Something Wiki This Way Comes
Iceland's Freedom Fighter
Birgitta Jónsdóttir is in a lot of hot water. And I don't mean a geothermal spa. A supporter of free speech in general, and WikiLeaks in particular, she has challenged the international community to free WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Julian Assange.
"If Julian is charged in the USA," Jónsdóttir posted on her blog, "I will call for Iceland to grant him political asylum if his own country fails to protect him."
So why is the Readers' Choice for Time magazine's 2010 Person of the Year a wanted man? Because this last November, WikiLeaks began releasing some of the 251,000 American diplomatic cables they had acquired--53 percent listed as Unclassified, 40 as Confidential, and just over 6 percent classified as Secret. As of December 11th only 1,295 cables had been released, 1/2 of 1 percent of the total. Which was more than enough for the US Department of Justice to launch a criminal investigation related to the leak.
"If Julian is charged in the USA," Jónsdóttir posted on her blog, "I will call for Iceland to grant him political asylum if his own country fails to protect him."
So why is the Readers' Choice for Time magazine's 2010 Person of the Year a wanted man? Because this last November, WikiLeaks began releasing some of the 251,000 American diplomatic cables they had acquired--53 percent listed as Unclassified, 40 as Confidential, and just over 6 percent classified as Secret. As of December 11th only 1,295 cables had been released, 1/2 of 1 percent of the total. Which was more than enough for the US Department of Justice to launch a criminal investigation related to the leak.
Prosecution or Persecution?
And US prosecutors are reportedly considering charges against Assange under several laws. But prosecution would be difficult. Even so, an alleged rape charge has made Assange persona non grata, a status even his 2009 Media award from Amnesty International can't soften. Some believe these charges are part of a smear compaign to restrict Assange's demand for transparency in government. Others aren't sure. But the question remains: will an association with Assange taint Iceland in general, and Jónsdóttir in particular? The answers could be more explosive than Eyjafjallajokull. And barely into 2011, the eyes of the world are once again fixed on that tiny viking island. Stayed tuned as all hell breaks loose...