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The Unsettling Relationship Between Russia and Wikileaks (dailymail.co.uk)
schnell writes: The New York Times is reporting on the informal but seemingly symbiotic relationship between Russian hackers attacking American targets and Wikileaks (Warning: may be paywalled) as their favorite spot for disseminating the embarrassing results. New York Times reports: "American officials say Mr. Assange and WikiLeaks probably have no direct ties to Russian intelligence services. But the agendas of WikiLeaks and the Kremlin have often dovetailed." When it comes to embarrassing the U.S. government, Russia and Wikileaks' Julian Assange doubtlessly have common interests. But the reporters' analysis of leaks over the past several years raises a question of whether this is just a natural alliance of a source for incriminating documents and a motivated publisher, or does Wikileaks focus on the U.S. and downplay revelations about authoritarian regimes like Russia's as a result of the cozy relationship? nickovs adds: The New York Times is reporting how Russia often benefits when Julian Assange reveals the West's secrets. The article discusses Assange's change in stance regarding Russia over the years and how the Kremlin appears to support, and benefit from, the leaks that he publishes. The New York Times reports: "United States officials say they believe with a high degree of confidence that the Democratic Party material was hacked by the Russian government, and suspect that the codes may have been stolen by the Russians as well. That raises a question: Has WikiLeaks become a laundering machine for compromising material gathered by Russian spies? And more broadly, what precisely is the relationship between Mr. Assange and Mr. Putin's Kremlin?" Daily Mail (non paywalled source) reports: "In 2010 Assange was arrested in London on allegations of rape stemming from Sweden and released on bail. He described the arrest as a plot to extradite him to the U.S. where he could be investigated over the diplomatic cables leak, which greatly harmed American relations with the rest of the world while Clinton was Secretary of State. Putin also called the charges against Assange 'politically motivated' and said he is being 'persecuted for spreading the information he received from the U.S. military regarding the actions of the USA in the Middle East, including Iraq.' Russian officials have also suggested that Assange be given a Nobel Prize, and in 2012 paid to stream his TV show on state-backed network Russia Today. The Times also claims that Assange was offered a visa by Russia in 2011, though WikiLeaks has denounced this as false..."
Quick, blame the Russians for fucking EVERYTHING
If not, I would definitely be suspicious because they should have all kinds of crazy going on in
Where are the leaks from USSR ? Plans for Ukraine, or other disputed areas ? I'd love to see how much oil is left in Saudi.... Maybe something about the Chinese space program ? Trumps' tax returns ? (I'm sure on that one he was smarter than Hillary and nothing was attached to the internet)
The sheer transparency of the attempt to discredit Wikileaks for its role in exposing the inner workings of the US ruling class is hilarious.
Good thing that the article states that "American officials say Mr. Assange and WikiLeaks probably have no direct ties to Russian intelligence services." In the same spirit I can also state that probably, Glenn Beck didn't rape and murder a young girl In 1990.
Anybody else has the impression that the Slashdot editors are trolling us?
Rome taught me patience and assiduous application to detail. Virtues which temper the boldness of great, general views.
Just another example of Russia being infinitely better at influence operations and utilizing modern tools to wage low-level conflict. Take notes...Putin's putting on a clinic.
Even if the U.S. is using these tactics to some degree, the Russians are gaining practical experience that is tough to match.
Hi Vladimir!
Nothing like "massive corruption" in the west to distract your own populace from even more massive corruption in the east, is there?!
More proof that despite being a huge jackass in general, Assange is probably onto something.
They would not squeal this loud if he were not effective or if the documents he keeps releasing were in any way fake.
It was rather well put together and the pieces connected If you thought about it. This guys ego was always out of control but it seems to be getting worse lately. Everyone praises what this guy did but with all the stuff he released the Middle east has turned into a shit show. It wasn't great before but at least they didn't have at least 2 failed states there and chaos. That's all that has occurred their from the diplomatic releases he threw out there. Not freedom and civilization but just chaos and a degeneration into tribalism. The entire middle east is worse off now than what it was a few years ago. And im sorry Russia at this point is an enemy and threat to everyone. Its gobbled up parts of two countries in the last few years and threaten others to try to get its way. Its now an autocratic state run by a guy that wants to grab anything he can. In what bizzaro politically correct world do you live in that you cant see that? There are people out there that don't give a shit about law or civilization. They just will try to take as much as possible from you just cause they like having power. The only way to protect yourself from that is to have your threat and to protect your own people. That's just how the world is and its not going to change.
There are two things we are being prepared for:
1) The Department of Homeland Security wants to secure our elections for us, aka power grab.
2) The leaks are being discredited with the suggestion that the Russians are modifying or fabricating the documents, aka cover up.
Does anyone think for a second that the Russians are going to turn over emails they acquire illegally without editing the content?
Yes. Because editing content or libel as it is otherwise called can be proven. And once it happens the outlet is permanently discredited.
If it's state sponsored this is bordering on an act of war and Wikileaks is party to it.
Bullshit. It's not even remotely close to an act of war.
One person knows 100 times more about Soviet policy during the cold war than either you or I know. Mikhail Gorbachev knows what he was trying to do.
When I've been to an event with Gorbachev and heard what he has to say, he was pretty clear that both he and Reagan sought to destroy the other country. Reagan's goal was finally achieved on December 25, 1991; the Soviets had the same goal going the other way.
Asked about certain events which occurred after the Cold War, Gorbachev used an interesting phrase to refer to that time period, "After Reagan defeated us ....".
Real people (e.g., Putin) are, by definition, not strawmen.
Anonymous cowards, on the other hand, come damn close.
The number of anonymous cowards crawling out of the woodwork to defend Wikileaks -- not because the article condemns Wikileaks for publishing information about the U.S., but because it questions why Wikileaks does not publish information concerning other "corrupt and authoritarian assholes" -- is mighty, mighty suspicious...
"[D]oes Wikileaks focus on the U.S. and downplay revelations about authoritarian regimes like Russia's as a result of the cozy relationship?"
Why, yes, I believe that it probably does. It certainly does when it comes to Ecuador.