Julian Assange

Introduction
This essay discusses the critical issue concerning the release of governments confidential documents by Wiki Leaks. The essay focuses on Wiki Leaks founder, Julian Assange, and discusses whether Assange is ought to be convicted in accordance to the US Espionage Act of 1917,
with reference to the preceding cases of Edward Snowden and Bradley Manning. Assange may not have commited a crime as he could not have obtained the documents from the government offices by himself, but the US government feels that releasing the diplomatic cables to the public contravenes the provisions of the act and wants to prove Assange guilty.
  Government and international community response to Assange activities
Government explores possible ways of prosecuting Assange
Limitations faced by the Justice Department
Ramification of past espionage cases to the Assange case
 The conflict between Assange and the US government
While the government considers it a crime to release the diplomatic cables, Assange sees it as a way of promoting democratic freedoms.
Assanges case is different from that of Manning as well as that of Snowden.
There are obstacles the government will have to overcome before attaining a valid conviction
No other journalist has been convicted on similar grounds before.
There is no clear proof whether Assange is a journalist or a publisher.
Activities such as these have, for long, been considered journalistic in nature.
The US government should not prosecute Assange
There are no legal justifications yet.
Assange is not a US public servant; rather, he is an Australian citizen.
The main criminal is the one who gave stole the documents, and not the one who published them.
The provisions of the Espionage act is vague in the contemporary society
Utilizing the Act today would implicate other media houses in the US such as the New York Times for similar activities from the past.
The international media does not function to oppose any government, hence the act must not be used to censor media.
The act gives unnecessary powers to the government, and excludes public opinion in making crucial decisions.
Act contravenes the freedom of speech.
The case against Assange
A look at what constitute espionage
Reasons why the government has no case against Assange
Conclusion
WikiLeaks plays a critical role in todays democratic society. Since 911 government agencies have instituted requirements that limit the sharing of information. While this is helpful in ensuring national security, it has limited the functionality of democracy.