CINXE.COM
Commentary: Questions media should ask about Julian Assange, WikiLeaks | McClatchy
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd"> <html> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/08/29/163648/commentary-questions-media-should.html","20130309171433","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1362849273"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" /> <!-- End Wayback Rewrite JS Include --> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> <title>Commentary: Questions media should ask about Julian Assange, WikiLeaks | McClatchy</title> <!-- gomez --> <script type="text/javascript"> <!-- var gomez={ gs: new Date().getTime(), acctId:'D3FD89', pgId:'story-detail', grpId:'McClatchy DC' }; /*Gomez tag version: 7.0*/var gomez=gomez?gomez:{};gomez.h3=function(d, s){for(var p in s){d[p]=s[p];}return d;};gomez.h3(gomez,{b3:function(r){if(r<=0)return false;return Math.random()<=r&&r;},b0:function(n){var c=document.cookie;var v=c.match(new RegExp(';[ ]*'+n+'=([^;]*)'));if(!v)v=c.match(new RegExp('^'+n+'=([^;]*)'));if(v)return unescape(v[1]);return '';},c2:function(n,v,e,p,d,s){try{var t=this,a=t.domain?t.domain:location.hostname;var c=n+'='+escape(v)+(e?';expires='+e.toGMTString():'')+(p?';path='+p:';path=/')+(d?';domain='+d:';domain='+a)+(s?';secure':'');document.cookie=c;}catch(e){}},z0:function(n){var t=this;if(n){var s =t.b0("__g_c");if(!s)return '';var v=s.match(new RegExp(n+':([^\|]*)'));if(v)return unescape(v[1]);return '';}else return '';},z1:function(n,m){var t=this;if(n){var s=t.b0("__g_c");if(s){if(s.indexOf(n+':')!=-1)s=s.replace(new RegExp('('+n+':[^\|]*)'),n+':'+m);else s=s==' '?n+':'+m:s+'|'+n+':'+m;t.c2("__g_c",s);}else t.c2("__g_c",n+':'+m);};},b2:function(v,s){var t=this,f=new Date(t.gt()+946080000000),g=''+v+'_'+s;t.c2('__g_u',g,f);t.gc.c=v;t.gc.d=s;t.z1('c',v);t.z1('d',s);},gt:function(){return new Date().getTime()},b5:function(){return new Date().getTime()-gomez.gs},j1:function(h){if(h){if(h.indexOf('<')!=-1||h.indexOf('%3C')!=-1||h.indexOf('%3c')!=-1)return null;if(window.decodeURIComponent)return decodeURIComponent(h);else return unescape(h);}return null;},f1:function(u,t){try{if(u){if(!/(^http|^https)/.test(u)){if(t==1)return gomez.j1(location.hostname);else return u;}var p=new RegExp('(^http|^https|):\/{2}([^\?#;]*)');if(t==1)p=new RegExp('(^http|^https|):\/{2}([^\/\?]*)');var r=u.match(p);if(r&&t==1)return gomez.j1(r[2]);else if(r)return r[0];}return null;}catch(e){return null;}},j3:function(n){try{var t =this,key=escape((window.location+n).replace(new RegExp("([:\/\.])","gm"),""));if(key&&key.length>100){key=key.substring(0,100);}if(window.localStorage){window.localStorage.setItem(key, t.gt());}else{t.z1('r',key+'___'+t.gt());}}catch(e){return ;}}, j2:function(){try{var m,t =this,key=escape((document.referrer+window.location).replace(new RegExp("([:\/\.])","gm"),""));if(key&&key.length>100){key=key.substring(0,100);}if(window.localStorage){m=window.localStorage.getItem(key);}if(!m){var c=t.z0("r");if(c){var r=c.split('___');if(r &&r[0]==key){m=r[1];}};};t.j4();return m;}catch(e){return ;}}, j4:function(){try{var t =this;if(window.localStorage){var key=escape((document.referrer+window.location).replace(new RegExp("([:\/\.])","gm"),""));if(key&&key.length>100){key=key.substring(0,100);}window.localStorage.removeItem(key);}else{t.z1('r', '');}}catch(e){return ;}}, j5:function(){var ret='';for(var i=0;i<3;i++){ret =ret +(((1+Math.random())*0x10000)|0).toString(16).substring(1);}ret =parseInt(ret, 16);return ret;},j6:function(){var t =this;var g=t.b0("__g_u");if(g&&g!='1'&&g.indexOf('NaN')==-1&&g.indexOf('undefined')==-1){var r =g.split("_");if(r.length>5){if(parseInt(r[5])<new Date().getTime()){return undefined;}else{return parseFloat(r[2]);}}}return undefined;},nameEvent:function(){},startInterval:function(){},endInterval:function(){},customValue:function(){}});gomez.P=function(){};gomez.P.prototype={hash:function(o){if(!o)return '';var t=this,s='{n:'+t.f9(o['n'])+'|';for(var i in o){if(i=='n')continue;if(typeof(o[i])=='string'||typeof(o[i])=='number')s +=i+':'+t.f9(o[i])+'|';};s=s.substring(0,s.length-1);return s+'}';},f9:function(s){s=''+s;s=s.replace('|','#$#').replace(':','$*$').replace('{','@#@').replace('}','*@*').replace('&','!*!');return s;},g0:function(){var t=this,z=gomez;if(z.grpIds)z.h3(z.gc,z.grpIds);if(z.wrate)z.gc.r=z.wrate;z.gc.e=z.grpId;for(var i=1;i<5;i++){if(z["grpId"+i]!=undefined){z.gc["e"+i]=z["grpId"+i];}}z.gc.b=z.pgId;z.gc.l=z.f1(z.m,2);if(self.screen){z.gc.m=screen.width;z.gc.o=screen.height;}else if(self.java){var j=java.awt.Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit();var s=j.getScreenSize();z.gc.m=s.width;z.gc.o=s.height;};z.gc.p=navigator.platform;if(navigator.cpuClass)z.gc.q=navigator.cpuClass;if(!z.gc.f&&!z.gc.g){try{var a=new Array("MSIE","Firefox","Opera","Safari","Chrome"),b=document.createElement('div');if(b.addBehavior&&document.body){b.addBehavior('#default#clientCaps');z.gc.k=b.connectionType;}}catch(e){};for(var i=0;i<a.length;i++){if(navigator.userAgent.indexOf(a[i])!=-1){z.gc.g=a[i];z.gc.f=(new String(navigator.userAgent.substring(navigator.userAgent.indexOf(a[i])).match(/[\d.]+/))).substring(0);}}if(!z.gc.f&&!z.gc.g){z.gc.g=navigator.vendor||navigator.appName;z.gc.f=(new String(navigator.appVersion.match(/[\d.]+/))).substring(0);}}return t.hash(z.gc);}};try{gomez.gc={'n':'c'};var iU=gomez.b0('__g_u');if(iU==undefined||iU==''){gomez.b2(gomez.j5(), 0);}var sR=gomez.j6();if(sR==undefined){sR=1;gomez.isFirstVi=true;}else{gomez.isFirstVi=false;}var wR=gomez.wrate?parseFloat(gomez.wrate):(gomez.wrate==0?0:1);wR=wR<0?0:(wR>1?1:wR);gomez.inSample=gomez.z0('a');if(!gomez.inSample||gomez.inSample==''){if(gomez.b3(wR*sR)){gomez.inSample=1;}else{gomez.inSample=0;}gomez.z1('a', gomez.inSample);}else{gomez.inSample=parseInt(gomez.inSample);}gomez.runFlg=gomez.inSample>0;if(gomez.runFlg){gomez.clickT=gomez.j2();gomez.h1=function(v,d){return v?v:d};gomez.gs=gomez.h1(gomez.gs,new Date().getTime());gomez.acctId=gomez.h1(gomez.acctId,'');gomez.pgId=gomez.h1(gomez.pgId,'');gomez.grpId=gomez.h1(gomez.grpId, '');gomez.E=function(c){this.s=c;};gomez.E.prototype={g1:function(e){var t=gomez,i=t.g6(e);if(i)i.e=t.b5();}};gomez.L=function(m){this.a=m;};gomez.L.prototype={g2:function(m){var t=gomez,n=t.b5();var s=document.getElementsByTagName(m);var e=t.k;if(m=='script')e=t.j;if(m=='iframe')e=t.l;if(s){var l=s.length;for(var i=0;i<l;i++){var u=s[i].src||s[i].href;if(u &&!e[u]){var r =new gomez.E(e);t.grm[u]=r;e[u]=new t.c7(u, n);if(t.gIE&&m=='script')t.e2(s[i],'readystatechange',t.d2,false);else t.e2(s[i],'load',r.g1,false);}}}}};gomez.L.m=new Object;gomez.S=function(){var t=this,h=gomez.acctId+".r.axf8.net";t.x=('https:'==location.protocol?'https:':'http:')+'//'+h+'/mr/b.gif?';t.pvHttpUrl=('https:'==location.protocol?'https:':'http:')+'//'+h+'/mr/e.gif?';t.abHttpUrl=('https:'==location.protocol?'https:':'http:')+'//'+h+'/mr/f.gif?';};gomez.h2=function(){var t=this;t.gIE=false;t.f=new Object;t._h=0;t.j=new Object;t.k=new Object;t.l=new Object;t.m=location.href;t.p=-1;t.q=-1;t.u=new Array;t._w=false;t.gSfr=/KHTML|WebKit/i.test(navigator.userAgent);t.grm=new Object;t.b;t.d=false;t.x=false;t.s=new gomez.S;t._a=false;t.h6=false;t.n1=0;t.c=false;};gomez.h3(gomez,{h5:function(u){try{var s=document.createElement('script');s.async=true;if(navigator.userAgent.indexOf('Firefox/3.5')!=-1){s.defer=true;}s.src=u;s.type='text/javascript';if(document.body)document.body.appendChild(s);else if(document.documentElement.getElementsByTagName('head')[0])document.documentElement.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(s);}catch(e){var t=gomez;if(t.gSfr)document.write("<scr"+"ipt src='"+u+"'"+"><\/scr"+"ipt>");}},a9:function(){var t=gomez,i=t.z0('a'),g=t.b0('__g_u'),h=t.z0('h'), b=t.z0('b');t.gc.h=b;if(h)t.n1=parseInt(h);if(!t.gc.h)t.gc.h=1;t.z1('b',parseInt(t.gc.h)+1);if(i){t.a=parseInt(i);if(t.a==1){t._w=true;}else if(t.a==3){t.x=true;t._w=true;};t.d=true;}if(!t.gc.a)return;if(b){t.gc.c=t.z0('c');t.gc.i=t.z0('e');t.gc.j=t.z0('f');t.iFS=false;}else {var s='v=1';t.c2('__g_u','1',new Date(t.gt()+1000));t.iFS=true;if(t.b0('__g_u')&&g&&g!='1'&&g.indexOf('NaN')==-1&&g.indexOf('undefined')==-1){s='v=0';var r=g.split('_');t.b2(parseInt(r[0]),parseInt(r[1])+1);if(r[4]&&r[4]!='0'&&t.gt()<parseInt(r[5])&&r[2]&&r[2]!='0'){t.b1(parseFloat(r[2]),parseFloat(r[3]),parseFloat(r[4]),parseInt(r[5]));if(r[6])t.n0(parseInt(r[6]));};};t.h6=true;};t.gc.d=t.z0('d');if(!t.gc.d||(t.gc.d&&t.gc.d==0)){t.z1('d',1);t.gc.d=1;}t.b=t.z0('g');t.j8();if(i &&!t.isFirstVi&&t._w&&!t._a){t.h7();t._a=true;};},h7:function(){var t=gomez,u=t.tloc?t.tloc:('https:'==location.protocol?'https:':'http:')+'//'+t.acctId+'.t.axf8.net/js/gtag7.0.js';t.h5(u);},n0:function(h){var t=gomez,f=new Date(t.gt()+946080000000),g=t.b0('__g_u');t.n1=h;t.z1('h',h);if(g&&g!='1'&&g.indexOf('NaN')==-1&&g.indexOf('undefined')==-1){var r=g.split('_');g=''+r[0]+'_'+r[1]+'_'+r[2]+'_'+r[3]+'_'+r[4]+'_'+r[5]+'_'+h;t.c2('__g_u',g,f);};},b1:function(v,s,q,f){var t=this;if(s ==undefined)s =1;t.d=true;t.z1('e',v);t.z1('f',s);t.gc.i=v;t.gc.j=s;t.h4(v,s,q,f);},b3:function(i, v, s){var t =this;t.d=true;if(s ==undefined)s =1;if(i==0||i==1){t.a=i;if(i==1){t._w=true;if(!t._a){t.h7();t._a=true;};}else{t.d=false;}t.z1('a',t.a);if(v !=undefined){t.b1(v, s);}}else if(i==2){t.h4(v, s);}},h4:function(o,p,q,d){var t=this,f=new Date(t.gt()+946080000000),g=t.b0('__g_u');if(g&&g!='1'&&g.indexOf('NaN')==-1&&g.indexOf('undefined')==-1){var r=g.split('_'),s;if(d)s=d;else if(q&&q>=0)s=new Date(t.gt()+parseInt(q*86400000)).getTime();else{q=5;s=new Date(t.gt()+432000000).getTime();};g=''+r[0]+'_'+r[1]+'_'+o+'_'+p+'_'+q+'_'+s;t.c2('__g_u',g,f);};},b6:function(){var t=gomez;t.p=t.b5();},f8:function(){var t=this;if(t.pollId1)clearInterval(t.pollId1);},b7:function(){var t =gomez;t.f8();t.q=t.b5();},c7:function(u, s){var t=this;t.m=u;t.s=s;},c8:function(){var t=gomez,n=t.b5(),l=document.images.length;if(l>t._h){for(var i=t._h;i<l;++i){var u=document.images[i].src;if(u){var r =new gomez.E(t.f);t.grm[u]=r;t.f[u]=new t.c7(u, n);t.e2(document.images[i],'load',t.c4,false);t.e2(document.images[i],'error',t.c5,false);t.e2(document.images[i],'abort',t.c6,false);}}}t._h=l;},c4:function(e){var t=gomez,i=t.g6(e);if(i)i.e=t.b5();},c5:function(e){var t=gomez,i=t.g6(e);if(i){i.e=t.b5();i.b=1;}},c6:function(e){var t=gomez,i=t.g6(e);if(i)i.a=t.b5();},g6:function(e){var t=gomez,e=window.event?window.event:e,a=t.d8(e),i;if(t.grm[a.src||a.href]&&t.grm[a.src||a.href].s)i=t.grm[a.src||a.href].s[a.src||a.href];return i;},d2:function(){var t=gomez;var e=window.event?window.event:e,s=t.d8(e);if(s.readyState=='loaded'||s.readyState=='complete'){var o=t.j[s.src];if(o)o.e=t.b5();}},nameEvent:function(n){var t=this;t.f6(n,1);},startInterval:function(n){var t=this;t.f6(n,2,1);},endInterval:function(n){var t=this;t.f6(n,2,2);},f6:function(n,p,b){if(n&&n.length>20)n=n.substring(0,20);var t=this,f=t.u;if(p==3){f[f.length]={'n':'a','a':n,'b':b,'e':p,'f':undefined};}else{f[f.length]={'n':'a','a':n,'b':t.b5(),'e':p,'f':b};}},customValue:function(n,v){var t=this;if(typeof(v)!='number'){return;}t.f6(n,3,v);},d8:function(e){if(gomez.gIE)return e.srcElement||{};else return e.currentTarget||e.target||{};},e2:function(e,p,f,c){var n='on'+p;if(e.addEventListener)e.addEventListener(p,f,c);else if(e.attachEvent)e.attachEvent(n, f);else{var x=e[n];if(typeof e[n]!='function')e[n]=f;else e[n]=function(a){x(a);f(a);};}},i1:function(){var d =window.document, done=false,i2=function (){if(!done){done=true;gomez.b6();gomez.a9();}};(function (){try{d.documentElement.doScroll('left');}catch(e){setTimeout(arguments.callee, 50);return;}i2();})();d.onreadystatechange=function(){if(d.readyState=='complete'){d.onreadystatechange=null;i2();}};},j7:function(s, toUrl){try{var t=this,z=gomez;if(!s)return;s+="{n:u|e:1}";var p ='';if(t.isFirstVi){p='&a='+z.acctId+'&r=1&s=1';}else if(t.iFS){p='&a='+z.acctId+'&r='+t.j6();}if(window.encodeURIComponent)s=encodeURIComponent(s);else s=escape(s);z.h5(z.e(toUrl)+'info='+s+p);}catch(err){}return;},e:function(u){if(!/\?|&/.test(u))if(!/\?/.test(u))u +='?';else u +='&';return u;},j8:function(){var t=gomez, p=new gomez.P();var s=p.g0();t.j7(s, t.s.pvHttpUrl);},g7:function(){try{var t=gomez;t.gc.a=t.acctId;t.gIE=!-[1,];if(t.gIE){t.i1();window.attachEvent('onload', t.b7);}else if(window.addEventListener){window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', t.b6, false);window.addEventListener('load', t.b7, false);}else if(t.gSfr){var m=setInterval(function(){if(/loaded|complete/.test(document.readyState)){clearInterval(m);delete m;t.b6();t.b7();}}, 10);}else return;if(!t.jbo){t.c8();t.pollId1=setInterval(t.c8, 10);}if(!t.gIE)t.a9();}catch(e){return;}}});gomez.h2();gomez.g7();}}catch(e){}; //--> </script> <!-- meta --> <meta name="description" content="I&#x92;m badly out of step with my media brethren, since I find the fate of WikiLeaks and its besieged founder, Julian Assange, a truly compelling story. Other media don't agree. The pressure on Assange, who has sought sanctuary in the Ecuadorean embassy in London, is fringe stuff, a quirky faceoff involving a spectral, white-haired weirdo whom journalists disdain who spilled secrets that annoyed officialdom and that U.S. media mostly ignored anyway."> <meta name="keywords" content="Commentary: Questions media should ask about Julian Assange, WikiLeaks, ''"> <meta name="news_keywords" content="Commentary: Questions media should ask about Julian Assange, WikiLeaks, ''"> <meta name="author" content="Edward Wasserman, The Miami Herald"> <meta name="copyright" content="McClatchy Newspapers"> <meta name="category" content="News/Opinion///"> <!-- rss --> <link rel="alternate" title="McClatchy | Around McClatchy" type="application/rss+xml" href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/344/index.rss"> <!-- icons --> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/web/20130309171433im_/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/static/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon"> <!-- styles --> <link href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433cs_/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/static/styles/sitestyles-min.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"> <!-- no css specified for this template --> <!--[if lt IE 8]> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://media.mcclatchydc.com/static/styles/ie67.css"> <![endif]--> <!--[if IE 6]> <style> .span23_right_img { margin-left: 10px; } </style> <![endif]--> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433cs_/http://media.mcclatchydc.com/static/styles/mi/DC_headlines.css"><!-- scripts --> <script type="text/javascript"> /** * miAppControler contains master settings that can be used to quickly disable * javascript applications. For each supported app there is an attribute containing * an integer value. The meaning of the value is application specific, except * for 0 and 1. * 0 = disable the entire app * 1 = enable the entire app * Any additional values should be noted in this file. * * The controller is instantiated in the MI object and should be interfaced with * there. */ var miAppControler = function() {}; /* Commenting 2 = disable comment submission & display 3 = enable comment submission & display only 4 = disable popular threads widget */ miAppControler.prototype.commenting = 1; /* 2 = display static coupon ad */ miAppControler.prototype.findnsave = 0; miAppControler.prototype.dealsaver = 1; /* Surveywall 0 = disable pass widget 1 = enable pass widget */ miAppControler.prototype.surveywall = 1; /* Paywall 0 = disable paywall 1 = enable paywall for preview & live 2 = enable paywall for preview only */ miAppControler.prototype.paywall = 1; var pageInfo = {'version':1.0}; pageInfo.section = {}; pageInfo.section.id = 344; pageInfo.asset = {}; pageInfo.asset.id = 163648; pageInfo.asset.title = 'Commentary: Questions media should ask about Julian Assange, WikiLeaks'; // Grab recaptcha js file if displaying email form var rscriptloaded = 0; function displayEmailForm() { if(rscriptloaded) { mi_story_tool.storyTool("email", "/2012/08/29/v-emailform/163648/commentary-questions-media-should.html"); } else { $.getScript("https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://api.recaptcha.net/js/recaptcha_ajax.js", function() { mi_story_tool.storyTool("email", "/2012/08/29/v-emailform/163648/commentary-questions-media-should.html"); rscriptloaded = 1; }); } } </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433js_/http://media.mcclatchydc.com/static/scripts/siteresources-min.js"></script> <script> // set a javascript variable to be used in an external script for overrides var miCommentingEnabled = 1; </script> <!-- support/ads/dart_init.ett :start --> <script> if(typeof mi == 'undefined') { document.write('<scr'+'ipt type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://media.mcclatchydc.com/mistatic/javascripts/MI.js"></scr'+'ipt><scr'+'ipt type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://media.mcclatchydc.com/mistatic/javascripts/MI_Cookie.js"></scr'+'ipt>'); }else if(typeof mi.Cookie == 'undefined'){ document.write('<scr'+'ipt type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://media.mcclatchydc.com/mistatic/javascripts/MI_Cookie.js"></scr'+'ipt>'); } </script> <script> var mi__dart_ord = Math.floor(Math.random()*1000000000000000); var dart_ad_cookie = new mi.Cookie(document, 'adinfo'); dart_ad_cookie.load(); if('undefined' !== typeof(dart_ad_cookie['adinfo'])){ var dart_ad_cookie_parts = dart_ad_cookie['adinfo'].split('|'); var dart_ad_cookie_gender = dart_ad_cookie_parts[0]; var dart_ad_cookie_birth_year = dart_ad_cookie_parts[1]; var dart_ad_cookie_income = dart_ad_cookie_parts[2]; } </script> <!-- support/ads/dart_init.ett :end --> <script type="text/javascript"> <!-- mi_is_live = 1; miyahoo = {}; miyahoo.tax = "News|Opinion|"; miyahoo.tax_id = 20280501; miyahoo.content_type = "fn_news"; miyahoo.cstm_sctn_list = "story"; miyahoo.cstm_content_cat = "Around McClatchy"; miyahoo.slots = {}; miyahoo.slots.slot_1 = {}; miyahoo.slots.slot_1.ad_size_list = ["600x255"]; miyahoo.slots.slot_1.ad_delivery_mode = "ipbtf"; miyahoo.slots.slot_1.ad_marker = ""; miyahoo.slots.slot_2 = {}; miyahoo.slots.slot_2.ad_size_list = ["285x70"]; miyahoo.slots.slot_2.ad_delivery_mode = "ipatf"; miyahoo.slots.slot_2.ad_marker = ""; --> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433js_/http://media.mcclatchydc.com/misites/defaults.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433js_/http://media.mcclatchydc.com/misites/mcd/mcclatchydc.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433js_/http://media.mcclatchydc.com/miads/yahoo.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> <!-- if(miyahoo.ads[mi_live_or_preview].yahoo.enabled){ // 'live' or 'preview' is set during page build document.write('<'+'script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://e.yieldmanager.net/script.js"></'+'script'+'>'); } --> </script> <!-- start: support/hnews/apregistry_init.ett --> <!-- end: support/hnews/apregistry_init.ett --> <!-- support/ads/gpt_init.ett :start --> <script type="text/javascript"> mi__dart_demo_gender = dart_ad_cookie_gender; mi__dart_demo_birth_year = dart_ad_cookie_birth_year; mi__dart_demo_income = dart_ad_cookie_income; if (mi__dart_demo_gender || mi__dart_demo_birth_year || mi__dart_demo_income) { mi__ad_cookie = 1; } if (mi__dart_demo_birth_year) { today_year = new Date().getFullYear(); age = today_year - mi__dart_demo_birth_year; if (age < 13) {} else if (age >= 13 && age <=17) { mi__dart_demo_age = '13-17'; } else if (age <= 20) { mi__dart_demo_age = '18-20'; } else if (age >= 76) { mi__dart_demo_age = '76-200'; } else { if (age % 5 == 0) { min_age = age - 4; max_age = age; } else { min_age = age - (age % 5) + 1; max_age = age + (5 - (age % 5)); } mi__dart_demo_age = min_age + "-" + max_age; } } // Since this is first pass TT only, ord must be done outside of TT, sooo...js. var mi__gpt_ord = Math.floor(Math.random()*1000000000000000); // Standard Google Tag init stuff var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; (function() { var gads = document.createElement("script"); gads.async = true; gads.type = "text/javascript"; var useSSL = "https:" == document.location.protocol; gads.src = (useSSL ? "https:" : "http:") + "//web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js"; var node =document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; node.parentNode.insertBefore(gads, node); })(); // End Standard Google Tag init stuff // make this safer for sending var gpt_ref = document.referrer; gpt_ref = gpt_ref.replace("http://",""); gpt_ref = gpt_ref.split("/")[0]; gpt_ref = gpt_ref.split("#")[0]; gpt_ref = gpt_ref.split("?")[0]; // Start defining the ads googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.pubads().setTargeting("pl", "story"); googletag.pubads().setTargeting("sect", "AroundMcClatchy"); googletag.pubads().setTargeting("id", "163648"); googletag.pubads().setTargeting("ref", gpt_ref); if (mi__ad_cookie) { googletag.pubads().setTargeting("gender", mi__dart_demo_gender); googletag.pubads().setTargeting("age", mi__dart_demo_age); googletag.pubads().setTargeting("income", mi__dart_demo_income); } }); </script> <!--MI::Jumuishi::App::Aurora::PostProcessor::GPT#Placeholder--> <!-- support/ads/gpt_init.ett :end --> </head> <body> <div id="wrapper"> <!--[if lt IE 7]> <div id="miub_container"> <div id="miub_close"> <a href="#"> <img src="http://media.mcclatchydc.com/static/includes/browserupgrade/cornerx.jpg" alt="Close this notice" /> </a> </div> <div id="miub_info"> <div id="miub_alert"> <img src="http://media.mcclatchydc.com/static/includes/browserupgrade/warning.jpg" alt="Warning!" /> </div> <div id="miub_info_box"> <h2>You are using an outdated browser</h2> <p>For a better experience using this site, please upgrade to a modern web browser. Click on the icons to the right to learn more.</p> </div> <div class="miub_alt_browser"> <a href="/whyupgrade"> <img src="http://media.mcclatchydc.com/static/includes/browserupgrade/firefox.jpg" style="border: none;" alt="Get Firefox 3.5"/> </a> </div> <div class="miub_alt_browser"> <a href="/whyupgrade"> <img src="http://media.mcclatchydc.com/static/includes/browserupgrade/ie8.jpg" style="border: none;" alt="Get Internet Explorer 8"/> </a> </div> <div class="miub_alt_browser"> <a href="/whyupgrade"> <img src="http://media.mcclatchydc.com/static/includes/browserupgrade/safari.jpg" style="border: none;" alt="Get Safari 4"/> </a> </div> <div class="miub_alt_browser"> <a href="/whyupgrade"> <img src="http://media.mcclatchydc.com/static/includes/browserupgrade/chrome.jpg" style="border: none;" alt="Get Google Chrome"/> </a> </div> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> $(document).ready(function() { $("#miub_close a").click(function() { $(this).parent().parent().hide(); }); if(!$.cookie("miub_timer")) { // no cookie, show the warning $("#miub_container").show(); $.cookie("miub_timer","You need to upgrade your browser", { expires: 1}); } }); </script> <![endif]--> <div id="header"> <div id="header_top"> <div id="dcLogo"> <object width="240" height="70" align="middle" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433im_/http://media.mcclatchydc.com/static/includes/tagline/mcclatchydc_header4.swf"> <param value="sameDomain" name="allowScriptAccess"/> <param value="http://media.mcclatchydc.com/static/includes/tagline/mcclatchydc_header4.swf" name="movie"/> <param value="high" name="quality"/> <param value="#004987" name="bgcolor"/> <param value="transparent" name="wmode"/> <param name="swliveconnect" value="true"/> <a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433im_/http://media.mcclatchydc.com/static/images/mcclatchy_logo_gitmo.gif" alt="McClatchy DC" width="240"></a> </object> </div> <center><div class="advertisement ts_pubsys_production_shared_header dart3" id="dart_728x90_ats_1"><!-- support/ads/dart_call.ett :start v.15694 --><!-- in gpt_generic --><script type="text/javascript"> document.write("<div id='div-gpt-ad-"+mi__gpt_ord+"-1'><scr"+"ipt type='text/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-"+mi__gpt_ord+"-1'); });</scr"+"ipt></div>"); </script> <!-- support/ads/dart_call.ett :end --> </div></center><!-- /.advertisement ts_pubsys_production_shared_header --> <div class="clear"></div> </div> <!-- start /shared/rail_top.comp --> <div id="navigation"> <ul id="menu"> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/">Home</a> <div class="dropdown_2columns align_left"> <div class="col_2"> <ul class="navHeadlines"> <div class="label">Latest Stories</div> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/09/185338/pentagon-prosecutor-transparency.html">Pentagon prosecutor: Transparency sufficient at 9/11 trial at Guantanamo</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/09/184985/commentary-justice-scalia-shows.html">Commentary: Justice Scalia shows his politics</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/09/184770/commentary-who-needs-science-anyway.html">Commentary: Who needs science anyway?</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/politics">Politics</a> <div class="dropdown_3columns align_left"> <div class="col_1"> <ul class="navSubsections"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/washington/">Washington</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/white-house/">White House</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/congress/">Congress</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/supreme-court/">Supreme Court</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/state-local-politics/">State & Local</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="col_2"> <ul class="navHeadlines"> <div class="label">Latest Politics Stories</div> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/08/185299/white-house-official-who-bettered.html">White House official who bettered Hispanic media access steps down</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/08/185259/how-right-is-too-right-for-gop.html">How right is too right for GOP? Virginia is next battleground</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/08/185253/obama-looks-to-reset-relations.html">Obama looks to reset relations with Benjamin Netanyahu in trip to Israel</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/world">World</a> <div class="dropdown_3columns align_left"> <div class="col_1"> <ul class="navSubsections"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/wikileaks">WikiLeaks</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/middle-east">Middle East</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/afghanistan">Afghanistan/Pakistan</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/iraq">Iraq</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/guantanamo/">Guantanamo</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="col_2"> <ul class="navHeadlines"> <div class="label">Latest World Stories</div> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/08/185285/ex-world-leaders-time-for-us-to.html">Ex-world leaders: Time for U.S. to rethink drug policy as states ease marijuana laws</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/08/185269/terrorism-still-plagues-pakistan.html">Terrorism still plagues Pakistan as civilian government nears end of its term</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/07/185181/chavezs-body-to-be-on-permanent.html">Chavez's body to be on permanent display, Venezuela says</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/nation">Nation</a> <div class="dropdown_3columns align_left"> <div class="col_1"> <ul class="navSubsections"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/crime/">Crime</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/512/">Obituaries</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/science/">Science</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="col_2"> <ul class="navHeadlines"> <div class="label">Latest Nation Stories</div> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/08/185283/agricultures-vilsack-defends-cuts.html">Agriculture's Vilsack defends cuts to meat and poultry inspections as part of sequester</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/08/185213/texas-foundry-to-cast-statue-of.html">Texas foundry to cast statue of former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/07/185117/extreme-weather-makeover-has-abnormal.html">Extreme weather makeover: Has abnormal become the new normal?</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/economy">Economy</a> <div class="dropdown_2columns align_left"> <div class="col_2"> <ul class="navHeadlines"> <div class="label">Latest Economy Stories</div> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/08/185283/agricultures-vilsack-defends-cuts.html">Agriculture's Vilsack defends cuts to meat and poultry inspections as part of sequester</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/08/185277/federal-cuts-mean-fewer-low-income.html">Federal cuts mean fewer low-income families will get housing assistance</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/08/185272/transcom-commander-sequester-already.html">TRANSCOM commander: Sequester already starting to hurt military readiness</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/08/185236/february-was-a-breakout-month.html">Jobs are up; now, will Washington help or hurt economy?</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/08/185214/sequestration-may-cost-washington.html">Sequestration may cost Washington state tens of millions</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/328/index-p2.html">» More Economy headlines</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/environment">Environment</a> <div class="dropdown_2columns align_left"> <div class="col_2"> <ul class="navHeadlines"> <div class="label">Latest Environment Stories</div> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/07/185180/us-effort-to-ban-trade-of-polar.html">US effort to ban trade of polar bear parts fails</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/06/184992/humane-society-blasts-blm-on-removal.html">Humane Society blasts BLM on removal of wild mustangs in Nevada</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/05/184874/activists-fight-fda-approval-of.html">Activists fight FDA approval of AquaBounty’s genetically engineered salmon</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/05/184829/fracking-waste-could-go-to-nc.html">Fracking waste could go to N.C. coastal towns if ban is lifted</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/02/184652/federal-agency-undermining-state.html">Federal agency undermining state offshore wind plans, backers say</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/260/index-p2.html">» More Environment headlines</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/opinion">Opinion</a> <div class="dropdown_3columns align_left"> <div class="col_1"> <ul class="navSubsections"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/leonard-pitts/">Leonard Pitts Jr.</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/cartoons">Cartoons</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="col_2"> <ul class="navHeadlines"> <div class="label">Latest Opinion Stories</div> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/09/184770/commentary-who-needs-science-anyway.html">Commentary: Who needs science anyway?</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/09/184737/commentary-sandra-day-oconnor.html">Commentary: Sandra Day O'Connor is retired but still engaged</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/09/184985/commentary-justice-scalia-shows.html">Commentary: Justice Scalia shows his politics</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://blogs.mcclatchydc.com/">Blogs</a> <div class="dropdown_1column align_left"> <div class="col_1"> <ul class="navSubsections"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://blogs.mcclatchydc.com/mexico/">Mexico Unmasked</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://blogs.mcclatchydc.com/china/">China Rises</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://blogs.mcclatchydc.com/southamerica/">Inside South America</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://blogs.mcclatchydc.com/washington/">Planet Washington</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://blogs.mcclatchydc.com/law/">Suits & Sentences</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/#special-reports">Special Reports</a> <div class="dropdown_1column align_left"> <div class="col_1"> <ul class="navSubsections"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/08/12/160930/is-the-era-of-oil-nearing-its.html">End of the oil era?</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/mexico-future-at-risk/">Mexico's Future</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://mcclatchy.remembers911.com/">Sept. 11 anniversary</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/chimps">Chimp research</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/military-injustice">Military Injustice</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/osama-bin-laden/">Death of bin Laden</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/afghan-contracts/">Afghan contracts</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/goldman/">Goldman Sachs</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/oilspill/">Gulf oil spill</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/detainees/">Gitmo detainees</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/reports/intelligence/">Iraq intelligence</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/cartoons">Cartoons</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/video">Video</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/photos">Photos</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/staff">Contact Us</a></li> <li class="navad"> <!-- start: nav ad --> <center><div class="advertisement ts_shared_nav_ad dart3" id="dart_100x25_ats_1"><!-- support/ads/dart_call.ett :start v.15694 --><!-- in gpt_generic --><script type="text/javascript"> document.write("<div id='div-gpt-ad-"+mi__gpt_ord+"-2'><scr"+"ipt type='text/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-"+mi__gpt_ord+"-2'); });</scr"+"ipt></div>"); </script> <!-- support/ads/dart_call.ett :end --> </div></center><!-- /.advertisement ts_shared_nav_ad --> <!-- end: nav ad --> </li> <li class="qmclear"> </li> </ul> </div> <div style="clear:both"></div> <!-- end /shared/rail_top.comp --> </div> <div id="content_story_detail" class="layout_normal"> <div id="left_wrap" class="float_container"> <div id="col_1" class="story"> <div class="hnews hentry item"> <div id="tool_wrapper"> <div id="story_tools"> <ul id="tools_1" class="inlist"> <li class="published" title="2012-08-27T16:05:28Z">Posted on Wednesday, August 29, 2012</li> </ul> <span class="updated" title="2012-08-27T16:31:47Z" style="display:none;">Modified Monday, August 27, 2012</span> <ul id="tools_2" class="inlist"> <li> <!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --> <script type="text/javascript"> var addthis_title = document.title.replace(/\'/g,'\\\'').replace(/"/g,"\""); var addthis_url = location.href+'?storylink=addthis'; addthis_options = 'favorites, digg, myweb, delicious, yahoobkm, myspace, google, facebook, reddit, live, more'; </script> <a class="addthis_button" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250&pub=mianalytics"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433im_/http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/v2/lg-share-en.gif" width="125" height="16" alt="Bookmark and Share" style="border:0"/></a> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433js_/http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#pub=mianalytics"></script> <!-- AddThis Button END --> </li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/08/29/v-emailform/163648/commentary-questions-media-should.html" onclick="displayEmailForm(this.href); return false;" rel="nofollow">email</a></li> <li class="sep">|</li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/08/29/v-print/163648/commentary-questions-media-should.html">print</a></li> <li class="sep">|</li> <li class="rss_btn"><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/344/index.rss"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433im_/http://media.mcclatchydc.com/static/images/icons_small.gif" alt="rss"/></a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="toolbox"> <div id="toolbar"> <h3 id="toolname">tool name</h3> <a href="javascript:mi_story_tool.closeTool()">close</a> </div> <div id="tool"> tool goes here </div> </div> </div> <h1 class="headline entry-title">Commentary: Questions media should ask about Julian Assange, WikiLeaks</h1> <div id="story_body"> <!-- story_videobox.comp --> <!-- /story_videobox.comp --> <!-- story_image_wide_2.comp --> <!-- /story_image_wide_2.comp --> <!-- story_image_wide.comp --> <!-- /story_image_wide.comp --> <!-- start /shared/login_form_rr.comp --> <div id="rrRegistraion"> <!-- Start /registration/production/registration_links.comp --> <div id="registration"> <h1>Stay Connected</h1> <style> #rrRegistraion h1 {margin:0 0 5px 0;} .connectIcon {margin:0;} .layout_home #col_3 #connectBreak {display:none;} #col_3 #connectBreak, #story_body #connectBreak {display:block; line-height:.25em;} </style> <div class="loginLinksdesc"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/reg-bin/int.cgi?mode=login&version=login_split" title="Sign up for email newsletters"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433im_/http://media.mcclatchydc.com/static/images/connect_email.png" alt="Sign up for email newsletters" width="37" hspace="34" border="0" class="connectIcon"></a> <a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/181" title="RSS"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433im_/http://media.mcclatchydc.com/static/images/connect_rss.png" alt="RSS" width="37" hspace="34" border="0" class="connectIcon"></a> <span id="connectBreak"><br></span> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id400350842" title="Follow us on your iPhone" target="_blank"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433im_/http://media.mcclatchydc.com/static/images/connect_iphone.png" alt="Follow us on your iPhone" width="37" hspace="34" border="0" class="connectIcon"></a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mcclatchy.android.dc&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsImNvbS5tY2NsYXRjaHkuYW5kcm9pZC5kYyJd" title="Follow us on your Android device" target="_blank"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433im_/http://media.mcclatchydc.com/static/images/connect_android.png" alt="Follow us on your Android device" width="37" hspace="34" border="0" class="connectIcon"></a> <span id="connectBreak"><br></span> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.facebook.com/pages/McClatchyDC/27177163800" title="Follow us on Facebook" target="_blank"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433im_/http://media.mcclatchydc.com/static/images/connect_facebook.png" alt="Follow us on Facebook" width="37" hspace="34" border="0" class="connectIcon"></a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://twitter.com/McClatchyDC" title="Follow us on Twitter" target="_blank"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433im_/http://media.mcclatchydc.com/static/images/connect_twitter2.png" alt="Follow us on Twitter" width="37" hspace="34" border="0" class="connectIcon"></a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/https://www.google.com/producer/editions/CAowkJqmAQ/mcclatchy_now" title="Follow us using Google Currents" target="_blank"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433im_/http://media.mcclatchydc.com/static/images/connect_currents.png" alt="Follow us using Google Currents" width="37" hspace="34" border="0" class="connectIcon"></a> <hr width="75%" noshade style="background-color:#999; border:none; color:#999; clear:both; height:1px; margin-top:3px 0; padding-top:0px;"> </div> <div id="loginAndAvatar"> <!-- <div id="PluckLogin"> <div id="userTemplate" class="currentUser" style="display:none;padding-top:25px;"> <div id="pluckAvatarControls-R1"> <script type="text/javascript"> document.write(' <a id="pluckWelcomeMsg" href="/reg-bin/tint.cgi?mode=edit">Welcome <strong>' + account_user_name + '</strong><\/a>'); </script> <a id="pluckLogOut" href="/reg-bin/tint.cgi?mode=logout">Sign Out</a> </div> <div style="clear: both;"></div> </div> <div id="anonTemplate" class="currentUser" style="display: none;width:padding-top:10px;"> <a id="pluckSignIn" href="/static/insite/login.html" style="font-weight:bold;">SIGN IN</a> <a id="pluckBecomeMember" href="/reg-bin/int.cgi?mode=register" style="font-weight:bold;">BECOME A MEMBER</a> <div style="clear: both;"></div> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> $(document).ready( function(){ $("#anonTemplate").hide(); $("#userTemplate").hide(); if( 'Guest' == account_user_name ){ $("#anonTemplate").show(); } else { $("#userTemplate").show(); } }); </script> </div> --> <script language="JavaScript"> if (GetCookie(insite_cookie)) { var name = (GetCookie(insite_cookie).replace(/\|.*/,"")); name = name.replace(/\.threshold/ig,'Guest'); } else { name = 'Guest' } //document.write('<span id="nonmember"><h1><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/reg-bin/int.cgi?mode=login&version=login_split">Sign up for email newsletters now!</a></h1></span><span id="member"><h1><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/reg-bin/tint.cgi?mode=edit#opt_in">Sign up for email newsletters now!</a></h1></span>'); //document.write('<span class="loginLinksdesc">Never miss a McClatchy story</span> - '); //document.write('<span id="nonmember" class="loginLinks"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/reg-bin/int.cgi?mode=register">Register</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/static/insite/login.html?;goto=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/reg-bin/tint.cgi?mode=edit&version=login_done">Log in</a></span>') </script> <div id="loginLinksDiv"> <span id="nonmember" class="loginLinks"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/reg-bin/int.cgi?mode=register">Register</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/static/insite/login.html?;goto=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/reg-bin/tint.cgi?mode=edit&version=login_done">Log in</a></span> <span id="member" class="loginLinks"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/reg-bin/tint.cgi?mode=logout">Logout</a> | <a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/reg-bin/tint.cgi?mode=edit&version=login_done">Member Center</a> </span> </div> </div> </div> <div style="clear:both;"></div> </div> <!-- end /shared/login_form_rr.comp --> <!-- story_factbox.comp --> <!-- /story_factbox.comp --> <!-- story_assets.comp --> <div id="story_assets"> <h2>More on this Story</h2> <ul> <li>On the Web | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://edwardwasserman.com/2010/12/05/in-defense-of-wikileaks/">Ed Wasserman defends Julian Assange</a></li> <li>On the Web | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://edwardwasserman.com/">Read Edward Wasserman's blog here</a></li> <li>On the Web | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/other-views/edward-wasserman/">More Edward Wasserman columns at The Miami Herald</a></li> <li>On the Web | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/opinion">More commentary from McClatchy</a></li> </ul></div> <!-- /story_assets.comp --> <!-- No component assigned to this asset type id () --> <!-- No Comment count per Jim Van --> <h5 class="byline"> Edward Wasserman | The Miami Herald</h5><div id="hnews-vcard" style="display:none;"> <span class="byline author vcard"><span class="fn">Edward Wasserman </span></span> <span class="creditline source-org vcard"><span class="org fn">The Miami Herald </span></span></div> <div class="entry-content"> <p> I’m badly out of step with my media brethren, since I find the fate of WikiLeaks and its besieged founder, Julian Assange, a truly compelling story. Other media don't agree. The pressure on Assange, who has sought sanctuary in the Ecuadorean embassy in London, is fringe stuff, a quirky faceoff involving a spectral, white-haired weirdo whom journalists disdain who spilled secrets that annoyed officialdom and that U.S. media mostly ignored anyway. </p> <p> True, the story’s got sex, since Sweden wants Assange extradited to answer complaints of bedroom wrongdoing in Stockholm. But even so, it gets nowhere near the attention lavished on the imbecilic U.S. Senate candidate from Missouri who believes women have an inbuilt capacity to keep from being impregnated by rapists.</p><p>I think the story is a very big deal and has been underplayed and underreported by the U.S. media. WikiLeaks, the global anti-secrecy network Assange founded, exploded into the headlines worldwide in 2010. It had been aggressively posting documents from foreign governments and private entities — exposing corruption in Kenya, tax avoidance by a British bank, toxic waste in West Africa, internal Scientology documents. </p> <!-- story_feature_box.comp --> <!-- /story_feature_box.comp --> <p>But WikiLeaks became world famous in April 2010 when its leaks involved the United States. First was the release of gunsight video showing a U.S. helicopter massacring people on a Baghdad street, among them civilians, Reuters journalists and a child. That was followed by war logs first from Iraq, then from Afghanistan, thousands of U.S. military documents and by a third trove — U.S. diplomatic cables, more than 250,000, covering some 100 countries, published by a makeshift cooperative of four leading news organizations.</p><p>It was the most stupendous assault ever on official secrecy.</p><p>The counterattack has been steady and effective. The United States arrested an Army data clerk named Bradley Manning for leaking and held him for almost a year under brutal conditions. He has been behind bars for more than 800 days, and faces 52 years in prison. It’s assumed he’s being pressured to implicate Assange as a conspirator.</p><p>Then the companies that processed the money that Wikileaks relied on suddenly decided to stop. Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, Western Union, Amazon and Bank of America mumbled something about “indirectly facilitating” illegal behavior, and Wikileaks’ income plunged by 90 percent.</p><p>And in late 2010 came allegations of sexual abuse against Assange from two Swedish women.</p><p>The details are murky, but what’s important is that Assange has been treated with a determination usually reserved for fleeing war criminals, and until he sought asylum in the Ecuadorean embassy had been under house arrest while fighting extradition. Assange says the real plan is to get him to Stockholm because he can then be extradited to the United States more easily.</p><p>Now, he’s hunkered down in Ecuador’s 10-room embassy, but apart from occasional pictures of the spectacularly overblown police presence around the corner from Harrod’s — some 50 officers — the story is stagnating.</p><p>“Considering he made his name with the biggest leak of secret government documents in history,” Seumas Milne observed in The Guardian, “you might imagine there would be at least some residual concern for Julian Assange among those trading in the freedom of information business.”</p><p>Milne was bewailing the British media’s loathing for Assange; in the United States the problem isn’t hostility, it’s indifference. As a result, big questions go unanswered:</p><p>• First, what precisely is he alleged to have done in Sweden — and how are such accusations normally handled? Are the targets of similar allegations always treated like top-drawer international fugitives, or is Assange unusually privileged? And why can’t he be questioned in London?</p><p>• Second, what is the Washington connection? Have U.S. officials urged the Swedes to get him to Stockholm? Does the United States have plans to seek his extradition? Has any reporter asked?</p><p>(And while we’re asking, what pressure did the administration bring to bear on the money handlers who cut off WikiLeaks’ flow of funds?)</p><p>• Third, has Assange been indicted? It’s reported that a sealed indictment exists, and since he is resisting extradition because he already assumes that to be true, it’s hard to see why it should remain under seal.</p><p>• Finally, and most important, isn’t it time for a dispassionate assessment of WikiLeaks’ impact? It has been two years since the massive leaks of military and diplomatic data. The moment is ripe for an accounting. Did the leaks do harm or do good? Did Wikileaks demoralize dedicated officials and expose trusting intelligence assets to risk and reprisal? Or did it blow whistles that needed blowing, embolden dissidents worldwide, fuel the Arab Spring, encourage lackluster news media to defy official controls, help chase despots from power?</p><p>But none of these answers will come from media that don’t even ask the questions.</p> </div><!-- /#entry-content --> <!-- hnews: license --><!-- start: support/hnews/itemlicense.ett --><div id="item-license" style="display:none;"> <a rel="item-license" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/terms-of-service"> Copyright 2013 The Miami Herald. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</a> </div><!-- end: support/hnews/itemlicense.ett --> <!-- start: support/hnews/usage_tag.ett --> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433im_/http://analytics.apnewsregistry.com/analytics/v2/image.svc/The_Miami_Herald/RWS/mcclatchydc.com/MAI/913460835285772300/CVI/20120827T163147Z/E/prod/PC/Basic/AT/A" width="1" height="1" style="display:none;" alt=""/><!-- end: support/hnews/usage_tag.ett --> </div> <div class="clear"></div> </div><!-- ending hnews hentry item div --> <div id="tool_wrapper" style="padding-bottom:10px;padding-top:15px"> <div id="story_tools"> <ul id="tools_2" class="inlist"> <li><div style="float: left;font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchyreprints.com/" target="_blank">Order a reprint of this story</a></div></li> <li> <!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --> <script type="text/javascript"> var addthis_title = document.title.replace(/\'/g,'\\\'').replace(/"/g,"\""); var addthis_url = location.href+'?storylink=addthis'; addthis_options = 'favorites, digg, myweb, delicious, yahoobkm, myspace, google, facebook, reddit, live, more'; </script> <a class="addthis_button" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250&pub=mianalytics"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433im_/http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/v2/lg-share-en.gif" width="125" height="16" alt="Bookmark and Share" style="border:0"/></a> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433js_/http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#pub=mianalytics"></script> <!-- AddThis Button END --> </li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/08/29/v-emailform/163648/commentary-questions-media-should.html" onclick="displayEmailForm(this.href); return false;" rel="nofollow">email</a></li> <li class="sep">|</li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/08/29/v-print/163648/commentary-questions-media-should.html">print</a></li> <li class="sep">|</li> <li class="rss_btn"><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/344/index.rss"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433im_/http://media.mcclatchydc.com/static/images/icons_small.gif" alt="rss"/></a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="toolbox"> <div id="toolbar"> <h3 id="toolname">tool name</h3> <a href="javascript:mi_story_tool.closeTool()">close</a> </div> <div id="tool"> tool goes here </div> </div> </div> <!-- pubsys/production/story/story_detail.html :start v.15690 --> <div id="adblade" style="margin: 0 auto; width: 480px;"> <center><div class="advertisement ts-shared-ads-national-blade-dart dart3" id="dart_600x250_bts_1"><!-- support/ads/dart_call.ett :start v.15694 --><!-- in gpt_generic --><script type="text/javascript"> document.write("<div id='div-gpt-ad-"+mi__gpt_ord+"-3'><scr"+"ipt type='text/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-"+mi__gpt_ord+"-3'); });</scr"+"ipt></div>"); </script> <!-- support/ads/dart_call.ett :end --> </div></center><!-- /.advertisement ts-shared-ads-national-blade-dart --> <div class="advertisement ts-shared-ads-national-blade-yahoo yahoo" id="yahoo_600x255_ipbtf_1"> <script><!-- if(miyahoo.ads[mi_live_or_preview].yahoo.enabled){yld_mgr.place_ad_here("slot_1");} --></script> </div><!-- /.advertisement ts-shared-ads-national-blade-yahoo --> </div> <!-- pubsys/production/story/story_detail.html :end v.15690 --> <a name="comments"></a> <div id="commentDisclaimer"> <strong>JOIN THE DISCUSSION</strong> <br><br> We welcome comments. To post one, you must sign in using either your McClatchyDC login or your login for Facebook, Twitter or Disqus. Just click the appropriate box below.<br><br> Please keep your comment civil, short and to the point. Obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. If you find a comment abusive or inappropriate, please flag it for the moderator by placing your cursor on the comment, then clicking the "flag" link that appears. Thanks for your participation. <br><br> </div> <div id="commentingStage"></div><script>mi.commenting.display();</script> </div> <div id="col_2"> <!-- begin shared/searchbar_separate.comp --> <div id="search_bar_separate"> <form onsubmit="return checkSearch(this)" method="get" id="searchbox" name="searchbox" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/search_results"> <input class="text" type="text" name="q" size="35" maxlength="150" value="Search this site" onmouseover="clearf(this,'Search')" onmouseout="setf(this,'Search')" value=""/> <input class="button" type="image" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433im_/http://media.mcclatchydc.com/static/images/button.gif" alt="submit"/> </form> </div> <!-- end shared/searchbar_separate.comp --> <script type="text/javascript"> $(document).ready(function(){ $("#recentTabs > ul").tabs(); }); </script> <div id="recentTabs"> <ul> <li><a href="#rh01"><span>Most Viewed</span></a></li> <li><a href="#rh02"><span>World</span></a></li> <li><a href="#rh03"><span>National</span></a></li> <li><a href="#rh04"><span>Washington</span></a></li> <li><a href="#rh05"><span>Politics</span></a></li> </ul> <div id="HeadlinesWrapper"> <div id="rh01"> <ul class="tabbedHeadlines"> <h3>Most Viewed Last 24 Hours</h3> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/07/185171/few-insurers-now-cover-services.html#storylink=omni_popular">Few insurers now cover services required in 2014 under health care law</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/09/184985/commentary-justice-scalia-shows.html#storylink=omni_popular">Commentary: Justice Scalia shows his politics</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/08/185271/military-sexual-assault-case-triggers.html#storylink=omni_popular">Military sexual-assault case triggers political furor</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/08/185259/how-right-is-too-right-for-gop.html#storylink=omni_popular">How right is too right for GOP? Virginia is next battleground</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/07/185176/state-department-withdraws-honor.html#storylink=omni_popular">State Department withdraws honor for Egyptian activist over anti-American, anti-Semitic tweets</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="rh02"> <ul class="tabbedHeadlines"> <h3>Recent World Headlines</h3> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/08/185285/ex-world-leaders-time-for-us-to.html">Ex-world leaders: Time for U.S. to rethink drug policy as states ease marijuana laws</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/08/185269/terrorism-still-plagues-pakistan.html">Terrorism still plagues Pakistan as civilian government nears end of its term</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/07/185181/chavezs-body-to-be-on-permanent.html">Chavez's body to be on permanent display, Venezuela says</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/07/185200/chavezs-path-to-power-began-in.html">Chavez's path to power began in hometown</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/07/185152/egypts-silent-soccer-stadiums.html">Egypt’s silent soccer stadiums show the depth of country’s troubles</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/117/index-p2.html">» More World headlines</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="rh03"> <ul class="tabbedHeadlines"> <h3>Recent National Headlines</h3> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/08/185283/agricultures-vilsack-defends-cuts.html">Agriculture's Vilsack defends cuts to meat and poultry inspections as part of sequester</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/08/185213/texas-foundry-to-cast-statue-of.html">Texas foundry to cast statue of former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/07/185117/extreme-weather-makeover-has-abnormal.html">Extreme weather makeover: Has abnormal become the new normal?</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/08/185205/internship-was-dream-job-for-woman.html">Internship was dream job for woman killed by lion</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/07/185118/faa-hilton-head-airport-control.html">FAA: Hilton Head Airport control tower eyed for closure</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/200/index-p2.html">» More Nation headlines</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="rh04"> <ul class="tabbedHeadlines"> <h3>Recent Washington Headlines</h3> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/08/185306/for-civil-war-sailors-some-closure.html">For Civil War sailors, some closure 151 years later</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/08/185271/military-sexual-assault-case-triggers.html">Military sexual-assault case triggers political furor</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/07/185171/few-insurers-now-cover-services.html">Few insurers now cover services required in 2014 under health care law</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/07/185167/north-carolina-students-visit.html">North Carolina students visit Congress to push for immigration overhaul</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/07/185139/interior-nominee-sally-jewell.html">Interior nominee Sally Jewell tells Senate she’ll balance development, conservation</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/244/index-p2.html">» More Washington headlines</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="rh05"> <ul class="tabbedHeadlines"> <h3>Recent Politics Headlines</h3> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/08/185299/white-house-official-who-bettered.html">White House official who bettered Hispanic media access steps down</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/08/185259/how-right-is-too-right-for-gop.html">How right is too right for GOP? Virginia is next battleground</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/08/185253/obama-looks-to-reset-relations.html">Obama looks to reset relations with Benjamin Netanyahu in trip to Israel</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/08/185212/naacp-vows-to-fight-nc-voter-id.html">NAACP vows to fight N.C. voter ID efforts</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/07/185165/senate-confirms-cia-chief-after.html">Senate confirms CIA chief – after GOP senators rip Rand Paul for filibuster</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/104/index-p2.html">» More Politics headlines</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="box_2" id="cartoonPromo"> <ul> <h3>Today's Featured Cartoon</h3> <div class="media"> <a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/cartoons/index.html"><img alt="cartoon" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433im_/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/static/images/cartoons/cartoon01.jpg" width="225" border="0"></a> </div> <a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/cartoons/index.html">» More cartoons</a> </ul> </div> <!-- page element article_col_2 --> <!-- PITTS PROMO STARTS HERE --> <div class="box_2"> <h3>FEATURED COLUMNIST</h3> <div class="left"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/leonard-pitts/"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433im_/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/static/images/banner-leonard-pitts-286.jpg" alt="leonard pitts jr." width="286"></a> <p>Miami Herald columnist Leonard Pitts Jr. won the Pulitzer Prize for commentary in 2004. He is the author of the Novel, <em>Before I Forget</em>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/leonard-pitts/">Read his latest commentary here</a>.</p> </div> </div> <!-- PITTS PROMO ENDS HERE --> <!-- START MCT OPINION HEADLINES --> <div class="box_blog"> <div class="rss_btn"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/340/index.atom"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433im_/http://media.mcclatchydc.com/static/images/icons_small.gif" alt="rss"/></a> </div> <h2>MORE COMMENTARY</h2> <h1 class="clear promo_blurb"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/340/">From the McClatchy-Tribune News Service</a></h1> <div class="front_story_assets"> <script language="JavaScript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433js_/http://feed2js.org//feed2js.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mcclatchydc.com%2F340%2Findex.atom&num=5&utf=y" charset="UTF-8" type="text/javascript"></script> </div> <div class="front_story_assets" style="text-align:right; padding-right:5px;">» <b><a style="color:#075099; font-size:12px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/340">More coverage</a></b></div> </div> <!-- END MCT OPINION HEADLINES --> <!-- COMMENTARY LINKS START HERE --> <div class="box_2"> <h2>COMMENTARY AROUND MCCLATCHY</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.fresnobeehive.com/opinion/" target="_blank">Opinion Talk</a> (Fresno Bee)</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/the_swarm/" target="_blank">The Swarm</a> (Sacramento Bee)</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/" target="_blank">Naked Politics</a> (Miami Herald)</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://voices.idahostatesman.com/richert/" target="_blank">Voices</a> (Idaho Statesman)</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://blogs.kansas.com/weblog/" target="_blank">WE blog</a> (Wichita Eagle)</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://voices.kansascity.com/" target="_blank">Midwest Voices</a> (Kansas City Star)</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://obsdailyviews.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Daily View</a> (Charlotte Observer)</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://blogs.newsobserver.com/opinion/home" target="_blank">Opinion Shop</a> (Raleigh News & Observer)</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://thesunnews.typepad.com/opinionblog/" target="_blank">Opinion Blog</a> (Myrtle Beach Sun News)</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/opinion/" target="_blank">Inside Opinion</a> (Tacoma News Tribune)</li> </ul> </div> <!-- COMMENTARY LINKS END HERE --> <!-- GALLOWAY PROMO STARTS HERE --> <div class="box_2"> <h3>FEATURED COLUMNIST</h3> <div class="left"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/galloway/"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433im_/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/static/images/banner-galloway-286.jpg" alt="joe galloway" width="286"></a> <p>McClatchy's veteran war correspondent, Joseph L. Galloway, retired in January 2010 after half a century in the newspaper business. Read <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/01/27/83178/galloway-a-farewell-after-50-years.html" class="norm">his farewell column</a>, and an archive of <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/galloway/" class="norm">his take-no-prisoners commentary</a>. Here's one of his most-requested columns, "<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2007/05/23/16478/a-must-read-for-memorial-day-52307.html" class="norm">Fridays at the Pentagon</a>."<p> </div> </div> <!-- GALLOWAY PROMO ENDS HERE --><!-- /page element article_col_2 --> <center><div class="advertisement ts_pubsys_production_story_story_detail dart3" id="dart_300x250_bts_1"><!-- support/ads/dart_call.ett :start v.15694 --><!-- in gpt_generic --><script type="text/javascript"> document.write("<div id='div-gpt-ad-"+mi__gpt_ord+"-4'><scr"+"ipt type='text/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-"+mi__gpt_ord+"-4'); });</scr"+"ipt></div>"); </script> <!-- support/ads/dart_call.ett :end --> </div></center><!-- /.advertisement ts_pubsys_production_story_story_detail --> </div> <div class="clear"></div> </div> <div id="col_3"> <center><div class="advertisement ts_pubsys_production_story_story_detail dart3" id="dart_160x600_ats_1"><!-- support/ads/dart_call.ett :start v.15694 --><!-- in gpt_generic --><script type="text/javascript"> document.write("<div id='div-gpt-ad-"+mi__gpt_ord+"-5'><scr"+"ipt type='text/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-"+mi__gpt_ord+"-5'); });</scr"+"ipt></div>"); </script> <!-- support/ads/dart_call.ett :end --> </div></center><!-- /.advertisement ts_pubsys_production_story_story_detail --> </div> <div class="clear"></div> </div> <div id="footer"> <ul id="footer_menu" class="inlist"> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/terms-of-service">Terms of Service</a></li> <li>|</li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/privacy-policy">Privacy Policy</a></li> <li>|</li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/privacy-policy#behavioral_targeting">About our Ads</a></li> <li>|</li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/copyright">Copyright</a></li> <li>|</li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/182">McClatchy Washington Bureau</a></li> <li>|</li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/184">McClatchy Newspapers</a></li> <li>|</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchy.com/">About McClatchy</a></li> <li>|</li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/131">Correspondents</a></li> <li>|</li> <li><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/131">Contact the Bureau</a></li> <li>|</li> <li class="rss_btn"><a href="/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/181"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433im_/http://media.mcclatchydc.com/static/images/icons_small.gif" alt="RSS" title="RSS"/></a></li> </ul> <!-- Scripts for OpenCube Main Nagivation --> <!-- Create Menu Settings: (Menu ID, Is Vertical, Show Timer, Hide Timer, On Click ('all' or 'lev2'), Right to Left, Horizontal Subs, Flush Left, Flush Top) --> <script type="text/javascript">qm_create(0,false,0,250,false,false,false,false,false);</script> <!-- This script references optionally loads the QuickMenu visual interface, to run the menu stand alone remove the script.--> <script type="text/javascript">if (window.name=="qm_launch_visual"){document.write('<scr'+'ipt type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.opencube.com/qmv6/qm_visual.js"></scr'+'ipt>')}</script> <!-- story report abuse not implemented --> <a name="footanchor"></a><!-- /shared/footer.comp --> </div> <div id="mistatstag" style="display:none;"> <!-- SiteCatalyst: McClatchy WorkBench Stats Tag v.1.0 --> <!-- site specific file already loaded --> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433js_/http://media.mcclatchydc.com/mistats/products/pubsys_s_code.js"></script> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript"> <!-- measure_popularity=true; mistats.msr = 'MCD|DC'; mistats.cmsid='GUID: 913460835285772300 | Story: 163648'; mistats.pagelevel='Story'; mistats.pagename='Story: 163648|Commentary: Questions media should ask about Julian Assange, WikiLeaks'; mistats.version='1.0|'; mistats.taxonomy='News|Opinion|||'; mistats.channel='Around McClatchy'; mistats.popular='344|163648|http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/08/29/163648_commentary-questions-media-should.html'; mistats.popstoryurl='https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/08/29/163648_commentary-questions-media-should.html'; mistats.popstoryheadline='163648|Commentary: Questions media should ask about Julian Assange, WikiLeaks'; mistats.contentsource='mcclatchydc|Copied|The Miami Herald|Edward Wasserman'; mistats.pubdate='2012/08/29'; mistats.moddate='2012/08/27 H12'; --> </script> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433js_/http://media.mcclatchydc.com/mistats/products/pubsys.js"></script> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433js_/http://media.mcclatchydc.com/mistats/finalizestats.js"></script> <noscript><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433im_/http://mcclatchy.112.2o7.net/b/ss/nmmclatchy%2F1%2FH.10--NS%2F0%3FpageName%3DStory%3A%20163648%7CCommentary%26%2358%3B%20Questions%20media%20should%20ask%20about%20Julian%20Assange%2C%20WikiLeaks&server%3Dwww.mcclatchydc.com&channel%3DAround%20McClatchy&c1%3Dhttp%26%2358%3B%26%2347%3B%26%2347%3Bwww.mcclatchydc.com%26%2347%3B2012%26%2347%3B08%26%2347%3B29%26%2347%3B163648_commentary-questions-media-should.html&c3%3DStory&c4%3Dmcclatchydc%7CCopied%7CThe%20Miami%20Herald%7CEdward%20Wasserman&c6%3DMCD%7CDC&c28%3D&h1%3DMCD%7CMCCLATCHYDC%7CNews%7COpinion%7C%7C%7C%7CAround%20McClatchy" height="1" width="1" border="0" alt=""/></noscript> <!-- End SiteCatalyst: McClatchy WorkBench Stats Tag v.1.0 --> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/https://ssl." : "https://web.archive.org/web/20130309171433/http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> try { var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-3858463-33"); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err) {}</script> <a name="floorboard_anchor"></a><!-- /shared/ads/floorboard.comp --> <!-- start: floor board ad --> <center><div class="advertisement floorboard shared-footer_test dart3" id="dart_285x70_ats_1"><!-- support/ads/dart_call.ett :start v.15694 --><!-- in gpt_generic --><script type="text/javascript"> document.write("<div id='div-gpt-ad-"+mi__gpt_ord+"-6'><scr"+"ipt type='text/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-"+mi__gpt_ord+"-6'); });</scr"+"ipt></div>"); </script> <!-- support/ads/dart_call.ett :end --> </div></center><!-- /.advertisement floorboard shared-footer_test --> <div class="advertisement floorboard shared-footer_test yahoo" id="yahoo_285x70_ipatf_1"> <script><!-- if(miyahoo.ads[mi_live_or_preview].yahoo.enabled){yld_mgr.place_ad_here("slot_2");} --></script> </div><!-- /.advertisement floorboard shared-footer_test --> <script type="text/javascript"> // floor board ad script to control whitespace // $('div[name^=adx_ldo0_]').ready(function() { $(document).ready(function() { // executes when HTML-Document is loaded and DOM is ready // don't animate because focus of browser window changes $('div[name^=adx_ldo0_]').ready(function() { $('#footer').css('padding-bottom', '110px'); }); }); // IMPORTANT: executes when complete page is fully loaded, including all frames, objects and images // meaning, we can't bind click for the ad until after the window.load $(window).load(function() { $('div[name=adx_al]').bind('click', function() { // keep this scoped inside of he click var $curMarg = $('#footer').css('padding-bottom').replace("px", ""); $curMarg = ($curMarg == 30) ? 110 : 30; $('#footer').css('padding-bottom', $curMarg + 'px'); }); }); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> var floorAd = new mi.floorAd('#floorboard-ad');</script> <!-- end: floor board ad --> <!--MI::Jumuishi::App::Aurora::PostProcessor::GPT#Source <script> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.defineSlot("/7675/MDC.site_mcclatchydc/News/Opinion", [728,90], "div-gpt-ad-"+mi__gpt_ord+"-1") .setTargeting("pos", "1") .setTargeting("atf", "Y") .addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineSlot("/7675/MDC.site_mcclatchydc/News/Opinion", [100,25], "div-gpt-ad-"+mi__gpt_ord+"-2") .setTargeting("pos", "1") .setTargeting("atf", "Y") .addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineSlot("/7675/MDC.site_mcclatchydc/News/Opinion", [600,250], "div-gpt-ad-"+mi__gpt_ord+"-3") .setTargeting("pos", "0") .setTargeting("atf", "N") .addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineSlot("/7675/MDC.site_mcclatchydc/News/Opinion", [300,250], "div-gpt-ad-"+mi__gpt_ord+"-4") .setTargeting("pos", "1") .setTargeting("atf", "N") .addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineSlot("/7675/MDC.site_mcclatchydc/News/Opinion", [160,600], "div-gpt-ad-"+mi__gpt_ord+"-5") .setTargeting("pos", "1") .setTargeting("atf", "Y") .addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineSlot("/7675/MDC.site_mcclatchydc/News/Opinion", [285,70], "div-gpt-ad-"+mi__gpt_ord+"-6") .setTargeting("pos", "1") .setTargeting("atf", "Y") .addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.pubads().enableAsyncRendering(); googletag.enableServices(); }); </script> --> </div> </body> </html><!-- FILE ARCHIVED ON 17:14:33 Mar 09, 2013 AND RETRIEVED FROM THE INTERNET ARCHIVE ON 05:34:17 Dec 12, 2024. JAVASCRIPT APPENDED BY WAYBACK MACHINE, COPYRIGHT INTERNET ARCHIVE. ALL OTHER CONTENT MAY ALSO BE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT (17 U.S.C. SECTION 108(a)(3)). --> <!-- playback timings (ms): captures_list: 0.469 exclusion.robots: 0.032 exclusion.robots.policy: 0.024 esindex: 0.008 cdx.remote: 20.143 LoadShardBlock: 202.36 (3) PetaboxLoader3.datanode: 138.854 (4) PetaboxLoader3.resolve: 2253.972 (2) load_resource: 2256.071 -->