Wikileaks founder Julian Assange clarified some things in Jesselyn Radack's Daily Kos diary today* about how Wikileaks may be the only option left for employees who see waste, fraud, abuse or illegality in the national security realm. It is encouraging to learn that Wikileaks is safer than many of us thought. Thank you Mr. Assange.
*The original diary has been deleted, but was cross-posted and is available on the Government Accountability Project's blog along with Mr. Assange's full comment.
Ms. Radack had argued:
Wikileaks may be the only option left for employees who see waste, fraud, abuse or illegality in the national security realm. This is certainly not ideal, as Wikileaks lacks the fact-checking and at-least-pretense-of-balance of journalism.
In Mr. Assange's own words:
This idea is spin by those connected to the abuses we have revealed, however, it is simply not true.
- There has never been a documented case of WikiLeaks misattributing a document. We have a perfect record over three years of publishing. Compare this record with any other publisher of political materials.
- In the U.S. a lot of the anti-Wikileaks propaganda comes from military apologists attempting to undermine the strength of http://collateralmurder.com/ by attacking its messenger. However, read that website carefully and all statements made in the video itself. You will see that even after other details have come to light, none require corrections. Why? Because we fact-checked--to the degree of sending people to the most dangerous part of Baghdad during election time to do it. Who else has such demanding standards?
- We push the ideal of "scientific journalism"--all primary sources for every article made available. It's our invention because we love fact-checking and want others to check our facts to prove our good work.
- On the balance issue. You're right. We don't believe in "balance"--we believe in accuracy and fairness. That is an important difference and higher standard. The truth is not revealed by balancing the lies of competing powergroups--that is a job for politicians. We, as servants of the historical record, have a higher standard.
The following is Jesselyn Radack’s take on the comment:
I appreciate Mr. Assange's commenting while there is a world-wide manhunt after him for assisting truth-tellers. Earlier today I argued that, in light of the Obama administration going after reporters and sources, Wikileaks is the only avenue left. In the comments I stated that Wikileaks is not ideal because it lacks the fact-checking and at-least-the-pretense-of-balance of journalism. I stand corrected...I can't argue with that, Julian Assange. THANK YOU for what you are doing and for your bravery commenting on GAP's blog.
Ms. Radack’s original also blog stated:
In many cases, like that of Bradley Manning, we end up slamming "leakers" for going to Wikileaks instead of questioning why American soldiers used an Apache helicopter to shoot unarmed Iraqi civilians, journalists, and children, while egging each other on like they were playing Call of Duty.
If the Obama administration so despises disclosures to the media or Wikileaks, giving protections and options to national security whistleblowers should be priority one. In the meantime, it is the government officials who engaged in torture, warrantless wiretapping, and "collateral murder" who have endangered our national security, and not those who exposed the wrongdoing.
For more information see Ms. Radack's recent appearances radio shows focused on Obama's position on "leakers" are available here and here.