Comments on: Julian Assange, The Man Behind WikiLeaks
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- I was throroughly dissappointed with this interview. What has happened to you 60 minutes? I am through with you. Steve Kroft's bias was obvious from the very beginning. Julian schooled you, Steve and he is not even a US citizen! He's more of a journalist than you are, though. Journalism is about getting to the truth, period. Not interpreting it, Steve, if you are reading this. "There are those that say..........." Is that how serious questions are asked nowadays? Can you quantify that or even cite a poll when you spew out this nonsense? To equate the US Govt or any other for that matter to the Forces of Nature is really inaccurate metaphorically. Time to retire Steve, or move on over to Fox News.
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This kind of hatchet job is a disservice to 60 Minutes and makes me lose respect for Steve Kroft. What does 60 Minutes itself do but expose cover-ups, corruption and wrongdoing? Here's a person who is exposing how the US military and US government covered up their mistakes and machinations. So the revelations of WikiLeaks embarrassed the US government in releasing sensitive information; many other highly reputable news organizations did the same. Why is 60 Minutes attacking Assange? Why is Steve Kroft the spokesman for the US government? This is journalism?
Assange is presented to us as a "muckraker". They dismiss as "paranoia" his fear of "being killed, kidnapped or arrested" - for doing what? "In the last four years, WikiLeaks has released information that played some role in deciding the 2007 election in Kenya, and fueling the anger that recently brought down the government in Tunisia. It has also divulged the membership rolls of a neo Nazi organization in Great Britain, and secret documents from the Church of Scientology."
Are these supposed to sound like bad things to be exposing? How different is this from what 60 Minutes itself does?
When Kroft says WikiLeaks's information is stored "beyond the reach of governments or law enforcement", the implication is that these good guys can't get at this bad guy.
Assange revealed that US attacks in Iraq had killed journalists, and that civilian casualties in Iraq were much higher than the US government acknowledged. That documents revealed that Arab leaders were lobbying the U.S. to attack Iran, and that the State Department had been secretly collecting intelligence on leaders at the United Nations. What does Kroft say to this? "It triggered outcries that Assange was a political actor trying to damage the U.S. government." "Are you a subversive?"
??I don't get it. What was wrong with letting the public know about any of the above?? The stated information would be something 60 Minutes would love to expose. They've done it before. I want to know if my country or any country has killed people and covered it up. I count on 60 Minutes to be exposing such things. What's the matter - are they jealous he broke it first?
Assange is grilled throughout. One statement: He is an anti-establishment ideologue with conspiratorial views. He believes large government institutions use secrecy to suppress the truth and he distrusts the mainstream media for playing along.
Hey! Is this far off the mark? Do you think powerful government does not use secrecy to suppress the truth? Do you think the mainstream media has not so often played along?? Surely you can remember back to the invasion of Iraq? It is really outrageous for 60 Minutes to say this.
Kroft's questioning and comments were accusatory and biased. Assange's replies were calm, measured and fair. Steve Kroft and 60 Minutes: to me you looked bad, and Assange looked good. You tried to put it to him, and he defended himself quite well. And that in a way sums up my point: Why are you putting it to him? Why is he defending himself? This is journalism? Interview him impartially; don't grill him with your biased agenda - or that of a government whose interests you appear to defend. - Reply to this comment
- Interesting I watched a Canadian show called Fifth Estate it showed a van trying to rescue the people shot by the helicopter,the van had children in it,why did 60 Minutes not show that particular footage.
While I would much prefer to have the USA as the policeman of the world as opposed to for instance the Chinese(god help us all) I think the statement that everybody who fights against the US forces is a terrorist gets a little tired,remember weapons of mass destruction - Reply to this comment
- "There are special rules in the U.S. about releasing government secrets. There just are." Does this guy actually check his facts before he goes on TV? Assange really makes Krofts look like an idiot, considering that he's an Australian and knows more about U.S. law than an American so-called journalist.
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- CBS you should rename yourself C B Soliest broadcast corp.You will lose all your viewers then you can move your dog and pony show to
Britten,CBS you are disgrafull - Reply to this comment
- When it comes to classified material being shared, history is full of people who have been executed or jailed for doing less.
If he is not attacking the USA than why doesn't he address freedom of speech in other countries. There a numerous countries that distort reality, kill there own people, hide/train terrorists, etc. Where are those issues addressed. Where were the questions that exposes these issues???
CBS if you are going to interview someone GET REAL about your intentions. - Reply to this comment
- To the 60 Minutes "journalist" and especially Mr. Kroft,
The purpose of journalism is not to gather and INTERPRET the facts or news stories. This is a rather recent change. For over a century, the only "interpretation" of news was done in the opinion pages. Now because of unchecked liberal views in journalism schools there is this "idea" that a reporter is not to present the facts but also interpret them for the reader/viewer. WHY? Do you not think that the average person can come to their own conclusions? Or, is it so that we come to the conclusions that YOU want?
Mr. Kroft's interview with Mr. Assange was one of the worst interviews I have ever seen. The arrogance of Mr. Kroft questioning the method of not interpreting facts shows how far the left as come. While I and others may not agree with all that Mr. Assange does, he certainly is more credible and honest than you at 60 Minutes. No wonder the networks have lost viewership for news to Fox and other internet sources. You try to hide your bias and call it journalism, when in fact it is a corruption of true journalism. Fox and others present the stories with little or no "interpretation" and then let their opinion shows openly give opinion. You should all go back and look at the last two centuries of reporting and see how it should be done, with integrity, honesty, and reporting just the information WITHOUT your un-needed and unwelcome interpretations. I and the vast majority of people do not care what you think (an I give credit for calling it thinking). Give us the information and let us decide.
If I were Mr. Assange, I would have canceled the interview because of the lack of honest journalism on Kroft's and 60 Minutes, you are nothing more than hacks and twist things like the Star and Enquirer, shame on you. - Reply to this comment
- Let's see, if Assange can commit a US crime while he's overseas, can't we say that Cheney committed world wide crimes while in the US? And we don't even have to black ops "rendition" him.
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- It was offensive watching Mr. Kroft interview Mr. Assange. 60 Minutes has lost all credibility. 60 Minutes should apologize to the nation for how they handled this interview--at a minimum, they should mention all the negative comments they have received about this interview in next week's show. Of course, this will never happen, and Mr. Kroft will continue as he always has, believing himself to be a "professional" journalist. I for one will no longer be watching 60 Minutes, and I will be certain to spread the word as often as I can to my friends.
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- If 60minutes is to keep its credibility they need the immediate removal of Steve Kroft. I for one am disappointed with his personal attack on true reporting and the misrepresentation of the American public. As of now I am not certain that I will continue to watch your show as long as he remains as part of your staff. I hope others who are as disappointed as I am request his immediate removal from your program.
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