Something Wiki This Way Comes – leaning on the Swedes

[peteryoung]

I have an LJ tag that I don't use a great deal these days: US Foreign Policy. Given what's been going on in the last couple of weeks I'm surprised I haven't used it already, but by exposing such fluff as what the CIA really thinks of Colonel Gaddafi, Wikileaks has hardly proven itself as the force for Evil it's currently made out to be, and like most I've been enjoying the embarrassment emanating out of Langley, VA. But now, in a sudden twist that absolutely nobody expected, Julian Assange has been arrested, in London. Put aside the specifics for a moment and consider more the background of political pressure that has been exerted, resulting in this arrest warrant.

Then Google for 'Assange for Nobel Peace Prize' and you will now get at least 20 direct hits (autopope's post comes in at no. 7 on my browser). I would specifically like to hear what commentators such as Naomi Klein and Noam Chomsky may have to say on this as I suspect they would be in support of the proposition. If Obama can get his for rhetoric, how about awarding it to Assange for his commitment to free speech?

Now compare the pressure on Assange with what has been going on in China, with the Chinese government's protest of this year's Nobel Peace Prize award to Liu Xiaobo. Our own governments in the West are clearly not above exerting similar pressure when they think 'our' own supposed national interests are 'compromised', and close ranks as a result. I would like to see a similar indifference to the influence, this time, of Western power blocs by the Nobel Committee for next year's Nobel Awards.

And, by the way, look who's heading up Time Magazine's online poll as to who ought to be awarded Time's 'Person of the Year' – Assange has an average rating of 90% on a scale of 'least' to 'most influential'. People are not afraid of the various exposés achieved by Wikileaks – only governments are, of whatever political stripe, because it exposes how completely hollow rhetoric such as the UK coalition's 'desire for more open government' is.

Comments

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

It's entirely possible the rape charges are trumped-up due to political pressure, but that's why he was arrested, not for the absurd espionage charges the US has against him.

Interesting notion to nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize! We'll see if the leaks result in more or less peace - information is power, and letting nations know what they really think about each other is powerful... maybe destructive, maybe uniting. For example, it's fascinating to see how hawkish the Arab nations are toward Iran. Bombing the shit out of them before they build a nuclear infrastructure might lead to longer-term peace. On the other hand, diplomacy is all about not saying what you really think and feel, so that's taking a hit.

[stillcarl.livejournal.com]

If the US can dream up reasons for extraditing Assange, then presumably the same reasons can apply to those in charge of the New York Times. Who presumably are already in the US. They can hardly charge one without the other.