Assange should face treason charges

Charles Krauthammer's column (Dec. 5) didn't go far enough.

It's criminal that someone who was trusted would download secret documents and distribute them to the media and that the media would print them without first considering the damage it would cause not only to this country but to those helping us around the world.

Much can be gleaned by experts who know what they are looking for, e.g., how our special forces operate, our communication methods, tactics and other information that can be used against us now and in the future.

With thousands of documents to go through, it is reasonable to believe that some information will compromise our diplomatic efforts as well as our forces.

Anyone calling these documents innocent and a matter of freedom of speech is not seeing the big picture.

We can hope that the Department of Defense will close whatever loophole enabled the perpetrator(s) to download this information and hold them accountable for this treasonous act.

There is a balance between what is secret and the public's right to know. Freedom of speech does not give cover to those who would compromise our security in the name of transparency.

Krauthammer suggests, “Let the world see a man who can't sleep in the same bed on consecutive nights.” A more effective approach is to prosecute Mr. Julian Assange for treason.

Jerry J. Thorius

U.S. Air Force (Ret.)

Amana