WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange 'will release poison pill of damaging secrets if killed or arrested

[sabra]

Source: daily mail UK

The founder of WikiLeaks has warned that his supporters are primed to publish a 'deluge' of leaked government documents should his activities be curtailed by any country.

Julian Assange has distributed to fellow hackers an encrypted 'poison pill' of damaging secrets, thought to include details on BP and Guantanamo Bay.

He believes the file is his 'insurance' in case he is killed, arrested or the whistleblowing website is removed permanently from the internet.

...

Mr Assange's British lawyer, Mark Stephens, warned today that WikiLeaks was holding further secret material which he dubbed a 'thermo-nuclear device' to be released if the organisation needed to protect itself.

He said many of the papers being retained contained 'material of equal importance to news-gathering' as those already published.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1335888/WikiLeaks-Julian-Assange-release-damaging-secrets-killed-arrested.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

[Ozymanithrax]

1. And now he has committed extortion.

Perhaps he is the reincarnation of J. Edger Hoover.

[trumad]

3. I'd do the same fucking thing.

Good for him...

[Ozymanithrax]

6. He's is a fanatic with an agenda.

Who doesn't care who he hurts as long as he works toward his agenda. Actually, he is remarkably like Cheney. They both like undisclosed locations and enjoy hurting others.

It has taken me a while to form my opinion, but this story today and the other I saw about releasing the names of assets that will hurt America if he is taken. That is called blackmail. Let him do what ever he likes or he continues.

Cheney and Assange, brothers of another mother.

[Sirveri]

10. Last I checked, the most powerful government on earth wasn't threatening to kill Cheney.

He's not saying these things to be a prick, he's saying them because he doesn't want to die.

And finally, if we don't kill him, he won't release, so big deal. And we don't have the legal standing to prosecute him for anything because he's a foreign national and not in America. Maybe instead we should focus less on stuff getting leaked, and more on not doing anything embarrassing and then complaining when people find out.

[Dinger]

23. + 1,000 (nt)

[xiamiam]

44. well, its a a diversion..like everything else..distract and we are so stupid

many of us will join in the witch hunt..we have become so predictable..

[Ozymanithrax]

53. So blackmail and extortion are good if you are Assange...

and bad for others.

He has all this information and will keep it secret if he is allowed to do what ever he wants. Well that means, this has nothing to do with openness. You don't have a right to know this, because it is only enough to save Julian's ass and keep him from facing a trial for violation of law. Just like J. Edgar Hoover.

[Sirveri]

81. It's not blackmail or extortion, it's insurance.

Considering the US government has declared it has the ability to unilaterally kill AMERICAN citizens with Anwar Al-Aulaqi, he has a very viable reason to fear for his life.

And he already intends to release the information, however they're trying to be responsible and redact the names and other identifying data from the files before they're released. They also don't want to flood out the community and have possibly important data be lost in the shuffle.

[Violet_Crumble]

106. Exactly. I find it rather dishonest to call it blackmail or extortion n/t

[Raksha]

122. You're right - the "poison pill" is Julian Assange's life insurance policy.

It's not like he doesn't need it or anything.

[Ozymanithrax]

54. I have not heard that is is our government policy to kill Assange.

Now, put him in jail for violation of the law, that they have threatened.

[sudopod]

119. Well, you wouldn't if it were a secret, would you? nt

[Ozymanithrax]

125. Yes, I heard of that super secret probation thing in Animal House. n/t

[Lord Magus]

138. Except that he hasn't violated any laws.

Everything he's done is entirely legal.

[boppers]

142. No, our policy is to smear and discredit him, and make sources scared of going to them.

Seriously, the DoD issued a document in 2008 on what US policy should be to take wikileaks down.

Guess who got a leaked copy of it.... just guess.

http://www.darkgovernment.com/news/wikileaks-becomes-target-of-dod/

[EOTE]

155. Yeah! Fuck rule of law! Throw him in the pen!

You've got lots of friends in the federal government who think JUST like you do. You should be proud.

[laughingliberal]

64. +2000 nt

[ronnie624]

11. Can you list those who have been "hurt" by the release of this info?

I hadn't heard about that. In fact, there was a news item posted recently, that said there was no evidence of anyone being killed or injured by these revelations.

[Bragi]

16. Apparently the US doesn't care about these assets

If the U.S police state cared, they'd not be so quick to push for this totally-discretionary arrest on trumped up charges. It's not as though they don't have a choice.

Since they know he will release the unredacted files if arrested, then they clearly don't care about risking these assets if they arrest him.

[TorchTheWitch]

29. it isn't the US arresting him

Britain is arresting him to send to Sweden to face rape and other sex crime charges.

[Bragi]

37. You actually believe that?

He is being rounded up for the U.S, who will make an extradition appeal as soon as he is jailed in Sweden on the trumped up "rape" charges.

The Swedes will agree to the extradition because the charges he will be wanted for in the U.S (some kind of trumped up terrorism charge) are more serious than their trumped up sexual assault nonsense.

Change we can believe in, right?

[TorchTheWitch]

63. yeah, sure

Whackadoodle conspiracy theory is ever so much easier to believe when it comes to the hero of the hour.

Go ahead and believe that Sweden is just evil and crazy and made all this up so the US could get his hands on him. Just ignore the fact that if the US wanted their hands on him they'd just do it and nobody would know a thing about it. You think the US isn't capable of getting hold of anyone they want? You really believe that the US went through all this even going so far as to get two women to have sex with the ugly dude just to get their hands on him?

Amazing the silliness people will talk themselves into when it comes to their latest hero.

[laughingliberal]

66. Right! Cause I've never seen the US use smears or pressure on other countries to take people down.

We always have the moral high ground. USA, USA!

Yes, the United States operates the largest call girl ring in the world.

[TorchTheWitch]

96. Did I say that I approved of the US getting their hands on him?

No. And I don't approve, at least not at this juncture. I'm merely stating what we all know the US is capable of. If the US wanted their hands on him they would do it and do it without all the conspiracy muss and no one would be the wiser.

[eilen]

69. I don't know, The US hasn't found Osama yet....

and he blew up 3000 people. Crashed a plane into the fucking Pentagon.

Julian has a website that publishes information that is given to them.

Our government picks up innocent people, transports them to other countries and tortures them.

It is not omnipotent, but certainly is capable and guilty of doing some really evil things to private citizens.

[TorchTheWitch]

98. You believe the US ever wanted Osama?

Oh now that is amusing! Hell no they didn't want him. He did them far too much good hidden away so they could have a perpetual boogeyman.

Does Assange have an entire network of nuts with guns and bombs and is hiding in a cave somewhere in obscure mountainous terain of US enemies?

Did I say I approved of the US pinching Assange? NO. It's merely a simple fact that if they wanted to they could. By your own comments it's apparent you know that if they want someone they'll get them with no muss or fuss and no one being the wiser.

[squirrelintheattic]

101. The US can't keep a secret to save itself.

That's what this fuss about the leaks is all about.

Plus, other governments object if you mess with their citizens. It's better to have Sweden take him off the streets and keep him out of circulation for awhile. All clean and legal-like. The United States needn't dirty their hands.

Since Wikileaks is an equal-opportunity publisher of secrets, it should be easy to convince other governments that they, too, are threatened by a stateless whistle-blowing website.

I don't think that Sweden needs to extradite Assange to make the point that people who release state secrets will lose their freedom.

I don't think that the United States has any legitimate reason to extradite Assange, but I worry that they might cook up something from the Espionage Act and extradite him on bogus charges.

In that case, I would fear for his well-being. I think the rule of law is breaking down in the United States. Assange would not be safe in an American prison under the best of circumstances, and we're not looking at the best of circumstances these days.

[TorchTheWitch]

154. tell yourself that

Yep, this is what the leaks are all about. The US keeping all kinds of nefarious secrets we don't know shit about. If the US couldn't keep a secret to save itself then... um... what's the point to Wikileaks concerning the US at all? We would already know all the most evil secrets.

This is so reminiscent of someone swearing their spouse couldn't possibly be cheating on them because they insanely believe they could never get away with such a thing while said spouse has a whole string of play time pals. If you don't know about it must not exist, right? Pfffftttttt.

The rule of law in the US has been broken down since its inception. It's just more blatant and in-you-face now.

Sweden isn't making any point about people who release state secrets, Sweden wants to question him on sex crime charges involving women he admits to having had sex with. You do realize that the claim that Sweden is out to get Assange because of Wikileaks started with Assange - the accused? Most logically thinking people would find that assertion coming from him to be about as biased as it gets. It takes a diehard true believer to actually believe that the accused claiming the country of Sweden is trumping up false rape charges against him because they're for some unknown and illogical reason mad at him for Wikileaks. It's a fucking embarrassing stretch.

Just why is it that so many people are so convinced that the whole of the world is out to get Assange because of Wikileaks when he's nothing but a spokesperson, and Wikileaks would still be doing what it's doing with him or without him?

Assange hasn't done anything illegal thus far concerning the leaked documents than any other person at Wikileaks or any of the people at all the various media outlets that also have all the docs and are leaking them yet no one is calling for all those heads. This is just silly posturing by the US and other governments because they look foolish and inept and are trying to appear that they're on the ball, in control and cracking the whip. It's THEATER just like every government - particularly the US - specializes in and makes the sheep feel happy and secure.

[DirkGently]

41. Just to be clear: There are no "charges" of rape or "other sex crimes

Sweden says it wants him to "investigate" allegations which we now know amount to alleged condom breakage, which allegations it had previously determined would not support formal charges.

[TorchTheWitch]

99. wrong - Sweden charged him with rape and other crimes

a couple of days ago.

I'm losing count of how many times I've had to post this...

http://www.aklagare.se/In-English/
The matter concerning Mr. Assange

Julian Assange has been detained in his absence charged with rape, sexual molestation and unlawful coercion. Mr Assange had appealed the detention decision issued by Svea Court of Appeal.

Today the Supreme Court has taken a decision not to grant Julian Assange leave to appeal. If the Supreme Court is to hear an appeal, leave to appeal must first be granted. Leave to appeal is only granted if the case is assessed as being very important to the application of the law or if other extraordinary reasons apply.

The arrest warrant is based on the detention decision that has now been examined by all three legal instances. The additional information requested by the British Police concerns the penalties for the other crimes, in addition to rape, that Julian Assange was arrested for. This information will be supplied immediately. The previous arrest warrant stands.

[Violet_Crumble]

107. Having sex without a condom is NOT rape...

It's an insult to all women who have been victims of rape...

[Pavulon]

116. No being told to use a condom or no anal

and doing it anyway is. If she told him to wear a hat and he didn't he is in trouble. Even with his status as new savior of the world.

[Violet_Crumble]

117. It was consensual sex, so I'm not sure why yr claiming it wasn't...

Or do you think women are so weak and mindless that they're not capable of putting a stop to proceedings?

[Pavulon]

118. Hey, sounds like the women filed charges. Funny never had that happen

with consensual sex. He is going to be arrested for RAPE on the indictment.

[Violet_Crumble]

120. The woman herself admits the sex was consensual...

The 'rape' is that he had sex without a condom. Have you considered actually reading up on the circumstances before rushing round throwing rape accusations around?

[Pavulon]

121. The (swedish)government used the term. So I am comfortable calling him an accused rapist

he can sue me.

edit title

[Lord Magus]

139. The charge isn't rape.

It's "sex by surprise", a lesser crime that exists only in Sweden.
http://www.aolnews.com/world/article/sex-by-surprise-at-heart-of-julian-assange-criminal-probe/19741444

[TheKentuckian]

143. It isn't about suing you but you willfully distorting the entire situation to one up in an argument

You totally know better and just don't give a fuck. It isn't being wrong or off base when you are twisting that close to a lie.

I'd wager few that have been held down, maybe with a blade to their throat and forced are well served by your gamey nonsense.

I think we as western civilization may want to think this through before setting such a precedent, totally aside from the rest of the discussion.

[TorchTheWitch]

159. they admit it STARTED as consensual

You do realize that consent can be withdrawn at any time during the act?

The charges stem from sex that started as consensual and became non-consenual.

[TorchTheWitch]

158. how many raped women were able to put a stop to proceeding?

Seriously. How do you think rape happens? Are you actually going to call women who are raped weak and mindless because they were not capable of stopping the "proceedings"?

Jesus Christ! Will you listen to what you are saying!!!

[DirkGently]

130. That's a change then. And it's laughable to keep referring to the charge as rape.

[shanti]

17. he's NOTHING like cheney

cheney is an evil POS who KEPT secrets, assange is quite the opposite!

[Ozymanithrax]

56. Yes,he is an evil POS who will keep secretes to save his ass...

if he is allowed to do what he wants. You have no right to know them because some secrets are only good enough to save Julian's ass.

[laughingliberal]

145. ROFL! All those secrets will come out, regardless. If he's able he'll do it as he's been...

doing-at a pace that allows for analysis and reporting of the information before another release. He's just putting them on notice that killing him or locking them up isn't going to keep the information from coming out.

I'm sure he's had his files set up on a dead man's switch for some time.

[egoclothes]

your post is over the top (IMHO).

[axollot]

27. From your posts you were very against him last week. Not just today. n/t

[DirkGently]

39. Whom do you propose he is willing to "hurt" by disclosing information on BP and Gitmo?

And comparing a purveyor of information which so far has not "hurt" anyone with a war criminal who instituted illegal torture is more than a stretch.

[Dinger]

21. Same Here (nt)

[Proletariatprincess]

8. We need fanatics for truth now more than ever...

to combat fanatics for war, torture and mayhem.
Good for Assange! We should all wish him well, but if he is martyred, he will take down some vicious scumbags with him.

[no limit]

9. Atleast he isn't framing anyone for rape

[ronnie624]

14. No,

J. Edger Hoover would have been firmly in the camp of those who wage war for profit and global dominance.

[The Stranger]

25. To be extortion, the information he leaks would have to evidence an underlying crime.

Otherwise, he hasn't committed a thing.

[Edweird]

43. "I don't give them Hell. I just tell the truth about them and they think it's Hell."

[TexasObserver]

49. And you just committed hyperbole in the first degree.

It's extortion to threaten you'll release secrets if you're incarcerated for releasing secrets?

I can remember a time when being a progressive meant, among other things, supporting whistleblowers.

Do you still remember that time?

[Subdivisions]

50. He hasn't committed a goddamned thing. In fact, he hasn't broken any law at all! n/t

[EOTE]

57. Don't kill me!!!

Yeah, that just reeks of extortion.

Extortionist: "If you kill me, you're not going to like the results."
Extorted: "But that's not fair, I should be able to kill you without any repercussions. You're extorting me!!!"

That's quite a fascist view of extortion you've got there.

[Krakowiak]

67. + 1

[Celtic Raven]

73. +1

Isn't that the truth!

:thumbsup:

[Raksha]

124. +1000

[laughingliberal]

147. +1000 nt

[laughingliberal]

149. +2000 nt

[sabrina 1]

68. He has been very smart. Knowing that the U.S. would go after him

the way Iran went after Salman Rushdie, or the Soviet Union went after it's whistle-blowers, he protected himself.

He did after all, receive a CIA memo discussing what the U.S. would do to stop him several months ago.

Should the world's press be shut down by the U.S. now also, since they are publishing the material?

Our own press was shut down long ago, or there would be no need for Wikileaks.

[JackRiddler]

77. Excuse me, are you confusing the chronology here?

Little lesson for you:

"Shut up or we will murder you wherever we find you" is extortion.

"If anything happens to me I will fuck you up" is defense.

Clear now? Doubtful.

[H2O Man]

113. silly

[BridgeTheGap]

2. Saving the best for last? n.t

[axollot]

7. Yes. To save his arse and allow him to get all raw data out. Dont blame him.

one look at how many folks have openly called for him to be murdered is enough to convince me. I noticed too it's been those with the dollars! Especially those that do the Right's bidding.

*whistles "my country right or wrong"
wait.....

Cheers
sandy

[Extend a Hand]

4. Good!

[axollot]

5. How do you expect him to handle this? How many times have the right wings

talking heads called for his EXECUTION and some on the left too? Frack me - I want to know about the banking intel and noticed the calling for Assange's head wasnt until he mentioned he had it and planned to dump it.

Thankfully his 'fellow hackers' (hahahaha) are just average people that have helped share these files - just need the encryption key if he is assassinated. He has done this with every file 'dump' so far. NOT NEW.

Cheers
Sandy

[ProfessionalLeftist]

12. True. No calls for his head until he mentioned banking intel

IntereSTINK.

[laughingliberal]

148. I know! Ever since he said he's got stuff on Bank of Antichrist and BP, the calls for his head...

have really ramped up. It is, indeed, very interesting.

Can't have the people finding out what the oligarchs have been up to.

[Hawkeye-X]

I guess I am a "fellow hacker" - I am seeding his insurance file as well.

Let them shut me down!

[axollot]

18. *smile* n/t

[Bragi]

13. I unconditionally support WikiLeaks

If the lawless, fascist global police state arrests him, then he should drop the data bomb.

[GliderGuider]

24. Same here.

It's about time we had a bit of a shakeup in the cozy world of international government conspiracies.

[Catherina]

33. Me too. Expose the corruption so we can fight it and clean up our country. n/t

[xiamiam]

45. he should release it anyway..but i understand timing is key for him..nt

[krabigirl]

48. Me too!

[Pavulon]

109. Unconditional is a pretty big term

so if he dumps names and kills people you are ok with those bodies for your cause? You ok with the response he will bring on his people?

[Name removed]

134. Deleted message

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

[laughingliberal]

150. Yes. Funny how some see killing innocents as acceptable risk in our wars for oil & resources.

Then they find a new respect for the sanctity of life if the shadow government or banksters are threatened with exposure.

[shanti]

15. we knew he would

it's his only choice, really.

[Bragi]

22. The U.S is prepared to put it's so-called "assets" at risk

This might actually be a good thing all round, since it will be clear to anyone considering becoming an intelligence "asset" that the U.S will not hesitate to put their lives at risk.

[GliderGuider]

19. Threats like this are always the most threatening to those with a guilty conscience.

Nothing to hide? Then nothing to fear. Riiiight???

Assange is doing exactly what is required to achieve his stated aim of shutting down the internal communications fo the conspiracy of government. It's fookin' brilliant to watch, and guy has balls of brass.

[xiamiam]

46. and vision..and committment..and the intelligence to put this entire thing together..brilliant

and the most fascinating act of revolt against TPTB in my lifetime..Assange give me hope..walkin the walk at his own peril..inspiring

[ronnie624]

20. "A warrant for his arrest

was issued last Thursday by Swedish prosecutors who want to quiz him over rape allegations."

Mmm hmm. I'll just bet that will be the first thing they "quiz" him about.

[ronnie624]

26. How embarrassing:

- "High-profile politicians in the U.S. including Sarah Palin, a narrow loser in the race to become the Republican presidential candidate in 2008"

- "It's interesting to note people as high up the American tree as Sarah Palin"

:blush:

[seabeyond]

28. wow, so now he sees himself as untouchable. right. hero there.... disgusting. nt

[Texasgal]

136. +1000000000000000000000

Geez. This is getting sick almost.

[Chorophyll]

30. So he's a blackmailer?

With a martyrdom complex to boot. This is getting ridiculous. If he's really out to save the world, he would just release the "thermo-nuclear device," right?

[seabeyond]

32. and a board of followers. he can do no wrong. will follow him regardless.

he is my HEROOOOO

i cant believe it.

gave this shit a week to die down.

think i will give it another week. cant believe what people are making this clown out to be. the hypocrisy on this thread is amazing. change one heroworship complex with another.... rw, no difference.

[xiamiam]

47. you have got to be kidding....nt

[OnyxCollie]

94. I don't think seabeyond is kidding.

She would like very much for you to believe Assange is only doing this for his ego, that his supporters are blinded by a cult of personality, and that his information should be ignored.

Seabeyond's behavior suggests she supports the status quo, secrecy, spying, and punishment for those who dare to challenge authority. And for someone to advance those views on a democratic board is simply flat out creepy.

[Name removed]

55. Deleted message

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

[seabeyond]

74. there are threads he is hero. there are posters made, he is hero with him looking out beyond....

this is not made up. it is right here on du.

the man is blackmailing. doing the exact same garbage, in our face, at what he exposed AT TTHE BEGINNING>... last dump, gossip.

he is pathetic, and du falls to knees in worship

[OnyxCollie]

78. It doesn't excuse your conservative behavior.

On edit: Where there were my words, now there are none. Apparently, it does excuse your conservative behavior.

[seabeyond]

83. a person disagrees with your assessment doesnt mean conservative. unless you suggest integrity

is a conservative only character. and that is simply flat out creepy.

i dont know wtf your edit is about

[OnyxCollie]

93. Nice try to reframe the argument

to make it a critique on my behavior. I'm in awe of your "integrity."

Your debate tactics are similar to RWers. That is what my original (now deleted) post referred to.

I pointed out that your ad hominem attack on Assange and your characterization of his supporters (Assange's supporters include those who advocate a transparent government, a (d)emocratic principle if ever there were one. To make it a cult of personality is a strawman.) is a dishonest debate tactic frequently used by RWers.

Your attacks suggest you support the status quo, secrecy, spying, and punishment for those who dare to challenge authority. And that is simply flat out creepy.

[seabeyond]

95. well, you are wrong. interpret your meaning to what you post, dont put words in my mouth

i havent said. hieght of irresponsible.

you call it conservative. i call bullshit. then you accuse me of reframing argument. no..... i am following your accusations.

to blackmail at the expense of innocents that have done no wrong, that will be damaged because of his preceived threat is NO different than torturing and justifying that behavior.

both. are. wrong.

you see that as conservative? i see it as consistent. and not being a hypocrite. to leak crimes is one thing. to leak gossip and bullshit to embarass is not only irresponsible, it lacks INTEGRITY.

that is not being conservative. that is being consistent.

[OnyxCollie]

97. Conservatives ARE consistent.

That is typical of their behavior.

An inability to understand nuance and black and white understanding of issues are two other characteristics.

These are in addition to your support for the status quo, secrecy, spying, and punishment for those who dare to challenge authority, which also correlate with conservative personalities.

And for someone to advance those views on a democratic board is simply flat out creepy.

[seabeyond]

105. no they are not. it is the deficit. give the rich a tax break. snort.... consistent?

i think it is you who refuse to see the nuance. i had plenty in my post. your post lacks.

[OnyxCollie]

126. I said they are consistent.

I didn't say they were smart.

Yet another similarity between you and the RWers.

[OnyxCollie]

127. Dupe

[OnyxCollie]

128. Dupe.

[OnyxCollie]

129. Dupe

[Violet_Crumble]

108. There are posters who froth at the mouth with their hatred of him...

He's not pathetic. What's pathetic is watching Americans who claim to be left-wing joining the mass hysteria witch-hunt that the conservatives are leading.

And trying to protect himself against being arrested or killed is NOT blackmail. It's protection...

[seabeyond]

123. he wants to dump all, without knowing what he is dumping, who it hurts, in order to protect self

and you are pointint the finger at me?

at the least, my position stands with those that have had NO part in this, and are at risk.

[laughingliberal]

152. Nope. He wants to release his information just as he's done for 4 years-at a pace that allows...

it to be vetted and reported on. It will only be dumped if something happens to him. That is to insure they can't stop the information if something happens to him.

I've done the same thing when my life was threatened albeit on a smaller scale. I turned over threats made against my life and other unfavorable information I had on these people to an attorney with instructions that if I should die, I wanted everything I gave him released to the press immediately. Then I informed my would be murderers that killing me would not save them from exposure. IOW, they were then in the position that not only could they not kill me with impunity, they had to pray no one else did, either. 23 years later, I'm still here.

[laughingliberal]

151. +1000 nt

[Sapphireprick]

36. Warning others not to falsely accuse one of rape is not blackmail

Unless you believe the allegations of the CIA girl and her sidekick.

[seabeyond]

42. then you go to court. you dont use blackmail to aviod what anyone else would have to experience.

to say.... dont do this or i do this is the very definition of blackmail. you can make up your own definition, but it does not make it right. at the least, have the honesty to own what it is. then defend his right to blackmail. but to say it isnt exactly blackmail is dishonest.

[Violet_Crumble]

114. It's not blackmail. It's an attempt to protect himself...

And, no. He's not saying 'don't do this or i do this'. In fact it's incredibly dishonest to claim it is. The facts are that the trumped up 'rape' charge (btw, do you believe that having sex without a condom is actually rape?) has had Assange make himself available to be interviewed. Over the past few days despite knowing where he is, there's been no attempt to talk to him. What do you think he should do? Turn up and some random court and say: 'Hi, I'm here for my rape trial'??

[DirkGently]

132. Absolutely. "Blackmail" and "rape" are loaded, dishonest epithets used in this context.

[Chorophyll]

76. Well, Sapphireprick,

that wasn't what I was talking about. But blackmail is wrong no matter who's doing it. Do you also call Valerie Plame "CIA Girl?"

[boppers]

144. What if the insurance file were detailed instructions on building...

... a real, physical, thermonuclear device?

That might be quite interesting, to make every state/business/organization with time/money a potential nuclear entity.

[NightWatcher]

31. the file is called "insurance.aes256". Do a search, it's spreading

It's a torrent file that is at such places as the pirate bay....the security encryption key will most likely be delivered by twitter and will spread as well.

[leeroysphitz]

34. Then I hope he is arrested soon. Burn it all down. The whole rotten thing. n/t

[Ruperto31]

38. There is some merit in dragging it out slowly.

Kinda like the Chinese water torture.

[Catherina]

35. "to include details on BP and Guantanamo Bay".

I want this released when Julian sees fit. I'm sick of the corruption in our government. They get us hated around the world and then when our victims fight back, our government puts out drivel like "they hate us for our freedom". Freedom my ass. Go Julian!

[Azathoth]

40. This is the biggest "Hey look at me!" dog and pony show I've ever seen

A guy who proudly proclaims he will leak everything that comes his way is now trying to blackmail the government by threatening to leak stuff that he's going to leak anyway.

[Bragi]

52. You are poorly informed

Maybe talk less and read more, and you'll see that isn't at all what is happening.

[Azathoth]

60. Judging by your fumbling, puerile, fact-free attempt at condescension

I suspect I've read far more than you on the matter :hi:

[Bluerthanblue]

71. what IS happening in your opinion? the comment you replied to

tells it pretty much like it is.

He's going to leak the info anyway, he's said as much. If he is arrested or if his website is permenantly shut down, he'll trigger the complete leak.

Wikileaks CHOOSES which documents they will release, how they will be released- and when. So, who is holding the balance of power here?

[Bragi]

102. He didn't say he'd leak the same info anyway

To date, they have released material with names redacted (such as informers) where they felt it was important to protect people's identities. They also respected redactions that media partners chose to make.

The info in the insurance file, as far as I understand it, is the raw data files, with no redactions, and includes names.

So the question becomes whether the Obama administration is more interested now in preventing future leaks than it is in protecting the identities of their intelligence assets.

[treestar]

61. Merely to avoid arrest for whatever he has done

He would be willing to face those legal consequences were he a true hero.

[Bluerthanblue]

79. I wish I could recommend this post. +1,000000!!!

While Ellsberg may be supportive of what Assange has done, he had the courage to face the consequences of his actions.

He said this as he turned himself in to the authorities:

"I felt that as an American citizen, as a responsible citizen, I could no longer cooperate in concealing this information from the American public. I did this clearly at my own jeopardy and I am prepared to answer to all the consequences of this decision."

[Mimosa]

85. When are some going to understand : Assange is NOT an American citizen

Therefore, Assange owes no loyalty or 'patriotism' to the United States.

I regard Assange and Wikileaks as a journalistic information gathering organisation. They receive information, they disperse it.

If I took a loyalty oath I personally would not break it.

Now, if Wikileaks is going to spill a whole lot of insider information about the banking/government alliances, the BANKS are not a Constitutional entity. Who owes private enterprise the same fealty people believe they owe to their nations of birth?

[Bluerthanblue]

87. Julian Assange applied to become a permanent citizen of Sweden

didn't he? The offense he is wanted for occurred in Sweden while he was supposedly staying there legally. Shouldn't he be held answerable to the Swedish authorities and plead his case?

I'm very well aware that Mr.Assange isn't an American citizen, and that he owes no loyalty or patriotism to the US. I never have claimed that he did.

Who IS Mr. Assange answerable to in your opinion? Doesn't he have the responsibility to answer the charges in Sweden? If as he says the charges have no merit, then he can get this arrest warrant fiasco over and done with.

Julian Assange isn't an organization. He's an individual. He isn't wanted in Sweden for the actions of an organization, but for his own personal ones.

[Mimosa]

88. Yes, consensual sex and condom breaking are SERIOUS offenses. LOL n/t

[Bluerthanblue]

90. I'm not judging the "seriousness" of the offenses- he is accused with

violating a law in Sweden.

That is the fact. What you or I think about the validity or the seriousness of the accusation is nothing but opinion and isn't worth much.

[Mimosa]

92. Big Brother Knows Best. Trust Authority.

I really understand where you're coming from. :)

[Lord Magus]

141. Assange isn't the equivalent to Ellsberg in this case. PFC Manning is.

Assange and Wikileaks are doing what the New York Times did with the Pentagon Papers: publishing what got leaked to them.

[Lord Magus]

140. Legal consequences for what?

Publishing classified information that was leaked to you isn't a crime. That was established 39 years ago in New York Times v. United States.

[GSLevel9]

51. I know how the Russians would have handled this 20 years ago...

The problem would be solved and not another shred of documents would EVER be seen.

[HipChick]

59. the media has changed...different rules apply

you can't stop electronic files..but you can put disinformation out there

[Azathoth]

62. In all fairness, there are a bunch of reporters who would swear they still handle things that way nt

[Mimosa]

86. And you like that way of doing things? n/t

[GSLevel9]

100. well, no.

But I might make an exception for this piece of work. He's a little attention whore, nothing more or less. He claims to be an anti-War activist because he hates bloodshed but is probably directly responsible for... ahhh, bloodshed.

Phoney little attention whore. There is NO right to know everything about everything in this world.



Imagine the diplomatic cables from WW2.

Stalin: Mr President, you must allow us to take Berlin. There's a lot of vengeance due the Germans for what their soldiers did to Russian cities. I've sent my most sadistic rapists and murderers to Berlin to teach the civilians a thing about their new masters.

FDR: Well, Josef... I couldn't give a rat's ass what you do there so we'll just slow down Patton and Montgomery's advance and blame it on supply line logistics. Tell the men to enjoy themselves and remind them to take antibiotics.

Churchill: Cheers!

[ronnie624]

137. "...probably directly responsible for... ahhh, bloodshed."

I don't suppose you have any documentation supporting that claim?

An article was posted recently, that reported there was no evidence that Wikileaks was responsible for any deaths. Perhaps you have found something that disputes this.

[Pavulon]

110. Shit 20 minutes ago. Not like they ran out of polonium recently..

if he starts dropping source names bad things will happen.

[Glassunion]

112. Is that some sort of shirt you wear when golfing?

Sorry... I could not resist temptation.

:toast:

[Lucian]

58. I wish I had his leverage.

I'd do the same thing if I was in his position.

I like what he's doing, exposing the truth when our own media won't.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

65. Has Assange displaced Ahmadinijad as #1 Scary Bogeyman?

[eilen]

70. His weapons are words and truth not bombs and fantaticism.nt

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

72. But, our "democratic" government is treating Assange as an enemy.

And, trying to scare the hell out of the people with announcements of "poison pills".

[JackRiddler]

82. Assange hates us for our freedoms.

[Warren DeMontague]

75. He had sex without a condom.

Clearly, he's a dangerous criminal.

[Pavulon]

115. Dont go bareback or no anal

are instructions. Breaking them is a great way to get a rape charge in the US as well.

But maybe her shirt was to short. had it coming.

[Warren DeMontague]

131. I think you're going to have trouble making that broken condom prosecution stick in the US

or anywhere, for that matter.

But speaking of who has what coming, let's be honest, and admit that the outrage at the guy has nothing to do with his dick. Shall we?

[sweetloukillbot]

80. If he's got all this awesome information that has details on BP and Gitmo....

Seems like we should be cheering for him to get arrested so we can see these bombshells.

But then this proves he's really not interested in speaking truth to power, otherwise he'd just release them.

[snagglepuss]

84. You are obviously uninformed. Currently the newspapers which have

the cables comb through them to exclude pose real security threats or endanger individuals which is what Assange wanted. Releasing the 'insurance files'would circumvent that process and release unedited files.

[sweetloukillbot]

89. Has nothing to do with what newspapers are doing...

If he's so interested in the truth getting told, he wouldn't hold the information hostage, or dribble it out through newspapers.

[snagglepuss]

91. Absolute nonsense. Assange released cables to five newspapers who

edit the cables, redacting potentially harmful information. The huge insurance file would simply be dumped without editing. The dribbling of information you refer is the fact that all cables are being scrutinized before publication.

[Luminous Animal]

104. Six news organizations already have all 250,000+ cables. El Pais explains the process here...

Here is a description of the process from El Pais (sorry for the poor Google translation).

"A daunting task

The material to be reviewed requires a daunting task. Cables are 250,000, , many of them lengthy reports that must pass the filter of a newspaper edition in order not to endanger human life. The information is stored in plain text CSV (comma-separated English values), a lot of files stored in rows separated by commas that make the text more closely resemble an Excel file with tables, a text legible. It is essential the work of the technicians who make them analyzable documents for journalists.

With the material chosen Wikileaks newspapers to publish. No financial transactions of any kind. The media report the White House that the information is in their power and expect the objections put Obama administration if it considers that in some cases put at risk the lives of people. Where appropriate, take into account their recommendations. In most cases, are ignored."

[laughingliberal]

153. Thanks. I've seen that explained by most of the organizations that have the cables several times.

People are either not bothering to get the facts or are willfully ignoring them to push a particular story line.

[NoPasaran]

103. If Ahmadinejad gets his hands on the Colonel's eleven herbs and spices...

:scared:

[Pavulon]

111. You still have time to buy RTN.

they will pick up the contract for boost phase interceptors to deal with those 19 iranian ICBM's. First thing I did when they dropped that bit of insider information.

[Warren DeMontague]

133. Yes but Ahmadinejad doesn't believe in the Holocaust, & PETA thinks KFC is morally equivalent to it.

So perhaps Ahmadinejad is a "Holocaust on your plate" denier.

[derby378]

135. Anytime you want to share, Julian...

...I've got the files downloaded and awaiting the code sequence. Bring it on.

[xTx]

146. The myth of 'pigs' not having sweat glands has just been revealed. nt

[Freddie Stubbs]

156. Has he released it yet?

[spanone]

157. where's the pill?