08/21/12

WikiLeaks has been financially blockaded without process for 628 days.
Julian Assange has been detained without charge for 624 days. 
 - 64 days at the Ecuadorian Embassy.

Bradley Manning has been in jail without trial for 821 days.  
A secret Grand Jury on WikiLeaks has been active for 707 days.

WikiLeaks News:

• Cubic is continuing its campaign to distance itself from TrapWire, after connections between it and the mass surveillance system were revealed in WikiLeaks' GI Files.
• U.S. Congress candidate David Seaman and Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam were on Sunrise on 7 discussing TrapWire.
• Glenn Greenwald wrote on U.S. drone strikes targeting rescuers in Pakistan, drawing comparison to WikiLeaks' "Collateral Murder", where a van attempting to rescue a victim is fired upon.
• Truthout is asking people to help WikiLeaks liberate the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiating text by adding to the crowd-sourced award organised by Just Foreign Policy. 
• Kevin Gosztola and Mark Weisbrot appeared on RT's The Big Picture to discuss the war on whistleblowers, and how the struggle is bigger than WikiLeaks and Julian Assange.
• Forbes published an article, "In Praise of Whistleblowers", which discusses the courage and importance of whistleblowing, and how those who hate whistleblowers hate their own cowardice and hypocrisy.
• Government whistleblowers Jesselyn Radack and Thomas Drake were on Talk Nation Radio discussing their experiences and the worsening of secrecy and persecution of whistleblowers in the U.S.
• A double-vigil will be held on August 25 in London, first the the U.S. Embassy calling for the freedom of Bradley Manning, then on to the Ecuadorian Embassy to stand for Julian Assange.

Julian Assange News:

• An Op-Ed in The Guardian tells people not to lose sight of why the U.S. is after Julian Assange - for the publication of classified information through WikiLeaks.
• The Washington Post renewed its suggestion that the U.S. diminishes trade relations with Ecuador in retaliation for the country granting Julian Assange asylum. 
• Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa stated that if the UK were to storm the Embassy and arrest Julian Assange it would be "diplomatic suicide". 
• An article in Fria Tider explains how it is increasingly clear that Sweden will not question Julian Assange as a matter of prestige, rather than law.
• Al Jazeera's Inside Story discussed "What's next for Julian Assange?" with guests Khawar Qureshi QC, Douglas Murray, and Anthony Timmons. 
• Filmmakers Michael Moore and Oliver Stone wrote an Op-Ed in The New York Times detailing their support for WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, his asylum, and the threat of U.S. prosecution.
• El Telegrafo interviewed Noam Chomsky about Julian Assange and his asylum situation. Mr Chomsky commented that "any decent country should grant asylum to Julian Assange", that Sweden could question Mr Assange in the UK, and that extradition to Sweden is a step on the way to the U.S.
• Jesselyn Radack wrote about Julian Assange's speech and his call to end the war on whistleblowers, mentioning three of Ms Radack's whistleblower clients: Thomas Drake, William Binney, and John Kiriakou.
• John Pilger's statement in support of Julian Assange, which was read in front of the Ecuadorian Embassy on Sunday, is now available.
• Glenn Greenwald wrote on the hypocrisy of those criticising Ecuador's press freedom record, and how nationalists are promoting their own agendas by masquerading as rights activists.
• Protesters gathered outside the British Consulate in New York to voice their support for Julian Assange, and their opposition to the UK's handling of his case.
• Hundreds in Ecuador rallied in support of Julian Assange on Monday.

Bradley Manning News:

• An article in CNN discusses how Bradley Manning is still fighting through the many supporters who are out campaigning for his freedom.
• Nathan Fuller of the Bradley Manning Support Network wrote on the growing number of cases in the U.S. military where murders are let free, while Bradley Manning is being punished.
• The Bradley Manning Support Network issued a news update for August 21 which covers an upcoming talk by Chase Madar in Cape Cod, Veterans for Peace UK action, and a video from the Portland occupation of the Obama campaign office.