Posted on 12/02/2010 5:48:19 AM PST by jerry557
While Assange has been accused by former members of the WikiLeaks of obsessively focusing on the US, he said countries with less transparency, such as China and Russia, had the most potential to be reformed by whistleblowers.
"We believe it is the most closed societies that have the most reform potential," he said. Assange said that while parts of the Chinese government and security services "appear terrified of free speech" he believed it was "an optimistic sign because it means speech can still cause reform."
"Journalism and writing is capable of achieving change which is why Chinese authorities are so scared of it."
Assange argued that countries like China could be easier to reform than countries like the US and the UK, which "have been so heavily fiscalised through contractual obligations that political change doesn't seem to result in economic change, which in other words means that political change doesn't result in change."
While secrecy was important, Assange said, in keeping the identity of sources hidden, secrecy "shouldn't be used to cover up abuses."
He said that revealing abuses could lead to positive changes in countries and organisations. "They have one of two choices … to reform in such a way that they can be proud of their endeavours, and proud to display them to the public" or "to lock down internally and to balkanise, and as a result, of course, cease to be as efficient as they were. To me, that is a very good outcome, because organizations can either be efficient, open and honest, or they can be closed, conspiratorial and inefficient."
Turning back to the US, Assange said he believed American society was "becoming more closed" and its "relative degree of openness … probably peaked in about 1978, and has been on the way down, unfortunately, since."
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
Criminy - the guy is pining for President Carter.
Russia or China won’’t let him live.
As someone suggested yesterday, a "polonium smoothie" could be in his future.
Is anybody taking bets on whether or not this character will live to see 2011?
If he’s is going to screw around with the Russians and the Chinese he is going to be dead. We have already seen how Putin handles dissenting opinions. What what you eat Assange.
Ha Ha Ha
The guy is a fool!!!!
His problem is whereas 20% of America are cheering Assange on as he harms America and are out to attempt to protect him or pay for his defense, 99.9% of Russians or Chinese would applaud their government’s taking him out of the equation regardless of how they feel about their own government or politicians. They seem to know that no matter your political beliefs, it is wrong to put your nation and life in danger in the manner Assange is doing it.
Is anybody taking bets on whether or not this character will live to see 2011?
If he’s is going to screw around with the Russians and the Chinese he is going to be dead. We have already seen how Putin handles dissenting opinions. Watch what you eat Assange.
Ha Ha Ha
He is either “posturing” to at least appear to not be anti-American or he is a “dead-man walking”.
You sow the wind you reap the whirlwind.
Is everyone on this thread this gullible to believe him? Good grief. He has the same lawyer as Soros...duh. A pawn, a tool of Obama and Soros...nothing more complicated than that.
I see understand your point...
But the same could be said for our own founding fathers though. Didnt they declare revolution against Britain? They were traitors and rebels. The people in Britain wanted them all hung.
There are still 80% cowboys here that will attend to the problem. Those other nations? Their cowboys will attend to their issues too. Hopefully this does not unleash ww3.
methinks yer right... we could refer to him as “hole-in-the-head-Assannge”
methinks yer right... we could refer to him as “hole-in-the-head-Assannge”
He “wants” to “expose” them but he’s smart enough to know that if he does, they’ll take his Wikiass out.
Russia or China won’’t let him live.
If this guy thinks he is such hot stuff - - How about a stinkin’ Birth certificate?
I don’t guess that the Chicoms or Russians care who his lawyer is. His name will be “Collateral Damage” if he wants to step between Assange and a stranger with a gun.
lol, or college records obama
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