Will We Let a Publisher Go to Prison?

Ray McGovern, CIA Soviet Foreign Policy Branch (retired) and co-founder of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity.

This winter, freedom of the press is in serious danger as publisher Julian Assange languishes in prison. As the extradition process of Julian Assange winds down in the UK, it is clear that this political case is now in our hands. The founders of the U.S. knew that tyranny is inevitable without a free press and so we have the first amendment. Can we muster the courage to safeguard it? Mr. McGovern will discuss Julian Assange’s case and its implications for our free press.

Ray McGovern led the CIA’s Soviet Foreign Policy Branch in the 70s; in the 80s, he prepared and briefed The President’s Daily Brief. Awarded the Intelligence Commendation Medallion at retirement, Ray returned it in 2006 explaining, “I do not want to be associated with an agency engaged in torture.”

In January 2003, he co-founded Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity to warn George W. Bush that intelligence on Iraq was fraudulent. Later, Ray took advantage of a unique chance to question Donald Rumsfeld on that issue.

Host: Ann Batiza

In-Person or Online

In-Person: In Max Otto Hall First Unitarian Society.

Via