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Edward Snowden: Julian Assange Arrest a Blow to Press Freedom
cleveland.com/nation ^ | 4/11/19 | AP

Posted on 04/11/2019 6:06:25 AM PDT by a little elbow grease

LONDON (AP) — Edward Snowden, the former security contractor who leaked classified information about U.S. surveillance programs, says the arrest of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is a blow to media freedom.

"Images of Ecuador's ambassador inviting the UK's secret police into the embassy to drag a publisher of--like it or not--award-winning journalism out of the building are going to end up in the history books," Snowden said in a tweet. "Assange's critics may cheer, but this is a dark moment for press freedom." Snowden was charged by the United States in 2013 of violating the country’s espionage act. He was granted asylum by Russia that year and the asylum has been extended until at least 2020.

(Excerpt) Read more at cleveland.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: assange; assangeandmanning; brexit; ecuador; going2prison; hillarysemails; journalism; judicialwatch; julianassange; offtoprison; snowden; theresamay; unitedkingdom; wikileaks
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To: treetopsandroofs
" .....but if AP is pissed, then this seems to be good news"

___________________

.... I tend to agree.

21 posted on 04/11/2019 8:04:13 AM PDT by a little elbow grease (... to err is human, to admit it divine ...)
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To: treetopsandroofs; LS
"I’d been concerned our domestic enemies had orchestrated his “release” from the embassy to shut him up and/or steal today’s headlines from Barr’s statements yesterday, but if AP is pissed, then this seems to be good news.

___________________

From FReeper, LS:

"Just guessing, but I’m thinking they want to bring Assange in, offer him a deal in exchange for everything Wiki knows on the Deep State Coup."

***

Seems feasible.

22 posted on 04/11/2019 8:07:13 AM PDT by a little elbow grease (... to err is human, to admit it divine ...)
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To: treetopsandroofs

There were news reports of his imminent arrest all week. Drudge had it up all week. How it surprised anyone, I don’t know.


23 posted on 04/11/2019 8:07:19 AM PDT by Repealthe17thAmendment
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
he’s a traitor too

How can he be a 'traitor'? From what I understand, he's an Australian citizen.

24 posted on 04/11/2019 8:20:00 AM PDT by zeugma (Power without accountability is fertilizer for tyranny.)
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To: CincyRichieRich

I don’t know about that... POTUS has tweeted the below in the past:

Snowden is a spy who has caused great damage to the U.S. A spy in the old days, when our country was respected and strong, would be executed.


25 posted on 04/11/2019 8:30:54 AM PDT by afterhoursarmory
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To: zeugma

Well, he is a criminal anyway. Just because he did once something that you liked doesn’t mean he is a good guy. He did it for different reasons. He is some sort of commie-anarchist, who wants the Western Civilization to burn down and that’s what he thought he’ll achieve when helping Trump.

Current indictment is for what he did in 2010, when he received classified information from Bradley Manning and urged Manning to break further into DoD systems and provided assistance for that. Then he released the information including the famous doctored helicopter video and that caused damage to the US reputation and put US friends in danger.


26 posted on 04/11/2019 8:31:30 AM PDT by Krosan
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To: afterhoursarmory

Snowden is a spy who has caused great damage to the U.S. A spy in the old days, when our country was respected and strong, would be executed.
...
remember this is Assange


27 posted on 04/11/2019 8:42:50 AM PDT by CincyRichieRich (But the noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds they stand. Isaiah 32:8)
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To: afterhoursarmory

That whole bunch deserves the harshest punishment. Britain has said that they don’t extradite if Assange gets the death penalty and that is fine with me. Just give them the assurance that he’ll get life in prison.


28 posted on 04/11/2019 9:58:10 AM PDT by Krosan
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To: Mariner; gattaca; treetopsandroofs; Starboard; chris37; WKUHilltopper; CincyRichieRich; ...
I am disgusted this was done on behalf of the USA. Assange is wanted for publishing the the Manning thefts. While any other publisher in the world would get protection by the first amendment.

_______

Possibly.

Also: --

About a half hour ago Rush Limbaugh was making a case that someone like SETH RICH may have used a thumb drive to copy the info/data and pass it along to someone (Assange).

If you ask me, something is about to blow up very soon. There is too much happening all of a sudden. There are too many Democrats acting like their world is coming to an end.

Indictments within days? These seem to be dangerous times for some in the SWAMP!

29 posted on 04/11/2019 10:13:27 AM PDT by a little elbow grease (... to err is human, to admit it divine ...)
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To: Teacher317
"People being arrested for intentionally giving away classified materials is a blow to Freedom of the Press? SMH Assange's "crime" is apparently the crime of pointing out Hillary's crimes that the world knew about anyway. Hell, all of FR could be arrested under that standard. I'm not entirely opposed to what Snowden did (revealed that the Deep State was abusing its surveillance powers against US citizens)... if Snowden was willing to face the consequences for his actions, then I would respect him quite a bit... and if he were fighting for the protections of all Americans against the Deep State... but he actually has to face the consequences, and a fair judge and jury. Instead, Snowden runs to Russia, hides, and founds the "Freedom of the Press Foundation", seeking to protect journalists from government surveillance, but apparently we lesser citizens can be abused once again. Trying to change the rules and allowing the "mishandling" (or revealing) of classified materials is not the proper response, either."

________________

I think you are being a little harsh on Snowden.

Did you happen to see the movie, "Snowden"? I recommend it.

30 posted on 04/11/2019 10:18:11 AM PDT by a little elbow grease (... to err is human, to admit it divine ...)
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To: a little elbow grease

During the Bush years, the New York Times published leaked classified information. Nothing happened to them.


31 posted on 04/11/2019 10:34:47 AM PDT by gattaca ("Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives." Ronald Reagan)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

“Assange is a mixed bag - if he released military info that put troops in harms way he’s a traitor too...”

He can’t be a traitor since he’s not a US citizen or even a resident. He had no loyalty to our country to betray.

Best you can argue is that he committed espionage or violated our national security laws.


32 posted on 04/11/2019 11:00:37 AM PDT by Boogieman
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To: a little elbow grease

Yes, Snowden wanted to go through the proper channels but saw that all the previous people who tried to do that or take advantage of the “whistleblower” protections were getting bent over by the powers that be. The system was broken.


33 posted on 04/11/2019 11:05:19 AM PDT by Boogieman
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To: Boogieman

or so he says....so working with Chinese & Russian intelligence was the solution! What a guy? Let’s indeed make him a hero!

He could have gone to the NYT as others did! Still bad but more honorable!


34 posted on 04/11/2019 11:10:53 AM PDT by Reily
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To: Reily

“so working with Chinese & Russian intelligence was the solution!”

Meh, he already released everything to the public before he got sanctuary in Russia. I’ve never seen anyone give any evidence that there was some quid pro quo with Russia either, it just seems to be the usual talking point of those who want to denounce Snowden.

As for going to the NYT, the crime would still be the same in the eyes of the government. They’ll prosecute whistleblowers whether they go to wikileaks or traditional media.


35 posted on 04/11/2019 11:22:10 AM PDT by Boogieman
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To: a little elbow grease

You are next, Eddy


36 posted on 04/11/2019 11:24:00 AM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now it is your turn ...)
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To: Boogieman

How long did he stay in Russia?
Before that Hong Kong!

Who paid his bills?

The Russians & the Chinese aren’t like us! You pay your way!
He only had one thing to sell!

And yes violation of the Espionage Act is violation of the Espionage Act! NYT would be a more honorable violation.

So you support Hellary huh? She did nothing wrong then!


37 posted on 04/11/2019 11:29:12 AM PDT by Reily
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To: a little elbow grease

Eddy Snowjob is one of, if not, the biggest traitor in modern times and should be shot on sight - no trial, just put down. He released Methods and Means which exposed many people overseas and many where likely shot as a result. Not to mention that he took everything he had access to and gave it to to the Chinese, then to the Russians, and then perhaps it was disseminated to AQ and others.

The American public only heard about the stuff already in the public domain and had been for decades. The MSN made a big deal about it but that was not the story.

His damage is incalculable, long lasting and the US may pay an additional tremendous price down the road for what he stole.


38 posted on 04/11/2019 11:35:56 AM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now it is your turn ...)
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To: Starboard
This wasn’t just a coincidence.

I'm pretty cynical when it comes to conspiracy theories but I couldn't help think the same thing. Assange has been laying low in an embassy for seven years and is arrested not 24 hours after Barr's spying statement.

39 posted on 04/11/2019 11:39:32 AM PDT by Drew68
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To: PIF

Very well said!


40 posted on 04/11/2019 11:41:02 AM PDT by Reily
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