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WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange Speaks 'Treason' — Fluently

1 year ago
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Some 70 years ago, actor Errol Flynn as Robin Hood responded to the accusation "You speak treason!" with the now-classic retort, "Fluently."

We all loved that kind of treason, and maybe you'll learn to love this kind too. You gotta admit Mr. Assange is hot. (Yes, I'm shallow. All you deep people out there, move along.)

Julian Assange
, whose website WikiLeaks just released 92,000 classified documents on the war in Afghanistan, hails from Errol Flynn's country of Australia.

As does the charismatic Hugh Jackman. Jackman alone makes up for Australia giving us pop crooner Peter Allen (whom Jackman portrayed in the musical theater mess "The Boy From Oz").

On Russell Crowe, I'm kind of meh, but millions disagree with me, so I'll let it pass. But honestly, I would lasso me one Sam Neill for a hundred Crowes. (Neill grew up in New Zealand, but close enough.)

Julian Assange, WikiLeaksWhat are they putting in the water in Australia? Or, perhaps, what are Australians not putting in the water, like estrogen? Assange has that bass voice that makes women swoon. He speaks of right and wrong, of responsibility and action.

At first, the Guardian video of Julian Assange explaining what WikiLeaks did and why struck me as odd. The taupe shirt, the pale skin, the off-white hair, the absent background seemed like a video from long ago, or the future. The Albino Tapes: If you're watching this, it's because our people have disappeared from the earth.

But once I got used to all that white, I found myself mesmerized by Assange's intensity, eloquence and sincerity. He means every word he says. Most attractive of all was the unmitigated idealism.

Sometimes you don't know how much you've missed something until you see it again. That's my theory on the popularity of AMC's hit series "Mad Men." The show gave a shape to our longings. Oh, 1960s, how we loved you -- apparently. Deep turquoise. Hot pink. Chartreuse. Salmon.

Now we find ourselves sick to death of beige McMansions and bland cubicles, and even blander corporate-speak. Give me a bellowed "You're fired!" from the boss instead of the quieter (but, in actuality, just as brutal) short walk to the human resources department, where you learn that the firm is restructuring and your position has been eliminated.

In space -- or a carpeted office behind a closed door -- no one can hear you scream.

The documents leaked by Assange reinforce what's been forthcoming for years, from other sources. The war in Afghanistan cannot be won. We'll bankrupt our country if we continue on this path. Soldiers and civilians are dying every day, for what?

Now the swashbuckling is by keystroke rather than sword, but there's nothing hesitant about Julian Assange. His mission is clear and defiant: Transparency and a "populist intelligence network."

Assange is the perfect warrior for the 21st century. In one hand he holds access to knowledge, and in the other his own faith in humanity to, once informed, make the moral choice. If that's just a utopian fantasy, sign me up.

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13 Comments

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mhmariarosario

julian assange- Someone who edits a tape to make it appear like war crime, someone who lies with slight of hand on colbert report saying the soldiers didnt mention RPG but instead they shot first and then said RPG, YET if you see the video they said they saw weapons first, does he say this, no HE MISLEADS, ...and if you disagree with him, he insists vehemently holding himself as a hero that all who disagree with him are part of the problem...he alone.. when he speaks supposedly he makes the truth(according to himself !)...no need to verify what he says.......a "man" who is annoyed by 9/11...WOW...he really is in his own world...I think he is messed up because of the fact that he went to 37 schools while he was trying to grow up..he is trying to vent his anger and does so on the strongest one on the block. I wont even begin to show how his "explantions" are so faulty...i think it is best for him to try to explain to God whenever he meets His maker, he might start out with ...i had a nervous breakdown (it was reported he did after his hacking trials and i truly have sympathy for this kind of suffering, i have seen it and it is the worst kind)and since then i havent been able to think straight..that may help in that situation...

July 31 2010 at 3:33 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
oldengineera2

If you seek a sense of right and wrong, responsibility and action, better wave off the Obama White House.

July 28 2010 at 10:32 PM Report abuse -2 rate up rate down Reply
dc walker

.......In the 1980s Congressman Charlie Wilson (Charlie Wilson's war movie) gave the Taliban $550 million dollars and captured weapons to fight the Russians. I think we should have let the Russians take over Afghanistan for 30 or 40 years.

July 27 2010 at 10:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ziegler21wp

Julian Assange strikes me as a strange and very self-absorbed, self-righteous fellow. But I could be wrong.

July 27 2010 at 5:13 PM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
jklapper93

Last I checked we were in Afganistain for 2 reasons:
1) To get Bin Laudin
2) To ouste the Taliban from power because they not only allowed Bin Laudin to attack us from training bases in that country, but they did not hand his arse over when we "politly" asked for him.
The way I see it, one of those objectives has been met, and as soon as we get Bin Laudin's ass I could care less what the tribal "warlords" do to eachother

July 27 2010 at 1:27 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
jlopesconcrete

DADDY, you hit the nail on the head. But the problem is our government brokered a deal between Afghanistan and China. China will develope the resources after we are done spilling our blood and treasure all over Afghanistan. Its payback for the money they lend the US government/corporation.

Guess who is benefiting from the Iraqi oil contracts? I'll give you a hint, its not the American people.

Its a loose loose for the American people and a win win for our elite rulers and those they make deals with. They get rich and more powerful while we become more then enslaved by our masters.

July 27 2010 at 1:15 PM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
DADDY

Oil, Magnesium, Iron Ore, Heavy Metals, & Lithium are all in abundance under the soil of that Rocky Hell called Afghanistan.

If you want you electric cars then Afghanistan is the perfect country to "rape" for the Lithium and other Battery Components! It's 95% empty of people and the native rocks, lizards, scorpions, and snakes don't count or care. Strip Mining would improve the landscape in some regions and up the infrastructure level considerably just by making roads, running electric lines and offering employment.

The poor uneducated primative backwards people of Afghanistan have as much education and experience using electricity, running water, paved roads and non-animal powered vehicles as a rainforest monkey. They could use the peaceful income and other social help that a economy based on "other than war" can offer.

So let's stay & kill all the Taliban and then bring in huge multi-national corporations to begin building a real nation rather than a dirty poverished 4th world country with ONE cruddy city and no hope for a life better than they had back in the 1600's!!!

Once they learn to read & write, we'll get a very gracious Thank You! letter!!!

July 27 2010 at 12:19 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to DADDY's comment
tombstonehnter

These people will still be living the same way in another 500 years. It is their way of life and no invader is going to change it.

July 27 2010 at 12:52 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
eweckt

One man's treason is another man's truth.

Over $ 5 Billion a month
is the cost
Of Afghan war that has
long been lost

July 27 2010 at 10:52 AM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
semperfi7x

Unfortunately, the conclusion is correct. While I support the President, our presence in Afghanistan cannot end well. We have learned nothing of Russia's folly there.

Our intent, though well meaning, is countered by the Taliban's holding the populace hostage. There movement is fluid and they are well dug in and prepared to wait our allied forces until we've lost so many service people that withdrawal will be forced on us.

We're not able to protect the populace and they have little faith in Karzai.

My greatest regret is that I've not a constructive solution to suggest to this mess; until one is found, both allies and civilians will continue to be victims of a puzzle missing the pieces to be solved.

July 27 2010 at 10:36 AM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to semperfi7x's comment
ziegler21wp

I think we have learned alot but, perhaps, not enough. This is a tough one and I share your regret that I can't pretend to know the answer as to what we should do. I do have confidence that we are taking a watch and re-evaulate posture, but this must be cold comfort for those serving and the families that wait for them.

July 27 2010 at 5:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
wizuby

This take on this incident strikes me as incredibly naive. Actually...it is exactly what the author says it is, nothing more than a "utopian fantasy." Unfortunately, this one is a dangerous one which could have large implications for thousands of people around the world. I can't help but to strongly disagree when I hear this guy say that since these documents are all at least 6 months old he is not concerned about them affecting soldiers lives. First of all, who gave him qualifications to even know something like that. I doubt the president could even make a statement like that and know for certain it was true. Secondly, with 90,000 plus documents, he obviously doesn't even know what is in all of them. How could he? Personally I am quite concerned that someone would / could do something like this. Please, take your "utopian fantasy" somewhere else and let the adults make the important decisions. Especially when lives are at stake.

July 27 2010 at 10:20 AM Report abuse +8 rate up rate down Reply

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