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[EnigmaticHat]

I think socialism would be a more accurate term for what we're talking about.  Communism implies, well, communes; and getting an already industrialized society to that point requires massive social change.  Hence totalitarianism.  To implement communism in a modern society requires, at minimum, restricting freedom of movement.  And probably a bunch of other restrictions as well.  Communism, unlike socialism, makes broad assumptions about how people should live their lives.

Capitalism inside a communist government = modern China.  These days they put on a decent face but I for one would not want to live there.

[misko27]

Is Julian Assange Ameripol related? Because if it is, he was just arrested.

[thompson]

Is Julian Assange Ameripol related? Because if it is, he was just arrested.

It certainly should be. Someone from the US government is bound to comment on it soon.

[da_nang]

Inb4 blacksite + gitmo extradition.

[SalmonGod]

Yeah... when he ends up being tortured in a U.S. prison alongside Manning, can we please get an acknowledgement that he's been absolutely right in his assessment of his legal situation and paranoia for the last 8 years?  Because I've had a fuckton of arguments, including around here, denying this.

[Frumple]

If it happens, I guess. So long as we can agree he's a pretty shitty human being otherwise.

[sluissa]

I was going to say, given that Manning's sentence was commuted by Obama at the end of his term, that would be difficult. But apparently she's gotten herself locked up again through contempt of court for refusing to testify to a grand jury about wikileaks.

As much as I might have sympathy for her original sentencing being extreme and unfair... getting yourself locked up for contempt of court is a dumbass move. And given what sort of career path she's turned to lately, seems to be more publicity than anything that makes sense.

[da_nang]

Incoming extradition order.

[Frumple]

I was going to say, given that Manning's sentence was commuted by Obama at the end of his term, that would be difficult. But apparently she's gotten herself locked up again through contempt of court for refusing to testify to a grand jury about wikileaks.

As much as I might have sympathy for her original sentencing being extreme and unfair... getting yourself locked up for contempt of court is a dumbass move. And given what sort of career path she's turned to lately, seems to be more publicity than anything that makes sense.

Like, the solitary that was inflicted on her as part of the latest bit was pretty certainly excessive, but... yeah, I've had it pointed out that the ability to walk out at any point complicates the situation. Manning's at least somewhat more sympathetic, if apparently prone to varyingly poor decision making. Assange is just a prick on several fronts.

[SalmonGod]

If it happens, I guess. So long as we can agree he's a pretty shitty human being otherwise.

The only thing that came out of the sexual assault allegations, imo, is the vague impression that he's probably kind of a sleaze in his personal life.  Any stronger opinion than that would have to be either based on unproven assumptions, or swallowing the indignant narrative tone set by states who got burned for their own bad behaviors.  And it has zero bearing on his political activities.

The only reasons I can think of for regarding him as a shitty human being outside of those allegations is if you're basically ideologically opposed to investigative journalism, or salty about 2016 because we got Trump. 

I can understand being salty about 2016.  But I personally have little sympathy for anyone getting burned for engaging in corrupt closed doors bullshit to manipulate politics, regardless of which team they're on.  I don't care if it was in cooperation with Russia or timed to impact the election.  These operations should be transparent to public scrutiny, and if they don't want to get burned, they shouldn't engage in bullshit.  No one should be spared that for any reason.

I was going to say, given that Manning's sentence was commuted by Obama at the end of his term, that would be difficult. But apparently she's gotten herself locked up again through contempt of court for refusing to testify to a grand jury about wikileaks.

As much as I might have sympathy for her original sentencing being extreme and unfair... getting yourself locked up for contempt of court is a dumbass move. And given what sort of career path she's turned to lately, seems to be more publicity than anything that makes sense.

... ethical conviction and integrity might have something to do with it?.... maybe pay attention to their own public statements as to why they refused?

[Frumple]

These operations should be transparent to public scrutiny, and if they don't want to get burned, they shouldn't engage in bullshit.  No one should be spared that for any reason.

So you want Assange set on fire, too. Good time know, I guess.

[SalmonGod]

For.... what?.... facilitating transparency?

[Frumple]

For engaging in corrupt, closed door bullshit to manipulate politics. We're pretty aware at this point that wikileak's actions during the 2016 election fits that to a T, probably moreso than anything they actually dug up related to it.

[SalmonGod]

I guess all I can say is I don't feel the same way, and it's hard for me not to see that sentiment as partisan in nature.  I sincerely doubt that if the targets of the leaks and the outcomes and the resentment for it were coming from the other side that the same people would be saying such things.

But regardless, this is a blow to journalism.

The official U.S. language in relation to Wikileaks has been that they're a "non-state hostile intelligence service".

Please tell me how in the hell any investigative journalism is supposed to take place anywhere in the world when legal precedent is being set for extradition to a superpower in relation to that kind of language being floated around.  It's baffling to me how anyone can not find this chilling.

The UK has officially admitted as of an hour ago that the arrest is partially in relation to U.S. request for extradition.  The indictment has been unsealed by the U.S. Justice Department, and the charges are for the Manning leaks.  So Assange has been right all along that he's been facing extradition to the U.S. all of these 8 years.  Glad that's finally settled.

[Egan_BW]

Journalists are spies for the public. If the US considers them hostile, that implies that they consider the public to be an enemy~