Julian Assange: 'I feel at peace'

[Turborama]

Source: BBC

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, in his first face-to-face broadcast interview since his release from prison on bail, has defended his organisation and explained why he is fighting extradition to Sweden over sexual assault allegations.

Speaking to Today presenter John Humphrys at the mansion in East Anglia where he is staying under strict bail conditions, he said he is fighting extradition because he believes "no natural justice" would occur in the country.

=snip=

Asked about his own personality, Mr Assange said he had time in solitary confinement to consider his life and was "perfectly happy with myself".

"Capable generous men don't create victims, they try and save people from becoming victims."

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9308000/9308216.stm

---

Full 25 minute audio and link to the transcript of the interview at the main article.

Longer quote in context...

"The world has a lot of problems and they need to be reformed. And we only live once. Every person who has some ability to do something about it, if they are a person of good character, has the duty to try and fix the problems in the environment which they're in.

That is a value, that, yes, comes partly from my temperament. There is also a value that comes from my father, which is that capable, generous men don't create victims, they try and save people from becoming victims. That is what they are tasked to do. If they do not do that they are not worthy of respect or they are not capable."

[Judi Lynn]

1. Hope he will be miraculously safe from what some real "human rights abusers"

(the greatest understatement possible) have in mind for him.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

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

[Kalun D]

3. Assange is a fake

and Wikileaks is a CIA front.

don't fall for the BS

he gets mainstream coverage whenever he wants

nothing substantial has been "leaked"

he would be in Gitmo if he was real, people have been disappeared for much less.

everything that's been leaked so far supports the US foreign policy agenda except for minor "limited hang out" items like the Apaches killing the journos

Assange supports the 911 OTC and says the Bilderbergs are "normal people".

[Luminous Animal]

5. This is great! Many of the talking points in one fell swoop.

[Tunkamerica]

6. Wow. It's crazy how you know this secret that no one else knows and then you just post it to a

public forum.

According to your logic you'll be in Gitmo soon. Since you know the truth.

[sendero]

56. Anything is possible..

... but I've read this story now in several venues and I'm not convinced.

The jury is out but one thing is for sure, if he actually releases the stuff he says he has then he is no front.

[cherokeeprogressive]

4. "...comes partly from my temperament." Yeah Julian, we're lucky to have ya.

"I'm busy, I have two wars to end"

When will you end them, Julian, and HOW? Your Julianots don't seem to be curious about when, but the rest of us are.

If Julian has the power to stop the wars, those who die between now and then should find their blood on your hands.

[Luminous Animal]

7. Did you just fabricate that quote?

[Tunkamerica]

10. Just took it out of context

Q: You want to change the world?

JA: Absolutely. The world has a lot of problems and they need to be reformed. And we only live once. Every person who has some ability to do something about it, if they are a person of good character, has the duty to try and fix the problems in the environment which they're in.

That is a value, that, yes, comes partly from my temperament. There is also a value that comes from my father, which is that capable, generous men don't create victims, they try and save people from becoming victims. That is what they are tasked to do. If they do not do that they are not worthy of respect or they are not capable.


and the "two wars to end".... not from this interview and no link.

[Luminous Animal]

12. cherokeeprogressive posted this... ""I'm busy, I have two wars to end"

In quotes. Cherokeeprogressive didn't take it out of context because Assange said no such thing.

I'm flabbergasted.

[cherokeeprogressive]

13. The quote came from something one of his former partners said. I'll find the link.

[Luminous Animal]

14. Good luck. The closest you will find is that Assange want two wars to end. And so do I.

And so does nearly every person that I know. And so does the majority of U.S., Iraq, and Afghan citizens. But none of us would think that we can do it on our own. Thus, Wikileaks (an organization) and anti-war activists (closely and loosely affiliated with organizations).

[cherokeeprogressive]

16. Here you go

Daniel Domscheit-Berg:

"Mr Assange has been accused of dishonesty by key colleagues, including Daniel Domscheit-Berg, a German computer specialist who was his closest collaborator for three years until he left WikiLeaks in September.

Mr Domscheit-Berg plans to publish a book about WikiLeaks early next year. An advance copy of the publicity blurb states: ‘Not only he, but also other close colleagues could no longer put up with Assange’s high-handedness, dishonesty and grave mistakes, and got out.’

Quoting Mr Domscheit-Berg, it adds: ‘The fact that a project this powerful is under the sole control of someone with Julian Assange’s personality structure is a tangible danger to informants and collaborators.

‘Our trust was abused, we were threatened, misled and intentionally kept in the dark. It is not for nothing that many who have quit refer to him as a “dictator” . . .

‘Justified, even internal, criticism – whether about his relations with women or the lack of transparency in his actions – is either dismissed with the statement, “I’m busy, there are two wars I have to end” or attributed to the secret services’ smear campaigns."

What next? Domscheit-Berg is a CIA plant? Disgruntled employee? Jealous of Julian's sexual exploits?

Go flabbergast yourself.

[Luminous Animal]

17. That is not a direct quote but a characterization from a third party. Also, link please.

[cherokeeprogressive]

20. Link

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1339859/Wikileaks-Julian-Assanges-promiscuous-lifestyle-revealed-Jemima-Khan-look-away-now.html

[Luminous Animal]

22. Yes. The rightwing racist Daily Mail. I remain flabbergasted. Who are you going to source next?

Fox News?

[Turborama]

34. "This megalomaniac sleazeball embodies the nightmares we face in the anarchic age of the internet"

Guess where that quote came from...

[Tunkamerica]

47. the bible?

the daily mail?

[Turborama]

60. Correct

You had me for a second there, though. :rofl:

[cherokeeprogressive]

24. Now you're calling Daniel Domscheit-Berg a liar?

[Luminous Animal]

26. No. I am characterising his statement, that you mis-attributed to Assange, as hearsay.

[cherokeeprogressive]

28. Taking the easy way out huh? No matter, that's what most people whose hero has been discredited by

someone in the know.

[Luminous Animal]

38. As my dad advised me during the civil rights era, don't believe what you read in the papers.

There were plenty of activists being discredited by "people in the know." His advise has helped me to keep my eye on the prize and not be distracted by gossip of normal human foibles.

[Tunkamerica]

18. a Link would be customary. And that's a paraphrased 'quote' by hearsay

which I think any of us would agree with.

[cherokeeprogressive]

21. Link. Now go ahead, discredit the source. I have to laugh...

If a source provides information you agree with, you'll run with it. If a source posts information you disagree with, you'll do your best to discredit it even if you've used it to support your argument in the past.

This place is hilarious sometimes and that's why I continue to be a contributor. The hypocrisy of some DU'ers knows no bounds...

Assange is an egomaniac who is playing you, me, and the rest of us for all he's worth. How much money has been sent to his "defense fund"? Isn't it strange that he's got nothing at the moment to "defend" himself from? What will he do with all that money if and when it comes to pass that he doesn't need it? Refund it? Too funny.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1339859/Wikileaks-Julian-Assanges-promiscuous-lifestyle-revealed-Jemima-Khan-look-away-now.html

[Luminous Animal]

25. When DUers can cite the racist Tory Daily Mail as a source, Fox News is not far behind.

And again, you misrepresented a quote from another as a quote directly from the source.

Now that is hilarious.

[cherokeeprogressive]

27. Call Daniel Domscheit-Berg a liar. Go ahead, say it. Type it. Own it.

Is he lying? Surely your next claim is that since he has a book coming out, he has ulterior motives.

Daniel Domscheit-Berg is who he is, and he said what he said.

Please go on record and call Daniel Domscheit-Berg a liar. Please do that for the record.

[Tunkamerica]

31. well, you shouldn't quote Daniel Domscheit-Berg and represent it as Assange.

It's not ethical.

[Luminous Animal]

32. Settle down sport. I don't know Daniel Domschet-Berg from your left toe.

I do know that you falsely attributed a direct quote from Assange when, in fact, there is nothing but hearsay that he said any such thing.

But please, go on record and attest to the fact that Daniel Domscheit-Berg was telling the truth and nothing but the truth. Please do that for the record.

[cherokeeprogressive]

36. I'll go on record as stating the belief that Mr Domschet-Berg attributed a statement to Julian

which neither you nor I can confirm nor deny. I'll go further and state that I believe Mr. Domschet-Berg's statement about what Julian said.

I'll admit that I attributed the quote to Julian rather than Domschet-Berg, and for that I apologize.

[Tunkamerica]

39. I think you just defined hearsay.

[cherokeeprogressive]

42. Would that I could define anything at all Tunk...

We disagree. In the larger sense, in the grand scheme of things, I'll bet we agree on more than we disagree.

Assange thinks he's making the world a better place. I don't believe he is. Time will tell whether I'm right or wrong. When the time comes and I'm forced to eat crow, I'll eat it. Happily.

I won't let Julian come between what I think is right and what you think is right, as I bet we're both on the same page concerning most other things.

You'll get the first apology. Fair enough?

[Tunkamerica]

44. Oh yeah, maybe so. I would actually assume we're leaning toward the same outcome.

[sendero]

58. He might be a liar..

... or he might have a personality conflict that he is charactererizing as HE sees it or he might not have said those things at all.

There are many possibilities yet you are certain that you know the real one.

Good luck with that as you move through life.

[Tunkamerica]

29. Me? I've never used that source to defend anything,

And I merely think you're wrong and ignoring etiquette regarding quotes. If you're going to quote: please use an actual quote, not hearsay, and provide the link. You didn't do either and your attack seems like it is centered on the personality of Assange which is irrelevant and jealousy that he might be making the change you're incapable of.

[cherokeeprogressive]

33. Fair enough.

I'll stand by my belief that Assange is an egomaniac who finds himself in the spotlight and every day makes another outrageous claim without backing it up.

What do you think about the fact that he says his accusers are motivated by "revenge"? I'll have to go look, but if I'm not mistaken, the first claims against his accusers was that at least one of them were connected to the CIA?

I'll ask you this... IF he has, as he claims, information concerning some US bank that would cause it's senior officers to resign, would you hold it close to the vest and let said bank abuse its customers MORE than it already has, or would you release it IMMEDIATELY?

[Tunkamerica]

37. Didn't it come out today that it was BOA? And didn't one of his accusers tweet a tweet of support

last week? And one of his accusers was in an anti-Castro group that was associated with the CIA.


I'd say the bank thing was supposed to come out after all of the cables had been sifted through by journos, but that the current situation might warrant releasing something early. Are you suggesting that info be released without anyone looking over it? because, if I recall correctly, that's one of the main claims against Assange... that he released info willy-nilly and got imaginary people killed. If it were up to you, Wikileaks would immediately release everything?

[cherokeeprogressive]

40. Was there a document released today I didn't hear about that made BOA the object of what's about to

be released?

Julian is on record as saying his accusers were motivated by "revenge". Am I wrong about that?

[Luminous Animal]

43. I don't know. Are you wrong? If you're not, please post a link.

[cherokeeprogressive]

45. Link.

"In his first UK newspaper interview since releasing hundreds of secret diplomatic cables last month, Mr Assange told The Times he predicts the US will face reprisals if it attempts to extradite him on conspiracy charges.

He accused his media partners at The Guardian newspaper, which worked with him to make the embarrassing leaks public, of unfairly tarnishing him by revealing damaging details of the sex assault allegations he faces in Sweden.

He insisted that the women behind the claims were motivated by revenge."

The above quote came from an Australian news organization. "The Times" attributed to the quote is http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/

Is "The Times" also a right wing mouthpiece out to discredit him?

[Luminous Animal]

48. You need to provide the direct link either to the Times article or from Aussie news org.

Your link takes me to the main Times page where I cannot find the quote anywhere.

[cherokeeprogressive]

50. My mistake.

Third paragraph in the link below. I tried to find the information at "The Times", but it requires you to register and I don't want to. The link attributes the quote to "The Times".

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wikileaks-boss-julian-assange-turns-on-everyone/story-e6frg12c-1225974411433

[Luminous Animal]

51. Indeed.

[Tunkamerica]

53. Really? Perth now? You're basing this hateful image of a man on a line in Perth now?

One of the main tenets of yr argument is based of a line in Perth now... I think you've outed yourself, brother.

[Luminous Animal]

55. Not only that but the line was not in quotes.

[Turborama]

61. I'm curious

Is Perth Now like Australia's version of The Daily Mail/New York Post/Washington Times etc etc?

[Tunkamerica]

46. here's boa and 2nd accuser stpping coop.:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/22/wikileaks-target-bank-of-america_n_800067.html


Assange accuser stops cooperating: http://readersupportednews.org/off-site-news-section/368-wikileaks/4226-assange-accuser-may-have-ceased-cooperating (not the original link from DU but the same info)

[cherokeeprogressive]

49. I don't understand why he would allow BoA to fraudulently abuse its customers if he has

information that could stop it.

Why wait until after the first of the year?

You see, that's what I don't understand about the man. If he has information that could protect millions of BoA customers, why not release it NOW, and protect them? Why the delay?

[Tunkamerica]

52. I mentioned this elsewhere in this thread... The banking leaks weren't supposed to come out till

after all the US cables had been released. The arrest and the apparent threat to his life (and prob. hinting that the banking sector is next) has pushed up the timetable. In any event, I'm guessing him naming first the banking industry, then BOA, along with the insurance file (that 10's of thousands downloaded) is basically to insure he stays alive for a few more months. If he's killed then everything gets released at once.

[Luminous Animal]

54. Wikileaks has always claimed that they verify the information that they receive is accurate.

Their VOLUNTEER researchers also organize materials in readable form. That is, Wikileaks, the news organization, does due diligence before releasing information.

[Tunkamerica]

57. I hate to gang up, but I think we answered all of his doubts. I'm sure his mind is changed!!!

Not! (Yes I'm old enough to reference Wayne's World).

[Tunkamerica]

8. so your problem with him is overstatement of importance? Do you want to end these wars?

Have you ever said so? I have. When are you going to end them, Cherokee, and how? His way is by getting info out. Yours is... casting aspersions against people who theoretically have the same ends as you? If it were a competition I'd say Assange is winning.

[cherokeeprogressive]

19. I have said so. Many times. When am I going to end them? As soon as I'm elected.

When I'm elected, I'll issue an Executive Order bringing home not only the troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, but those stationed in EVERY country OUTCONUS. Then I'll issue an EO ordering the US Navy to conduct all readiness excercises within 500 miles of CONUS.

You need to elect me though, and that's going to be a hard row to hoe seeing as I'm a former adulterer, smoke weed on a regular basis, and think EVERY politician is a liar with an ego problem.

Next question?

[Tunkamerica]

23. Well, I doubt it needs to be said but, the blood is on your hands until you get elected.

And if any of the faults that you listed keep you from that goal, then I guess you should have anticipated that when you committed the acts as you expect Assange to have done.

[fascisthunter]

62. I'm glad he pisses you off

[cali]

9. I wish he'd stop talking and just stick to the task he assigned himself

[Luminous Animal]

11. I hope he talks more. He's an intelligent thoughtful person.

[cali]

35. I find him boring. It's all about Julian. I'm interested in the leaks

not lionizing Assange.

[Luminous Animal]

41. I read the leaks every day. I also go here:

http://wlcentral.org/
and here:
http://cablesearch.org/
and here:
http://www.elpais.com/global/
and here:
http://english.aljazeera.net/

And, as long as the U.S. empire seeks to prosecute Assange, I will also be interested in him.

[JDPriestly]

15. The BBC interviewer went on and on about the so-called "rape"

allegations. Those will be taken care of in the court. People are accused of rape more frequently than we might realize.

I would have liked to hear more about the origins of the Wikileaks.

[Turborama]

30. Yes, I used to really like the way John Humphrys interviewed politicians

This interview has destroyed any respect I previously had for him and I'm amazed Julian went through with his total tabloid schmuckery.

[xchrom]

59. recommend