Wikileaks Under Attack
by C. L. Cook
 Wikileaks.org, the outfit that outed the 2007 massacre of a dozen Iraqi's on a Baghdad street corner a few months ago is under attack by the U.S. government. It seems the a-legal Obama administration is currently seeking the Wikileak's Editor in Chief, Julian Assange, (just to answer a few questions, we understand).
The Obama team has already arrested the soldier they suspect provided the 'Collateral Murder' helicopter gunship video of the Baghdad turkey shoot seen around the world.
At last word, Bradley Manning is being held in a military prison in Kuwait. One of America's many torture friendly friends in the middle east, we can only hope Mr. Manning isn't "renditioned" into one of their cells.
Meanwhile, Wikileaks is seeking first financial, and political and moral support so they can continue to rake the muck corporate and state media have lost the appetite for. One such meal is the expected release of alleged leaked materials documenting what is being called the"Garani Massacre" in Afghanistan. In that case, it is alleged more than100 Afghanis were killed. The fact most of those are alleged to have been children could make "Collateral Murder"pale in comparison.
It's little wonder the Obama administration is citing "national security" to keep evidence of its war crimes within the countries of the continued occupations under wraps.
Below the break is Julian Assange's appeal for your help, and a request for those who believe the work Wikileaks is doing is important to set up "Friends of Wikileaks" organizations to encourage the government to lay off them.
WikiLeaks may be under attack
Editor in Chief,
Wikileaks
Your support is important to us. Please read all of this email to understand what is going on. We apologize for not getting back to you before. It is not through any lack of interest on our part, but an enforced lack of resources.
One of our alleged sources, a young US intelligence analyst, Bradley Manning, has been detained and shipped to a US military prison in Kuwait, where he is being held without trail. Mr. Manning is alleged to have acted according to his conscious and leaked to us the Collateral Murder video and the video of a massacre that took place in Afghanistan last year at Garani.
The Garani massacre, which we are still working on, killed over 100 people, mostly children.
Mr. Manning allegedly also sent us 260,000 classified US Department cables, reporting on the actions of US Embassy's engaging in abusive actions all over the world. We have denied the allegation, but the US government is acting as if the allegation is true and we do have a lot of other material that exposes human rights abuses by the United States government.
Mr. Manning was allegedly exposed after talking to an unrelated "journalist" who then worked with the US government to detain him.
Some background on the Manning case:
http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/06/11/transcript-daniel-ellsberg-says-he-fears-us-might-assasinate-wikileaks-founder/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradley_Manning
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/06/leak/
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/06/wikileaks-chat/
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/06/state-department-anxious/
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2010/06/143011.htm
[ note that there are some questions about the Wired reportage, see:
http://www.boingboing.net/2010/06/13/video-wikileaks-foun.html#comment-809677 ]
WikiLeaks a small organization going through enormous growth and operating in an adverserial, high-security environment which can make communication time consuming and the acquisition of new staff and volunteers, also difficult since they require high levels of trust.
To try and deal with our growth and the current difficult situation, we want to get you to work together with our other supporters to set up a "Friends of WikiLeaks" group in your area. We have multiple supporters in most countries and would like to see them be a strong and independent force.
Please write to friends@sunshinepress.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you are interested in helping with Friends of WikiLeaks in your area. You will receive further instructions.
We also have significant unexpected legal costs (for example flying a legal team to Kuwait, video production. Collateral Murder production costs were $50,000 all up).
Any financial contributions will be of IMMEDIATE assistance.
http://wikileaks.org/wiki/Special:Support
Please donate and tell the world that you have done so. Encourage all your friends to follow the example you set, after all, courage is contagious.
Julian Assange
Editor in Chief
WIKILEAKS
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