Much of what passes for journalism today involves exposing the secrets of the powerful and the policymakers. But in fact, the powerful commit their crimes—such as wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Vietnam—in plain sight. The story of such wars, and the economic interests that drove them, can be found in published books and articles, possibly supported by interviews with those involved. True journalists would dig out the story in these publicly available sources and explain it to the people. A good journalist can make clear the crimes of the powerful without violating national security laws, which are based on the need of governments to engage in espionage and to debate policy behind closed doors.
At the same time, in spite of Julian Assange’s false assumptions and alleged personal defects, the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, was correct to take steps to facilitate the plea-bargain deal and bring the saga to a humanitarian end, in defense of a citizen of his country.
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It's not clear what you are getting at with your cryptic comments about Assange's "false assumptions".
Indeed your own assumptions about journalists having all they need from "publically available" sources is quite misguided. Obviously the Deep State is quite careful to cover its tracks and sow disinformation to keep the vast majority of the citizenry in their thrall and behaving according to their requirements for control. Assange together with Chelsea Manning exposed serious crimes and wrong-doing on the part of the powers that be. This is why they were persicuted. You surely know about the content/crimes in question. It is curious that you are siding with the forces of oppression, asserting that they have the right to cover up their crimes, to guarantee impunity to theie minions excercising the oppression they require to stay in power.