Julian Assange has paid a heavy price for his leaks – the US should let him go home | Simon Jenkins

The situation involving Julian Assange has gone on long enough and it's time for him to be allowed to return to Australia. Despite multiple appeals, British courts have upheld the decision to extradite him to the US, prolonging this tiresome ordeal. It's important for the United States to recognize that Assange has already suffered greatly in the decade he's been on the run and that it would be unwise for their own actions in Afghanistan and Iraq to be scrutinized in the international court system.

Similar to many independent contractors working in the field of espionage, Assange is not a hero. He has admitted to violating people's privacy by hacking into their phones in Australia back in 1996. He then moved on to reveal confidential government information. Some of these secrets may need to be protected by laws, in regards to people's personal advice and private information. However, there are certainly other secrets that raise public concern.

Assange believed that everything was acceptable to use. During 2010, his group WikiLeaks released numerous papers that had been leaked by a US security specialist named Chelsea Manning. Manning was appalled by what she had seen of American behavior in Afghanistan and Iraq. It had consisted of many unreported cases of senseless murder, such as the callous shooting of civilians from a helicopter. The behavior carried out by personnel on the ground was uncovered, which included their cruel and permissive ways. The US government stated that the leaked information compromised certain people and put them at risk of severe harm, inhumane treatment, or even death. This information was distressing to many individuals.

After three years, the US National Security Agency's abuse of power was exposed by another intelligence whistleblower, Edward Snowden. He was appalled by the agency's actions, which frequently involved working with other countries' security forces to infringe on people's personal freedoms. These violations were kept hidden from Congress on a regular basis. Snowden and his media partners, including the Guardian, took great care to share information that was undoubtedly in the public's interest and did not pose a threat to anyone's safety. They even went so far as to double-check with security resources to ensure their data was accurate.

Assange didn't seem to care about Manning's fate. Manning was put on trial and received a 35-year prison sentence in 2013, but former US president Barack Obama reduced her sentence in 2017. Meanwhile, Assange acted like a mysterious fugitive. He argued with his media partners over what information to publish, claiming that this was censorship. While Manning was stuck behind bars, Assange managed to avoid extradition to Sweden for a rape accusation and to the US for his leaks. He took shelter in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for seven years, where he was visited by famous people and eventually met his partner, Stella Moris. The two even got married while Assange was in London's Belmarsh prison.

The relationship between London and Washington is strong to the extent that they typically agree on extradition requests. Assange's legal team tried to argue that he could face capital punishment if he were extradited to the United States, but this argument was ultimately dismissed by British judges after several attempts to appeal. Lawyers from Washington countered with the suggestion that he could face up to six years of imprisonment. Currently, Assange is being held at Belmarsh on grounds of appeal.

Assange has two strong arguments in his favor. The first one is that the information he disclosed was undoubtedly important to make it public. The use of aerial bombings is a very inhumane way of waging war, as we can see in the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. Assange, Manning, and the journalists they worked with played an essential role in revealing the thoughtless actions of those who start wars. They have also demonstrated that people can be so outraged by immoral behavior that they decide to become whistleblowers like what Snowden did.

In different words, the article section could be rewritten as such: Assange argued that he behaved similarly to any reporter with his second line of defense. Manning revealed classified information of the United States, and she was punished for it. Although Assange may have acted unprofessionally by using the leaked information, it falls under journalistic standards. The question remains - when does material become public after being posted online? It's complicated deciding who is guilty and who is innocent. Western newspapers eagerly shared WikiLeaks' data without concern of retribution.

Assange has faced severe consequences for his actions. Since the release of WikiLeaks, numerous similar publications have surfaced from the internet's insecure corners, exemplified by the extensive Panama Papers in 2016. Regardless of how much security agencies invest in safeguarding their communications, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists remains imminent.

Absolute privacy doesn't exist. Every week, some government or service is hacked by someone, whether it be foreign governments or people working from their homes. The safest way to transport messages is likely by keeping them in your pocket. Assange's time has come and gone, therefore he has paid for his actions and should be left alone. Others can now take on his cause.

who is known for his thought-provoking and insightful commentary on a variety of topics. His writing is often praised for its clarity, wit, and intelligence. Simon Jenkins is a renowned writer for The Guardian, whose opinions on different subjects have the power to inspire reflection and bring new perspectives. His work is highly appreciated for its coherence, humor, and brilliance.

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