather bellicose US statements of an intention to prosecute Mr Assange."

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton accused WikiLeaks on Monday of an "attack on the international community" by releasing the vast trove of leaked US diplomat memos containing a string of embarrassing revelations.

http://www.thechronicle.com.au/story/2010/12/02/assange-is-being-persecuted-lawyer/

Edited December 8, 2010 by KhunAussie52

[Ulysses G.]

I hope this is OK to post as it really gets to the gist of what is happening.

It is Glenn Beck - any post in a storm I guess!

[LaoPo]

Excellent analysis by the Guardian, which will hopefully continue to inform the people, including this:

What WikiLeaks is really exposing is the extent to which the western democratic system has been hollowed out. In the last decade its political elites have been shown to be incompetent (Ireland, the US and UK in not regulating banks); corrupt (all governments in relation to the arms trade); or recklessly militaristic (the US and UK in Iraq). And yet nowhere have they been called to account in any effective way. Instead they have obfuscated, lied or blustered their way through. And when, finally, the veil of secrecy is lifted, their reflex reaction is to kill the messenger.

All at: http://www.guardian....live-with-leaks

I hope this is OK to post as it really gets to the gist of what is happening.

I couldn't agree more.

Thanks for posting!

It's sad that some people oppose WikiLeaks and what they stand for because they miss the points as decribed above. At the same time they agree with their own cheating and lying Governments.

This isn't about America, WikiLeaks or Julian Assange anymore, it's about our own values and believes which are raped over and over again by so many incompetent Governments.

Those same Governments are indeed now trying to cover up their own misbehavior by rolling out an immense attack on the Freedom of Speech.

This is one of the greatest scandals of our time and what those Governments do not (yet) see is the fast growing unrest and opposition against the Governments by the people, all over the world.

But the PEOPLE can't be gagged this time because we have Internet!

This is, BY FAR, not over yet.

LaoPo

[LaoPo]

Strongly recommended Read!

WikiLeaks: The Three Faces of Uncle Sam

Tuesday, 07 December 2010

From Asia Sentinel

Written by Michael Brenner *

What the disclosures tell the Americans about themselves, or should, if they listen

Know Thine Enemy is the famed dictum of the renowned Chinese military thinker Sun Tzu. He took for granted something even more crucial: know thyself. Yet, Americans routinely ignore that latter counsel – at their growing peril.

That uncomfortable truth becomes abundantly clear when immersing oneself in the dense cable traffic revealed to us by WikiLeaks. Their exposure of the mindset and outlook of the country's policy-makers and diplomats is more telling than any of the details. For it reveals who we are, who we think we are, and how that self conception is out of line with both world realities and others' perceptions of us.

Most striking is the unstated but pervasive belief that the United States is wiser, more skillful and dedicated than anybody else. Therefore, it is natural that America rules the roost. Our serial failures of judgment and action, at home as well as abroad, have left not a trace of modesty on our conduct.

That hubris has a number of practical meanings: One is the conviction that Washington should set the policy direction for allies and friends, jerk them back into line when they show a tendency to stray or are unresponsive to American leads, and cultivate a corps of informers and helpmates from among the native elites. Access to antechambers of imperial power and favors magisterially bestowed are the coin in which they are paid.

Long article continues here:

http://asiasentinel....2859&Itemid=367

* Michael Brenner: - Michael Brenner is a professor of International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh

Full Bio: http://www.huffingto...michael-brenner

LaoPo

From News Time.

Written by: David Gleason

LEAKING SECRETS LIKE A SIEVE.

The curious thing about Assange and WikiLeaks is that though it started out as a mix of the Arthurian knights Lancelot and Percival he and it have since been seized by a desire to bash America and things American, at the expense, perhaps, of sacrificing their own credibility. In the beginning WikiLeaks attacked Kenya's outrageous corruption, asked questions of the offshore operations of private Swiss bank Julius Baer, partially exposed the unpleasantness attached to the prison at Guantanamo Bay, took apart Scientology's warped philosophy and listed details of Sarah Palin's personal email account (who cares?).

What has it done since then? Well, it published classified Pentagon and British military documents and released 90 000 odd documents about the Afghan war. No one knows yet how damaging that has been or whether any lives have been lost as a result. We shall probably never know because the NATO military is unlikely to give any details for fear of giving encouragement to its Taliban enemy.

http://www.newstime...._sieve/89/2724/

A typical example article of the establishment, afraid as they are that the wave of unrest amongst the people of the world could harm their position; a position where they have been abusing their own people for so long with their immense powers and by lying and cheating.

LaoPo

[LaoPo]

..is this how far some have sunken? To call openly on Television for murder / Assassination?

Fox News' Bob Beckel Calls For 'Illegally' Killing Assange: A Dead Man Can't Leak Stuff (VIDEO)

Updated: 12- 7-10 05:50 PM

A Democratic Fox News analyst called for the assassination of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

Speaking on the Fox Business show "Follow The Money" on Monday, Bob Beckel excoriated Assange for leaking the State Department cables that have roiled the world in the past week, and said that American special forces should kill him.

"A dead man can't leak stuff," Beckel said. "This guy's a traitor, he's treasonous, and he has broken every law of the United States. And I'm not for the death penalty, so...there's only one way to do it: illegally shoot the son of a bitch."

WATCH:

The other guests on the program all agreed with Beckel.

http://www.huffingto...s_n_793467.html

NOTE:

If this is the way to raise the children of American, I pity America.

Aren't there any Laws in the US who can send someone to prison who openly speaks out to commit an assassination on National Televison??

It's barbaric.

LaoPo

[hammered]

Is the wikileaks situation clear cut enough to say it's not in the public interest?

Most governments certainly seem to think so.

Other than that, IMHO your "logic" does not apply to violating national security.

"Most governments seem to think so?"

That statement is based on what?

Governments usually dont want their public to know what is not in the interest of the government. Persoanlly i would rather trust the public than a government and as such see reason to access to information by which the public can judge both their own and other governments. I guess authoritarians wont agree with that.

[Wallaby]

Unfortunate that this is on a national broadcaster. Perhaps they could be charged with inciting a crime? I don't know, but it does sadden me that people actually listen to those things and agree.

[hammered]

Excellent analysis by the Guardian, which will hopefully continue to inform the people, including this:

What WikiLeaks is really exposing is the extent to which the western democratic system has been hollowed out. In the last decade its political elites have been shown to be incompetent (Ireland, the US and UK in not regulating banks); corrupt (all governments in relation to the arms trade); or recklessly militaristic (the US and UK in Iraq). And yet nowhere have they been called to account in any effective way. Instead they have obfuscated, lied or blustered their way through. And when, finally, the veil of secrecy is lifted, their reflex reaction is to kill the messenger.

All at: http://www.guardian....live-with-leaks

I hope this is OK to post as it really gets to the gist of what is happening.

I couldn't agree more.

Thanks for posting!

It's sad that some people oppose WikiLeaks and what they stand for because they miss the points as decribed above. At the same time they agree with their own cheating and lying Governments.

This isn't about America, WikiLeaks or Julian Assange anymore, it's about our own values and believes which are raped over and over again by so many incompetent Governments.

Those same Governments are indeed now trying to cover up their own misbehavior by rolling out an immense attack on the Freedom of Speech.

This is one of the greatest scandals of our time and what those Governments do not (yet) see is the fast growing unrest and opposition against the Governments by the people, all over the world.

But the PEOPLE can't be gagged this time because we have Internet!

This is, BY FAR, not over yet.

LaoPo

Well said. Wikileaks goes beyond nationalism and the faux patriotism that goes with it.

[hammered]

There are more countries in the world than only the USA and Russia.

There are more countries in the world than Iran and North Korea and many of them are not happy with Wikileaks.

You should write governments and not countries there. Governments often do not speak for the people of the country. Of course governments in general and their little cabals and clubs and their corporate handlers are not happy that their party has been crashed and their excesses exposed to the mere people.

[waza]

..is this how far some have sunken? To call openly on Television for murder / Assassination?

Fox News' Bob Beckel Calls For 'Illegally' Killing Assange: A Dead Man Can't Leak Stuff (VIDEO)

Updated: 12- 7-10 05:50 PM

A Democratic Fox News analyst called for the assassination of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

Speaking on the Fox Business show "Follow The Money" on Monday, Bob Beckel excoriated Assange for leaking the State Department cables that have roiled the world in the past week, and said that American special forces should kill him.

"A dead man can't leak stuff," Beckel said. "This guy's a traitor, he's treasonous, and he has broken every law of the United States. And I'm not for the death penalty, so...there's only one way to do it: illegally shoot the son of a bitch."

WATCH:

The other guests on the program all agreed with Beckel.

http://www.huffingto...s_n_793467.html

NOTE:

If this is the way to raise the children of American, I pity America.

Aren't there any Laws in the US who can send someone to prison who openly speaks out to commit an assassination on National Televison??

It's barbaric.

LaoPo

Apparently this is not as amoral or illegal as leaking the US governments dirty washing on the internet.

[beechguy]

..is this how far some have sunken? To call openly on Television for murder / Assassination?

Fox News' Bob Beckel Calls For 'Illegally' Killing Assange: A Dead Man Can't Leak Stuff (VIDEO)

Updated: 12- 7-10 05:50 PM

A Democratic Fox News analyst called for the assassination of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

Speaking on the Fox Business show "Follow The Money" on Monday, Bob Beckel excoriated Assange for leaking the State Department cables that have roiled the world in the past week, and said that American special forces should kill him.

"A dead man can't leak stuff," Beckel said. "This guy's a traitor, he's treasonous, and he has broken every law of the United States. And I'm not for the death penalty, so...there's only one way to do it: illegally shoot the son of a bitch."

WATCH:

The other guests on the program all agreed with Beckel.

http://www.huffingto...s_n_793467.html

NOTE:

If this is the way to raise the children of American, I pity America.

Aren't there any Laws in the US who can send someone to prison who openly speaks out to commit an assassination on National Televison??

It's barbaric.

LaoPo

Where's all that support for free speech?

[hammered]

..is this how far some have sunken? To call openly on Television for murder / Assassination?

Fox News' Bob Beckel Calls For 'Illegally' Killing Assange: A Dead Man Can't Leak Stuff (VIDEO)

Updated: 12- 7-10 05:50 PM

A Democratic Fox News analyst called for the assassination of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

Speaking on the Fox Business show "Follow The Money" on Monday, Bob Beckel excoriated Assange for leaking the State Department cables that have roiled the world in the past week, and said that American special forces should kill him.

"A dead man can't leak stuff," Beckel said. "This guy's a traitor, he's treasonous, and he has broken every law of the United States. And I'm not for the death penalty, so...there's only one way to do it: illegally shoot the son of a bitch."

WATCH:

The other guests on the program all agreed with Beckel.

http://www.huffingto...s_n_793467.html

NOTE:

If this is the way to raise the children of American, I pity America.

Aren't there any Laws in the US who can send someone to prison who openly speaks out to commit an assassination on National Televison??

It's barbaric.

LaoPo

Expected from those that hate freedom such as anything that is controlled by Murdoch.

[SergeiY]

'SergeiY' post='4072718']

But there is also support:

"The actions of the US have not discouraged all countries from expressing their support for Mr Assange and WikiLeaks. Ecuador has seemingly opened its arms, and invited it to establish a home base there."

Well, that's ONE.

yep that disproves the statement that no country is pro wikileaks.

And its far from being any evidence for your claim that most governments seem to be against wikileaks. Most countries probably don't care much about these US cable leaks.

Earth to Sergei...Earth to Sergei...Ecuador is a puppet of the USA. By trying to lure Assange with their "open arms", they are simply accomplishing what a CIA rendition would - get this hypocrite to a 3rd world country to rot in prison.

Ecuador isn't a puppet of the USA. Why is he a hypocrite?

Are you looking down on Ecuador because its just a "3rd world country"? That shows just your hubris and arrogance, again.

Please don't forget this is an international forum, open for people who come from all over the world. A world with many different cultures and languages, not less valuable or inferior to the place where you come from. In THailand we are all foreigners, this isn't the place for supremacism.

[Ulysses G.]

Fox News' Bob Beckel Calls For 'Illegally' Killing Assange: A Dead Man Can't Leak Stuff (VIDEO)

Where's all that support for free speech?

Bob Beckel is a well known liberal, but he feels there will be many deaths because of Assange and he makes a case for his position that is not to be easily dismissed. Watch the video. Edited December 8, 2010 by Ulysses G.

[SergeiY]

^^

Ohh, how balanced and sober-minded the dudes on TV are over there.

[JUDAS]

Typical knee jerk overreactions.

[Wallaby]

I see there is a PayPal advert on here. Perhaps it should be removed because we are discussing 'illegal leaks' allegedly of course.

[manarak]

Fox News' Bob Beckel Calls For 'Illegally' Killing Assange: A Dead Man Can't Leak Stuff (VIDEO)

Where's all that support for free speech?

Bob Beckel is a well known liberal, but he feels there will be many deaths because of Assange and he makes a case for his position that is not to be easily dismissed. Watch the video.

Killing Assange could be the right course of action IF the leaked material could really threaten the lives of many of the "good people" out there.

But I seriously doubt this is the case.

The diplomatic cables and other stuff leaked is not highly secret material, and as such, it probably already has found its way into the archives of every significant intelligence service in this world.

The good guys know the facts, the bad guys do too...

[Ulysses G.]

The Taliban do not have an International "Intelligence Service" other than the heartless folks at WikiLeaks.

[JUDAS]

The Taliban do not have an International "Intelligence Service" other than the heartless folks at WikiLeaks.

There are of course those that would argue the the Pakistan Intelligence Service is actually the taliban intelligence service

[mark45y]

Fox News' Bob Beckel Calls For 'Illegally' Killing Assange: A Dead Man Can't Leak Stuff (VIDEO)

Where's all that support for free speech?

Bob Beckel is a well known liberal, but he feels there will be many deaths because of Assange and he makes a case for his position that is not to be easily dismissed. Watch the video.

Killing Assange could be the right course of action IF the leaked material could really threaten the lives of many of the "good people" out there.

But I seriously doubt this is the case.

The diplomatic cables and other stuff leaked is not highly secret material, and as such, it probably already has found its way into the archives of every significant intelligence service in this world.

The good guys know the facts, the bad guys do too...

One example is an Oct. 21, 2009 intelligence report that states that “(name withheld by NBC) has turned himself into NDS” — a reference to Afghanistan’s domestic intelligence service — and that a U.S. military unit “is currently working with OGA to get permission … to further exploit.” (OGA stands for "Other Government Agency," the standard reference for the CIA.)

Some other reports, Foster found, describe meetings between U.S. troops and local Afghan officials, often identified by name and village, where the local Afghans were helping the U.S. military with information about the location of enemy forces. One report states, “(name withheld by NBC) then told us there are more enemy located in this village and are taking assistance from the local government to help get rid of them. They are asking for ammunition and vehicles to do this with.”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38493475/ns/us_news-security/

Photo http://www.boingboing.net/2010/07/25/wikileaks-releases-c.html

[venturalaw]

Killing Assange could be the right course of action IF the leaked material could really threaten the lives of many of the "good people" out there.

But I seriously doubt this is the case.

The diplomatic cables and other stuff leaked is not highly secret material, and as such, it probably already has found its way into the archives of every significant intelligence service in this world.

The good guys know the facts, the bad guys do too...

How do you know that the 'bad guys' are privy to 'highly secret material'?

[mark45y]

Killing Assange could be the right course of action IF the leaked material could really threaten the lives of many of the "good people" out there.

But I seriously doubt this is the case.

The diplomatic cables and other stuff leaked is not highly secret material, and as such, it probably already has found its way into the archives of every significant intelligence service in this world.

The good guys know the facts, the bad guys do too...

How do you know that the 'bad guys' are privy to 'highly secret material'?

But now, WikiLeaks has been met with new doubts. Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders have joined the Pentagon in criticizing the organization for risking people’s lives by publishing war logs identifying Afghans working for the Americans or acting as informers.

A Taliban spokesman in Afghanistan using the pseudonym Zabiullah Mujahid said in a telephone interview that the Taliban had formed a nine-member “commission” after the Afghan documents were posted “to find about people who are spying.” He said the Taliban had a “wanted” list of 1,800 Afghans and was comparing that with names WikiLeaks provided.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/24/world/24assange.html?_r=1

[LaoPo]

Bob Beckel is a well known liberal, but he feels there will be many deaths because of Assange and he makes a case for his position that is not to be easily dismissed. Watch the video.

Liberal you say? A man who calls for an illegal assasination on National Television (in front of many children) is considered a Liberal in your eyes....in your country?

Watch the video?

Who do you think I am and stand for?

"..he feels there will be many deaths because of Assange..."

That's the general consensus your Government want the Americans and rest of the world believe that indeed. Some still believe the lies of their Governments and it shows how indoctrinated they are.

Tell me, the deaths they fear, are those soldiers fighting in countries where the war was forced upon those countries...? Unneccessary wars, started by lies of the same Government ?

How many fine young soldiers died already because of those lies by your government UG ?

I'm sure you kow how to handle Google to find out but et me help you: 58.000 plus/minus.....in Iraq alone; because of lies + 2 million soldiers and civilians in Iraq and I'm not counting Afghanistan yet.

Where's the outcry from the American parents, brothers and sisters, friends about the loss of their loved ones in wars they didn't ask for but were lied upon ?

Tell me.

LaoPo

[LaoPo]

I see there is a PayPal advert on here. Perhaps it should be removed because we are discussing 'illegal leaks' allegedly of course.

PayPal ?

I have a private PayPal account with some money on it and guess what ?

I NEVER EVER hear from them, quiet as they are, sitting on my money...and more money of millions of people...but they keep quiet...of course, of course.

GUESS WHAT: This morning I got the most friendly email EVER received from PayPal, inviting me:

(translated)

"Dear xxxx,

Glad you chose PayPal. Our records show you didn't use PayPal for a while. But, you have an amount in your PayPal account that you are ready to use it! "

Please come and start shopping on eBay (mother company of PayPal)""

They must feel the heat after they stopped the WikiLeaks account, receiving donations.

It's a mighty DIRTY WORLD out there....with dirty Governments playing dirty games and dirty large companies playing dirty games (Amazon, eBay/PayPal, Credit Card co's, Banks etc. because they fear the truth, the truth they're withholding from you and me, the dirty truth they caused themselves but want to hide, at any cost, paid for with our money.

LaoPo

:

[Ulysses G.]

Killing Assange could be the right course of action IF the leaked material could really threaten the lives of many of the "good people" out there.

But I seriously doubt this is the case.

The diplomatic cables and other stuff leaked is not highly secret material, and as such, it probably already has found its way into the archives of every significant intelligence service in this world.

The good guys know the facts, the bad guys do too...

How do you know that the 'bad guys' are privy to 'highly secret material'?

But now, WikiLeaks has been met with new doubts. Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders have joined the Pentagon in criticizing the organization for risking people's lives by publishing war logs identifying Afghans working for the Americans or acting as informers.

Assange will very much deserve the sentence that he will very likely receive.

[Ulysses G.]

Bob Beckel is a well known liberal, but he feels there will be many deaths because of Assange and he makes a case for his position that is not to be easily dismissed. Watch the video.

Liberal you say?

Even some liberals object to spreading stolen state secrets that could damage a lot of lives.

[KhunAussie52]

Killing Assange could be the right course of action IF the leaked material could really threaten the lives of many of the "good people" out there.

But I seriously doubt this is the case.

The diplomatic cables and other stuff leaked is not highly secret material, and as such, it probably already has found its way into the archives of every significant intelligence service in this world.

The good guys know the facts, the bad guys do too...

How do you know that the 'bad guys' are privy to 'highly secret material'?

But now, WikiLeaks has been met with new doubts. Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders have joined the Pentagon in criticizing the organization for risking people's lives by publishing war logs identifying Afghans working for the Americans or acting as informers.

Assange will very much deserve the sentence that he will very likely receive.

Judge,Jury and executioner.................how sad!!!