Assange Once Again Threatens a U.S. Bank (enough material to make bosses of a major US bank resign)

[Turborama]

Source: New York Observer

By Mike Taylor
December 20, 2010 | 5:04 p.m

Julian Assange, the controversial Wikileaks frontman, has issued another threat to the U.S. financial system. This time, Alexi Mostrous of the U.K. Times tweets:

I had a long face-to-face interview with #assange today. He says he has enough material to make bosses of a major US bank resign #wikileaks

Mr. Mostrous says his item on Mr. Assange will appear in tomorrow's Times and behind the times.co.uk paywall tomorrow. The reporter also has a quote from Assange, who faces rape charges in Sweden, about his romantic life. Asked if he's promiscuous, Mr. Assange says, "No, I just really like women."

Read more: http://www.observer.com/2010/wall-street/wikileaks-assange-once-again-threatens-us-bank

---

http://twitter.com/AlexiMostrous/status/16964887112585217#

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[xultar]

2. Yawn. Put up or shut up Assange.

[Tunkamerica]

6. you're not curious or you've already made up your mind?

either way.

[ashling]

15. I'm curious, but

is Assange more interested in getting the truth out there or in making threats?

[Downwinder]

16. They say the best defense is good offense.

[midnight]

61. I'm curious why the information he is exposing is being called a threat

instead of the truth that has been hidden....

[HEyHEY]

85. Well, for starters one is a verb and one is a noun.

As well "the truth that has been hidden" is a bit awkward.

[Tunkamerica]

78. curious but yawning... put or shut up = Assange is threatening institutions with the truth

this comment doesn't explain your first at all. It doesn't necessarily need to. Just, traditionally, that's how conversations like this go.

[okieinpain]

82. feel the same way too. n/t.

[HEyHEY]

84. I can't help but think, if he wants to be considered a journalist, he should stop this bullshit

Does the Guardian or NYT spend weeks threatening people before they put out a story?

[Hissyspit]

22. Everything he's said he would release previously, WikiLeaks has released.

To the best of my recollection. (...and it hasn't been yawn.)

[SkyDaddy7]

24. I'm with you xultar...Because I think...

or hope it will not be crap about Bank of America that is already public record...But who knows.

What I would love to see is this cache be on Goldman Sachs & their dealings with other bankers!!!!!!!!!

I like the idea that there is a forum for leaks as long as there is some care taken not to get innocent folks hurt or killed...And yes , this is a possibility depending on what could come out. It seems he is trying to do this.

I think Assange has a huge EGO...Well, I know he does I just hope it does not get him killed.

...And any woman that sleeps with him better do so for the same reason he is sleeping with them because I doubt he is going to settle down & be loyal! LOL!

How are your puppies?

[Bragi]

34. Are you not being amused sufficiently?

You seem to think that Assange and WikiLeaks are in the entertainment business.

[The Doctor.]

66. Right, I mean it's not like he's done anything worthwhile yet.

:eyes:

[man4allcats]

3. Go, Julian!

Take the bastards out! They deserve it if anyone ever did.

[Ozymanithrax]

4. Short of a Perp walk, or a collapse of their stock price...

I don't think anyone will resign. They have no shame and can afford the best lawyers.

[Downwinder]

5. They all have golden parachutes.

[Citizen Worker]

12. And don't forget, the golden parachutes are backed by the full faith and credit of the taxpayers.

[aquart]

14. Prercisely.

[SoapBox]

7. Go Julian Go!

...and do it! Do it!

You are more of a MAN than any Wall Street type.

[tabatha]

8. Please do it, Julian.

Parachutes or not, maybe it will help break up the banks.

[truedelphi]

9. On Olbermann's show tonight, it was revealed that both the Attorney Generals iof CO and AZ

Are after Bank of America.

And this not a full hour after that talking dick on the Money Channel had two people debating whether Assange is a terrorist or not.

The one saying is a terrorist pointed out that if any bank in the uSA was committing fraud we would all know about it by now!

[EFerrari]

25. You're getting sleepy, very sleepy.

:)

[Hawkeye-X]

52. We have Bank of America in CO?

Last I checked, BoA doesn't serve Colorado.

Sure, a few ATM's here and there, but no actual branch.

Hawkeye-X

[ingac70]

55. ....

http://www.yellowpages.com/colorado-springs-co/mip/bank-of-america-mortgage-securities-inc-9587803?lid=9587803

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_16392308

[Celebration]

58. think...........home loans n/t

[ProudDad]

86. Temporarily...

In January when the repuke takes over for Terry Goddard in Arizona, they'll drop their suit...

That'll just leave CO...

The puke that takes over is the execrable tom horne, the piece of shit asshole who as state superintendant of schools decided that Tucson High School's Ethnic Studies programs are "illegal"...

And so he got the bat-shit crazy right-wing neo-nazi Arizona Leg. to pass a law outlawing Ethnic Studies...

Fucking SB1070 was just the tip of the iceberg in the New Mississippi...

[yurbud]

10. is there anything damning enough to make a bank CEO resign? evidence of a conscience or ethics?

that would be the only grounds I can think of.

[socialist_n_TN]

74. Well, I guess if they HAD conscience or ethics........

they might resign, but considering they don't, the only thing I can think of is some sort of defrauding of stockholders. When the capitalists eat their own, is the only time they really get into trouble.

[yurbud]

83. major stockholders. Madoff got in trouble because he ripped off the rich instead of the rest

like he was supposed to do.

[snot]

11. Can't wait -- it's about f---ing time.

[Ex Lurker]

13. Please oh please let it be Chase nt.

[western mass]

17. Did the bank bosses have sex w/o a condom?

Because the idea that a bank executive would have to resign over financial misdeeds is laughable. It's not as if there isn't already mountains of evidence for that.

[Turborama]

18. Unless the "financial misdeeds" were something like willingly money laundering for Al Qaeda

Or, there could be evidence of federal crimes other than just "financial misdeeds" on the hard drive he reportedly has.

[tsuki]

32. I don't know if that would do it. After all, Chevron was negotiating with

Iran with the US gov'mint's knowledge and approval. Just slap a "secrets' act" on negotiating with "terrorists" and call it all good.

[xchrom]

19. recommend

[DallasNE]

20. I Like The Concept Of Wikileaks

Assange is one creepy fellow in his personal life though.

[glinda]

71. I find him sexy. I like a man with intelligence and a dry wit personality.

Just my opinion.

[Tunkamerica]

79. You know him?

[cali]

21. what is he waiting for?

[Hissyspit]

23. 1.)

They are in the middle of a HUGE release right now.

2.) He and the few (but, indeed) other persons in WikiLeaks are a bit distracted right now.

3.) Assange has decided to use calculated tease/suspense techniques to get more attention for certain and key leaks.

4.) Other stuff we don't know, maybe.

[sirthomas66]

35. That's what I think also; plus, with what JA has had to deal with in

terms of our strange government, I don't really mind his occasional arrogance. I am beginning to think he will be hit. I am even more concerned about Manning, who may be on a mind rack right now. I put nothing past our government.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

60. exactly. He's brilliant by far

and each step has been well planned.

[myrna minx]

26. K&R n/t

[mmonk]

27. Thanks for the heads up.

[Myrina]

28. ... would be nice if Geithner and Summers go along for the ride, too

Go Git 'em Julian!!

[TheEuclideanOne]

29. That would certainly be a thing of beauty

Notice how the pressure seems to have increased on Assange now that the banks are being threatened. They run the country and will not tolerate this.

[northernlights]

53. run the country? more like, run the world. nt

[TheEuclideanOne]

59. So True! nt.

[dixiegrrrrl]

30. And TheBenBernak....please add him to the mix.

[FailureToCommunicate]

49. That video was perfect. Thanks for the reminder, dixie!

[dixiegrrrrl]

51. I hear that phrase all over the internet now! Rolf.

[Bragi]

31. Some people here are ridiculous

It's as though some people here are sitting around waiting for Assange to entertain them, and they're ever-ready to complain if the anticipated performance is delayed, or less amusing than they hoped.

I would suggest to them that Assange and WikiLeaks are a fairly complicated operation at this point, what with having to hold off attacks on them by U.S internet and financial companies, the Obama White House, and other enemies of transparency, while pushing out to the media a quarter million State department documents.

[sirthomas66]

33. Exactly. My thoughts also.

[superduperfarleft]

38. +1 million.

[Turborama]

63. There's a certain amount of "ARE WE THERE YET?!?" about a lot of the reactions

That's for sure.

[Catherina]

65. ridiculous is putting it kindly n/t

[stray cat]

36. Talk is cheap - put up or shut up comes to mind. If he has the goods he should post them

Instead of grandstanding!

[OnlinePoker]

37. Meanwhile, he has his lawyers whining when documents are released about his case

The irony is palpable...

"Bjorn Hurtig, Mr Assange's Swedish lawyer, said he would lodge a formal complaint to the authorities and ask them to investigate how such sensitive police material leaked into the public domain. "It is with great concern that I hear about this because it puts Julian and his defence in a bad position," he told a colleague."

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/lawyers-cry-foul-over-leak-of-julian-assange-sex-case-papers/story-e6frg6so-1225973548657

[anamandujano]

50. The concept of a fair trial comes to mind, while

all or most of the info Wiki is releasing is redacted by third parties for various purposes and somewhat dated as I understand it.

Edit to add, I suspect his lawyers are making the call on what to whine about based on their legal expertise.

[boppers]

68. Assange is a person, not a government or business.

He has more rights.

[reorg]

75. For people who don't understand irony

here is the explanation:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9309000/9309320.stm

[Tunkamerica]

80. The prosecution leaking documents related to a rape trial (including the alleged victims' names)

is hardly the same as exposing governmental and corporate corruption. Or do you think a corporation is like a human rape victim? Maybe the supreme court agrees with you.

[Roy Rolling]

39. Commercial motive?

Okay, we've heard it before---release the info if you have it. If he's dragging it out for commercial benefit for WikiLeaks he is losing his audience the longer he fails to deliver.

[Bragi]

42. You seem to think he's an "audience" entertainer

I know this is hard for many to understand, but not everything you see in the world is intended to be an amusement for the masses.

[Roy Rolling]

57. media

he is a media producer---so that is done for an audience. It is a generic term and totally applicable to his actions. The term "audience" is not a strictly entertaiment term.

[melm00se]

40. After watching

Assange posture and threaten, it makes me wonder if there might be some substance to the investigation in Sweden and he is using the threat of releasing of his purported documents to attempt to derail the investigation.

AKA: Do what I say or else!!!

[davidwparker]

72. He got into legal trouble after saying he was going to release info

on US banks. One of the accusers is no longer cooperating. The other has CIA ties.

Lastly, no charges have been filed.

[mainer]

41. Misleading headline. He threatens the BOSSES, not the bank.

Taking down unscrupulous bosses would actually be good for the bank. Maybe the headline should say: "Assange promises to end fraud at major U.S. bank."

[Turborama]

47. Hence the clarification I added in parenthesis. n/t

[leeroysphitz]

43. Then fcuking do it already. It's well past time for payback on these bastards. n/t

[Yavin4]

44. I Know What It Is: Bad things about Goldman Sachs

Lloyd Blankfein Borrow Soap. He no return soap.

[peacetalksforall]

45. Why would this Mike Taylor of the New York Observer bother with a

three paragraph article that is supposed to be about a bank doc release and two tiny paragaphs are about the banks and the third is about sex.

What a waste of time. Is that what the New York Observer is all about?

[Turborama]

48. Maybe he hasn't paid to get beyond the Times' paywall and is reporting what he's found in advance?

I don't know, just a guess, but he has put his email address and Twitter thingy at the bottom of the article so you can ask him yourself, if you're so inclined...

[e-mail] | @mbrookstaylor

[orbitalman]

46. Oh, go ahead Julian, make 'em resign, I say!!! n/t

[NoodleyAppendage]

54. He better release this while he still can. The banksters will out-and-out kill him

If Assange is afraid for his life from government aggression, he hasn't seen anything yet when he starts thumbing his nose at the REAL source of global power. They will just kill him outright.

[Selatius]

56. He's already said if he is killed, the "nuclear option" would be released.

Apparently, he's got a bunch of "associates" around the place who would release the entire cache onto the open internet if Assange is killed. A bunch of interests outside of banking could be seriously damaged in the aftermath, so there's probably a fair bet a bunch of these bankers are friends with people in these interests. If we assume that is true, then when the bankers put a hit on Assange, they're really selling a bunch of their industrialist friends down the river. This could spell a nasty fight.

[disndat]

62. Wikileak could be "entertainment" or

a serious earthshaking bloodless revolution. I should think Assange is cautious about releasing the info or it can hurt the people he wants to save by unintended consequents.

[FiveGoodMen]

64. Why the suspense?

Release it, already.

[SoBronxSchool]

67. Suspense

He is a classic showman!

[bemildred]

70. "The threat is stronger than the move."

This is show biz, the last thing you want to do is end the suspense.

[Pavulon]

73. click through revenue(nt)

[martymar64]

69. Release the material Julian! Make the bastards hurt real bad.

No more secrets!

[burrowowl]

76. Resign HELL!

Fired without any pay and no collection of unemployment!

[Turborama]

77. If only....

[tootrueleft]

81. I wonder is this part of the insurance policy file?