Assange on the Defensive

December 8, 2010 By 15 Comments

Thus, it’s clear that WikiLeaks is not what Assange says it is. But, what if there were such a clearinghouse of information that made secrets available without editorial prejudice or leading commentary? Would such an unbiased source of “the truth” truly be a good thing for the world? Though Assange clearly will never come to grips with the difference, there are secrets that are tucked away in the name of good and there are secrets that are cloaked to protect that which is evil. Assange neatly sidesteps the distinction by falling back upon the crutch of moral relativism. Good and evil are murky concepts to the Australian, so he’ll reveal all he can and let the world sort it out.

If we follow Assange’s logic to its tortuous conclusion, it would have been perfectly fine for the press to reveal that we had broken Japanese and German codes during World War II. It is universally acknowledged today that MAGIC, the crack of certain high-level Japanese codes, and ULTRA, which got the Allies access to Germany’s secret ENIGMA messages, were of vital importance during the war. Without MAGIC and ENIGMA, World War II would have stretched on far longer and many more lives would have been lost. Yet, according to Julian Assange, it would have been the media’s obligation to reveal the existence of MAGIC and ENIGMA if the World War II equivalent of Pfc. Bradley Manning had revealed the programs.

Assange may not realize it, but the world is once again at war; a war between the principles of freedom and self-determination and that of religious tyranny. In this war, the support of allies who teeter on the edge of the conflict is of vital importance to the future of the free world. Thus, when nations like Bahrain, Yemen and Saudi Arabia agree to quietly help the West battle the fanatics – even if they don’t have the courage to do so publicly – it is a very good thing. When WikiLeaks undermines their positions by releasing sensitive information, then Assange’s organization lends aid and comfort to our enemies, simply by attacking the fragile foundations of our shaky alliances with tenuous Arab partners. Are nations like Bahrain, Yemen and Saudi Arabia real allies? Not really. But they have been invaluable resources, at least until Assange and his fellow glory-seekers stepped in to make them retreat even further into the shadows.

Julian Assange’s professed ideal – a bright world empowered by the light of truth – is nothing but a shabby ruse. In the pursuit of personal aggrandizement, Assange has lent invaluable aid and comfort to the enemies of the free democratic institutions that he purports to protect. Assange faces trial over alleged sex offences. The truth of these allegations have yet to be proven. But, whatever the outcome, Assange is surely guilty of violating a far more serious statute that is only enforceable in the context of an ancient Greek tragedy: the sin of hubris. For that transgression, Julian Assange surely deserves life without parole.

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About

Rich Trzupek is a veteran environmental consultant and senior advisor to the Heartland Institute. He is the author of the new book Regulators Gone Wild: How the EPA is Ruining American Industry (Encounter Books).

  • ViewPoint

    The fact that immediately after Assange urged Hillary to resign and within a week she announced that she was done with politics made Assange a bit of a hero in my eyes, but that does not make the actual motive and truth less significant. Such as; the indisputable awards bestowed upon Assange by Economist mag. (a Rothchild financial publication) and Amnesty International… and if Assange's strings are being pulled by Soros, as is being reported by numerous credible sources, are highly crucial and revealing facts. Any information put out by credible sources with honorable intentions casts brilliant, exposing light on obscured, critical truth.

  • Bear from Russia

    Read Killing the Goal of 'Open Diplomacy'

    By Lawrence Davidson http://www.consortiumnews.com/2010/120610a.html

    • http://www.mysapce.com/freddawes1776/ Fred Dawes

      ALL YOU SEE IS THE OLD SPY Game started once more this so called Army PCF Who leaked all this info is a coverstory and the old game of calling people nuts or narcissist or dicks or name the name you want to call any person to make that person into a joke has been done.
      The old BS SPY GAME is here and now, But why is this story out now?
      The political ass is doing its best to get into place the dream-act and today it got what it wants; the USA To become a third world state and today the old KGB Boys are happy as we killed off the old USSR The boys in the KGB Killed off the USA. All you see is a lie all you hear is a lie welcome to the new ideals of the new monkey state.

  • http://understandingevil.wordpress.com gideon isaac

    Assange did us all a favor. He exposed news that our governments should have told us, but did not. For instance, the revelation on the extent of organized crime and its operation under the Russia security services, and that and elsewhere. Or that China gave ballistic weapon technology to Iran, and that it supported North Korea's arms ambitions. Or that Iran offered to work with Venezuela on a missile base so it would be in "America's Backyard.".
    Why didn't our government tell us this info. Are they protecting us from information that might make us into hawks?
    So yes, the man did put lives of good men and friends of the U.S. in danger, and his motives are rotten. But what he did wasn't all bad.
    Here is one thing we learned: (from the Jeff Nyquist site:)
    " We learn that the National Court Prosecutor of Spain, Jose "Pepe" Grinda, presented a 17-page English-language handout to the U.S.-Spain Counter-Terrorism and Organized Crime Experts Working Group in Madrid. The most fascinating tidbit came when Grinda began to describe the Russian mafia as the ultimate mafia, saying that it is more than Russian. In fact, it encompasses crime groups from all over the world, so that, according to Grinda, we may also call it the "Sicilian mafia." According to the U.S. Embassy cable, Grinda "considers Belarus, Chechnya and Russia to be virtual 'mafia states,'" adding that Ukraine is going to become such a state. In each of the listed countries one cannot "differentiate between the activities of the government and OC [Organized Crime] groups."

    • Gary from Jersey

      Most of the information in this post was available long before Assange, even in the New York Times.

  • davarino

    The difference between WWII and now is that if Manning had done then what he has done now he would have been executed speedy quick, and that is what kept people like him from doing that. We have become to soft on spys, traitors, and the like. We need to let our intelligence community do their job and stop the enemies within. I do not believe Manning did this all on his own. How can a private first class get access to these documents, number one, and how was he able to download so much without setting off all kinds of alarms, number two. Something seems very fishy here and I am afraid the enemy has almost taken us over.

  • ABh

    i think this article is too harsh on Assange who has the guts to take on the big and mighty unlike anyone else we have ever known in modern-day journalism. Mr Horowitz I have high regards for you but your take on the matter differs with mine like black and white. for years we have seen the US govt doing what it does best – ditching its allies and who support its views of the world. they didnt even leave the US. the officials who sent these cables may not be truly reflecting the 'official' US govt policy but they sure show the line of thinking of the govt. we cannot afford to brush off all the leaks. some are very relevant for countries to chalk out their future political strategy and stop being deceived by the US.
    its high time US quit stabbing people across the world behind their backs and wakes up to the call of jihadis who are hellbent to islamicize america. the US needs to work against these people and bring under one umbrella all those countries including russia who have and are suffering at the hands of these bigoted muslims all over the world. a good place to start with is India!

    • light

      what a naive flower child you must be. you have eyes and ears and yet you hear and see nothing but what you want to hear and see. Do you even actually live in this country? what more does it take for you to understand that there's a reason why people like you and Assange (American Haters) aren't given access to classified information. in that dim little brain of yours you think it's totally acceptable to publish our most secret reports and opinions because…..what? the US has protected itself and its citizens in the murky world of intelligence and counterintelligence? go somewhere and tie dye a shirt and stop making a complete and total ass of yourself on the internet.

  • USMCSniper

    In 2012 we 2ill have to put the adults back in charge and get rid of these inepts

  • Wiley

    This is all well and good, but try explaining that to millions of Americans who are angry and broke, whose country is broke, most of which is a result of bad decisions made by a ruling class which is still very much at the helm. How do you justify to them this "war" that is most definitely being lost at every turn (did I read that 500 Taliban were released yesterday?) but which is continuing to cost billions per year, much of which is tossed down that 9th century sh*t hole, OKA, the Middle East? Jesus, we'd be wiser just to pull our troops out and let Israel do what it surely could do in a matter of days: blow to hell those who love hell. Assange and Wikileaks is a sideshow. The big issue remains: What the hell are we still doing trying to convert and civilize those incapable of being civilized?

  • Ghostwriter

    I'm no fan of Julian Assange. As far as I'm concerned,he's an arrogant twit who got what he deserved. He doesn't care about anyone other than himself. If people get hurt or die because of what Assange does,that's not his problem. I hope he spends the rest of his life in jail and I don't care if his supporters like it or not. They should all go into a corner somewhere and have a nice loooong time out,for all our sakes.

  • xavier

    There is no benefit to our finding out the details of these cables, and potentially a lot of harm is being done. You and I may be interested or titillated or shocked but that matters not; we have no voice in the matter, nor should we. Some things need to be secret.

    As far as the moral issues go, it’s really quite simple. Manning stole something and Assange knowingly received these stolen goods. The scope of the crimes may be debated but in this case guilt is apparently undeniable. Isn’t Assange’s threat to release more files akin to extortion? Judge, if you want to see your daughter again you’ll dismiss this case?

    The “Don’t Shoot the Messenger” ploy shows WikiLeaks has no idea what they have started. Smearing international reputations is not healthy. On a brighter note, Assange’s in jail tonight and may come to appreciate the seriousness of unwilling unprotected sex.

  • http://www.mysapce.com/freddawes1776/ Fred Dawes

    This is the end of the system; if you can't keep your own info its all over.
    But why be upset with this story? Do You or anyone understand the USA Will soon be just one more hispanic nation that means nothing?
    And for Assange being a Narcissist so is obama and all of our political people and if you really believe that a PFC Did the spy BS For Assange you must be a total Fool.
    This info from frist hand info No PFC Or anyone like that Can have the codes to get info like that.
    But Many of our political monkeys can get info like that and who do you really think would pAY THIS GAME? just look at the top monkey and all of his monkey friends inside this monkey Government.

    If you want to know it was not a Little PCF Or this ass Assange it is the top monkey in the whitehouse.

  • http://www.longboat.org Daisey Vandalsen

    One of many better content articles I’ve truly examine not long ago, great thing.

  • dizzy99

    lets keep everything secret, even the fact that islamic hordes are taking over the west.