Major Media Support Assange’s Unlawful Arrest
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org – Home – Stephen Lendman)
Prosecuting Assange for the “crime” of truth-telling journalism risks elimination of virtually all fundamental freedoms in the US, UK, and other Western societies.
It reflects the triumph of tyranny over the rule of law, as well as equity and justice for all.
Instead of unequivocally denouncing what’s going on, major US media blamed the victim, the NYT saying Assange “deserves his fate (while) set(ting) a dangerous precedent,” adding:
He’s “an odious person (sic) who initially sought refuge in the embassy to dodge charges stemming from an alleged sexual assault in Sweden.”
“In the 2016 election, Assange acted as a conduit for Russian intelligence services that had hacked emails from top Democrats.”
“There is ample evidence of his misogyny and anti-Semitism. He might be known as an information anarchist, but by helping Trump become president, he became a handmaiden to authoritarianism.”
“So Assange may well deserve to go to prison.” No responsible editors would touch the above rubbish. Times editors featured it.
Fact: Phony rape and sexual abuse charges against him by Swedish authorities were later dropped because they had no validity.
Fact: Assange is an investigative journalist, publishing material from reliable sources believed to be true.
Fact: Accusing him of ties to Russian intelligence or any other governments is a bald-faced Big Lie, not a shred of evidence suggesting it – nor any suggesting he’s guilty of misogyny and anti-Semitism.
Fact: He had nothing to do with helping Trump triumph over media darling Hillary, her own worst enemy, proved time and against during her abysmal campaign and by her deplorable record as me-first lady, US senator, and secretary of state – a tool of Wall Street and the military, industrial, security, media complex.
Fact: Like countless other times, the self-styled newspaper of record blamed the victim, failing to praise Assange, Chelsea Manning, and other heroic figures for exposing US high crime of war, against humanity, and other major criminal offenses.
The neocon/CIA-connected Washington Post turned truth on its head, saying “Julian Assange is not a free-press hero (sic). And he is long overdue for personal accountability (sic),” adding:
His “case could conclude as a victory for the rule of law (sic), not the defeat for civil liberties (sic).” Claiming “WikiLeaks published material stolen from the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman John Podesta” is a bald-faced Big Lie.
Information was leaked by a DNC insider, not stolen, an indisputable fact the national security state and supportive media want suppressed.
Neither WikiLeaks or Assange acted “as a front (for) Russian intelligence (sic)…for its (alleged) interference (sic) in the US election.” Not a shred of evidence supports both falsified accusations.
WaPo: “Mr. Assange…published secret government documents…obtained…unethically” – a bald-faced Big Lie.
Fact: WikiLeaks published information exposing US high crimes of war and against humanity, along with leaked DNC material, things everyone has a right to know, what establishment media suppress.
WaPo: (U)nlike real journalists (sic), WikiLeaks dumped material into the public domain without any effort independently to verify its factuality (sic)…”
Polar opposite is true! WikiLeaks publishes leaked information from reliable sources it believes to be true and is vital to reveal – a vitally important public service.
WaPo: “…Mr. Assange’s transfer to US custody, followed possibly by additional Russia-related charges or his conversion into a cooperating witness, could be the key to learning more about Russian intelligence’s efforts to undermine democracy in the West (sic). Certainly he is long overdue for personal accountability (sic).”
Fact: Russia seeks cooperative relations with other countries, conspiring against none, doing nothing to undermine democracy (sic) in the West – polar opposite how the US and its imperial partners operate.
Fact: How could Russia undermine what doesn’t exist, not in the US, UK, or other Western societies!
The Wall Street Journal urged “accountability for Assange,” turning truth on its head, saying he “has done much harm to American interests over the last decade (sic),” adding:
“It’s notable, and welcome, that Mr. Assange isn’t being charged under the Espionage Act of 1917.”
Fact: Once extradited to US custody, a second indictment on espionage charges is likely, maybe certain – similar to bogus charges against Chelsea Manning, what got her wrongfully sentenced to 35 years imprisonment, commuted by Obama, then again arrested and detained for invoking her constitutional rights not to give witch hunt grand jury testimony.
The Journal repeated the Big Lie claim about WikiLeaks publishing hacked DNC and Hillary campaign information, failing to explain it was leaked by a Dem insider.
The Journal: “…Mr. Assange has never been a hero of transparency or democratic accountability” – a bald-faced Big Lie.
The Journal: “His targets always seem to be democratic institutions or governments (sic)…If he really is such a defender of transparency, he should have no fear of a trial to defend his methods.”
Fact: No “democratic institutions or governments” exist in the West – nor due process or equal protection under law, especially not in the US or UK run by fascist regimes.
Post-9/11, police state America abolished fundamental rule of law principles, why longterm imprisonment awaits Assange if extradited to the US – guilty by accusation of the “crime” of truth-telling journalism the way it should be.
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