Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Update

Here's a rundown of the latest news concerning WikiLeaks:

  • In what some are describing as the first WikiLeaks revolution, the dictator of Tunisia has been overthrown. Diplomatic cables, released by WikiLeaks, described widespread corruption and political oppression in Tunisia which helped spark widespread protests and riots throughout the country. Today's Democracy Now! devoted it's entire show to the Tunisian uprising.
  • Libyan Dictator Moammar Gaddaffi blamed WikiLeaks for the revolt in Tunisia and stated his worry unrest will spread throughout the Arab world. Keep an eye on Egypt, the democracy movement could hit there next.
  • Yesterday a former prominent Swiss banker, turned whistle-blower, turned over to WikiLeaks the banking information of 2,000 of the world's richest individuals and companies. It is alleged the information provided in this leak shows these individuals and companies engaged in tax evasion and other criminal behavior. WikiLeaks will analyze the documents and release the information in a few months.
  • WikiLeaks will be partnering with Novaya Gazeta, a Russian weekly newspaper run by former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. WikiLeaks has stated it has information showing massive corruption being committed by the Russian state. Russia has been cracking down even more in the past few months on the limited press freedom that exists in that country.
  • The Los Angeles Times blasts the "inhumane" and "indefensible" treatment of U.S. soldier Bradley Manning, the person alleged to have leaked the war logs and diplomatic cables to WikiLeaks.  The United Nations is currently investigating the United States for committing torture against Manning.  Glenn Greenwald of Salon.com has more.
  • WikiLeaks has stated it's next "megaleak" will concern a major American bank. It is believed that bank is Bank of America. There is some speculation this leak will show BoA is being kept alive only through accounting tricks and ongoing government subsidies.
  • Thus far WikiLeaks and their media partners have only released roughly 2.3% of the U.S. diplomatic cables.

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