In watching this evenings 60 minutes interview with Julian Assange, an enormous contradiction was made apparent, namely the nation that has persecuted Assange the most, the US, is targeting him for practicing the principles which are enshrined in the US Constitution. Liberal ideas like freedom of speech and freedom of the press are cornerstones of American democracy, and yet the US is seeking to extradite Julian Assange for his release of "classified" material.
Of Course the US Constitution does not protect those who are not US citizens, but every president since Woodrow Wilson has stated that the liberal values of freedom are universal. Currently, the US State Department and Pentagon are seeking retribution on a man who did nothing that the New York Times has not already repeatedly done; that is reveal confidential information to inform the public, while keeping their sources classified.
In attempting to bring Julian Assange to justice, the US government is setting a dangerous precedent for the future of publishing, essentially taking an official position of censorship, something that runs directly opposite to the vision of the founding fathers and the spirit of American democracy.
