#FreeAssange Has Achieved Its Purpose
Today Julian Assange arrived in Australia and met family and especially his wife Stella.
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When the news came out yesterday that Julian Assange would sign a plea bargain on the U.S. controlled island of Saipan I was very skeptical. A plea bargain is where one is under pressure to lie, i.e. to admit a crime that wasn't done, to get out of prison. The whole thing smelled like a trap. I expected bad news to follow.
But now he is free and I hope for him to have time to rest and to recuperate from the torture he was made to go through.
I would still advise him to watch his back. The U.S. deep state is unlikely to ever forgive and forget.
My thanks go out to everyone who kept the case alive and pushed it towards this positive outcome.
Posted by b on June 26, 2024 at 13:55 UTC | Permalink
next page »Now when will Putin free Navalny?
Posted by: Egads | Jun 26 2024 14:05 utc | 2
On the 1st of Never, I hope, as it should be. Navalny is a traitor controlled by the Evil Empire.
Julian Assange's only crime was authentic practice of 'Journalism'. EGADS! The temerity of the man.
Posted by: Zippy the Pinhead | Jun 26 2024 14:12 utc | 3
Navalny was a spy for the US, Assange is a journalist doing is his job. The two are not related.
Posted by: Ed | Jun 26 2024 14:16 utc | 4
I was trying to list off major stories Assange / Wikileaks have broken over the years off the top of my head to a friend, but I'm sure there so many important things I forgot about or missed. Does anyone have a link to a short comprehensive list of his most important work? Or if someone could post their own top list.
Posted by: James C | Jun 26 2024 14:16 utc | 5
It still reains to be seen what Assange, his family or the British Qween/King's Dominion (or Dumb Union) of Australia have actually reached with the CIA, The United Zionists of North Amerika or others.
Will he be allowed ever to leave Aussie-land at will to where he wishes?
Have the high perties to the underlying and unpublished conditions committed themselves to keep Julien and Family out of politics and publishing?
Time remains to be seen after he regains his health.
Posted by: Tollef Ås/秋涛乐/טלפ וש | Jun 26 2024 14:18 utc | 6
Egads @2
Seems like you haven't kept up with the news: Navalny, the convicted criminal fraudster, is dead.
Posted by: SLM | Jun 26 2024 14:19 utc | 7
The persecution of Assange will echo as an example of bad decisions by the US. Four presidents wear another badge of shame.
Saying that I do particularly like that he pleaded guilty to not actually doing anything (conspiracy).
Posted by: Polli | Jun 26 2024 14:21 utc | 8
. . .from Stars & Stripes
The WikiLeaks Baghdad airstrike video that made Assange a household name
The footage starts with an aerial view of a group of nine men walking along mostly-empty streets in Al-Amin, a neighborhood in Baghdad. Two of them are holding cameras, while two others appear to have weapons. The black-and-white video quickly turns chaotic as U.S. forces on the Apache helicopter, with the call sign Crazyhorse 18, gain permission to fire and then shoot indiscriminately at the men. Gunfire continues for 25 seconds and it appears that nearly everyone is dead. The airmen can be heard laughing and at one point complimenting each other on their “good shoot.” But just as an explosion of dust fills the screen, Reuters staff photographer Namir Noor-Eldeen, 22, can be seen sprinting toward the right before crashing into a heap of trash and falling to the ground. The gunner then fires three more bursts with the cannon, killing Noor-Eldeen as he could be seen trying to stand, The Washington Post previously reported. The 38-minute classified aerial video of a 2007 attack in a Baghdad suburb that killed at least 11 — including two Reuters staffers — was released by WikiLeaks in April 2010, causing a media maelstrom and bringing global attention on Julian Assange, the creator of the anti-secrecy website. The leak came at a time when the Iraq War was widely unpopular across the country. President Barack Obama’s self-imposed deadline to shut down Guantánamo Bay had passed months ago without action, and his promises to end the “long war,” which began even before he took office in 2009, were starting to ring hollow. News outlets around the world, including The Post, used video clips from “Collateral Murder” - the title WikiLeaks gave the raw footage, along with a 17-minute edited version and other documents - to publish their own stories. WikiLeaks also released a transcript of conversations between the U.S. forces firing on the Baghdad site. . . .here
Posted by: Don Bacon | Jun 26 2024 14:23 utc | 9
On the occasion of Assange's release, "Collateral Murder" has been repeatedly re-aired. That's the helicopter footage of a street-corner massacre in Iraq, leaked by Manning to Assange, but I give the soldier on the inside credit for recognizing what a terrible document it is.
That video was a transformative moment in my life -- a passage after which you can't go back. I have to jump up and switch off the radio or TV when they rebroadcast, it's that painful for me. That sound -- "clear" ditditditditdit -- then the half-second delay before the people crumple into red dust. On and on it goes. Businesslike, casual, another day at the office. It's part of a wad of inextinguishable memories, for me. Playing over in my head at random moments.
Most of all, I remember markedly parting company with fellow US Americans at that time. At family gatherings, or with colleagues and friends, we virtually never encountered anyone who had a reaction to this video similar to my own. I don't understand it. I'm just not put together the same way, and I gradually adjust to that realization.
That's the deepest truth I owe to the work of Julian and friends.
Posted by: Aleph_Null | Jun 26 2024 14:25 utc | 10
IANAL, but apparently the terms of the plea agreement are very restrictive. Apparently he has to either turn over any info in his/Wikileaks possession or delete or destroy any information and certify that it has been destroyed, and can't publish any of the info. The Deep State can't have any derogatory or embarrassing info on FJB, the Clintons, or the democrat elite coming out just before an election.
Posted by: Phil R | Jun 26 2024 14:26 utc | 11
It's amazing to me how everything the deep state tries comes back to bite them. Sanctions, Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq - everything! Now as hard as they have tried to demonize this man, he is and always will be a hero in the eyes of the whole world. They actually hire people and apparently pay them well to devise all these strategies that invariably backfire. People with incalculable intelligence: https://folkpotpourri.com/thanks-to-tanks-of-thought/
Posted by: Ozark Grandpa | Jun 26 2024 14:30 utc | 12
Huzzah!!!
Finally some movement in the right direction. More to come, I hope.
Posted by: DjangoCat | Jun 26 2024 14:37 utc | 13
Only a humanity hating psychopath would crap out a comment such as "When will Russia free Nalvany (the cia asset).
Or an indoctrinated idiot....
Posted by: Robert Hope | Jun 26 2024 14:41 utc | 14
Thanks b.
You've echoed my train of thought precisely.
...
Pompous, deadbeat AmeriKKKa's reputation just took a major hit. If there was a worse way the dumbass Yankees could have dealt with this clusterfuck, it doesn't spring to mind.
Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Jun 26 2024 14:43 utc | 15
Ozark Grandpa @ 12
It's amazing to me how everything the deep state tries comes back to bite them.
Not amazing, blowback is The Emperor's prerogative, the empire has the critical mass economically, politically, militarily and culturally to absorb the blowback. Someone else always pays the cost as they see their own people as factory farmed chickens, and they are just as willing to prey on contenders of their own class, they have no scruples in any parameter, in fact my guess is they see blowback as a challenge, if not outright fun, and anyway it keeps the aristocrats busy and the underlings employed. The whole sordid history of the British empire is basically juggling blowback till they passed the fire torches to the USA.
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Jun 26 2024 14:43 utc | 16
Mickey FINN Pompeo the, Horah war dancer, wanted him dead ... he threatened him which means that , Pompeo is to be arrested whenever he visits Australia . Threatening to kill gets you penal , penetrating , time, in either Port Arthur or Norfolk Island in Australia . Anyway in 2010 Julian was quoted in Haaretz ,via CIA 's , Time Mag ..."We can see the Israeli Prime Minister (tsar) Netanyahu coming out with a very interesting statement that leaders should speak in public like they do in private whenever they can .He believes that the result of this publication ,which makes the sentiments of many privately held beliefs public , are promising a pretty good... will lead to some kind of increase in the peace process in the Middle East and particularly to Iran." ....etc etc , ....''as an example of a world leader who believes the publications will aid global diplomacy'' Dec 1 ...reported Dec2 2010. I'm glad he is out , a naive fool who is lucky he is alive .
Posted by: Paleologos | Jun 26 2024 14:49 utc | 18
So many interest groups pulling in different directions. American Civil War II looming closer?
Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Jun 26 2024 14:51 utc | 19
Neigung, Leignung, Lügen oder sich fügen -- worein besteht das unterschied?
,
--Or to put it into more plain Euro-English:
'
What is 'la distinction entre..." --pardon my French-- the difference between having to lie or to get laid, between running away or "Should I go or should I stay?".
I hope the answer "will und wird uns wohl bekommen": In dass "The one who runs (is sent)away, will live to fight another day."
.
In China thay said very early: "Amongst all the lists of lisst and strategems, the best us to copt out" (Sanshiliu-ji, shang-ji wei zou/三十六計：上極為走）
.
（走／zôumeant 'to run away', later on 'to walk' or 'to serve' -- like in "the running dogs of imperialism (dìguó'-zhûyì zôu-gôu/帝國主義走狗) like that corpse Navaldny and the candidate corpse called Zelenskiy -- which means either "someone who's quit green" (i,e, inexperienced or unqualified -- or additionally too stupidly hopeful or just now about to puke.
Posted by: Tollef Ås/秋涛乐/טלפ וש | Jun 26 2024 14:55 utc | 20
At least he got home (or close enough, something I read about a secluded house raises the question someone elese talked about of how free he'll be)
On the other hand my favorite was the diplomatic mails... might not have been the one with more impact at the public level, but it sure shit-faced state department.
Posted by: Newbie | Jun 26 2024 14:57 utc | 21
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”
Orwell
Posted by: g wiltek | Jun 26 2024 14:57 utc | 22
I would advise Assange to move out of Australia. That nation did absolutely nothing to help its citizen.
Between that fact and other facts like Australia's abject submission to the US - he would be a fool to stick around.
Posted by: c1ue | Jun 26 2024 14:58 utc | 23
Why bother to try to understand America Policy? America is the Comic Book version of an Empire. No morality, no comprehension. It is like calling Lipton Chicken packaged chemicals soup, while claiming Russians have to eat beet soup.
As scum Karl Rove bragged, "you'll be analyzing what we just did, while we are busy creating a new issue." Living in the Penthouse of a London tower on fire.
Insular but not insulated.
Posted by: kupkee | Jun 26 2024 14:59 utc | 25
“To maintain that power it is essential that people remain in ignorance, that they live in ignorance of the truth, even the truth of their own lives. What surrounds us therefore is a vast tapestry of lies, upon which we feed.
Direct invasion of a sovereign state has never in fact been America’s favoured method. In the main, it has preferred what it has described as ‘low intensity conflict’. Low intensity conflict means that thousands of people die but slower than if you dropped a bomb on them in one fell swoop.
It means that you infect the heart of the country, that you establish a malignant growth and watch the gangrene bloom. When the populace has been subdued – or beaten to death – the same thing – and your own friends, the military and the great corporations, sit comfortably in power, you go before the camera and say that democracy has prevailed.
The United States supported and in many cases engendered every right wing military dictatorship in the world after the end of the Second World War. I refer to Indonesia, Greece, Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, Haiti, Turkey, the Philippines, Guatemala, El Salvador, and, of course, Chile. The horror the United States inflicted upon Chile in 1973 can never be purged and can never be forgiven.
Hundreds of thousands of deaths took place throughout these countries. Did they take place? And are they in all cases attributable to US foreign policy? The answer is yes they did take place and they are attributable to American foreign policy. But you wouldn’t know it.
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.
I put to you that the United States is without doubt the greatest show on the road. Brutal, indifferent, scornful and ruthless it may be but it is also very clever. As a salesman it is out on its own and its most saleable commodity is self love. It’s a winner.”
Harold Pinter, 2005 Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech
Posted by: wagelaborer | Jun 26 2024 15:01 utc | 26
We celebrated Julian Assange is free holiday, yesterday. Any talk about him being anything but the real thing is trash. Julian went to hell and back for years now, in some British torture chamber and all for the crime of telling the truth. He also played a rather large part in getting Trump elected rather then Hillary Clinton and I think that got the powers really upset. I wish Julian nothing but the best, take good care of yourself, you did so much to help us understand this world and everyone owes you. Many thanks Julian.
Posted by: meshpal | Jun 26 2024 15:01 utc | 27
Collateral murder. I think it was the critical point for me too. It all became clear. Assange pushed me into it! Glad he did, in a way. It took some time to wake up.
Posted by: g wiltek | Jun 26 2024 15:01 utc | 28
I got a tyre repaired and heard the mechanic shop radio saying Assange might run for politics in australia . I don't think Assange wants to go into the vipers nest and go toe to toe with professional liars for a career choice. Anyway seemed a really odd thing to say to anyone that knows his situation.
Posted by: Hankster | Jun 26 2024 15:03 utc | 29
Some at the bar are confused today.
They thought that "freedom of speech" was a core Western value like sodomy, debt slavery, or colonization.
Happy for Julian.
Allahu a'alam.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Jun 26 2024 15:07 utc | 30
Yes, close to a miracle that Assange is free!! But Gitmo is still open and houses innocents that aren't as fortunate, and the global plundering class continues its crime wave. Thus, there remains much work to be done.
Imo, this is the beginning of the End of the US of A. I can't decide whether the backround music for the movie should be the Ritual Fire Dance or Night on Bald Mountain.
Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Jun 26 2024 15:15 utc | 32
Washington uses disinformation as a cover for its nefarious deeds.
. . .Blinken Press Statement today
International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
Press Statement
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State
June 26, 2024
On this International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the United States reiterates our condemnation of torture and recognizes the bravery, dignity, and humanity of victims and survivors of torture around the world. Despite the absolute prohibition of torture under international law, governments continue to use torture and other inhumane treatment as tools of repression against detainees, human rights defenders, members of marginalized populations, and those who voice opinions with which these governments disagree. The United States condemns torture wherever and whenever it occurs. We call on all governments to take steps to prevent torture, to hold perpetrators accountable, and to support victims and survivors of these horrific acts. . .here
Posted by: Don Bacon | Jun 26 2024 15:15 utc | 33
Posted by: Ozark Grandpa | Jun 26 2024 14:30 utc | 12
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A sign the Roman Empire is on its last leg and the multipolar new order is emerging where Russia and China are leading the pack. In fact, the us with its vile colonial credo and supremacist ideology has lost all its relevance and people are starting to distant themselves from it for good.
Posted by: AI | Jun 26 2024 15:17 utc | 34
I recommend viewing this clip of Assange's lawyers speaking from the courthouse. 10 minute length and a lot of questions answered, in particular, the plea.
https://youtu.be/unu1QcaszVY?si=ShiJWwOVcEM2UbI0
Posted by: morongobill | Jun 26 2024 15:17 utc | 35
on torture, from the web. . .
As one of his first acts as president, Barack Obama outlawed torture. Henceforth, the Army Field Manual on Intelligence Interrogation, or AFM, would serve as the bible for both CIA and military intelligence agencies. The era of torture seemed to be over.//
So in Afghanistan suspected insurgents (opponents of US invasion & occupation) would generally just be killed.
Posted by: Don Bacon | Jun 26 2024 15:20 utc | 36
Posted by: c1ue | Jun 26 2024 14:58 utc | 23
Not according to Assange's UK/Australian counsel, who described in detail the Australian government's efforts to get this settlement with the US.
See my link above.
Posted by: morongobill | Jun 26 2024 15:23 utc | 37
The criminals walk around free while the innocent are imprisoned.
Obama and General Petraeus are just two. Go get them Assange!!
Here is a Wikileaks cable that you may not be familiar with.
You can see why Assange is hated by the blood thirsty warmongers.
A week after Obama gave his speech accepting the Nobel Peace Prize
he slaughtered dozens of women and children in Yemen.
He topped that war crime off by covering up the crime.
It was claimed that the Pentagon was targeting a terrorist in Yemen.
Legal problem was that his organization wasn't on the official list
of designated terrorist organizations (darn that paperwork!).
Obama/Pentagon missed their target but slaughtered dozens of women and children.
The perps met with their Yemen counterparts afterwards and the meeting was
described in a memo. Yemen covered for Obama/Pentagon by publicly claiming
that Yemen forces had accidentily killed all those women and children,
but that pesky Assange and his organization leaked the memo!
The cable summing up a meeting between General Petraeus and President Saleh of Yemen
discusses laundering weapons to get around the 'American "bureaucracy"'.
Was this standard operating procedure? We sell weapons to Saudi Arabia and they
transfer them to President Saleh of Yemen to use against the Houthis.
https://search.wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/10SANAA4_a.html
"The U.S. could convince Saudi Arabia and the UAE to supply six
helicopters each if the American "bureaucracy" prevented
quick approval, Saleh suggested. The General responded that
he had already considered the ROYG's request for helicopters
and was in discussions with Saudi Arabia on the matter. "We
won't use the helicopters in Sa'ada, I promise. Only against
al-Qaeda," Saleh told General Petraeus."
Saleh *'promised'* to use the helicopters only in war #1 and not war #2.
In the same meeting the Yemeni made a joke about lying to their own Parliament.
""We'll continue saying the
bombs are ours, not yours," Saleh said, prompting Deputy
Prime Minister Alimi to joke that he had just "lied" by
telling Parliament that the bombs in Arhab, Abyan, and Shebwa
were American-made but deployed by the ROYG."
The lie was well appreciated by the American side who gifted the Yemeni
with an increase in U.S. security assistance.
---
Have to include this too. General Petraeus demonstrates intimate familial knowledge
of the women and children he slaughtered, else complete shamelessness:
"4. (S/NF) Saleh praised the December 17 and 24 strikes
against AQAP but said that "mistakes were made" in the
killing of civilians in Abyan. The General responded that
the only civilians killed were the wife and two children of
an AQAP operative at the site,"
According to Amnesty International the December 17th attack alone was devastating:
"A Yemeni parliamentary inquiry found that 41 local residents, including 14 women and 21 children, and 14 alleged al-Qa’ida members were killed in the attack."
Posted by: librul | Jun 26 2024 15:25 utc | 38
@38
double-space and reduce lengths away, but don't expect me to try to read it.
Posted by: Don Bacon | Jun 26 2024 15:29 utc | 39
Posted by: James C | Jun 26 2024 14:16 utc | 5
Started with Collateral Murder.
Then Diplomatic Cables
Then Dem & Clinton emails.
One of the few to survive crossing the Clintons.
He & Stella & co. should plan to get out of dodge & behind a friendly iron curtain. They'll be safer & freer.
Posted by: Mary | Jun 26 2024 15:32 utc | 40
/cheep
I am happy for him and his family. ^.^ May they savor each other's company. They know deeply its value.
(Australia being so cucked is essentially house arrest. But I also choose to celebrate the small victories. Let the man enjoy his family after such misery.)
/cheep cheep
Posted by: titmouse | Jun 26 2024 15:33 utc | 41
@Posted by: Don Bacon | Jun 26 2024 15:29 utc | 39
Here is a short version just for you.
Assange and his organization leaked a Pentagon memo.
The memo revealed multiple Pentagon and Obama crimes.
The perps hated Assange for it. Assange did years of imprisonment,
the perps are still walking.
Posted by: librul | Jun 26 2024 15:34 utc | 42
Mh505 @ 17
He should immediately emigrate to Russia
No he shouldn't, he doesn't need more isolation, he has a family and that's his first priority, in Australia and the west he has his father, close friends and allies who can easily visit who provide support and companionship. I'm sure the rules based terms of the agreement was, "we'll be watching you" but they are watching us all, but you still live your life.
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Jun 26 2024 15:37 utc | 43
Like to express fellowship with others above adversely affected by the 'collateral murder' video. It was too much for me as well. I'd never seen (innocent)human beings shredded by 30mm cannon before.
The dialogue was almost equally repulsive.
Posted by: john | Jun 26 2024 15:39 utc | 44
Hoarsewhisperer @ 19
So many interest groups pulling in different directions. American Civil War II looming closer?
You really see Beavis fighting Butthead? I don't.
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Jun 26 2024 15:42 utc | 45
paleologos@1449
Pompeo/Pomposity is both CIA and "Christian" Zionist. If any poster can come up with a candidate for evil incarnate than that pizza-chit; then speak loud or forever hold your piece. It's highly doubtful that even the Orange-Man could actually have elevated that ambulatory turd to high orfice. He was selected by the usual suspects and the (s)elected one simply replied: "Yes, Massa. Whatever you say, Ma$$a".
Posted by: aristodemos | Jun 26 2024 15:43 utc | 46
"Assange should move to Russia"...Yes, but I think it would be too much of a hardship for Stella and their kids...
"The sanctions have backfired.." Yes, and they will ultimately doom the Western banking system, including Switzerland....
We are in one of those periods where, to quote Lenin "decades happen in weeks."
Posted by: pyrrhus | Jun 26 2024 15:44 utc | 47
@ James C
“Wikileaks have broken over the years off the top of my head to a friend, but I'm sure there so many important things I forgot about or missed. Does anyone have a link to a short comprehensive list of his most important work? Or if someone could post their own top list.” Posted by: James C | Jun 26 2024 14:16 utc | 5
The 2015 book The Wikileaks Files: The World According to Empire with an introduction by Julian provides a peek into the rich vein of primary material released in the Diplomatic Cables, revealing of the inner workings of the empire.
These millions of diplomatic documents has been available now for about ten years. At the time of publishing Assange reported on the response by empire to the release: hysterically censoring, veiling, the eyes of its gov employees from these many millions of words which were communicated in the supposed privacy of the bureaucracy’s halls of power.
This ban on reading the files included guv employees with security clearances, a ritual enacting group-belong or else. But the horse had left the barn.
Assange also reported in his intro to the book how the mainstream scholarly world at the time saluted and enforced the gov’s censorship by refusing to publish articles in international relations journals which cited these valuable primary sources.
This official response to the diplomatic truths revealed in the files( Like Burns’ “Nyet means Nyet.”) furthered the bubble-ification of the managerial classes.
Moronic behaviours rippled throughout the empire, acts and thoughts grounded in distortions of reality via ommisions and otherwise. And we are where we are, in tatters on the verge of self-annhilation, despite the heroic journalist Julian who provided the means for us to navigate reality.
Make Julian heal from 12 years of having his head on a pike and know that we love him
Posted by: suzan | Jun 26 2024 15:45 utc | 48
@Posted by: librul | Jun 26 2024 15:25 utc | 38
US of A is AKA Liars are Us. Julian Assange opened lots of eyes to the fact that the US gov't is not unlike Iz Ra Hell in that crimes they accuse others of are things they are doing, with glee and impunity. I can't understand people who celebrate 4th of July and happily wear red, white, and blue. "...Bombs bursting in air..." Yeah, that's something to admire.
Posted by: Share | Jun 26 2024 15:54 utc | 50
Tollef@1455
A cunning linguist, no doubt. A bit heavy on the Opland Aquavit peut etre? Aber nicht verstandlich. Det var Sind.
Posted by: aristodemos | Jun 26 2024 15:55 utc | 51
Delighted for Assange and his family. I can't see him being a public figure again, he's probably been handed a nice pension and been warned.
No journalist has been as courageous since the Clintons went after him and I fear no journalist will for a very long time. So, the elites have won once again.
That's what the Assange legacy is.
Posted by: Eoin Clancy | Jun 26 2024 15:57 utc | 52
Egads | Jun 26 2024 14:05 utc | 2
*** Now when will Putin free Navalny?***
Surely you mean Strelkov?
Posted by: Cynic | Jun 26 2024 15:58 utc | 53
wiltek@1457
Nailed it. Throughout the Collective Wa$te, impositional and collective insanity is the leitmotif these daze. Orwell was a call it like it is seer and visionary.
Posted by: aristodemos | Jun 26 2024 15:59 utc | 54
Remember how they accused Assange of violating two Swedish women? The US is predictable in how they try to smear opponents.
Posted by: Passerby | Jun 26 2024 15:59 utc | 55
thanks b...
bravo! a truth teller of the highest order has been set free.. meanwhile the usa-uk leadership reeks to high heaven... what have they done with the skripals?
Posted by: james | Jun 26 2024 16:01 utc | 56
kupkee@1459
Due to incessant impositional programming, whether in the parental household, by means of Boobtoob Noose, or the deliberate dumbing-down edumacaisional system as instructed by John D. Rottenfeller...the average Murrikkkan is ensconced within a cartooniverse comprehension of the universe. The comfort zone is to get along by going along with all of the above.
Posted by: aristodemos | Jun 26 2024 16:04 utc | 57
Egads @2
Seems like you haven't kept up with the news: Navalny, the convicted criminal fraudster, is dead.
Posted by: SLM | Jun 26 2024 14:19 utc | 7
---------------------------------------------------------
That was my point at #4.
"Navalny was a spy for the US, Assange is a journalist doing is his job. The two are not related."
Posted by: Ed | Jun 26 2024 14:16 utc | 4
---------------------------------------------------------
Egads needs more training from NED's propaganda school.
Posted by: Ed | Jun 26 2024 16:06 utc | 58
Don Bacon | Jun 26 2024 14:23 utc | 9
I found it quite ironic that the least shocking "revelation" Wikileaks ever published got the most attention. "US commits war crimes in Iraq" - also, liquid water has been discovered on planet Earth!
Somehow I have difficulties believing Washington (or Langley) will let him carry on his life.
Hopefully I'm wrong.
Posted by: smuks | Jun 26 2024 16:10 utc | 59
According to Stella Assange, Julian was not permitted to fly to his plea hearing or to Australia using commercial carriers and so was provided with a charter and a corresponding $500,000 bill from the Australian government, members of which are self-congratulating themselves for "standing up" for Aussie citizens.
Meng, the Huawei executive held in Canada, also had to sign a face-saving plea deal from US Justice Dept.
This allows mainstream media coverage to portray these "perps" as getting off lucky.
Posted by: jayc | Jun 26 2024 16:11 utc | 60
Egads | Jun 26 2024 14:05 utc | 2
*** Now when will Putin free Navalny?***
Surely you mean Strelkov?
Posted by: Cynic | Jun 26 2024 15:58 utc | 53
____
Maybe (s)he meant Gershkovich.
Posted by: malenkov | Jun 26 2024 16:12 utc | 61
Delighted for Assange and his family. I can't see him being a public figure again, he's probably been handed a nice pension
Posted by: Eoin Clancy | Jun 26 2024 15:57 utc | 52
_____
Pension? They made him take a $520K charter flight—and charged him for it.
Posted by: malenkov | Jun 26 2024 16:14 utc | 62
donbacon@1515
Even Ursula von der Lyin, could not have come up with a more convoluted and involuted, in your face hyprocisy than Winkin, Blinken and $tinkin's utterly Orwellian gobbledegook. In this dystopian surreality of our ruptured-republic; it appears that the designated spokespersons are doing their Yank-Me best to outdo the previous town-crier. They not merely know no shame...they actually revel in their duplicity as being some sacred Ikon.
Posted by: aristodemos | Jun 26 2024 16:15 utc | 63
Glad he's finally 'free' and immensely appreciative and grateful for his contributions. Remember the others forgotten and left behind. The struggle continues. Free Peltier!
Posted by: John Gilberts | Jun 26 2024 16:16 utc | 64
I can't understand people who celebrate 4th of July and happily wear red, white, and blue. "...Bombs bursting in air..." Yeah, that's something to admire.
@Posted by: Share | Jun 26 2024 15:54 utc | 50
Was sung at a baseball stadium I recently attended. What can I say, I like to sing along.
Of note to me was the final phrase, "and the home of the brave."
The image of sheep queuing for vaccine shots came to mind.
https://i1.wp.com/tnc.news/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/website-masks.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1
Posted by: librul | Jun 26 2024 16:20 utc | 65
I feared Assange would spend the rest of his life in an US prison. I am pleasenty surprised to see that he REALLY was released and was able to go back to Australia.
Posted by: WMG | Jun 26 2024 16:21 utc | 66
Did that agreement contain any additional conditions (e.g. to stay silent about his time in prison) ?
Posted by: WMG | Jun 26 2024 16:23 utc | 67
@26
Indeed. Short version;
The Narcissist's Prayer
That didn't happen.
And if it did, it wasn't that bad.
And if it was, that's not a big deal.
And if it is, that's not my fault.
And if it was, I didn't mean it.
And if I did, you deserved it.
Posted by: saner | Jun 26 2024 16:30 utc | 68
Passerby@1559
The Ruptured Republic's people are still haunted by the Puritan Yankee immersion of total belief in the Old Testicles. Oh, they may no longer believe in the ancient Hebrew tribal WarGod. However, those deracinating daze of the Victorian Era was yet another culturally retrograde covering-up of sexuality and eroticism.
Today's iteration of those trends is a no holds barred reaction to the prior programming. However, that Epsteinization equation is still in full play in this land of oppression based on repression by means of bribery and blackmail.
Psychosexual chaos is one of many tools being imposed by schools upon the fools who faithfully follow their judas-goats. Murrikkkans are obsessed by sex, but in the lyrics of the Jaggered-edge, just "can't get no satisfaction."
Dystopia on steroids, anybody?
Posted by: aristodemos | Jun 26 2024 16:34 utc | 69
Remember how they accused Assange of violating two Swedish women? The US is predictable in how they try to smear opponents.
Posted by: Passerby | Jun 26 2024 15:59 utc | 55
Not off topic, reminds me of how to "kill" an IMF president that would add the Yuan and change rules (and god knows what else as french president)
Strauss-Kahn... remember?
Posted by: Newbie | Jun 26 2024 16:35 utc | 70
Obama and General Petraeus
Attempted to murder someone not on a foreign terrorist list.
Attacked foreign soil without so much as Congressional consultation
and in a country we were not at war with.
Murdered dozens of women and children.
Criminal negligence in the use of weaponry in a civilian area - used missiles packed with cluster munitions.
Covered up the crime and induced others to participate in a conspiracy.
Offered a quid pro quo to assist in the cover up.
Conspired to transfer weaponry to a foreign country
by intentionally circumventing Congressional approval.
https://search.wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/10SANAA4_a.html
Posted by: librul | Jun 26 2024 16:36 utc | 71
Of course this site will never address press freedom in Russia
Posted by: Zargo | Jun 26 2024 16:38 utc | 72
worth watching is this clip of Varoufakis. He is brutal with people and organizations who really should hang their heads in shame....but of course this will affect them like water running off a ducks back
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rHHvIkTOSs
Posted by: dan of steele | Jun 26 2024 16:39 utc | 73
@ Zargo | Jun 26 2024 16:38 utc | 72
re: Of course this site will never address press freedom in Russia
. . .as soon as Moscow claims it operates a rule-based international order while invading and occupying various earthly countries.
Posted by: Don Bacon | Jun 26 2024 16:46 utc | 74
As the genocide continues as the American Empire of perverted Zionist filth collapses in debt and war crimes the more you see what human shit wear the uniforms of #NATO. Hopefully, soon those lying, freeloading, racist, crooked, white supremist colonialist shit will be sent back to their mothers in pieces.
In the Uk, I just wait for the shit of the Epstien King to come back in their thousands dead and maimed and watch the scum that stood by and watched genocide of Palestinians cry as their spawn are buried.
Asset strip the pensions of the uniformed scum, never let veteran shit have any social services, never let baby killers in your communities and treat their families as you would a Nazi camp guard.
The genocide shit of the Zionist American are less than nothing and deserve only to be humiliated and shamed for their crimes against humanity and their families mocked and abused for spawning human shit.
#FreePalestine from Zionist American shit stink of Nazi village imperialist racist shit .
Posted by: Tim Lynch | Jun 26 2024 16:50 utc | 75
Seems it was the US that took the initiative. The Biden folks thought it might help their reelection chances - probably inspired by PR savvy Barak Obama, who appears to be - covertly - the main decision maker in this administration. Remember that Obama has - on legal grounds - always been against pursuing Assange. He is also the one who pardoned Chelsea Manning.
grunzt | Jun 26 2024 9:56 utc | 304 (carried over from open thread)
Thanks for reminding me/ us of Obama's stance on Assange.
Still, I have difficulties believing this development to be purely down to electioneering tactics.
The "case" of Assange has taken on a huge, imo disproportionate importance over the years.
Why should London suddenly let him go without getting something in return?
Posted by: smuks | Jun 26 2024 16:54 utc | 76
According to Zero Hedge, some magnificent person donated close to $500,000 toward the Ozzie .gov's churlish demand for payment for a charter flight. So hats off to that person!!!
To Don Bacon # 33 It is absolutely shocking that Blinken could mouth those words. To say "100% psychopath" doesn't come close to describing that non-human zombie thing.
IN 2017 I bought an auto. I named it Julian and rode around with a little sign which said "free Julian." That's six years he spent in solitary confinement. It's amazing that he survived and wonderful that so many people kept after freeing him.
Posted by: Formerly Miss Lacy | Jun 26 2024 16:57 utc | 78
@Posted by: librul | Jun 26 2024 16:36 utc | 71
Hillary Clinton joined in the cover up conspiracy
but compounded her own criminality by back-dating (criminal fraud) a memo
published in the **Federal** Registry.
Something is not legal until it is published in the Federal Registry.
The target of Obama's attack upon Yemen (days after his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance)
was not part of a foreign terrorist organization. The Obama admin recognized the problem,
and demonstrated that they recognized it, by after-the-fact designating the
organization an official Foreign Terrorist Organization.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2010-01-19/pdf/2010-946.pdf
Hillary's publication in the Federal Register was filed Jan 15, 2010
and **back dated** to Dec 14, 2009 is seen above. A date conveniently
chosen as it was just before Obama slaughtered all those women and children.
It would take a prosecutor (or dedicated journalist) a bit of digging to prove
her malfeasance. Hillary's original communications with the Treasury and Attorney General
would provide a clearer timeline. That is, did she really make the determination on
Dec 14th but waited a month to make it legal, and only *after* Obama had jumped the gun.
Hillary's memo: "Based upon a review of the Administrative Record assembled in
this matter, and in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of
the Treasury..."
Posted by: librul | Jun 26 2024 16:57 utc | 79
Apparently the DNC emails have been removed from Wikileaks site. Those emails were what really pissed off the Deep State - especially John Podesta talking about upcoming “wet work” right before Antonin Scalia underwent his demise. Errand boy Jake Sullivan seeking out Hillary’s Parkinson’s meds was also amusing. Even when everyone with half a brain knows something already - like the mails coming from Seth Rich or the CIA killing JFK - the intelligence community somehow thinks it's important to keep denying the obvious. Witness their continued objection to releasing the truth about the JFK assassination. Sure, Seth Rich’s murder was robbery attempt gone wrong (with nothing stolen). Just like Epstein and John McAfee committed suicide and Michael Hastings had an “accident”. Evil Empire.
Posted by: Sentient | Jun 26 2024 17:08 utc | 80
I suspect the US has an agreement with Australia's security administration to pounce on Assange the moment he accesses any American classified documents, arrest him, and extradite him into the US gulag. There are few safe asylum nations left in the world, but I would advise Assange to flee to Cuba or Venezuela ASAP. Cuba is probably the safest location.
Posted by: Keme | Jun 26 2024 17:08 utc | 81
This is excellent news, only tempered by my disgust at the malice and incompetence displayed by government officials all over the world who provoked and then prolonged Julian’s illegal incarceration.
Here’s Craig Murray’s (an indefatigable campaigner and publiciser) piece: https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2024/06/the-happiest-of-days/
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jun 26 2024 17:14 utc | 82
I recommend viewing this clip of Assange's lawyers speaking from the courthouse. 10 minute length and a lot of questions answered, in particular, the plea.
https://youtu.be/unu1QcaszVY?si=ShiJWwOVcEM2UbI0
Posted by: morongobill | Jun 26 2024 15:17 utc | 35
Thank you, morongobill. I also recommend it.
Posted by: juliania | Jun 26 2024 17:18 utc | 83
Just a thought on the deletion/destruction of data, files etc. I’m pretty sure that Wikileaks were in the habit of releasing stuff via the BitTorrent protocol. It might have died out by now but I expect there are a lot more copies floating around than any Deep State would know about or be able to find.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jun 26 2024 17:20 utc | 84
WMG @ 67
Did that agreement contain any additional conditions (e.g. to stay silent about his time in prison) ?
Folks, he's not an American citizen and not living in the USA, he agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy and was released in exchange, I'm not sure what other secret and binding conditions can be imposed on a non USA citizen other than, "you better watch your ass, boy". Maybe someone with some legal knowledge can chime in.
If you believe the charges against him were illegal then you have to accept that the conditions of his release, disclosed or tacit, are illegal, then the only real conditions are whatever the USA makes up and can invent again if he gets on their bad side, or they just decide fuck with him once the USA election is over. Only this time Australia would be defending one of there own, a famous political dissident, on home soil, a serious predicament for whatever government, so he should be pretty safe. Of course I would avoid dark streets at night.
I think the USA sees him as spent goods, that he stays that way is the only "condition".
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Jun 26 2024 17:20 utc | 85
In my life, I learned that when Evil does something apparently good, it's always with the intention of using it to cause greater harm.
Posted by: julio | Jun 26 2024 17:22 utc | 86
A question remains. Would there ever be another Assange and if so againt whom?
Posted by: AI | Jun 26 2024 17:45 utc | 87
julio @ 86
In my life, I learned that when Evil does something apparently good, it's always with the intention of using it to cause greater harm.
Agreed. From up close the greater harm seems to be getting Biden re-elected and saving seats in congress. No idea on the panoramic view from a hilltop. I think Julian is too smart to let paranoia ruin his or his kids lives.
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Jun 26 2024 17:49 utc | 88
Wikileaks also offered the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Joint Task Force Guantanamo, at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The SOP includes the benefits for the "detainees" who are cooperative, or penalties for those not cooperative. It was called "Detainee Behavioral Management" see Table 8-1, at the end of the SOP. . .here
Posted by: Don Bacon | Jun 26 2024 17:49 utc | 89
Posted by: Phil R | Jun 26 2024 14:26 utc | 11
I don't think the terms are public. Do you have a link to this information?
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jun 26 2024 17:53 utc | 90
Posted by: Zargo | Jun 26 2024 16:38 utc | 72
Shitbag, Russia has more press freedom than the smelly manure known as England where I currently reside. I worked for Thomson Reuters and can tell you that Goebbels have nothing on these mostly English nazi faggots. Kit Klarenberg got the UK equivalent of FOIA and discovered that Reuters were paid by the scummy British govt to propagandise in Russia. Check it yourself
Posted by: Boo | Jun 26 2024 18:02 utc | 91
IMO the primary reason for "why now?" is in fact the coming election and Assange's failing health. The last thing Biden and the Dems wanted was their own version of Navalny in an election year. Further, since it was Trump's administration that obtained the indictment and extradition order, this removes the possibility that Genocide Joe is on the hook for his death.
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jun 26 2024 18:05 utc | 92
Now when will Putin free Navalny?
Posted by: Egads | Jun 26 2024 14:05 utc | 2
Now when will Santa Claus free the elves?
Posted by: AllSeeingEye | Jun 26 2024 18:06 utc | 93
I contributed regularly, and carried by "Don't shoot the messenger" grocery bag every time I went to the grocery store. (until it disappeared)
Posted by: donten | Jun 26 2024 18:11 utc | 94
On the release of Julian Assange
The Wau Holland Foundation welcomes with relief the fact that journalist and publicist Julian Assange can finally leave for Australia after five years in Belmarsh maximum security prison.
However, the damage to freedom of the press and freedom of information has been done, as the questioning of Julian Assange’s journalistic activities remains legally open, meaning that there is still a threat of persecution of journalists by the US judiciary.
The work of the Wau Holland Foundation was only possible thanks to the many small and large donations that we have received earmarked for the defense and freedom of Julian Assange and others in the WikiLeaks project - many thanks for these donations.
The foundation has so far spent a total of over 16 million euros on lawyers and campaigns, not including the costs of the flight to Australia chartered by the Australian government and guaranteed for by the foundation. In addition to ten law firms in eight countries, human rights lawyers, international journalist associations and the commissioning of lobbying and PR firms, the Foundation has been involved in many activities to draw attention to Julian’s situation and the associated threat to freedom of the press and freedom of expression. The countless supporters who organized local campaigns and regular vigils for Julian also contributed to this result.
We are pleased that with our work we have been able to contribute to the right enshrined in the Basic Law to be freely informed and to disseminate information of public interest. However, the Foundation still has considerable difficulty in communicating these activities to the tax authorities [1]. The Foundation will continue to campaign for freedom of the press and information worldwide and support projects in these areas.
[1] Note to donors: The Hamburg-Nord tax office revoked the foundation’s non-profit status in February. The foundation is therefore currently unable to issue donation receipts. An appeal against this decision by the tax office is pending.
source: https://wauland.de/en/news/2024/06/julian-assange-free/
Posted by: 23 | Jun 26 2024 18:22 utc | 95
Assange's lawyer Barry Pollack:“Wikileaks work will continue. I have no doubt that Mr. Assange will continue to defend the ideas of freedom of speech and transparency in government. This is a powerful voice and cannot be silenced.”
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Jun 26 2024 18:26 utc | 96
I think those tracking the public reception of his release will be reading these words. They aren't very interesting words, there is nothing secret or revealing about them, they aren't designed to mislead or confuse. Just drops of text on a screen, that might have been swept in by a storm, dark ink that escaped from a dungeon years ago raining down on the page of day. Some will see the brightness, but others will only see the outlines of night lying behind.
Just as light always finds darkness, you cannot erase the word without first accepting it.
Posted by: Ornot | Jun 26 2024 18:30 utc | 97
American Civil War II looming closer?
Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Jun 26 2024 14:51 utc | 19
Read the following and judge for yourself, the best analysis I’ve read so far on this topic:
Pick A Side And Fight For It, Keep Your Head Down, Or Flee – by Ray Dalio
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/pick-side-fight-keep-your-head-down-flee-ray-dalio-53fpe/
In regard to Assange: why now? Just because of a good look for Biden & the empire? Nah, I don’t buy that and imho there has to be another reason we don’t know yet.
Posted by: Multipolar Panda | Jun 26 2024 18:31 utc | 98
A plea bargain is where one is under pressure to lie, i.e. to admit a crime that wasn't done, to get out of prison.
Indeed, plea bargains are a form of institutionalized subornation to perjury, as practiced by prosecutors. Another variety of institutionalized subornation to perjury, using psychological pressure, as practiced by detectives, goes by the name "Reid technique."
There is also the generalized institutionalized subornation (i.e. not only to perjury, but to other crimes as well), known as the "Mr Big technique." It is quite popular among former British empire countries' police forces.
Posted by: Johan Meyer (2) | Jun 26 2024 18:32 utc | 99
in Assange's shoes I would try to slip away on the sly,
There are very interesting locations in Russia and above all the American hitmen are short-lived.
Posted by: A.cagliostro | Jun 26 2024 18:34 utc | 100
The comments to this entry are closed.
I hope he finds a way to screw the Deep State (either side) over. They will not forget, but neither should he. Figure out something diabolical to hold the (figurative) blowtorch to their assholes.
Posted by: Anonymous | Jun 26 2024 13:57 utc | 1