Julian Assange Reddit AMA: WikiLeaks Founder Has No Regrets, Says Internet Offers Opportunities to Act Globally
For WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, the most important information he publicly leaked is the ongoing "Public Library of U.S. Diplomacy" (PLUSD) series, which he believes had the "most impact" in court cases and elections.
Assange made the revelation during a Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA) session on Thursday. Answering dozens of questions, he also disclosed the leaks "closest to his heart" are the Collateral Murder information and the military histories of almost every death and incident from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.
The Collateral Murder leak is the story about the deaths of two Reuters news staffers — Saeed Chmagh and Namir Noor-Eldeen — who were killed with more than a dozen people in New Baghdad, an Iraqi suburb, by two Apache helicopters using 30mm cannon fire on July 12, 2007. The U.S. military claimed the dead were "anti-Iraqi forces" or "insurgents," but when Reuters demanded footage of the attack to be disclosed through the Freedom of Information Act, the U.S. military launched an investigation and concluded the American soldiers acted in accordance with the law of armed conflict and their own "Rule of Engagement." WikiLeaks obtained the video footage from military whistleblowers.
WikiLeaks: Collateral Murder (Short Version):
Regarding Edward Snowden, Assange said the former National Security Agency contractor's actions constituted an "intelligent and heroic act." Assange noted he's a trustee for Snowden's legal defense and helped coordinate his asylum.
There are no regrets for Assange. Responding whether he'd do everything again, Assange said, "Definitely."
"It is clear that history is on our side. Most of our difficult decisions are constrained by resource limits, not ideas. But I was ignorant about the extent of Sweden's geopolitical reliance with the United States and to some extent the structure of U.K. society."
Assange also stated there's no piece of information he regrets leaking: "We make a promise to our sources. We keep it."
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According to the WikiLeaks publisher, people might "feel small" when recognizing the "inhumanity and stupidity" of the world. For citizens that want to make an impact, Assange said it can be hard to follow the "think globally, act locally" mantra because of overwhelming problems, but the Internet has provided an avenue for people to act globally "in a way they couldn't before."
"What can ordinary people do? Support and promote projects that are acting at scale. WikiLeaks is my realization of this tension, but there are a flood of others starting. The clash between diversity and global uniformity, which has been created by wiring the world to itself is now in play," Assange said. "You are the troops."
When asked about India's new Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Assange said it's an "interesting development" for India's democracy. The WikiLeaks publisher said his website has already released documents regarding Modi's ascent to power.
"From these materials, it's clear Modi can be most accurately described as a 'business authoritarian.' Whether [India] needs a stronger centre to compete with China is an open question," Assange said. "Inevitably strong leaders make mistakes and eventually lose their faculties. Other than his extensive big business alliances, I think it is an open question as to whether Modi will bring more good than bad to India."
The question about India's new prime minister was popular likely because Indian visitors are the second largest traffic contributor to Reddit — 10.4 percent — to the United States' 47.1 percent.
Assange has been living in the United Kingdom's Ecuadorian Embassy since 2012 but says has yet to encounter boredom. As a result of living in one of the most populated cities in Europe, Assange stated people visit him every day and he continues to manage WikiLeaks.
"I barely have time to sleep, let alone become bored," he said.
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