Julian Assange Takes Job for Russia Today

[Toontown]

Pretty odd definition of "imperialism" you are using.

It's the only kind that works for them. Not "work"-works, but "works" on a ludicrously superficial level of self-delusion which they hope will spread into other brains via internet exposure.

Which, BTW, will also serve as my bold prediction of the manner in which our boy Assange will behave on his "shows". As a sellout, he now has nothing at all to lose by going for the bottom-feeders without the meager cover of a crotch-rag of pseudo-respectable activism.

[Childlike Empress]

Here's the first episode. Cholerics click on "I agree" at own risk.

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[WildCat]

Nasrallah, how cute! He's one of the good guys, right?

[trustbutverify]

Here's the first episode. Cholerics click on "I agree" at own risk.

GDLXPpooA18

When is the Shamir episode scheduled to air?

[Matthew Best]

He's not a great presenter - he seems a bit stilted and plodding.

[Childlike Empress]

He's not a great presenter - he seems a bit stilted and plodding.


Agreed, but he asked good questions.

[eirik]

Nasrallah, how cute! He's one of the good guys, right?

Haven't heard of him. This guy? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hassan_Nasrallah#Views_on_international_politics
On Salman Rushdie and the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy

During the 2006 Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy, Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah declared in a speech aired on Al-Manar TV and Al-Jazeera TV that: "If there had been a Muslim to carry out Imam Khomeini's fatwā against the renegade Salman Rushdie, this rabble who insult our Prophet Mohammed in Denmark, Norway and France would not have dared to do so. I am sure there are millions of Muslims who are ready to give their lives to defend our prophet's honour and we have to be ready to do anything for that."

Holocaust exaggerated numbers
According to the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Robert Satloff, in a speech carried during Ashura on April 9, 2000, Hasan Nasrallah said that: "The Jews invented the legend of the Nazi atrocities. It is clear that the numbers they talk about are greatly exaggerated".
According to MEMRI, in a speech aired on Al-Manar and Al-Jazeera in 2006, the Hezbollah leader expressed support for alleged Holocaust denier Roger Garaudy calling him a "great French philosopher" who "proved (sic) that this Holocaust is a myth".

If so: Djeez..

[Silhouette]

He's not a great presenter - he seems a bit stilted and plodding.

His questions were being translated into a different language and he was giving the translator time to catch up. I thought he asked intelligent questions.

Haven't heard of him. This guy? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hassan_Nasrallah#Views_on_international_politics


If so: Djeez..

Though what you are saying may be true about Nasrallah, merely holding an interview with a controversial person doesn't indicate that the interviewer also holds those same beliefs. Just because I found the interview interesting doesn't imply that I agree with Nasrallah (which I don't).

Personally I found it interesting to hear Nasrallah trying to justify the use of terrorism to liberate Palestine in the context of the reputation that Hezbollah has for extremism and his claim to not want to inflict needless violence. I also found it interesting that he is supportive of Syria, with regards to the Arab Spring and the brutal crackdown on protestors by the Syrian government, because Hezbollah considers Syria an ally.

[Toontown]

Though what you are saying may be true about Nasrallah, merely holding an interview with a controversial person doesn't indicate that the interviewer also holds those same beliefs. Just because I found the interview interesting doesn't imply that I agree with Nasrallah (which I don't).

Who else is Assange (with his towering reputation as a thieving hacker) going to interview, except people of Nasrallah's ilk? For example, would Shamir allow himself to be interviewed by Assange, who is seen by Shamir as nothing more than a cyber criminal?

Only the lowest of bottom-feeders will allow themselves to be figuratively groped by Assange, thereby providing the bottom-feeders a forum.

[dudalb]

I think Assange's deal with RT has wrecked his creditbility with all but The True Believers...of whom we have several in this thread.

[trustbutverify]

A careful examination of the great Assange will reveal his partnership with RT to be quite natural and appropriate.

[Childlike Empress]

Though what you are saying may be true about Nasrallah, merely holding an interview with a controversial person doesn't indicate that the interviewer also holds those same beliefs. Just because I found the interview interesting doesn't imply that I agree with Nasrallah (which I don't).


Absolutely, and the section of the article he quoted doesn't exactly live up to wikipedia's NPOV standards, at least it is a very selective second-hand collection of what Nasrallah said according to this Israeli official, that IDF guy or MEMRI. Not that those quotes are necessarily false, but they certainly don't give an objective picture of his "views on international politics". As Nasrallah is a very important figure in the Middle East who is considered to be a hero by many millions, I think Assange was right in interviewing him and completing the picture. And clever, as his show certainly has the attention now.

If you want harmless all-the-same talking points of US and Israeli pundits about the Middle East, there's more than enough of it already around.

[Childlike Empress]

I think Assange's deal with RT has wrecked his creditbility with all but The True Believers...of whom we have several in this thread.


I think someone like you who hated his guts the moment you first heard about him is far from being in a position to make a relevant statement about that.

[Childlike Empress]

The day before the first episode aired he was interviewed about the series and explains why he chose to first ask RT, among the international networks, to license his show:

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[trustbutverify]

Absolutely, and the section of the article he quoted doesn't exactly live up to wikipedia's NPOV standards, at least it is a very selective second-hand collection of what Nasrallah said according to this Israeli official, that IDF guy or MEMRI. Not that those quotes are necessarily false, but they certainly don't give an objective picture of his "views on international politics". As Nasrallah is a very important figure in the Middle East who is considered to be a hero by many millions, I think Assange was right in interviewing him and completing the picture. And clever, as his show certainly has the attention now.

If you want harmless all-the-same talking points of US and Israeli pundits about the Middle East, there's more than enough of it already around.

Yea, how dare members focus attention on actual Nasrallah quotes and embarrass you. Don't they know the truth is the very last thing you're interested in?

[Silhouette]

Episode 2: Slavoj Zizek and David Horowitz

Tuesday 24 April, 12:30 PM London time

http://worldtomorrow.wikileaks.org/news.html

Should be interesting!

[Childlike Empress]

Hahaha, Nasrallah and Horowitz. Now that's fair and balanced. :D

[Childlike Empress]

Episode two:

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Well, it was mildly amusing but more like a circus with two clowns who have no say and nothing to say about "The World Tomorrow".

[trustbutverify]

That would be three clowns. It appears the entire series is a clown show, including the host. Perhaps Israel Shamir can be the season finale.

[Silhouette]

Assange interviews the new revolutionary President of Tunisia, Moncef Marzouki. Tue, May 1

http://worldtomorrow.wikileaks.org/

I found the last episode with David Horowitz and Slavoj Zizek to be interesting, though I admit Horowitz's hyperbole about democrats and communists was a bit of a turn off.

[Childlike Empress]

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Good interview. Interesting how grateful he was to Assange. Cablegate was instrumental in fueling the Tunisian Revolution - when they saw how the US diplomats were talking about their government - a bunch of corrupt thugs but they do what we want - they finally had enough.

[rcfieldz]

He needs a new government to steal secrets from...

[WildCat]

So when is Assange's show on how journalists who write stories critical of Putin tend to wind up dead?

[Childlike Empress]

This isn't comedy central.

[Mycroft]

This isn't comedy central.

So you're saying you don't think he should do a show like that? You don't think it's true? What are you saying here?

[trustbutverify]

All things considered, I don't think Wiki leaks is currently interested in any material exposing Putin and his minions.

[Alcassin]

So when is Assange's show on how journalists who write stories critical of Putin tend to wind up dead?

Never. Russia Today is a "soft propaganda" channel which never shows anti-Kremlin politics. I watched it many times, and apart from idiotic CTs which are proliferated, and some good commentary about the world they never point at Moscow. So I can call it Fox News a rebours.

But, on the other hand, the journalism in programmes there isn't that bad. They at least broadcast "the evils of the world" like Hassan Nasrallah. Questions are relevant, if you want a source of political beliefs and only rarely truth. They are doing the same job that almost every news channel trying to do - to keep emotion high towards the content, and put some ideology into. That's not bad.

However, I admit, I've never seen an interview with George W. Bush. It's not bad but it's not balanced, and with other channels in satellite TV I can at least look at the other side.

Russia Today is not a good moral source, and Assange by trying to paint himself as a moral hero becomes incredulous. On the other hand, I see only Al-Jazeera and RT as the only TV producers interested in him.

[Childlike Empress]

Tomorrow, activists from Egypt and Bahrain.

At the time of the interview all three participants were in the middle of serious legal and political attacks. Assange notes, “When this show was filmed, Nabeel Rajab was free. When it is broadcast, he will be in detention. In the show, he told me that he fully expected to pay a high price for his work in Bahrain. The 4th of May proved him right. It will be interesting to see what the government of Bahrain does in reaction to what he has to say.”
The episode will air thoughout Tuesday in English, Spanish, Arabic, Italian and Russian ... RT will air the episode 12 times on Tuesday on its international cable network... The show will be aired in Italian by L’Espresso Group in Italy.

[Childlike Empress]

Excellent.

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[theprestige]

worldtomorrow.wikileaks.org

So World Tomorrow is affiliated with Wikileaks?

[Christian Klippel]

worldtomorrow.wikileaks.org

So World Tomorrow is affiliated with Wikileaks?

Quite some people get this pretty wrong, as can be seen in this thread as well.

"The World Tomorrow" is a show that Assange produces all by himself. It is _his_ show, and his alone. He then contacted broadcasters to check who will air the show. So, he does _not_ work for RT. He works for himself. RT is simply the broadcaster to whom he sold a set of rights to air this show.

So, yes, his show is indeed somewhat affiliated with WikiLeaks, since WL is his project as well.

Greetings,

Chris

[Silhouette]

WikiLeaks ‏ @wikileaks

Next Assange show is on the future of Islam with former Guantanamo detainee/Al Quada suspect. Can muslims unite into a superstate?

So far I'm enjoying the interviews, especially the interview with the new President of Tunisia, Moncef Marzouki!

[Childlike Empress]

He interviews both a former Guantanamo detainee and the lawyer for a rights organization called "Cage prisoners", fighting against the US practices in the GWOT. Assange asks them, devout and very articulate Muslims, about Jihad, Sharia, Osama and the Caliphate ... between the lines you see that he is alien to their position but by mutual respect he manages again to make this interview educational. He even asks them if it isn't annoying to follow the demands of a God, without them being offended ... like with Nasrallah. And what's the difference between Bush and Obama, he asks. The US went from extrajudicial detentions to extrajudicial killings, is the answer.

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[Silhouette]

He interviews both a former Guantanamo detainee and the lawyer for a rights organization called "Cage prisoners", fighting against the US practices in the GWOT. Assange asks them, devout and very articulate Muslims, about Jihad, Sharia, Osama and the Caliphate ... between the lines you see that he is alien to their position but by mutual respect he manages again to make this interview educational. He even asks them if it isn't annoying to follow the demands of a God, without them being offended ... like with Nasrallah. And what's the difference between Bush and Obama, he asks. The US went from extrajudicial detentions to extrajudicial killings, is the answer.

zIzqsSr7ZMQ

Great Interview! I really liked the questions and enjoyed getting a different perspective than I'm used to!

[Silhouette]

Here's information on the next episode:

WikiLeaks ‏@wikileaks

Next Assange show: President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa.talks US, China, media wars, and future of Latin America from Tuesday 7:30AM EST

[Childlike Empress]

Nice. Correa rocks.

[Childlike Empress]

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"Take care ... and don't get assassinated!" ;)

[Childlike Empress]

This time it's a podium discussion with five leaders forming members of the Occupy Movement from New York and London. Can't say that he didn't ask some hard-hitting questions again.

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[Mycroft]

This time it's a podium discussion with five leaders forming members of the Occupy Movement from New York and London. Can't say that he didn't ask some hard-hitting questions again.

NhHm8pJ10rk

Which of those questions do you consider "hard-hitting"?

[trustbutverify]

Which of those questions do you consider "hard-hitting"?

Possibly those which were asked with his face lodged only half-way up his subjects ass.

[Mycroft]

Well, to be fair, towards the end he asked some questions about how they dealt with dissidents within the protest group that seemed to make people pretty uncomfortable, but he still basically gave them a half an hour to tell their own story in the way they wanted to tell it.

[trustbutverify]

Well, to be fair, towards the end he asked some questions about how they dealt with dissidents within the protest group that seemed to make people pretty uncomfortable, but he still basically gave them a half an hour to tell their own story in the way they wanted to tell it.

Those aren't "hard hitting questions". More like softball setups. The "interview" was an advertisement.

[Childlike Empress]

In a double feature, Assange comes home and talks with some of his fellow travellers about the future of the Internet. Participating "Cypherpunks" are Jake Appelbaum of TOR fame (USA), Andy Müller-Maguhn (Chaos Computer Club) from Germany and Jeremie Zimmermann (La Quadrature Du Net) from France. Profound.

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[Childlike Empress]

*crickets*

Apropos (:p), in a very timely interview broadcasted on the day the Pakistani Prime Minister and with him the cabinet have to resign because of corruption, and in a move where Assange out-does himself in "better-watch-your-back" guests - hard to top this one -, and while the Pakistani supply lines to Afghanistan are still blocked for the US because the corrupt leadership simply can't afford the public outrage over opening them again, and Obama fuels the fire almost daily by ordering drone strikes often murdering civilians, here's the likely next leader of Pakistan - Imran Khan.

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[JihadJane]

'Wikileaks Founder Julian Assange Seeking Asylum in Ecuador
Assange taking refuge in Ecuador embassy' (http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/06/19-6)

[Childlike Empress]

'Wikileaks Founder Julian Assange Seeking Asylum in Ecuador
Assange taking refuge in Ecuador embassy' (http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/06/19-6)


Wow. See #287 for his interview with Rafael Correa, the President of Ecuador.

[Childlike Empress]

And the beat goes on (I assume the planned twelve episodes were already finished when he went into the Embassy).

In episode ten, Noam Chomsky and Tariq Ali:

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[JihadJane]

'Incinerating Assange - The Liberal Media Go To Work (http://www.medialens.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=686:incinerating-assange-the-liberal-media-go-to-work&catid=25:alerts-2012&Itemid=69)'

"The media response to Assange’s asylum request tells us much about the default brutality and reflexive herdthink of elite corporate journalism. We witnessed a rush to be seen to revile Assange as a ‘turd’, ‘weirdo’, ‘narcissist’ and joke. The crucial importance of his achievements, of his cause, was deemed utterly irrelevant beside his allegedly unbearable personal failings.

Almost as disturbing as the tsunami of mindless vitriol is the lack of dissent. US analyst Glenn Greenwald has so far been the sole high-profile political commentator willing to take on the UK’s hard-right ‘liberals’. By contrast, the Guardian and Independent’s dissident figleaves, and the many aspirational leftists who long to join them, have kept their heads down, saying nothing in support of a man who has risked his freedom and life to expose vast crimes of state.

It is yet more evidence, if any were needed, that political ‘convergence’ – the empty ‘choice’ between Old Tories and New Tories – has brought with it a dramatic and dangerous narrowing of 'mainstream' thought and dissent. We seem to be at the dawn of a brave new world: a high-tech Dark Age dominated by a kind of corporate feudalism"

[my bold - JJ]

[DC]

And the beat goes on (I assume the planned twelve episodes were already finished when he went into the Embassy).

In episode ten, Noam Chomsky and Tariq Ali:

4iJjtEMamjc

thats a pretty interesting interview, but not do to JA

[Darth Rotor]

So, how's his extradition to Ecuador working out, and will that limit or expand his ability to market and broadcast his show?

Any ideas?