Julian Assange ... hero or villain?

I would not classify Assange as either, just as a man trying to live with integrity.  For me it is far easier to label the US as villains.  The USA acts like the playground bully trying anything to protect its image.  They have been caught out in the wrong, but do not have the courage to admit to it.  Joel Dean (2012) sums it up perfectly when he says:

The battle over WikiLeaks is all about information - who owns it, who controls it, who needs it - and about one man's idea to set it free.

As the majority of the leaks are related to US operations and more specifically their conduct in war,  it is to be expected that they would react.  What I do find troublesome is the severity of their reactions.  Dorling (2012) reports that the US refers to Assange as an enemy of the State, classifying him in the same legal category as the al-Qaeda terrorist network and the Taliban insurgency.  This is a very serious charge as it carries with it a possible death sentence if convicted. 

Lendman (2012) voices harsh criticism against America.  He believes that Assange will not receive a fair trail, in fact that he is already convicted and that all America is after now is to hang out all the whistle-blowers to dry.  This will send a clear message that the US will not tolerate any interference.  It is clearly having the desired effect as many of Assange's supporters are now jumping ship.  Paypal suspended their account, claiming that WikiLeaks are in violation of the terms of service.  In a tweet the hactivist collective Anonymous announced that they are severing all ties with WikiLeaks citing Julian Assange's ego as the reason for it.  

One cannot help but wonder whether it was worth all the trouble?  Monica Guy (2011) reminds us that social media is not a magic bullet.  We tend to exaggerate its power.  For social media to really be effective, online campaigns should lead to offline action, such as a change in the law or the prosecution of a guilty party.  Thus far WikiLeaks has ignited conversation, but has there been any real change?   Mozorov (2010) ponders how much global appetite there exists for stories about corruption in other countries as it's not easy to get people to care about what's happening in far-away and exotic lands -- and certainly not about their complex politics. He echoes Guy's idea that we exaggerate the power of social media. 

There is no clarity as to the future of Wikileaks.  The number one priority remains for Assange to get all charges against him dropped, but in the mean time he announced that he will run in the Australian Elections of 2013.   The Age ran an article on Assange's battle to be eligible to run in the 2013 Australian election.  Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai (2012) lists publicity and money as the main motivators for this move.  Capturing even just a small vote would ensure that WikiLeaks receive a substantial amount of cash as in Australia your party earns about $2.50 for every vote received.  According to a poll run by The Age in which 18528 people voted,  72% indicated that they would vote for Assange.

Is Julian Assange a hero in the fight for government transparency or is he a dangerous fool with no regard for world peace?  Let me know what you think by taking this poll:

Is Julian Assange a ...
	hero
	hacktivist
	I have no idea
pollcode.com free polls

References
Dorling, P 2012, 'US calls Assange enemy of state',  The Sydney Morning Herald, 27 September, viewed 17 December 2012, Sydney Morning Herald Archives database

 Guy, M 2011, 'Revealing the rot: how to use social media to expose corruption and mismanagement at both local and national level', viewed 15 December 2012, 

 Lendman, S 2012, 'Julian Assange decleared enemy of the state', MWC News, 1 October, viewed 17 December 2012, MWC Archives database 

Morozov, E 2010, 'Predicting the future of Wikileaks:  Follow the media!', Foreign Policy, 10 December, viewed 17 December 2012, Foreign Policy Archives database