[quote="Syndney Morning Herald"]
THE US military has designated Julian Assange and WikiLeaks as enemies of the United States - the same legal category as the al-Qaeda terrorist network and the Taliban insurgency.
Declassified US Air Force counter-intelligence documents, released under US freedom-of-information laws, reveal that military personnel who contact WikiLeaks or WikiLeaks supporters may be at risk of being charged with "communicating with the enemy", a military crime that carries a maximum sentence of death.
The documents, some originally classified "Secret/NoForn" — not releasable to non-US nationals — record a probe by the air force's Office of Special Investigations into a cyber systems analyst based in Britain who allegedly expressed support for WikiLeaks and attended pro-Assange demonstrations in London.
The counter-intelligence investigation focused on whether the analyst, who had a top-secret security clearance and access to the US military's Secret Internet Protocol Router network, had disclosed classified or sensitive information to WikiLeaks supporters, des-cribed as an "anti-US and/or anti-military group".
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The suspected offence was "communicating with the enemy, 104-D", an article in the US Uniform Code of Military Justice that prohibits military personnel from "communicating, corresponding or holding intercourse with the enemy".
The analyst's access to classified information was suspended. However, the investigators closed the case without laying charges. The analyst denied leaking information.
Assange remains holed up in Ecuador's embassy in London. He was granted diplomatic asylum on the grounds that if extradited to Sweden to be questioned about sexual assault allegations, he would be at risk of further extradition to the US to face espionage or conspiracy charges arising from the leaking of hundreds of thousands of secret US military and diplomatic reports.
US Vice-President Joe Biden labelled Assange a "high-tech terrorist" in December 2010 and US congressional leaders have called for him to be charged with espionage.
Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee - both once involved in presidential campaigns - have both urged that Assange be "hunted down".
Assange's US attorney, Michael Ratner, said the designation of WikiLeaks as an "enemy" had serious implications for the WikiLeaks publisher if he were to be extradited to the US, including possible military detention.
US Army private Bradley Manning faces a court martial charged with aiding the enemy - identified as al-Qaeda - by transmitting information that, published by WikiLeaks, became available to the enemy.
Mr Ratner said that under US law it would likely have been considered criminal for the US Air Force analyst to communicate classified material to journalists and publishers, but those journalists and publishers would not have been considered the enemy or prosecuted.
"However, in the FOI documents there is no allegation of any actual communication for publication that would aid an enemy of the United States such as al-Qaeda, nor are there allegations that WikiLeaks published such information," he said.
"Almost the entire set of documents is concerned with the analyst's communications with people close to and supporters of Julian Assange and WikiLeaks, with the worry that she would disclose classified documents to Julian Assange and WikiLeaks.
"It appears that Julian Assange and WikiLeaks are the 'enemy'. An enemy is dealt with under the laws of war, which could include killing, capturing, detaining without trial, etc."
The Australian government has repeatedly denied knowledge of any US intention to charge Assange or seek his extradition.
However, Australian diplomatic cables released to Fairfax Media under freedom-of-information laws over the past 18 months have confirmed the continuation of an "unprecedented" US Justice Department espionage investigation targeting Assange and WikiLeaks.
The Australian diplomatic reports canvassed the possibility that the US may eventually seek Assange's extradition on conspiracy or information-theft-related offences to avoid extradition problems arising from the nature of espionage as a political offence and the free-speech protections in the US constitution.
Assange is scheduled this morning to speak by video link to a meeting on his asylum case on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The meeting will be attended by Ecuadorean Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino.
In a separate FOI decision yesterday, the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the release of Australian diplomatic cables about WikiLeaks and Assange had been the subject of extensive consultation with the US.
[/quote]
[url="http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/us-calls-assange-enemy-of-state-20120927-26m7s.html"]Source[/url].
The stupidity here is making my brain hurt.
Whats the name of the person/people who decide this stuff so I dont vote for them?
damnit government
now we all look bad
This is news? It has been confirmed when they released these terrorist trading cards
[img]http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/BebZbCN3TZQyb4tzcjgFrg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTMxMA--/http://l.yimg.com/os/401/2012/08/23/WSNFII-ttc-ayers-jpg_211020.jpg[/img]
[QUOTE=Medevilae;37813690]That's shit
I'd like a secondary source, SMH seems to be the [URL="https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&gl=us&tbm=nws&q=julian+assange+enemy+of+state&oq=julian+assange+enemy+of+state&gs_l=news-cc.3..43j43i400.527.3969.0.4041.35.3.4.24.27.0.138.281.2j1.3.0...0.0...1ac.1.Ii-UzYMllCE"]only one[/URL] reporting on this?[/QUOTE]
Here you [url="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad/ecuador-uk-to-discuss-assange-at-un-meeting/story-fnbzs1v0-1226482365087"]go[/url] and here is another if you doubt [url="http://www.businessinsider.com/julian-assange-labelled-enemy-by-us-2012-9"]it[/url].
[quote]"However, in the FOI documents there is no allegation of any actual communication for publication that would aid an enemy of the United States such as al-Qaeda, nor are there allegations that WikiLeaks published such information," he said.[/quote]
So basically, no proof?
Well shit, he might as well okay a release of any other dirt he has on the corruption going on in the USA. Nothing else to lose.
So what does the US stand to gain from this? Anyone who researches Assange for a minute will find out that he's just a figurehead and killing him does nothing. I'm sure the government knows this too. Or are they just trying to get revenge and save face since wikileaks humiliated them and their friends?
How to get Assange out of embassy.
[img]http://puu.sh/18YRe[/img]
[QUOTE=ROFLBURGER;37813694]This is news? It has been confirmed when they released these terrorist trading cards
[img]http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/BebZbCN3TZQyb4tzcjgFrg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTMxMA--/http://l.yimg.com/os/401/2012/08/23/WSNFII-ttc-ayers-jpg_211020.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]
I love how Julian is the only one in that image whose photo isn't a mugshot.
[QUOTE=ROFLBURGER;37813694]This is news? It has been confirmed when they released these terrorist trading cards
[img]http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/BebZbCN3TZQyb4tzcjgFrg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTMxMA--/http://l.yimg.com/os/401/2012/08/23/WSNFII-ttc-ayers-jpg_211020.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]
"Hey man, what did you do?"
"Put a bomb in a school bus full of children, drove it into an office building and blew it up after running away. What about you?"
"I exposed a bunch of stuff the government didn't want people to know."
I'm sorry, but this is clearly butthurt.
[QUOTE=Nikota;37814235]How to get Assange out of embassy.
[img]http://puu.sh/18YRe[/img][/QUOTE]
"Damn the police are storming the embassy! Assange, what should we do?"
"TRIARII"
What the actual fuck.
declare fox news enemy of the state, they blabbed the name of that navy seal
[QUOTE=IliekBoxes;37813679]Whats the name of the person/people who decide this stuff so I dont vote for them?[/QUOTE]
Obama.
[editline]27th September 2012[/editline]
He doesn't decide it directly, but the administration he appoints decides this shit.
[QUOTE=yawmwen;37814312]Obama.[/QUOTE]
I'm pretty sure that he has much better things to do than to go after a man such as Assange. There are much more important things on his plate than a political prisoner.
[editline]27th September 2012[/editline]
[QUOTE=yawmwen;37814312]He doesn't decide it directly, but the administration he appoints decides this shit.[/QUOTE]
I'm guessing it would have to do with the CIA or FBI who deals with it, but I'm pretty sure congress elects the heads.
[QUOTE=Nikota;37814321]I'm pretty sure that he has much better things to do than to go after a man such as Assange. There are much more important things on his plate than a political prisoner.
[editline]27th September 2012[/editline]
I'm guessing it would have to do with the CIA or FBI who deals with it, but I'm pretty sure congress elects the heads.[/QUOTE]
[quote]US Vice-President Joe Biden labelled Assange a "high-tech terrorist" in December 2010 [/quote]
Either way, the administration isn't incredibly friendly towards wikileaks or Assange.
He embarrasses the USA so most politicians don't like him.
Alright did some research, the president can suggest and nominate the head of the CIA, but other than that, he has no power in choosing them and it's up to the Senate.
Blame the Senate.
[QUOTE=yawmwen;37814345]Either way, the administration isn't incredibly friendly towards wikileaks or Assange.
He embarrasses the USA so most politicians don't like him.[/QUOTE]
A comment two years ago by Biden means nothing in terms of actual administration priorities.
[QUOTE=Medevilae;37814334]The Obama Administration does not appoint military officers, nor does it dictate/modify the US Uniform Code of Military Justice[/QUOTE]
He is probably the closest person in the chain of command who could theoretically be held accountable through the democratic process.
[QUOTE=Medevilae;37814356]This has nothing to do with the CIA[/QUOTE]
I'm assuming that they're the ones behind the scenes of it all in scheming to take Assange down. It's kind of their sector.
[editline]27th September 2012[/editline]
[QUOTE=yawmwen;37814359]He is probably the closest person in the chain of command who could theoretically be held accountable through the democratic process.[/QUOTE]
Theoretically.
[QUOTE=Nikota;37814364]
Theoretically.[/QUOTE]
I mean theoretically because no one is really held accountable through our democratic process.
In a functional democracy you would probably want to get rid of the Obama Administration.
But you would also want to get rid of the entire Congress as well...
[QUOTE=Dr.C;37814171]So what does the US stand to gain from this? Anyone who researches Assange for a minute will find out that he's just a figurehead and killing him does nothing. I'm sure the government knows this too. Or are they just trying to get revenge and save face since wikileaks humiliated them and their friends?[/QUOTE]
I think it has less to do with Assange and more to do with being able to prosecute soldiers who communicate with wikileaks.
[QUOTE=Blooper Reel;37814241]I love how Julian is the only one in that image whose photo isn't a mugshot.[/QUOTE]
he isn't, gj
[QUOTE=BrickInHead;37814458]he isn't, gj[/QUOTE]
Now that I check again, it looks like I fucked up.
My bad.
[QUOTE=ROFLBURGER;37813694]This is news? It has been confirmed when they released these terrorist trading cards
[img]http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/BebZbCN3TZQyb4tzcjgFrg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTMxMA--/http://l.yimg.com/os/401/2012/08/23/WSNFII-ttc-ayers-jpg_211020.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]
...[b]SHIT[/b] that reminds me I think I left my first edition Jared Loughner in my pants pocket.
And I just sent that pair of pants through the laundry.
ed: IT'S NOT FUNNY GUYS DO YOU REALIZE HOW RARE FIRST ED LOUGHNERS ARE?!
[QUOTE=Dr.C;37814171]So what does the US stand to gain from this? Anyone who researches Assange for a minute will find out that he's just a figurehead and killing him does nothing. I'm sure the government knows this too. Or are they just trying to get revenge and save face since wikileaks humiliated them and their friends?[/QUOTE]
He's a figure head. By capturing him, it'll be a show of American power to "get its enemies". It's all just a publicity stunt. And it's bullshit.
It's not that big of a deal, the government still hates Assange as before, just they finally admit it publicly.
[QUOTE=plunger435;37815018]It's not that big of a deal, the government still hates Assange as before, just they finally admit it publicly.[/QUOTE]
Pretty sure they admitted to it publicly already.
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