WikiLeaks: New Disclosures and Legal Issues of Its Founder
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2010-12-09/wikileaks-new-disclosures-and-legal-issues-its-founder
Despite a series of severe blows, Wikileaks is going strong and continuing to release classified documents. Over the last few days, Julian Assange, the site’s founder, was denied bail in London; Wikileaks' primary address was deactivated; it was dumped by its server; and various affiliated companies cut ties with the organization. The U.S. Justice Department is currently looking into what charges it can bring against Assange. In response, supporters have gone on the offensive retaliating against those they deemed hostile to Wikileaks and hundreds of “mirror” sites appeared on the web. Diane gets an update on the new disclosures from Wikileaks and how the site keeps going and growing.
Guests
John Burns
chief foreign correspondent of "The New York Times"
Tom Gjelten
correspondent, NPR, and author of "Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba: The Biography of a Cause."
Stephen Vladeck
professor at American University Washington College of Law, who specializes in national security law and constitutional law.
Declan McCullagh
chief political correspondent for CNET, which is part of CBS Corporation.
Comments
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For interesting comments and facts regarding Pay Pal, Master Card, Visa refusing to process donations:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00c74kj/Europe_Today_08_12_2010/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00c74kx/Newshour_08_12_2010_(2100GMT)/
I would like to address one aspect of this Assange case, and that is the rape allegation. First, I would say this to the women: If you invite a stranger into your bed, do not be surprised if you are unhappy with the outcome. And to Assange, same thing - If you go to bed with a stranger, do not be surprised if you are unhappy with the outcome.
Have a little common sense, people! Use some judgment!
That said, I will say that what I appreciate about WIKILEAKS is that perhaps now many agencies/companies will be more honest if they know their secrets may be exposed. It is a grave lesson for all of us. Privacy is a thing of the past.
I would appreciated it if could you ask the WikiLeak defenders one question. Where are all the leaked documents from China, Russia, and Iran? If the are just about government openness, why have they only "attacked" one government? OK, I admit that was two questions....
Hi Diane. I am long time listener but first time commenter. I think as a citizen, we all need to settle and think how damaging these leaks are to our National security.
As naturalized citizen of this great nation, Diane, I am not happy with what is going on in the web site. I even dislike the attention this individual is getting as a result of the leaks. This saga require an immediate action politically or other means before it inflames the field.
I believe, as a citizen we all need to come together to protect the nation from any attack direct or indirect. I consider this is one; so, it need to be considered a serious matter and treated appropriate.
Thanks Diane for the opportunity.
I think it's important to separate breaking the law from embarrassing officialdom. Classification has gone way too far. This would a great time for the DR show to invite Steve Aftergood to talk about overclassification. Aftergood is the chief cook and bottlewasher at the Federation of American Scientists' Secrecy News.
I think US Government officials that want to charge Assange with espionage charges should reconsider their position. Assange should be employed by the US Government to help gather information from China and other nations/organizations that truly pose a threat to national security.
Also, the US Government should openly disclose information that is not classified as Secret or higher. And I think the real witch hunt should be finding the leak. Assange may own wikileaks, but the leak will go elsewhere. The one thing I don't see is the US Government going after the New York Times, which also received the cables and published them as well.
Did the current spate of leaks expose any of US information sources and put any lives at risk? I thought I'd read at first that an Iranian information source was easily identifiable.
I think Diane asked if Private Bradley Manning is or has been arrested. The “answer” dealt with his mental stability. I understand he’s been imprisoned in Quantico since at least August. How long? Is it solitary confinement? That would do a mental job on most people. (I fully support WikiLeaks.)
To Elly, I understand a government official had to admit that they knew of no one whose life was actually endangered from the leaks. (On the other hand, many lives have been lost from the machinations of the US and other governments and their 'secret diplomacy.')
How is Wikileaks not protected as a whistleblower? Most of these classified documents should have never been made secret to begin with. Afghan officals are corrupt? Of course. The Afghan government is inept? What's new? Visa and Mastercard helping Russian bank reform? We need to hear about this! Rubber stamping every embarassing story "classified" is the real atrocity. Where is the transparency? Wikileaks is doing the work journalists have long since abandoned..
Garret, well said. If the New York Times broke a story about Mastercard, I'm certain Mastercard would not retaliate against the New York Times. However, they have no issue retaliating against wikileaks? Correct me if I'm wrong, but the New York Times also published the same cables that Wikileaks posted, yet no one is going after The New York Times?
While he or his organization are not "official" journalists, would the New York times, the Guardian and other major media organizations be implicated as terrorist supporters for and releasing the leaks?
Interesting quotes from Ron Paul:
"Truth is Treason in an empire of lies."
In a society where truth becomes treason, then we're in big trouble.
Where do the Tea Party members stand on this, as it surely is shaking up the Washington status quo.
Sam from Silver Spring, MD
The real story is how governments, business interests, and the media are all in agreement about what a dangerous person Julian Assange is.
I also agree with Garrett, and I think there should be a program on the actual material that WikiLeaks is letting the people of the world know about, such as the war crimes committed by Sri Lankan President Rajapakse and his associates, secret NATO plans for a war against Russia, evidence of the US’s involvement in the anti-democratic coup against former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd of Australia last June, etc., etc., etc.
I find it comical that the director the New York Times can argue that what his paper is doing (revealing the cables) is somewhat distinguishable from what WikiLeaks is doing. He states that they take care to redact information, though only information he, subjectively, believes is harmful. This is so, even if in doing so he ignores direct statements from the government that releasing those cables would be harmful. Its like he's saying its OK to loot and steal so long as you when you loot and steel, everyone involved in the looting process is using protective gear so that they are not harmed in the looting process. He is still looting and stealing!
What are the chances he will meet with an untimely accident or suffer an unfortunate "health" issue.
Prisons are notoriously sieve-like for government influence, and as the old saying goes... Accident happens
RW Spisak
Hobe Sound, FL
Can your guests comment on the Poison Pill theory? I understand that Assange has threatened to unleash devastating information if he is harmed or dies in jail and that this process will begin remotely with the help of associates.
Mr. Assange's timing is quite peculiar considering the US 8 year crime-spree during W. Bush's reign. Having a secret home address adds to this peculiarity.
I don't mean to take away attention from mainstream press' heroic image being deliberately constructed on the undermining of US government.
This reeks of well orchestrated sabotage by secret service and by racists operating against a black US administration.
You need to pay attention. Mainstream press is constructing a heroic image of him - non-journalist with a secret home address. That's called an operative.
This is a secret service operative. The timing and the press' treatment and secret address tells it all.
When mainstream press constructs a heroic image of govenment sabotage and Che Gue Vara image of a man who isn't even a journalist who chose the most peculiar timing for sabotage, the picture is quite clear.
Can anyone comment on the following? It appears to me that the material WikiLeaks published was stolen by Mr. Manning who is being held on that exact charge.
If I were to knowingly purchase or posess stolen property I would be guilt of a crime too. Isn't that enough for the government to prosecute WikiLeaks?
Thanks!
Obama seems to be doing a great job of self-sabotage, the secret service would be considerably less effective.
It is cowardly and irresponsible to attempt to criminalize Julian Assange for publishing information leaked to him. Classified information was made public when it was given to him, that is what it means to leak information. Any crimes or ethical problems need to be targeted to whomever was given responsibility for protecting classified information, and in violation of their duty, provided it to Julian Assange (a member of the public). Lets remember that Julian Assange is a member of the public and there is no moral, ethical, or legal conflict with publishing public information.
Diane's work has suffered greatly lately. Mainstream press' treatment of crimes against the US as heroic is alarming and yet she chose to not mention it.
As no one is mentioning why Assange never touched Cheney or Bush. This post may never appear.
Could you please comment on the damage that having hundreds of thousands of clear-text diplomatic cables will do to the State department's crypto systems. Please comment on how much it may cost to change and re-secure their crypto systems.
@Sanya- Wikileaks doesn't choose the material it receives. It is provided to them through leaks. Wikileaks also wasn't even founded until the very last year or so of the Bush-Cheney era and operated much like any small startup: slowly. They are merely publishers of public documents. They don't investigate. They distributes truth, that was once classified, then became public. What part of the public speech do you find so criminal? Freedom of speech is generally accepted as core value of United States citizens.
I'm really puzzled in that - what I'd think is one of the more relevant aspects of the Wikileaks scandal - the mainstream media is failing to focus on the culpability of the United States government for even having such egregious secrets.
I find some of the revelations of the leaked cables shocking. I'm embarrassed by the US's conduct in both the overseas wars and in diplomatic conduct.
I'm tempted to look at it as if a notable person's personal diary was leaked & it revealed that that person was a pedophile or a criminal. Our laws might allow that person to prosecute the person who acquired & published the diary... but would it be right for that person to persecute or prosecute the messenger?
could the US government be using Wikileaks intentionally to indirectly open up an international discussion among countries about North Korea and Iran by "accidentally" revealing the opinions of their neighboring countries?
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