When Chicago Tribune publisher, Col. McCormick, played Julian Assange to FDR

 

When Chicago Tribune publisher, Col. McCormick, played Julian Assange to FDR

It didn’t take long for the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board to weigh in on Julian Assange’s guilty plea for violating US espionage laws, getting a stiff sentence, then being released for time served awaiting extradition to America for trial.

This is a critically important issue concerning free speech, protected journalism and need for the public to be informed on matters of war and peace. But the Chicago Tribune’s editorial ‘Julian Assange is going home to Australia. Good. And good riddance.’ failed to address all those concerns. Instead, it was a masterful exposition of character assassination, refusal to address the US foreign policy mendacity Assange exposed, and a reprehensible abandonment on its role as guardian of protected journalism.

The character assassination started early and continued thruout. The Trib accuses Assange of “sleaziness.” for youthful hacking activities as if that has any relevance to exposing American war crimes in Iraq and compulsive lying  about our unnecessary, failed war in Afghanistan.

Regarding a very suspicious Swedish sexual assault charge that conveniently surfaced when Assange’s war crimes revelations brought America extreme embarrassment, the Trib saw fit to characterize that Assange “famously claimed asylum, rarely took showers, and holed himself up with his cat.” Not satisfied with Assange cuddling with his cat while stinking, the Trib informs us that his asylum included visits by Pamela Anderson and Lady Gaga. Nice tawdry touch, Trib.

The Trib strongly implies Assange released those classified US documents, not to expose secrets of war crimes and extending endless senseless war, but simply in furtherance of his being “a lousy vessel for his own agendas”. The Trib does not even mention the explosive revelations concerning those wars which needlessly killed over 5,000 Americans, hundreds of thousands of Afghans and Iraqis, and tuned both countries into failed states. That would be akin on the Trib editorializing on Daniel Ellsberg’s 1971 revelations without mentioning the Pentagon Papers.

But it’s the Trib’s abandonment of supporting the journalistic profession that is most troubling. To do that, the Trib had to attack the journalistic messenger who simply uses different journalistic tools than the Trib to provide the public the information it requires to push back when our government lies and propagandizes us to engage in unnecessary wars.

A free press depends on leaked secret information to reveal the truth about government wrongdoing the publication of which has never been punished till Julian Assange angered Uncle Sam. That it's never punished is not out of government reverence for a free press but simple expediency. The US government doesn't want to frog march revered NY Times, Washington Post or Chicago Tribune publishers into federal court.

Hold the presses. Back in 1942, FDR tried to do just that to Col. Robert McCormick and his 'World's Greatest Newspaper' the Chicago Tribune. Col. McCormick used purloined classified Navy information on Japanese plans to attack Midway in his June 7, 1942, page one scoop 'Navy had word on Jap plan to strike at sea', while the Battle of Midway was still raging. The article strongly implied the US had broken the Japanese code to get that critical info, a leak the Navy feared jeopardized future code breaking revelations. FDR threatened to send in the Marines to occupy the Tribune Tower. He ordered the Navy to convene a federal Grand Jury to consider espionage charges against the Trib reporter, editor and the Colonel himself. The Trib escaped prosecution when the military decided that further state secrets would likely be revealed in prosecuting the offending exemplars of the free press and responsible journalism.

McCormick lived another thirteen years to rail editorially against his bete noir FDR and his hated New Deal. Maybe if Col. McCormick could be granted another reprieve, this time for an earthly visit to the Trib Editorial Board, he might remind them that "What's good for the journalist McCormick...is good for the journalist Assange".

Walt Zlotow

West Suburban Peace Coalition

Glen Ellyn IL

Chicago Tribune‘s criticism of Putin’s North Korea visit unfortunate on several levels

 

Chicago Tribune‘s criticism of Putin’s North Korea visit unfortunate on several levels

 

 

For starters, the editorial ‘Mr. Putin goes to Pyongyang and we don’t like that show’ is filled with hyperbolic anti Putin rhetoric. Instead of relying on an esteemed political scientist to analyze Putin’s psyche, the Trib quotes the dramatist of ‘The Crown’ who sees Putin as “an obscure deputy mayor of St. Petersburg who rose up to be an unreconstructed thug.” That adds no value to understanding one of the most influential world leaders who is currently running diplomatic rings around President Biden. His leadership in both the non-aligned Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, together containing many non-aligned nations comprising over half the world’s population, spells the approaching end to US unipolar world dominance.

 

 

A second problem is mischaracterizing the last 33 years since the demise of the Soviet Union. The Trib blames Putin’s obsession with old Soviet ways for the current proxy warfare with Russia in Ukraine. Had the US not broken their pledge to not move NATO eastward after Russia allowed German reunification, there would be no catastrophic war in Ukraine today. The US expanded NATO from 16 to 32 countries since that breakup and still plans to add Ukraine once they defeat Russia. Not a chance of either.

 

 

The third concern deals with the Trib’s frenzied fretting over Russia and North Kore inking a Comprehensive Mutual Partnership Agreement which provides mutual assistance in event of aggression against either party to the agreement. This agreement is a pittance compared to America’s massive doubling of NATO since the Soviet Union went poof 33 years ago. It also pales in comparison to US developing the QUAD (US, India, Japan, Australia) and AUKUS (US, UK, Australia) designed to encircle China which may precipitate war in the Pacific, 7,000 miles from the Homeland.

That begs the question: Why is it OK for America to greatly expand its alliances against Russia and China, but destabilizing for Russia to stick a baby toe in the Grand Alliance game?

 

 

It’s time for the Chicago Tribune to drop the scurrilous name calling of world leaders it fears and hates. It’s time for the Trib to add value to the debate of rising worldwide tensions that could lead to nuclear Armageddon. In foreign policy, it’s time for the Chicago Tribune to trust its readership with the truth.

When nature calls, Biden a tad better off than Palestinian refugees in Rafah.

 

When nature calls, Biden a tad better off than Palestinian refugees in Rafah.

 

 

President Biden believes in choice for more than women’s reproductive health. Among the 132 rooms in his current digs, he can choose from 35 separate bathrooms. Most have multiple commodes which means there are over a hundred toilets to select for the pause that refreshes. His residence throne rooms come with automatically flushing toilets, automatic sinks, hand dryers, and the best décor in D.C. The TP is better than Charmin and towels are decorated with the Presidential Seal.

 

 

Should the President travel 5,881 miles to check in on the 500,000 beleaguered Palestinians desperate to survive in the Al-Malawi refugee camp northwest of Rahah, he may want to pack some Depends. He’d have to stand in line with a half million Palestinians he’s helping Israel destroy to reach one of 121 latrines available.

 

 

Some of the Palestinians Biden is helping Israel kill in Gaza are obliterated under his 2,000 lb. bombs. Some are dying from starvation from cutoff of food that Biden does nothing to stop. And yes, some are dying from disease spread by possibly the worst current sanitation system in the world courtesy of the President of the United States.

 

Back in the White House, President Biden should contemplate that when he’s occupied in one of his 35 luxurious throne rooms.