WikiLeaks warns of "last resort" option

[Rip Rokken]

I can't even formulate a coherent thought about this... I'll just withhold any opinion.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/usinternetwikileaksassange

WASHINGTON (AFP) – WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Sunday detailed a plan to release a deluge of secret documents should the whistleblower website be permanently shut down.

In an exclusive interview with CBS News's "60 Minutes," Assange said his group had a "system whereby we distribute encrypted backups of things we have yet to publish."

"There are backups distributed amongst many, many people, 100,000 people, and all we need to do is give them an encrypted key and they will be able to continue on," he said.

The WikiLeaks founder, who is currently under US criminal investigation over the leaking of hundreds of thousands of secret military reports and diplomatic cables, said the key would only be released as a last resort.

"If a number of people were imprisoned or assassinated, then we would feel that we could not go on, and other people would have to take over our work, and we would release the keys," he said.

In the same interview the 39-year-old Australian denied he was motivated by anti-Americanism or other political agendas, describing his group as "free press activists."

"It's not about saving the whales. It's about giving people the information they need to support whaling or not support whaling," he said.

"That is the raw ingredient that is needed to make a just and civil society. And without that you're just sailing in the dark."

Assange refused to discuss the Swedish sex crimes allegations that have him largely confined to a house in the British countryside on bail pending extradition proceedings, and he refused to discuss future publishing plans.

He chuckled when asked about possible plans to release information on Bank of America, refusing to confirm or deny them.

"We have all these banks squirming, thinking maybe it's them," he said.

"When you see abusive organizations suffer the consequences as a result of their abuse, and you see victims elevated... that's a very pleasurable activity to be involved in."

Assange claimed in an interview with Forbes magazine in late November that a "megaleak" by the website would target a major US bank early this year.

He has previously said that he has a treasure trove of documents on Bank of America, the largest US bank, whose shares tumbled more than three percent on November 30 shortly after the Forbes interview was released.

[conversationpc]

It sounds to me like he could be bluffing. Regardless, this clown deserves anything he gets. It's laughable that his lawyer has been yapping about how it's hurting his case to have things leaked to the press about his defense. Oh, the irony!

[Archetype]

I <3 WikiLeaks

[S2M]

It sounds to me like he could be bluffing. Regardless, this clown deserves anything he gets. It's laughable that his lawyer has been yapping about how it's hurting his case to have things leaked to the press about his defense. Oh, the irony!

This guy is awesome. Just that there is an organization that knows all the secret, dirty, underhanded stuff these big corporations have done(do) is refreshing....the american people deserve to know how we've been sucker punched by these businesses.

[conversationpc]

It sounds to me like he could be bluffing. Regardless, this clown deserves anything he gets. It's laughable that his lawyer has been yapping about how it's hurting his case to have things leaked to the press about his defense. Oh, the irony!

This guy is awesome. Just that there is an organization that knows all the secret, dirty, underhanded stuff these big corporations have done(do) is refreshing....the american people deserve to know how we've been sucker punched by these businesses.

I don't have a problem with them divulging ILLEGAL stuff that corporations do. However, it's the classified stuff that is illegal to distribute that I have a problem with. Dude deserves whatever he gets.

[Gin and Tonic Sky]

It sounds to me like he could be bluffing. Regardless, this clown deserves anything he gets. It's laughable that his lawyer has been yapping about how it's hurting his case to have things leaked to the press about his defense. Oh, the irony!

This guy is awesome. Just that there is an organization that knows all the secret, dirty, underhanded stuff these big corporations have done(do) is refreshing....the american people deserve to know how we've been sucker punched by these businesses.

I don't have a problem with them divulging ILLEGAL stuff that corporations do. However, it's the classified stuff that is illegal to distribute that I have a problem with. Dude deserves whatever he gets.

Is it illegal to leak the stuff or illegal to distribute it if you are member of the press? Normally, its the person in the government who is responsible for the leak and is punsished, not the member of the press who publishes it. How is JA different from the NYT?

[conversationpc]

Is it illegal to leak the stuff or illegal to distribute it if you are member of the press? Normally, its the person in the government who is responsible for the leak and is punsished, not the member of the press who publishes it. How is JA different from the NYT?

I believe, and I could be wrong, that it's criminal for the member of the press AND the government official who leaks it. However, I believe press members are rarely prosecuted for it. There have been times, though, that I've shaken my head and wondering why the New York Times has never at least been fined for printing certain things.

[S2M]

Is it illegal to leak the stuff or illegal to distribute it if you are member of the press? Normally, its the person in the government who is responsible for the leak and is punsished, not the member of the press who publishes it. How is JA different from the NYT?

I believe, and I could be wrong, that it's criminal for the member of the press AND the government official who leaks it. However, I believe press members are rarely prosecuted for it. There have been times, though, that I've shaken my head and wondering why the New York Times has never at least been fined for printing certain things.

Think back: Joe Wilson, Valerie Plame, Armitage, Libby....

[slucero]

..it can only be illegal in the country it originated from...


Assange isn't American so he technically can't be charged with "espionage"... although I'm sure he could be extradited from a country with an extradition agreement with the US...

Most likely he'll be "disappeared"...

[Behshad]

Is it illegal to leak the stuff or illegal to distribute it if you are member of the press? Normally, its the person in the government who is responsible for the leak and is punsished, not the member of the press who publishes it. How is JA different from the NYT?

I believe, and I could be wrong, that it's criminal for the member of the press AND the government official who leaks it. However, I believe press members are rarely prosecuted for it. There have been times, though, that I've shaken my head and wondering why the New York Times has never at least been fined for printing certain things.

Think back: Joe Wilson, Valerie Plame, Armitage, Libby, RockinDeano....

[Gin and Tonic Sky]

Is it illegal to leak the stuff or illegal to distribute it if you are member of the press? Normally, its the person in the government who is responsible for the leak and is punsished, not the member of the press who publishes it. How is JA different from the NYT?

I believe, and I could be wrong, that it's criminal for the member of the press AND the government official who leaks it. However, I believe press members are rarely prosecuted for it. There have been times, though, that I've shaken my head and wondering why the New York Times has never at least been fined for printing certain things.

Think back: Joe Wilson, Valerie Plame, Armitage, Libby, RockinDeano....

And Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein...um.... I think they caught Crosby Stills and Nash Lipping in the 1970's

[Saint John]

When you accept illegally seized documents from a treasonous military coward you should be held accountable. And I think that, without question, this case should involve the immediate covert execution of Assange. It's silly that he's still breathing. He has no genuine intentions, other than to wreak havoc upon the stability of the world and garner his 15 minutes of fame. The sexual assault charges, coupled with what we know about Wikileaks, show an impotent man longing for control and notoriety. I just see a piece of filth that needs to be snuffed out ASAP.

[S2M]

When you accept illegally seized documents from a treasonous military coward you should be held accountable. And I think that, without question, this case should involve the immediate covert execution of Assange. It's silly that he's still breathing. He has no genuine intentions, other than to wreak havoc upon the stability of the world and garner his 15 minutes of fame. The sexual assault charges, coupled with what we know about Wikileaks, show an impotent man longing for control and notoriety. I just see a piece of filth that needs to be snuffed out ASAP.

I vehemently disagree with that, Dan. I just got finished watching Fair Game, the story of the outing of Valerie Plame. And to watch an absolute shitball like Armitage ruin an Undercover operative's career, and out her - jeopardizing ongoing cases just because her husband told the truth about how the Bush admin. lied to the american people about yellowcake Uranium...is more treasonous(sp) than Assange.

Myself, I know the banks are greedy, lying institutions....and I'll welcome any leak that uncovers Bank America, The World Bank, or any other institution that has fleeced money off the american people....