Even Representative Ron Paul Can Stretch Reason
Rational Nation USA
Rational Nation USA's Editor in Chief is a long standing supporter of Representative Ron Paul's positions. He has always been, at lest in my mind, a rational and reasoned thinker. A staunch advocate for individual liberty and limited Constitutional government he provides a rational pathway to fiscal sanity and proper government.
However, with respect to the issue of the WikiLeaks release of confidential U.S.state documents Representative Paul is at best walking a thin line in his reported support of Julian Assange. While all advocates of liberty should support open and transparent government there is a huge difference between openness and espionage.
While the activities of a multitude of international figures might be open to question the release of confidential U.S. state documents, {particularly during times conflict and ideological warfare}, puts our soldiers as well as civilian officials at heightened danger.
On this issue Representative Paul is off the mark. Julian Assange should be arrested and held on suspicion of international espionage pending the completion of a thorough exhaustive investigation. Should such investigation determine Mr. Assange is guilty of the crime of espionage he should be summarily executed.
On the other hand should Assange be found innocent of the charge of espionage then the U.S., as well as other nations need to review their government and the practices the condone.
The rule of law must prevail. Unfortunately it seems much of the world is reverting to he primitive. I shall leave that discussion for a later time.
Cross posted to the Left Cost Rebel.
Via: Memeorandum
I agree with you except on one point, and that may have been a merely misworded. I think the investigation needs to be done before any accusation. If his work is merely embarassing, more power to him. IF, however, he actually IS putting innocent lives at stake, then espionage it is.
ReplyDeleteThe "innocent lives at risk" argument has become akin to the boy who cried "wolf" RN.
ReplyDeleteIt has no meaning anymore.
If our spy agencies were so damn worried about all this info then why did a Private have access to it?
I appreciate honesty. Karzai is a scumbag. Ahmadinijad is a scumbag. Bertolisconi is a party animal.
Our enemies are already emboldened. And from what I see, Putin liked that he was called the "alpha dog."
Good post, Les. I agree. We have a system of checks and balances. I trust Dr. Paul and others like him (including honest liberals like Bernie Sanders) to watchdog DoD, State Department and intelligence agencies for compliance with US law.
ReplyDeleteNow to address the ignorant comments from troofie:
This was not intelligence or "spy agency" information, it was private cables from embassies to the state department. If someone from Apple turned over private company info, that person and the person who received and published it would both face criminal charges.
The people with security clearances who turned this over without authorization need to be tried and hung by the neck until dead.
It doesn't matter what the information contained. The people who handed it over to the WikiRapist broke the law.
Why did a private have access? Because he was granted a security clearance, and secret information is generally not compartmentalized. Of course, I bet it will be after this latest debacle.
US troops have most likely lost their lives due to the info drop before this one. It included technical details on anti-roadside bomb devices and techniques.
It is indeed clear, at least to me, we are dealing with "the enemy within" {to crib Savage] as well..
ReplyDeleteIndeed we are, Les. This is not about "whistleblowing" or any of that other nonsense.
ReplyDeleteThere are classified channels for whistleblowers to report fraud, waste and abuse.
If those channels don't work, the person can go to a congressperson or senator who is especially critical of the program in question and the elected official can do an inquiry.
That is how our divided government, with its checks and balances works. If you don't have faith in this, then the whole democratic experiment is a failure.
The bad guys already know how to make roadside bombs SF.
ReplyDeleteIn the end, this may well make government act more responsibly in that who knows what the public will find out.
Of course the Private and anyone else involved should be disciplined appropriately. Show that lives were lost and I join you in calling for charges of treason.
So far all I see is embarrassment. The Private should of course be dishonorably discharged and face legal consequences. But the death penalty because Putin found out diplomats think he's the alpha dog or Bertalusconi parties too much? No.
But continue your tough talk because it appeals to the lazy and easily swayed. You know. Part of your base.
By "you" I don't mean you Les, but rather the America-haters within our own country who love seeing us get a black eye.
ReplyDeleteIn Paul's defense, he was making a very narrow point: That Assange should be treated like any news outlet. His point: Why go after Assange and not the NY Times?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20024605-503544.html
http://www.nysun.com/editorials/ron-paul-wikileaks-and-the-federal-reserve/87161/
He is for government transparency, as am I, but we'd be a fool to open up everything.
What if we are helping Iranian dissidents and such leaks revealed their identities? Is that OK, troofy? Iraqi and Afghan sources were revealed, giving those people a death sentence.
Are you able to see some nuance here, or are you just another MSNBC moron who believes everything they tell you?
SilverFiddle - I understood that.
ReplyDeleteAnd I too am all for transparency. There is a limit however and the Pfc. that leaked the documents, as well as anyone else involved deserves swift justice.
Lord Truth - There you go again. I clearly stated arrest the scum and then, pending a thorough investigation and if espionage is proven then summarily execute him. As for the Pfc. well perhaps his act was treasonous, if so treat him accordingly.
All after the proper investigation and legal trail of course.
Consider it tough talk for the lazy, you know, as you stated part of my base, if you will. Why is it the progressives find any departure from there views and liberal "talking points" as laziness.
Could it be possible they suffer from the same symptoms as well?
Just askin...
We're in agreement, Les. I just wanted to state exactly what Paul's point was. I actually agree with you, as I stated earlier. The leakers broke the law. The WikiRapist and the NY Times are merely America haters.
ReplyDeleteHere's a good article that explains why the NY Times is so wrong. It also explains those on the left:
"a newsroom drenched in “subtle and not-so-subtle anti-Americanism, anti-bourgeois hauteur, hypersensitivity toward ‘victim’ groups, double standards, historical shallowness, intellectual dishonesty, cultural relativism, moral righteousness and sanctimony.”
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=40317
Thanks for this Les! It's good to hear this from Ron Paul supporters.
ReplyDeleteSorry Les but I have to agree with RP on this.
ReplyDeleteThe only one (allegedly) guilty of espionage is PFC Manning, Julian Assange is simply a bearer of bad news. Too many parallels to New York Times Co. v. United States to think otherwise.
Now if WikiLeaks can be found to have acquired the information through their own theft, that changes the whole dynamic.