From Wikileaks:
Bank of America using Private Intel Firms to Attack Wikileaks
In a document titled "The WikiLeaks Threat" three data intelligence companies, Plantir Technologies, HBGary Federal and Berico Technologies, outline a plan to attack Wikileaks. They are acting upon request from Hunton and Williams, a law firm working for Bank of America. The Department of Justice recommended the law firm to Bank of America according to an article in The Tech Herald. The prosed attacks on WikiLeaks according to the slides include these actions:
* Feed the fuel between the feuding groups. Disinformation. Create messages around actions of sabotage or discredit the opposing organizations. Submit fake documents and then call out the error.
* Create concern over the security of the infrastructure. Create exposure stories. If the process is believed not to be secure they are done.
* Cyber attacks against the infrastructure to get data on document submitters. This would kill the project. Since the servers are now in Sweden and France putting a team together to get access is more straightforward.
* Media campaign to push the radial and reckless nature of WikiLeaks activities. Sustain pressure. Does nothing for the fanatics, but creates concern and doubt among moderates.
* Search for leaks. Use social media to profile and identify risky behavior of employees.
interestingly the Bank of America has not even been named. We do not, as yet, know which bank Assange is talking about.
Hence the overboard reaction by the BOA smacks of hidden guilty secrets being frantically compensated for by the BOA. Interesting, hmmm ..........
Julian Assange
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Second day in Court
Julian Assange is facing a second day in a British court as he continues to fight attempts to extradite him to Sweden where he could face charges of rape and molestation.
Geoffrey Robertson Australian QC*, the 39-year-old Australian’s lawyer, is expected to emphasis the point that Assange could face the death penalty if he is extradited on from Sweden to the United States on separate charges relating to the whistleblowing website.
The lawyer concentrated his energies over the first day of the two-day hearing Monday arguing that Assange would face a denial of justice if extradited over allegations of rape and molestation.
Mr Assange maintains that the claims of sexual molestation and rape are politically motivated and vehemently denies all charges. He remains confident that he will not be forced to return to Sweden.
A the end of the first day's evidence, Assange likened the accusations to a black box with the label of rape on the outside and said he was confident the court case would reveal that the black box was in fact empty and has nothing to do with the words printed on the outside.
The ruling is expected to be deferred until later this month by the judge and Assange has the right to appeal his case all the way to England's supreme court. His lawyer said a rape trial in Sweden would violate his rights and said he would be tried behind closed doors in what he called a "flagrant denial of justice".
*Geoffrey Robertson QC has been counsel in many landmark cases in constitutional, criminal and media law in the courts of Britain and the commonwealth and he makes frequent appearances in the Privy Council and the European Court of Human Rights. His recent cases include: appearing for the Wall Street Journal in Jameel v WSJ, the landmark House of Lords decision which extended a public interest defence for the media in libel actions; representing Tasmanian aborigines in the novel action which stopped the Natural History Museum from experimenting on the remains of their ancestors; defending the Chief Justice of Trinidad at impeachment proceedings; arguing the Court of Appeal case (R v F) which first defined “terrorism” for the purpose of British law; arguing for the right of the public to see royal wills and representing a trust for the education of poor children in litigation in Anguilla over a billion dollar bequest. He has maintained a wide advisory practice and has served part-time as a UN appeal judge at its war crimes court in Sierra Leone. In 2008 the UN Secretary General appointed him as one of the three distinguished jurist members of the UN’s Internal Justice Council.
Mr Robertson is the author of Crimes against Humanity – The Struggle for Global Justice, published by Penguin and the New Press (USA), now in its third edition; of a memoir, The Justice Game (Vintage), which has sold over 100,000 copies, and of Robertson and Nicol on Media Law (Sweet & Maxwell). He writes and broadcasts regularly on international legal issues and creates Geoffrey Robertson’s Hypotheticals for television and for ethics education. His most recent publication is The Tyrannicide Brief, the story of how Cromwell’s lawyers produced the first trial of a Head of State – that of Charles I. It traces the memorable career of John Cooke, the radical barrister and visionary social reformer who had the courage and intellect to devise a way to end the impunity of sovereigns. The book is published by Chatto & Windus in the UK, after Australia (where it rose to second in the non-fiction bestseller list) and is pubished by Anchor Books in the U.S., where it won a “Silver Gavel” Award from the American Bar Association. Mr Robertson has written an extensive introduction to Geoffrey Robertson presents The Levellers – The Putney Debates (Verso, 2007); the foreword to Torture (Human Rights Watch/ Macmillan) and A Question of Zion (Professor Jacqueline Rose/ Melbourne University Press) and is a contributor to Human Rights in the War on Terror (Cambridge University Press). His paper Ending Impunity: How International Criminal Law Can Put Tyrants on Trial has been published in the 2005 Cornell Law Journal (issue 3, Volume 38). In 2006 he chaired a Commission of Inquiry into the United Nation’s internal justice system. A copy is available on this website: see “Recent Articles”.
Geoffrey Robertson is founder and head of Doughty Street Chambers, the UK’s leading human rights practice, which comprises some 80 barristers and 30 staff. He is a Bencher of the Middle Temple; and a Recorder (part-time judge) in London; an executive Member of Justice, and a trustee of the Capital Cases Trust. He is visiting Professor in Human Rights at Queen Mary College, University of London. He lives in London with his wife, author Kathy Lette, and their two children.
Reference: http://www.geoffreyrobertson.com
Geoffrey Robertson Australian QC*, the 39-year-old Australian’s lawyer, is expected to emphasis the point that Assange could face the death penalty if he is extradited on from Sweden to the United States on separate charges relating to the whistleblowing website.
The lawyer concentrated his energies over the first day of the two-day hearing Monday arguing that Assange would face a denial of justice if extradited over allegations of rape and molestation.
Mr Assange maintains that the claims of sexual molestation and rape are politically motivated and vehemently denies all charges. He remains confident that he will not be forced to return to Sweden.
A the end of the first day's evidence, Assange likened the accusations to a black box with the label of rape on the outside and said he was confident the court case would reveal that the black box was in fact empty and has nothing to do with the words printed on the outside.
The ruling is expected to be deferred until later this month by the judge and Assange has the right to appeal his case all the way to England's supreme court. His lawyer said a rape trial in Sweden would violate his rights and said he would be tried behind closed doors in what he called a "flagrant denial of justice".
*Geoffrey Robertson QC has been counsel in many landmark cases in constitutional, criminal and media law in the courts of Britain and the commonwealth and he makes frequent appearances in the Privy Council and the European Court of Human Rights. His recent cases include: appearing for the Wall Street Journal in Jameel v WSJ, the landmark House of Lords decision which extended a public interest defence for the media in libel actions; representing Tasmanian aborigines in the novel action which stopped the Natural History Museum from experimenting on the remains of their ancestors; defending the Chief Justice of Trinidad at impeachment proceedings; arguing the Court of Appeal case (R v F) which first defined “terrorism” for the purpose of British law; arguing for the right of the public to see royal wills and representing a trust for the education of poor children in litigation in Anguilla over a billion dollar bequest. He has maintained a wide advisory practice and has served part-time as a UN appeal judge at its war crimes court in Sierra Leone. In 2008 the UN Secretary General appointed him as one of the three distinguished jurist members of the UN’s Internal Justice Council.
Mr Robertson is the author of Crimes against Humanity – The Struggle for Global Justice, published by Penguin and the New Press (USA), now in its third edition; of a memoir, The Justice Game (Vintage), which has sold over 100,000 copies, and of Robertson and Nicol on Media Law (Sweet & Maxwell). He writes and broadcasts regularly on international legal issues and creates Geoffrey Robertson’s Hypotheticals for television and for ethics education. His most recent publication is The Tyrannicide Brief, the story of how Cromwell’s lawyers produced the first trial of a Head of State – that of Charles I. It traces the memorable career of John Cooke, the radical barrister and visionary social reformer who had the courage and intellect to devise a way to end the impunity of sovereigns. The book is published by Chatto & Windus in the UK, after Australia (where it rose to second in the non-fiction bestseller list) and is pubished by Anchor Books in the U.S., where it won a “Silver Gavel” Award from the American Bar Association. Mr Robertson has written an extensive introduction to Geoffrey Robertson presents The Levellers – The Putney Debates (Verso, 2007); the foreword to Torture (Human Rights Watch/ Macmillan) and A Question of Zion (Professor Jacqueline Rose/ Melbourne University Press) and is a contributor to Human Rights in the War on Terror (Cambridge University Press). His paper Ending Impunity: How International Criminal Law Can Put Tyrants on Trial has been published in the 2005 Cornell Law Journal (issue 3, Volume 38). In 2006 he chaired a Commission of Inquiry into the United Nation’s internal justice system. A copy is available on this website: see “Recent Articles”.
Geoffrey Robertson is founder and head of Doughty Street Chambers, the UK’s leading human rights practice, which comprises some 80 barristers and 30 staff. He is a Bencher of the Middle Temple; and a Recorder (part-time judge) in London; an executive Member of Justice, and a trustee of the Capital Cases Trust. He is visiting Professor in Human Rights at Queen Mary College, University of London. He lives in London with his wife, author Kathy Lette, and their two children.
Reference: http://www.geoffreyrobertson.com
Monday, February 7, 2011
The extradition battle begins ... meanwhile in what used to be the USA
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will appear in a British court today to fight his extradition to Sweden, with leaked details shedding new light on the rape and molestation accusations he faces and doubtless coloring and possibly influencing the decision on weather to extradite him or not.
With the amount of media attention and discussion of the Rape charges it must be a difficult time for the judge to make an impartial assessment of the situation. The two-day hearing at a high security London court will examine a Swedish arrest warrant for Assange.
And what of manning, still lanquishing in a military prison? According to the 'Independent' lawyers acting for Bradley Manning, the US intelligence analyst accused of stealing classified diplomatic cables later made public by WikiLeaks, may file for the charges against him to be dismissed on the grounds that the nine months he has been held in solitary confinement in his tiny, bare prison cell under conditions which have been described as inhumane and tantamount to psychological torture have breach his constitutional rights.
While Britain at least makes an effort to invoke justice, it seems the 'land of the free' is not so free after all. Especially when it comes to justice. A case of 'don't do what we do, do what we say'. The catch cry of a dictatorship disguised as a 'democracy'.
the Independent goes on: "Pfc Manning's attorney, David Coombs, stressed that his client was the only detainee at the Quantico Marine Base in Virginia to be held in "maximum" custody, while others were being held in less draconian "medium" detention. The authorities initially said that Manning was being kept in solitary confinement for his own safety, but friends now believe it is being done for punishment."
Punishment, prior to a trial. It used to be in the US, one was innocent until one was proven guilty. Now it is the french syste, one is presumed guilty and has to prove ones innocence. Apparently by barter. this is not the US anymore.
"Legal analysts pointed out the ironic factor that Pfc Manning's deteriorating psychiatric state, allegedly the result of what he has experienced in detention, may undermine a possible US government line of prosecution of Mr Assange. The US Attorney General, Eric Holder, is said to be considering what form of plea bargain may be offered to the soldier if he were to incriminate the WikiLeaks chief as a fellow conspirator in disseminating classified information."
This is injustice by barter. "Tell us what we want to hear or we will continue to impose unconstitional activities on you.' Hmmmm
"Robert Feldman, a US lawyer specialising in security issues, said: "The view was that Manning was in such a fragile state that he may offer something on Assange. But one can turn this around in a courtroom by pointing out that he may say things to placate the authorities in order to get better treatment out of desperation."
"One can also say that if he has indeed been psychologically damaged then just how credible is his evidence."
But Mr Feldman added: "Would Eric Holder let the matter go easily? No. If he does, people like Sarah Palin will tear him to shreds."
"An online petition on behalf of Pfc Manning gathered more than 30,000 signatures in two days with his supporters claiming that attempts to find any evidence that he directly supplied material to WikiLeaks have failed. They claim that he remains incarcerated because the US Justice Department fears the wrath of the Republican Right if he is freed."
So the US Justice Dept is not independent it seems, but subject to outside influences. Well, there goes justice.
With the amount of media attention and discussion of the Rape charges it must be a difficult time for the judge to make an impartial assessment of the situation. The two-day hearing at a high security London court will examine a Swedish arrest warrant for Assange.
And what of manning, still lanquishing in a military prison? According to the 'Independent' lawyers acting for Bradley Manning, the US intelligence analyst accused of stealing classified diplomatic cables later made public by WikiLeaks, may file for the charges against him to be dismissed on the grounds that the nine months he has been held in solitary confinement in his tiny, bare prison cell under conditions which have been described as inhumane and tantamount to psychological torture have breach his constitutional rights.
While Britain at least makes an effort to invoke justice, it seems the 'land of the free' is not so free after all. Especially when it comes to justice. A case of 'don't do what we do, do what we say'. The catch cry of a dictatorship disguised as a 'democracy'.
the Independent goes on: "Pfc Manning's attorney, David Coombs, stressed that his client was the only detainee at the Quantico Marine Base in Virginia to be held in "maximum" custody, while others were being held in less draconian "medium" detention. The authorities initially said that Manning was being kept in solitary confinement for his own safety, but friends now believe it is being done for punishment."
Punishment, prior to a trial. It used to be in the US, one was innocent until one was proven guilty. Now it is the french syste, one is presumed guilty and has to prove ones innocence. Apparently by barter. this is not the US anymore.
"Legal analysts pointed out the ironic factor that Pfc Manning's deteriorating psychiatric state, allegedly the result of what he has experienced in detention, may undermine a possible US government line of prosecution of Mr Assange. The US Attorney General, Eric Holder, is said to be considering what form of plea bargain may be offered to the soldier if he were to incriminate the WikiLeaks chief as a fellow conspirator in disseminating classified information."
This is injustice by barter. "Tell us what we want to hear or we will continue to impose unconstitional activities on you.' Hmmmm
"Robert Feldman, a US lawyer specialising in security issues, said: "The view was that Manning was in such a fragile state that he may offer something on Assange. But one can turn this around in a courtroom by pointing out that he may say things to placate the authorities in order to get better treatment out of desperation."
"One can also say that if he has indeed been psychologically damaged then just how credible is his evidence."
But Mr Feldman added: "Would Eric Holder let the matter go easily? No. If he does, people like Sarah Palin will tear him to shreds."
"An online petition on behalf of Pfc Manning gathered more than 30,000 signatures in two days with his supporters claiming that attempts to find any evidence that he directly supplied material to WikiLeaks have failed. They claim that he remains incarcerated because the US Justice Department fears the wrath of the Republican Right if he is freed."
So the US Justice Dept is not independent it seems, but subject to outside influences. Well, there goes justice.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Assange to go before the British Court today
In a few short hours a British court will begin a two day hearing on a Swedish request to extradite Julian Assange, WikiLeaks founder, to face accusations of sex crimes.
The two-day extradition hearing will begin Monday at the high-security Belmarsh Magistrates' Court in southeast London.
If Judge Howard Riddle is satisfied Assange is wanted for the alleged crimes in question, that extradition would not breach his human rights and there are no other legal bars, then the court will order his extradition. Assange would then have seven days to appeal., the appeal process at London's High Court will need to commence within 40 days, although the court can extend this period in the "interests of justice." If it so wishes.
If the High Court upholds the extradition decision, a further appeal can still be made to Britain's Supreme Court, the highest judicial body in the land, but it only be done on a point of law considered to be of general public interest. Something which Assange’s legal team will doubtless have ready up their sleeve should it be needed. However, the Supreme Court ruling would be the end of the process.
If at any stage in the process the extradition is confirmed and there is no outstanding appeal, somewhat unlikely I would say, then Assange must be extradited within 10 days.
The two-day extradition hearing will begin Monday at the high-security Belmarsh Magistrates' Court in southeast London.
If Judge Howard Riddle is satisfied Assange is wanted for the alleged crimes in question, that extradition would not breach his human rights and there are no other legal bars, then the court will order his extradition. Assange would then have seven days to appeal., the appeal process at London's High Court will need to commence within 40 days, although the court can extend this period in the "interests of justice." If it so wishes.
If the High Court upholds the extradition decision, a further appeal can still be made to Britain's Supreme Court, the highest judicial body in the land, but it only be done on a point of law considered to be of general public interest. Something which Assange’s legal team will doubtless have ready up their sleeve should it be needed. However, the Supreme Court ruling would be the end of the process.
If at any stage in the process the extradition is confirmed and there is no outstanding appeal, somewhat unlikely I would say, then Assange must be extradited within 10 days.
Friday, February 4, 2011
'Our time has come' Assange tells Melbourne Rally
The city that Wikileaks was born in held a rally of over 1000 people last night at 6pm. The venue, the BMW Edge auditorium in Federation Square was so full that masses of people had to stand out i the rain and were content to do so in order to watch the speakers, including Julian Assange, on the giant screen.WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said the era of the internet generation has arrived and that he will continue to expose "abusive organisations".
Speaking in a recorded message to a public meeting in Melbourne of over 1000 people, on Friday, Mr Assange said he can't wait to be back in his home town and called on Australians concerned about his plight to take action.
He compared WikiLeaks' push for more transparent governance to the civil rights movement of the 1950s, the peace movement of the 1960s, feminism movements and the environmental movement.
"For the internet generation this is our challenge and this is our time," Mr Assange said.
"We support a cause that is no more radical a proposition than that the citizenry has a right to scrutinise the state.
"The state has asserted its authority by surveilling, monitoring and regimenting all of us, all the while hiding behind cloaks of security and opaqueness," Mr Assange told the free speech rally.
"Surely it was only a matter of time before citizens pushed back and we asserted our rights," he said.
Mr Assange has been living in a mansion in England owned by a WikiLeaks supporter while he awaits an extradition hearing to decide if he will be sent to Sweden to face rape charges.
The full hearing is due to begin on Monday, and in his video address Mr Assange appeared calm next to a window overlooking a meadow as he read a prepared statement.
He continued. "With your help and support we will make our way through this storm and continue to publish and hold powerful and abusive organisations to account."
There have been numerous calls for him to be assassinated, including one from Tom Flanagan, a former adviser to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and from rightwing commentators on America's Fox News.
Assange called on Australians to insist that attacks against his staff and organisation stop, that the federal government "come clean" on its interactions with foreign powers in relation to WikiLeaks, and that he be allowed to return home.
"We have been deeply moved by the concern that Australians have shown for us, but I ask that you turn your concern into action," he said.
He said that through its silence, the Australian government has condoned calls to have him and his staff killed.
Video of Julian Assange giving his message Julian Assange.
other speakers included:
Speakers include:
Jennifer Robinson - Assange's UK lawyer live by London videolink
Adam Bandt - Federal MP for Melbourne
Peter Gordon - Principal of Gordon Legal
Lizzie O'Shea - Melbourne public interest solicitor
Christopher Warren - Federal Secretary of Media, Entertainment & Arts
Alliance
The event was sponsored by the:
Law Institute Victoria, Liberty Victoria, Australian Lawyers for Human Rights, GetUp, Victorian Trades Hall Council, Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance and Future Leaders
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Melbourne Uni Post office to Stay Open
The Melbourne University Post Office, where the WikiLeaks Post office Box is, has had a last minute reprieve. It had been earmarked for closure in December last year (2010) but the Melbourne University agreed to extend Australia Post's lease on the current post office site after some opressure was applied by various bodies including the Post office Union.The Post Office Union, Staff union and students and the local Federal Member, Adam Bandt as well as the Vice Chancellor all assisted with the union campaign to keep the post office open.
The Post office union will be lobbying for the university to provide an alternative site after the current building (The Archetecture Building) is pulled down.
The address for Wikileaks Post Box Number to which you can post donations using good old fashion postal mail is:
WikiLeaks (or any suitable name likely to avoid interception in your country)
BOX 4080
Australia Post Office - University of Melbourne Branch
Victoria 3052
Australia
Thursday, January 27, 2011
OpenLeaks gone live!
Openleaks, the rival site to wikileaks started up by one time Assange friend and comrade Daniel Domschelt-Berg aka. Daniel Schmitt, has now gone live.
You can see it at openleaks.
Openleaks is run by two members currently, Daniel Domscheit-Berg and Herbert Snorrason, both no stranger to controversy as both worked closely with Assange at wikileaks intil they left citing disagreements with the direction wikileaks was taking.
The site is very much at a just open shop stage and very basic at the moment. Just an explaination of who and what they are, what they do and how they will operate. Contact details are provided. PayPal gained no fans by closing off the wikileaks account and shutting out of circulation the funds donated by many people, (I wonder what they are doing with the money? making some interest no doubt).
Openleaks, instead, offer alternative payment options for donations to Paypal and prior services. These are Flattr, Paysafe, UKash and Webmoney. A once bitten twice shy policy.
Of course there are no juicy tit bits of news or leaks as yet. Given the issues Wikileaks has had with some media outlets there is a potential opportunity to latch onto these and replace wikileaks as the 'preferred' supplier of exposes.
Which brings to mind the question. How many more '****leaks' style websites are going to spring up in the coming year?
Perhaps we will see, "exposedleaks.com" and 'transparentleaks.com' and many more imaginative names.
It is certain that governmental hiding of crimes from their populace is very much yesteryear. Transparancy is the name of the game now. this means more honestly and culpability by governments is going to become more prevalent. NWO eat your heart out!
Hey here's a new name for you, 'inyourfaceleaks.com'!
You can see it at openleaks.
Openleaks is run by two members currently, Daniel Domscheit-Berg and Herbert Snorrason, both no stranger to controversy as both worked closely with Assange at wikileaks intil they left citing disagreements with the direction wikileaks was taking.
The site is very much at a just open shop stage and very basic at the moment. Just an explaination of who and what they are, what they do and how they will operate. Contact details are provided. PayPal gained no fans by closing off the wikileaks account and shutting out of circulation the funds donated by many people, (I wonder what they are doing with the money? making some interest no doubt).
Openleaks, instead, offer alternative payment options for donations to Paypal and prior services. These are Flattr, Paysafe, UKash and Webmoney. A once bitten twice shy policy.
Of course there are no juicy tit bits of news or leaks as yet. Given the issues Wikileaks has had with some media outlets there is a potential opportunity to latch onto these and replace wikileaks as the 'preferred' supplier of exposes.
Which brings to mind the question. How many more '****leaks' style websites are going to spring up in the coming year?
Perhaps we will see, "exposedleaks.com" and 'transparentleaks.com' and many more imaginative names.
It is certain that governmental hiding of crimes from their populace is very much yesteryear. Transparancy is the name of the game now. this means more honestly and culpability by governments is going to become more prevalent. NWO eat your heart out!
Hey here's a new name for you, 'inyourfaceleaks.com'!
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