Assange Re- the Internet, the Decay of the Rule of Law, Surveillance, the Growth of Secrecy, Etc.

[snot]

As usual, the media's preference is to distract from the larger issues.

[The Traveler]

1. Assange refuses to condemn or approve of Ecuador's treatment of journalists

This is called strategy. I mean, seriously, what do we expect from the guy? Saint hood? Martyrdom? He can't go sniping at the country that shelters him. Consider for a moment the forces arrayed against him ... has Burnett ever challenged forces of that sort? Yet Burnett wants to use Ecuador's transgressions to assault Assange and his position, and impugn his integrity and by extension his message. But asylum does not confer responsibility ... Assange is not responsible for Ecuador's actions just because he is sheltering in their embassy. And the message is still valid and supremely important.

Is Assange happy with Ecuador's actions? I doubt it. Does that mean he is so offended that he will deliver himself to the forces arrayed against him? I hope not. Those who value privacy and the right to dissent understand what I'm saying.

Trav

[tama]

2. I've not seen

much about treatment of actual journalists, what Western media etc. is complaining about is that Ecuador has been treating local Murdochs like they should be treated also in Britain and elsewhere. Western corporate media seems to unable to get out of the neocolonialist supremacist attitudes towards Ecuador etc. "third world" countries. And do decent journalism on domestic matters.

On the other hand, I'm very critical of Correa and state of Ecuador response to CONAIE demands and activism for environment and indigenous rights, but don't see much about that in Western media.

[snot]

3. Well said, Traveler!