Earlier in this thread I posted about what my Dad always said to me, "hear all, see all, say nowt". I bet this guy https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-59608641 is really regretting what he did. He's fucked up his life no end. He's basically been a prisoner for the last twenty years already.
Judging by all the interviews and statements he released he stands by his actions. As he should. I'm on the fence with Assange. I'd have to learn more about precisely what beans he spilled. Of the other 2 US government "whistleblowers," Bradley Manning and Ed Snowden- Manning is a traitor and Snowden is a patriot. Manning took an oath of enlistment and divulged military secrets pertaining to enemy combatants. Snowden exposed the US government's blanket spying on its own citizens en masse. And just because they can extradite him now, doesn't mean they will. This judgement merely gives the US the ability to apprehend him. Assange still has a few alternate legal courses of action and appeals. Quite frankly Assange isn't an American therefore has no obligation of loyalty to us. The whole thing stinks of classic American overreach. I think there's more to this than what's being put out. What we're even admitting he did isn't even relevant anymore. I consider myself a patriotic American, and I've "served" my country for a number of years, to include in combat. However I won't hesitate to announce that over the last 30 years the US government has become more corrupt and tyrannical than it has even been in its history. I have seen this in action on too many occasions to count. Assange is quite possibly one of the good guys and if so, a martyr.
Wow, that is especially appropriate for our times, @Golgotha! But then, I guess this quote has fit mankind since there have been humans.