The Guardian's Complicated Relationship With Julian Assange

Sonny Yatsen writes "Vanity Fair has published an interesting behind-the-scenes look at the unlikely and tumultuous working relationship between WikiLeaks' Julian Assange and The Guardian as the Iraq War Logs were being published. The piece highlights the differences and conflicts between the Guardian's journalistic standards and WikiLeaks' transparency. Particularly interesting is the revelation that Julian Assange threatened to sue The Guardian if they publish a portion of Iraq War Logs leaked to them by a disgruntled WikiLeaks volunteer, claiming 'he owned the information and had a financial interest in how and when it was released.'"

Comments

Lived down to my expectations

[david.emery]

Assange had a financial inerest in how and when it was released.
No surprises here! I'd respect Assange if he lived up to his hype about "open access." Now we know why there are alternatives to WikiLeaks.
(and yes, I did read the WLCentral.org item before posting. Shamir himself is not without controversy: http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/04/309818.html

Re:And the rumor of Assange being an informant

[AHuxley]

Think back to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_(computer_hacker)
He was offered community service (we caught you) and not seem to get a clandestine service offer (we need your skills?).
Australia has its own banking network to watch all large cash flows and is part of the NSA 'network'. Every packet is mirrored ie room 641A for all.
Australia had massive state and clandestine service efforts to track and discredit anyone of interest in the community well into the 1970's.
The idea that that all stopped int he 1980's and 1990 with law reform is ... cute.
So enjoy the outed Australian politician who likes to chat to the US embassy, the Russia/Intel offer but be aware of the geographic 'filtering' and other meetings.
http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/07/26/times_wikileaks_white_house_meeting
Enjoy the gems, but have a feel for the larger picture of useful leaks and new cyber laws.

Re:Aww poor Assange has to deal with leakers.

[fishbowl]

Junior Starfleet officers may properly be addressed by superior officers as "Mister" regardless of their gender.

Re:Correct me if I'm wrong

[Anonymous Coward]

And "The Guardian" is not plural. It is a newspaper. It DOES not have clean hands.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_and_British_English_differences#Formal_and_notional_agreement

Re:Either that

[guspasho]

They started out that way. He did an interview and explained that the media just focused on who mystery of anonymous people behind Wikileaks rather than talking about the information they were trying to expose. They also thought that it was cowardly of them to hide behind anonymity when their sources were taking big personal risks by leaking secrets to them. "If they believe information is meant to be free then why won't they reveal who they are?"

Do you see how the situation can be easily be manipulated by demagogues no matter what you do?

So Wikileaks are either cowards or opportunists, or both simultaneously. Much like how the media tells us the recent leaks of US secrets are "nothing new" and "incredibly reckless and damaging" at the same time. It's all spin and bullshit. Which is why you should disbelieve what you hear about Assange being an egotistical maniac. It's all meant to distract from the far more important point of the content of the leaks, and it's probably all untrue.

Re:Aww poor Assange has to deal with leakers.

[trollertron3000]

I disagree. No one paid attention because the information wasn't as scandalous. Assange is a tool.