Because Wikileaks has many defenders, far faster than sluggish governments: An anonymous, loosely affiliated group that has been responsible for a series of recent distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks against entertainment industry websites over copyright issues, has started attacking organisations viewed as being hostile to WikiLeaks, says a PandaLabs researcher. The group, dubbed Anonymous,…
Wikileaks
Wikileaks is one of the biggest and most important stories in the world, challenging governments and journalists alike. I’ve been writing extensively about the group since 2006, featured an exclusive interview in 2008 with founder Julian Assange and examined the myriad of issues around the website. Assange himself asked me in the early days whether I wanted to be on the group’s board to vet incoming leaks and determine their veracity before publishing. I agreed but unfortunately this never eventuated.
Don’t get creative legally over Assange
Yet more reasons why Julian Assange should not go to the US. A fair trial is impossible when the powers that be simply want to silence him. A political with-hunt is in season. Australia must do far more: One: The Justice Department, in considering whether and how it might indict Julian Assange, is looking beyond…
Assange cannot be the new David Hicks; abandoned to his fate
Cameron Stewart writes a perceptive piece in the Australian on the troubles for the Australian government. It either stands up for its citizen, Julian Assange, or is made to simply follow Washington’s dictates. The evidence thus far is not good: Australia faces potentially the greatest political fallout of any non-American nation from the WikiLeaks controversy.…
Chalk one up for intellectual strength over Wikileaks
Academic bravery does happen. But how few in the academy are willing to seriously challenge the state itself? There’s no need for the entire DVD collection of James Bond films when there’s the unfolding intrigue of Julian Assange and WikiLeaks. Deakin University’s senior lecturer in international relations, Dr Scott Burchill, is keeping a close eye…
The revealed bumbling steps of US policy
What emerges from the litany of Wikileaks cables is the ineptitude of American foreign policy, either jumping at shadows or trying to impose its bullying ways on the world, often unsuccessfully. One: Saudi Arabia proposed creating an Arab force backed by US and Nato air and sea power to intervene in Lebanon two years ago…
Canberra holds its nose and helps Assange a little
Well, bloody bravo: Kevin Rudd confirmed Australia was giving consular support to Julian Assange, the Australian-born founder of WikiLeaks who was arrested in Britain on Tuesday over alleged sexual assaults committed in Sweden. ”I’m the foreign minister of Australia, responsible for the consular well-being of all Australians and therefore I just want to make it…
America believes in press freedom (unless, of course, it makes them look like fools)
Ah, Washington’s State Department has a jolly sense of humour. They’ve just announced this (while attempting to smear everything Wikileaks stands for): The United States is pleased to announce that it will host UNESCO’s World Press Freedom Day event in 2011, from May 1 – May 3 in Washington, D.C. UNESCO is the only UN…
Now it’s time for the MSM to stand up and stand firm
So the New York Times may be investigated for espionage after publishing the Wikileaks cable documents?
Australia’s view of the world; suck Washington’s left toe hard
More invaluable insights into how diplomacy really works. Egos and bowing to the US and Israel. That’s quite a vision for world peace and security (and what’s a few thousand civilians killed by our cluster bombs?) Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd is an abrasive, impulsive ”control freak” who presided over a series of foreign policy blunders…