On Cause And Effect...

If we are to believe that right-wing talk radio can cause a person to attempt political assassination, can left-wing "free speech" cause violence and political unrest in Tunisia?

From the Business Insider:

Tunisia's government has collapsed, partially due to food price inflation and unemployment, but also because of Wikileaks.

One of the US government cables released by Wikileaks exposed the corruption of Tunisia's President's family, its reach into business in the country, and the ability to transcend the rule of law. President Ben Ali's family was called "The Family" throughout the leak. The government attempted to block access to Wikileaks earlier this month.

Some of the highlights of the June 2008 leak

On the power of the President's family:

Whether it's cash, services, land, property or yes, even your yacht, President Ben Ali's family is rumored to covet it and reportedly gets what it wants.

Often referred to as a quasi-mafia, an oblique mention of "The Family" is enough to indicate which family you mean. Seemingly half of the Tunisian business community can claim a Ben Ali connection through marriage, and many of these relations are reported to have made the most of their lineage. Ben Ali's wife, Leila Ben Ali, and her extended family - the Trabelsis - provoke the greatest ire from Tunisians.

What would Krugman think?

Poetic Wiki-Justice?

Sensitive police documents in the sexual assault case of Julian Assange find their way into the Brit press.  His lawyers are upset, and seemingly without a sense of irony.

PVT Bradley Manning is "Very Annoyed"...

...at his solitary confinement [oops! apologies to those who already jumped to the link: belated Huffington Post alert]. He can't exercise, he's bored, and darn it, he's just not enjoying his experience very much.

There are apparently some fellow citizens who in addition to hailing him as "a hero" have provided some money to his defense fund, but, apparently after originally promising to help with a donation of $20K, those highly-principled heroes at Wikileaks have decided they have other intentions for their money than to offer even a chunk of flotsam to the guy who helped put them on the map before cutting him adrift.

For some odd reason, this story of PVT Bradley's unpleasantries touched a soft spot in my heart. Perhaps it's the time of year but, whatever the reason, I think he should be released. That's right, released.

And I am offering to give him the opportunity and venue to don some gay apparel and get some exercise. In fact, if the DoD would turn him over to me right now, I would immediately dress him in a deer outfit and turn him loose to run in my woods while we play hide and seek.


00 buck makes for some pretty wicked leaks. Let's see how much he wikiwhines then.

Julian Assange and Ayn Rand

Is it just me, or does Julian Assange sound and act like some kind of "Bizzaro World" Rand character from "Atlas Shrugged", what with holding world governments hostage with his blackmail to release his "insurance file"?