Obama should resign if approved UN spying: WikiLeaks founder

[ProSense]

Obama should resign if approved UN spying: WikiLeaks founder

MADRID (AFP) – President Barack Obama should resign if it can be shown that he approved spying by US diplomatic figures on UN officials, the founder of WikiLeaks said in an interview published Sunday.

"The whole chain of command who was aware of this order, and approved it, must resign if the US is to be seen to be a credible nation that obeys the rule of law. The order is so serious it may well have been put to the president for approval," Julian Assange told Spanish daily El Pais.

"Obama must answer what he knew about this illegal order and when. If he refuses to answer or there is evidence he approved of these actions, he must resign," he added during an Internet chat interview published online.

WikiLeaks threw US diplomacy into chaos when it started releasing more than 250,000 classified State Department cables on November 28, creating an international firestorm as American diplomats' private assessments of foreign leaders and politics have been publicly aired.

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[PeaceNikki]

1. It's NOT political, though!!!

He just wants Clinton and Obama to resign.

[ProSense]

8. More

"The whole chain of command who was aware of this order, and approved it, must resign"

[PeaceNikki]

11. Oh, right.

If Obama and Biden resign before the new Congress is seated, will Pelosi be prez? Or Boehner?

[bluestate10]

82. Republicans would claim it should be Boehner and the SC would agree.

Talk about democrats cutting off their nose. And over a policy that Bush likely put in place and Obama did not stop until he became aware of it.

[PeaceNikki]

83. So is Julian a Boner operative?

:tinfoilhat:

[Major Hogwash]

103. Please, no more Boner jokes

We've got a whole two years to make Speaker Boner jokes.

If I was 10 years old again, I wouldn't be able to watch the news when they say "Speaker Boner" without just falling out of my chair laughing my ass off.

[PeaceNikki]

105. lol, I mostly just couldn't be bothered to stop and think about the proper "e" and "h" placement.

[EFerrari]

32. What they do is ask him a question

and then only publish his reply to make it look like he brought it up. That's what they did with the Clinton remark and I bet that's what happened here.


Wait and see.

[Turborama]

97. Hi Beth. They brought it up by asking if Obama should resign. Here's the Q&A...

Q. Speaking to Time magazine you said that Clinton should resign if it can be shown that she was responsible for ordering US diplomatic figures to engage in espionage in the United Nations. Should that be the case, shouldn't it be Obama the one who should resign?

A. The whole chain of command who was aware of this order, and approved it, must resign if the US is to be seen to be a credible nation that obeys the rule of law. The order is so serious it may well have been put to the president for approval.

Q. So, should Obama resign, then? And please, allow just five minutes for a couple of questions, if you can, please.

A. Obama must answer what he knew about this illegal order and when. If he refuses to answer or there is evidence he approved of these actions, he must resign.


Posted in an OP here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x573757

[Pavulon]

2. Says the guy ducking rape charges. Fuck him, roman polanski has a free room

they can get together and talk about how to dodge for decades.

[gateley]

4. The charges aren't rape, so your roman polanski reference doesn't

apply.

[cali]

5. he didn't rape anyone. He had consensual sex without, evidently a condom.

[Pavulon]

10. Seem that is a charge worth evading. Like a parking ticket?(nt)

[tekisui]

56. He knows he is a marked man.

Lots of powerful people want him nabbed. If I were him, I would be avoiding ANY and ALL contact with those who could arrest or detain me for even a minute.

In this situation, yes it is very much a charge worth evading.

[Pavulon]

71. Why not just settle up in court?(nt)

[tekisui]

78. His lawyer is working on it.

If he's smart he'll stay far away. Once they have you in custody, your chances of not being in custody drop to zero. Better to stay a free man when so many want to captured and/or dead.

[Pavulon]

80. I would bet it would be easier to stamp his ticket if he was free, vs in custody

for however long it takes to clear his charges.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[the redcoat]

16. Because when someone is raped, they brag about it, right?

[Pavulon]

20. Hey, I can freely travel the world. If I had a criminal issue, I think I would settle it.

but hey maybe he is waiting for obama to resign first. What a fucking poon assange is.

[tekisui]

59. He sure got to you!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[the redcoat]

85. It sure is easy when you're looking on from the side, isn't it?

Leaders/Governments of the first world are condemning you for exposing them, then a first world nation accuses you of something you know isn't true. But you "think" you would gladly go to that country to "settle" it? And there will be absolutely no outside influence on the matter?

Don't bother trying to waste time insulting my intelligence.


Oh, and in this, let's call it "hypothetical" situation, don't forget that Sweden already revoked it's arrest warrant for you for the same exact thing back in August because the accusations against you "lacked substance."

Rule #5: Not every coincidence is a coincidence.

[Union Scribe]

43. Someone's grumpy.

[Forkboy]

62. Your anger warms me on this cold night.

:rofl:

[Pavulon]

73. Should Obama resign, for our new found hero?(nt)

[tekisui]

81. I don't think Obama should resign.

But, some reactions are very entertaining.

[Forkboy]

86. No. Do you actually buy the rape charge?

[Pavulon]

93. no idea on his jimmy hat situation..

his status as a rapist is not all that relevant. His wikileaks status is not all that important, he just runs stuff.

[Forkboy]

94. I'll take that as a yes....

[gmudem]

79. You're really falling for that?

That whole thing reeks of a set up. The prosecution and the story are clearly BS. I'm sorry you fall for the establishment line so easily.

[Pavulon]

98. clearly, like you I am in touch with the prosecutors office and the defense

and have a great grasp of the facts, not what they all want me to think..

[Forkboy]

102. The irony of this post is awesome.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. He should but will sic the dogs on WikiLeaks rather than face the music.

[Pavulon]

9. Who should replace him? The next guy that will sign off on the same thing

including splattering people all over pakistan and yemen? Ohh maybe 10 random people from /b?

[spanone]

6. but no one gives a shit that cheney & friends tortured at will...renditions...no problem

[countingbluecars]

7. So he's not just releasing documents now.

He's a pundit too.

[jody]

13. What a crock, presidents are above the law. They answer only to their corporatist masters. n/t

[Name removed]

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[cali]

17. hero worship makes me puke.

[Codeine]

33. The phrase "Truth to power" also makes me puke.

People need some new platitudes.

[cali]

44. amen, sister.

[PeaceNikki]

46. Yes. This.

[snagglepuss]

53. The post is sarcastic. nt

[WingDinger]

18. Looks a more gentile Bill Maher.

[ProSense]

22. "God he looks so good and in control, how can you not just place all your hope and trust in this

hero."

Fairly easy not to do.

Welcome to DU.

[jody]

26. Too sadly messiahs like Julian are only recognized posthumously. n/t

[cali]

31. omg. "messiahs"? ugh. cult worship.

and I support what wikileaks is doing.

[jody]

47. I too support wikileaks. n/t

[snagglepuss]

61. I think going forwqrd there will be a number of posts that will attempt to

ridicule Assange supporters as irrational hero worshippers.

[Codeine]

36. That's bizarre.

I dated a girl who used to react that way to Gavin Rossdale. Thought it was weird then, think it's even weirder now.

[WinkyDink]

106. Tone-deaf.

[asdjrocky]

BS, he is no hero to me.

He's a guy who got a hold of some truth, and he revealed it. Truth is good, the person doesn't matter.

[Codeine]

68. Now THIS is an opinion I can stand with.

Creating heroes is always going to end unhappily.

[NoPasaran]

74. The Koolaid is strong in this one

[eShirl]

99. you forgot this

:sarcasm:

[Name removed]

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[mikehiggins]

19. This is pathetic. Attack the messenger? Are you serious?

Making Assange the issue sort of misses the point, don't you see?

If the nations government hadn't done this crap, there would be nothing to reveal.

Are you guys seriously saying that the Wikileaks releases are worse than the stuff they uncover?

Are you serious?

[Pavulon]

25. Like that Iran has 19 ICBMs? That?

or that the US and China are negociating a korea solution.

So yeah, fuck him.

[cali]

52. you seem not to understand that by making pronouncements like this

Mr. Assange is abetting those who would make him the issue. And I'm pro the wikileaks, though frankly, very little that they've released has been earth shaking.

[Name removed]

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[TwilightGardener]

23. Kind of makes sense now, why he's DU's big hero. Yup.

Should be interesting to see what Skinner does with all the soon-to-be-echoed calls for our Democratic administration to fold.

[Name removed]

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[TwilightGardener]

37. Yep--that'll be fun. And to think, I used the word "messiah" in my post

and erased it and replaced it with "hero"--and somebody above ACTUALLY USED IT--and meant it without snark!

[Codeine]

40. Stereotypes exist for a reason.

Even lefty stereotypes.

[EFerrari]

45. People who fall for this kind of media bs every single time amaze me.

This is the very same reason there are still people here that believe we found Saddam's WMD.

But, carry on.

[cali]

lol. you live in a simple little black and white world of good/evil

sometimes, beth, I envy you that.

[Forkboy]

63. Actually, I'd say she sees the grays better than you, or I, ever have.

We should both envy her.

In another thread tonight you said this, "I think human beings are complex."

Except when they don't agree with you. Then it's a simple black and white world in which they live.

Good to have you back!

[cali]

69. shockingly, we disagree.

and no, I don't think that people who disagree with me are evil, forkboy. I simply think that some people live in a world where they're positive about what is good/evil. I don't live there.

[Forkboy]

72. Nor does she, and anyone paying attention over the years should know that.

[cali]

75. As I said, we disagree. You can handle that, right?

[Forkboy]

88. I think so, let me check.

Yep, your disagreement is a burden I can carry. I had to consult family members, tarot cards and some guy named Doug downstairs, but we're good.

Anyways.....

...it is noted how you avoided responding to your own totally divergent opinions, vis a vis, people being complex and all, except when they aren't. Good thing I think you're a complex person or I might have thought you dodged that part on purpose...

But, as you say, we just disagree, and I know you can handle it.

[Name removed]

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[ProSense]

28. President Obama committed war crimes?

WTF?

[Union Scribe]

41. Killing children (or anyone) with drones is to many a war crime

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/06/02/world/main6540966.shtml

[ProSense]

65. By your logic

every U.S. President is a war criminal.

[Union Scribe]

67. It's actually a UN expert's logic, and it's sound.

And just because everyone else is speeding, doesn't make it legal.

[asdjrocky]

49. Drone attacks on countries where there is no declared war?

Rendition? The killing of children all over Asia and the Middle East? Yeah, I'd call that war crimes.

I will say in Obama's defense his crimes are for the most part no worse than any other Presidents, at least not one in the 20th or 21st century.

So, yeah. War crimes, deal with it.

[Pavulon]

84. So obama is a "War Criminal" like joseph mengele

or like a nicer friendlier war criminal? should he be off to the Hague?

[asdjrocky]

89. Look, you've made it clear you only see choices in terms of black and white.

Yes, there is such a thing as degree, not all war criminals rise to the level of Mengele, but judging from our last encounter, I'm not going to have any luck explaining that to you either.

[cali]

27. of for fuck's sake. Mr. Assange needs to learn when to keep it zipped.

he doesn't help the credibility of wikileaks with imperious pronouncements like this- any more than he helps it by fucking groupies.

[snagglepuss]

64. Assange's credibility is not on the line. The cables speak for themselves.

The people with credibility issues are politians from countries around the globe.

[Renew Deal]

30. Assange is an attention whore.

He hasn't gotten the reaction he wanted so he's lashing out. No one is going to take the advice of a wanted rapist over the foreign policy decisions of a president. Even the republicans won't go there.

[EFerrari]

39. No, the media has been doing this for weeks.

They ask him a question, he answers it honestly and then ProSense posts it.

lol

[bluestate10]

57. Isn't the spying incidents several years old?

If Bush or Cheney authorized the spying, why hold Obama accountable? Republicans held up Obama administration appointments to all departments. Obama spent his first 12-14 months having to use Bush era people in the mechanisms that are the guts of an administration. The UN Representative for the US is a person that gets feeds and intelligence from underlings that gather and shape that information. Even if Obama's appointee had nothing to do with spying, assuming that it happened under her command, it would still take months for her to suspect something amiss and that would only happen if she got an underling approved who was powerful enough and ethical enough to track down the wrongdoing then bring it to the attention of the Administration.

Many view Assange as a hero. I view him as an irresponsible bomb thrower who will cause us to seriously damage democrats and embolden republicans if we are not careful.

[snagglepuss]

70. Bullshit. You are in LA LA Land if you believe anything you wrote.

[RetroLounge]

34. IOKIODI

It's Okay If Obama Does It...

:rofl:

RL

[Pavulon]

35. Does what?(nt)

[Codeine]

38. Now, now -- don't make them think this stuff through.

Easier to type a cutesy phrase and congratulate themselves.

[EFerrari]

48. There really is nothing more hilarious than misplaced condecension.

LOL

[RetroLounge]

50. exactly.

RL

[Codeine]

54. And look -- there's some right now. nt

[EFerrari]

60. You seem to have humor and slamming all mixed up, Codeine.

That must be awful for you. :)

[inna]

66. fucking anything.

[mrmpa]

42. Assange can sit on it

Spying on the UN is such a teabag and conservative idea. Been reading for years how people on the far right believe that the UN is out to rule the world and that our Anerican soldiers, sailors and marines are taking orders from UN officers, etc. So if there was spying going on, and a President knew about it, it would be Bush. Also Assange is saying the President is guilty, without proof and just because he (Assange) says so.

There is all this discussion :sarcasm: going on on this board right now, about the pending criminal charges against Assange. What Assange is saying to Obama is similar to those who automatically think Assange is guilty. Let's think twice about what's going on here.

[EFerrari]

58. Back that right up.

Assange was responding to a question, first.

And he also qualified his response, "if". I didn't hear any of those Senators say "if" in regards to Assange. They want him apprehended (Lieberman) when no one can find a charge to bring against him, for christ's sake.

This kind of manipulative reporting is why Wikileaks fills a need in the first place. But, thanks to ProSense, for bringing us such quality material! :)

[bluestateguy]

51. Now he's just being silly

The US has been spying on the UN since Truman was in office.

[cali]

55. ding, ding, ding.

[Metric System]

76. Most world leaders will have to resign too. I know, let's make Assange World Emperor!

[malaise]

77. What about Bush and Cheney

for violating the Geneva conventions? I'd like to think that was way more serious...indeed those were war crimes. Starting an illegal war?
Plueeeeeeeeeeez

[Contrary1]

87. The US quit being seen as "a credible nation that obeys the rule of law" a long time ago. n/t

[ProSense]

90. Yeah, other nations are so credible.

Each country has its shares of assholes, the U.S. is no different.

[Major Hogwash]

104. That may be true, but no one serves "Freedom Fries" quite as nice as the good ol' US of A.

Hahahaha.
Remember when they did that in Washington, D.C.?

Now, the guys that did that, they were real assholes!

[Fla_Democrat]

91. "I think he's diddling Carmen"

"That bastard has to go!"


:rofl:






:smoke:

[Bluerthanblue]

92. who should really care what Julian Assange's opinion is?

REALLY?

So many otherwise rational people are suddenly fawning over this man, offering him money and support, defending him as an innocent martyr, a champion for good, the saviour of society...? But how much do they really know about him? How much is he allowing anyone to know?

Forget kool-aid, what the hell is everyone drinking?

Recall how eager some were to diss those who supported candidate Obama as being blinded by their admiration for him. Declaring that people had lost their perspective, of looking at a 'man' with the kind of adulation a messiah incites.

:shrug:

How much does anyone here really know about Julian Assange? Not from information they've gleaned over the last 6mos. or so of internet searches. Not from what political talking heads say about him for good or ill?

Perhaps he will succeed in shutting down the internet as we know it. If one man can posses the power that he currently possesses, that is a very dangerous thing indeed.

He says:

“I believe in facts about conspiracies. Any time people with power plan in secret, they are conducting a conspiracy. So there are conspiracies everywhere." Julian Assange HAS power and he operates in secret. Is he operating for good or ill? Who is this man to decide?

His lawyer threatens a "Thermo Nuclear Device of the Internet Era" if anything "happens to him".

And people call him a hero?

[stray cat]

95. Why is this news? Its like Sarah Palin saying he should resign - one persons opinion

who holds no power or elected office

[Name removed]

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[LawnLover]

101. Seriously? I mean... SERIOUSLY?

What a naive, ridiculous statement. Of course Obama approved spying. We spy on everyone and everyone spies on us. What fucking world do you think we live in? Spying is the second oldest profession.

Why is anyone even up in arms about this?