Free Press

As the Wikileaks ordeal continues, a couple of issues come up. One is the free press the US so fervently espouses. Yet it applies only when it is in their interest, such as, exposing and discrediting enemies. But when the press expouses war crimes, deception, lies, murder, extortion, that is considered state secrets or information not privy to the public. The rules of press no longer apply. Simply look at the US government massive witch hunt of Julian Assange with the support of corporate America. However, when the government wants to disparage or undermine someone then they have free reins, remember Valerie Plame. Free press exists insofar only within the boundaries dictated by the corporate elites and the US government. It is not an elastic boundary and ones that trespass it suffer severe consequences. The press is free to report petty crimes, love affairs, divorces, athletes and actors mishap, etc. But critique and exposure of imperial crimes is strictly off limits. It is ironic that the government can freely monitor your email, phone calls, credit card transactions without any just cause but you have no right to inquire about what our tax dollars do abroad. Or how about your tax returns where you detail every cent you have earned over the past year. But inquiry into crimes are always rebuffed or investigated by the elites themselves. It is like a robber. He is always studying your moves and habits but you do not get the chance to study him. To be successful, the robber has to operate in secrecy and plan ahead. Every heard of robber telling the public I am going to rob this bank at 10 am.
Another issue is the US is not a democracy but simply megalomaniac empire run by a corporatocracy. This was demonstrated during the Wall Street bailout. In times of crises, the elite are always rescued. The elite must also be shielded from the public lest they exposed for their true aims, that is, exploitation and domination of others to maximize profit and power. Wikileaks simply provides an opening into this shielded and segregated group of people. The elites need this secrecy to be successful. They start to feel uncomfortable when the truth comes out not because they feel ashamed but because they are afraid that exposure could eventually lead to their downfall and collapse of the empire.
The internet which is a creation by the US and is an easy way to monitor and spy on society can also be a double edged sword. Wikileaks is simply the other end of the sword and the receiving end is starting to feel an ache.

Challenging the Empire

Julian Assange will likely go down in history, no matter what happens to him now, as one of the most brave and insightful people who singlehandedly challenged power and the empire. Unlike the compliant, ignorant, and obsequious mainstream journalists, he has deviated from the "line" and was courageous to expose the lies and crimes of the empire. He is slowly exposing the reaches of the hegemony and its obsession with domination and power. Empires and the elites hate being exposed for they rely on deception and newspeak to manufacture consent. Dissent is never tolerated and the press knows this. The initial counter attack is to smear and discredit you. They will try to fabricate a story about terrorism, communism, child pornography, rapist, drug addict, etc. If that fails, they will apply outside pressure, like financial, spying, and infiltration. If that fails, then they will send in the jackals (assassination), as the author of Confessions of an Economic Hitman states. For the US, he is too well known now to try anything obvious but never doubt the elites when they are desperate.
The empire is slowly decaying, not because of Julian, however. Julian is simply exposing its entrails which the empire knows but wants to keep the public in oblivion and rather occupy them with their ipods, tv sports, idiotic hollywood movies, and consumerism.
This only the beginning for other websites are starting similar projects around the world. If the US succeeds in destroying Wikileaks, I am confident others will simply replace it, for it is human nature to resist oppression and enjoin justice.