Julian Assange Knows That the Media Cause Wars
Most of my audience knows about Julian Assange—the freedom fighter whose unjust imprisonment is one of the most shameful episodes in the history of Western Media. Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, worked tirelessly to expose government corruption and media lies.
He’s spoken truth to power more fearlessly than any of us, and has paid dearly for it. Here’s one of my favorite interviews with Assange, where he talks about the real culprits behind so many wars:
Background
Assange founded WikiLeaks in 2006, with the aim of providing a platform for whistleblowers to anonymously leak information to the public. He became a household name in 2010, when his organization released a series of classified documents from the United States government. These documents, which were leaked by former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning, revealed a number of shocking revelations about the US military's actions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Assange's work did not end there, however. Over the years, he continued to publish information that exposed government corruption and media lies. Some of the most significant examples include:
The Guantanamo Bay files: In 2011, WikiLeaks released a set of documents that detailed the treatment of prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. These documents showed that many of the detainees were held without charge or trial, and that some were subjected to torture and other forms of abuse.
The DNC emails: In 2016, WikiLeaks published a series of emails from the Democratic National Committee that showed bias against Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary. These emails ultimately led to the resignation of DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
The Vault 7 documents: In 2017, WikiLeaks released a set of documents that detailed the CIA's hacking capabilities. These documents showed that the agency had developed tools to hack into smartphones, computers, and even smart TVs.
Impact
Assange's work has had a significant impact on the world. By exposing government corruption and media lies, he has helped to hold those in power accountable for their actions. His work has also sparked important conversations about issues such as government transparency and the role of the media in a democratic society.
One of the most significant impacts of Assange's work has been the increased public awareness of government surveillance. The Vault 7 documents, in particular, showed just how extensive the CIA's hacking capabilities were. This information has led to increased scrutiny of government surveillance programs, and has helped to push for greater transparency in these programs.
Assange's work has also had an impact on the media. By exposing bias and other issues within the media, he has helped to undermine the idea that the media is always impartial and unbiased. This has led to a greater demand for independent journalism and has helped to hold journalists accountable for their reporting.
Arrest
Despite the important work that Assange has done, he has faced significant challenges in recent years. In 2010, he was accused of sexual assault by two women in Sweden. Assange denied the allegations, but he was ultimately arrested and placed under house arrest. In 2012, he sought asylum at the Embassy of Ecuador in London, where he remained for seven years.
In 2019, Assange was arrested by British police and taken into custody. He is currently being held in a UK prison, and is facing extradition to the United States, where he has been charged with conspiracy to commit computer intrusion. Many of Assange's supporters argue that these charges are politically motivated, and that he is being punished for his work in exposing government corruption and media lies.
Conclusion
By exposing government corruption and media lies, he has helped to hold those in power accountable for their actions. His work has sparked important conversations about issues such as government transparency and the role of the media in a democratic society. While he has faced significant challenges, Assange remains a symbol of the importance of independent journalism and the need for scrutiny when it comes to our political leaders, as well as their spokespeople in the mainstream media.
