Once again, Wikileaks and founder Julian Assange are being assailed for putting lives at risk or damaging the diplomatic process. The Express-Times even had an editorial today condemning Assange for ‘placing some people, relationships, and military operations at risk.’
I don’t know about you, but I find it bizarre that anyone—but especially a newspaper—should blame the messenger instead of condemning the liars and war criminals who are exposed and embarrassed by the leaks! I suppose they condemned Daniel Ellsberg for releasing what came to be known as the Pentagon Papers. How will they react when documents revealing the facts about the assassination of JFK, MLK, and RFK are released, or more evidence of the unending stream of war crimes?
As Elaine Scarry wrote in the February/March 2004 issue of Boston Review, ‘The double requirement—that people’s lives be private and government actions be public—is turned inside out…’ She was writing about the damage done by USA PATRIOT Act, but the counter-Constitutional thinking that underlies that act are now being incorporated as standard operating procedure throughout the government.
I urge you to write letters to the editor of every newspaper or media outlet that condemns Wikileaks for being hypocrites and protecting the criminals.
YouTube video: JFK speaks to the American Newspaper Publishers Association about secrecy.