Dec 11, 2010

Rep. Ron Paul on Wiki Leaks: "Which is More Dangerous, WikiLeaks or Government Lies for War"?

Republican Representative and former candidate for U.S. President Ron Paul speaks before Congress regarding what he calls the "hysterical over-reaction" to WikiLeaks and reminds everyone that 1) Julian Assange stole nothing, 2) as an Australian he cannot be guilty of treason, 3) its direct parallel to the Pentagon Papers during Viet Nam (published by the New York Times, similar to WikiLeaks today) and the high court cleared the NY Times of any guilt, along with those involved.

He then focuses on the real issue, that WikiLeaks threatens government propaganda for unjust wars upon false pretenses (e.g. like Iraq) and the global (and "neocon") agenda for Empire which spreads lies to justify its course and contain its criticisms and embarrassments.

Freedom of the press has now just moved to the internet and the publishing of "leaks" from "confidential sources" is as old as the New York Times (e.g. Pentagon Papers) and Washington Post (e.g. Water-Gate).