Hi Banjo,

"In the Wikileaks case, a Pentagon official told the McClatchy newspaper group that even three months later the US military still had no evidence that people had died or been harmed because of information gleaned from Wikileaks documents."

That is a misrepresentation. What is known is that people have disappeared as a consequence of Mr Shipton releasing unredacted information. That there fate is unknown does not mean that they suffered no harm. Many people may have been tortured and killed as a consequence.

"Failure of the US to protect its classified records"

No organisation is immune from security breaches. That is why there are laws to dissuade people from such conduct.

"Extradition shall not be granted if the offence for which extradition is requested is a political offence."

So argued IRA members who engaged in terrorism. Engaging in activity which puts people at risk of harm and death moves those actions from a political offence to a criminal offence. Whatever your motivation, the outcome would seem to be more defining. I guess that is why Mr Shipton's supporters are so insistent that he has harmed no one.

"Wikileaks is a not-for-profit organisation. Julian Assange was not motivated by personal gain. He did not commit a crime."

Wikileaks has no public accountability, and if Mr Shipton wasn't motivated by personal gain he would be the only narcissist ever not to be. And he did commit a crime, both by assisting a defence analyst to hack data and by releasing unredacted data that put people at risk of harm and death.

I don't think that the defence submitted any evidence that would justify a further extradition trial, but I will have to wait for the judgement like everyone else. I think that the only thing that could save Mr Shipton is a political pardon, but I suspect that the politicians would be well aware of the consequences of releasing an unrepentant computer hacker with a hatred of western governments.

Hi Banjo,

I admire your patience in continuing to provide
the facts of the Assange case. However, you can never win an
argument with a negative person . They only hear what
suits them and listen only to respond.

Best to walk away.

Hi Foxy,

Rather than polarity, I'd suggest that we are human beings with differing perspectives, and the fact that we feel strongly enough to share opinions could be argued as reason for us having a greater concern about things than those with no opinion on the subject.

You might also consider that the justice system that Mr Shipton faced has seen reason to extradite him to Sweden to face sexual assault charges as well as reason to extradite him to the United States to face charges of espionage and endangering human lives. Does that make the judges presiding over those proceedings negative people? You yourself expressed the view that the decision of a court should be respected when it found George Pell guilty.

Mr Shipton polarises public opinion as did Cardinal Pell, and I think that makes the job of the judges much harder to be objective.

.

Dear Foxy,

.

I appreciate your kind expression of compassion and solicitude, but perhaps I should explain that my interest in participating in these debates is not to “win arguments” but to help me delve deeper into certain subjects and bounce my ideas and opinions off the minds of others.

It helps shed the veils of ignorance, beliefs, and prejudices that cloud my vision and allows me to see more clearly.

The ideologies and convictions of others do not bother me. That’s their problem, not mine. I take the good and leave the bad.

Unfortunately, misinformation and disinformation seem to be all the rage these days. Who knows, OLO might be infested by secret agents of all the major powers. I see no point in trying to change their minds about anything.

What I do regret is the swearing, insults, bad temper, aggressivity and “argumentum ad hominem” expressed by some of the posters here on OLO.

I find that extremely unpleasant but the value of freedom of expression is immense and I wouldn’t want that to change for anything.

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Hi Banjo,

I regret my recent reaction. However, it is frustrating
when facts are presented and have no impact.

Welcome to the world Foxy.