Posted on 12/11/2021 2:54:54 AM PST by RandFan
Opening his Summit for Democracy this week, Joe Biden urged his guests to “stand up for the values that unite us”, including a free press. The US president boasted of his new initiative for democratic renewal, including measures to support an unfettered and independent media: “It’s the bedrock of democracy. It’s how the public stay informed and how governments are held accountable. And around the world, press freedom is under threat.”
Yet the US government itself is endangering the ability of the media to bring to light uncomfortable truths and expose official crimes and cover-ups. On Friday, the high court ruled that Julian Assange can be extradited to the US, where he could face up to 175 years in prison. The decision is not only a blow for his family and friends, who fear he would not survive imprisonment in the US. It is also a blow for all those who wish to protect the freedom of the press.
The judgment overturns January’s decision by a district court that the WikiLeaks founder could not be extradited because of the substantial risk that he would kill himself, given his mental health and the conditions he would face. The US subsequently put forward a package of reassurances in its attempt to overturn that ruling, which the high court judges accepted. But the US has reserved the right to put him in a maximum security facility or to subject him to special administrative measures – which can include prolonged solitary confinement – based on his conduct. His team will appeal, and the legal process is likely to drag on for years.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
Who can’t handle a mere 175 years in solitary?
“Free press”? “Bedrock of Democracy”? Yeah, sure. It’s supposed to have been, but somehow got detoured in large part. I remember the old news casts, sometimes shown at the movies during the time of WW2 that seemed to be fairly accurate, but now they are not that reliable.
Well, Chelsea is all free by now!
“...“It’s the bedrock of democracy. It’s how the public stay informed and how governments are held accountable. ..”
That’s how it was meant to be. That is what the Constitution depends upon. But that is NOT the way it is.
Unfortunately, there is no oversight for the media - the “free press.”
Oh no. He hurt Mrs. Clinton’s campaign. He must pay.
Joe put your money where your mouth is. Seize Section 230 exemptions from Twitter, Meta and a few others ...
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