csteele:

Thanks for the link. I found it more than powerful. It scared the living daylights out of me, especially when I did a bit of research on how the author Susan Lindaueris was treated by her own country.
Thank God she was cleared of all charges, but her treatment reads like a Hollywood thriller. Scary stuff! Makes you wonder what will happen to Julian Assange.

I’ve been prowling around youtube watching stuff on the Hay girls torture cabins in the 60’s – 70’s. But came across this Assange discussion with his lawyer and Frost then got hooked on a few more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duh7eSBnVZE

And Julian talking to – err, some chick.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bD5dxkPwibU&feature=related
He mentions the media not being very nice… and they weren’t until recently when I think they got worried about not being able to repeat stuff themselves.

Oh and this crazy woman… does she think America owns the internet?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6JdQWli8jQ&feature=related

I enjoyed this one the most.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0Bc6p1ZjGk&feature=related

Hmm... US vs Canada
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgJDQN-NoGE&feature=related

This guy was interesting. Saying the US state department is suffering from political autism, loved it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQKZzzVzYSE&feature=related

Last bit of news I read…
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad-application/charges-baseless-says-assange-lawyer/story-fn6bfm6w-1225969774567
“Bjrn Hurtig, who is representing Assange in Sweden, said the documents, which form part of the official Swedish investigation, revealed two women had lied about being coerced into having sex with Mr Assange, 39.”

Wikileaks will not change a thing ... other, than perhaps, officialdom in its various manifestations, being more reticent in reports.

Most thoughtful people will not be surprised at the revelations ... hardly world-shattering.

Those of the left will see only that their beliefs about the US are vindicated; those of the middle, pragmatists, will not move from their position; those of the right will believe that the west has acted rightly. These leaks will only serve to confirm what various goups already believe.

Governments have shown outrage. This would be the expected, official line.

What change is going to occur? How will it manifest itself? Governments are hardly likely to be toppled. People will be cautious of what is told to them by politicians, or spread in the media. This is hardly new.

Without comparable leaks from other governments, including those of China, the Middle East, Russia, etc. Wikileaks presents only half of the equation (and not even half, as operative security information remains secret). To obain any sort of balanced view of international conduct and interests, requires much more than Wikileaks has provided; nor is able to provide.

Whilst Assange is being lauded as 'Christ-like,' what is the opinion of Bradley Manning, a 21 year old, facing life imprisonment with hard labour. Is he also 'Christ-like' or a criminal? Should people in his position be held accountable for releasing top-secret material?

Should the Official Secrets Act in our country be done away with?

On the subject of whether the dealings of other countries will be aired by Wikileaks, Assange has this to say in Time Magazine:

"Yes, indeed. In fact we believe it is the most closed societies that have the most reform potential. The Chinese case is quite interesting. Aspects of the Chinese government, [the] Chinese Public Security Service, appear to be terrified of free speech, and while one might say that means something awful is happening in the country, I actually think that is a very optimistic sign, because it means that speech can still cause reform. Journalism and writing are capable of achieving change, and that is why Chinese authorities are so scared of it. Whereas in the U.S., to a large degree, and in other Western countries, the basic elements of society have been so heavily fiscalised through contractual obligations that political change doesn't seem to result in economic change. In other words, political change doesn't result in change."

After looking at all the wonderful links and wonderful information you have all provided,
I have come to the conclusion the Julian Assange is indeed a true Aussie hero.

I got it right for once. And thanks to any whistle blower that exposes things that are just plain wrong. Through truth we empower ourselves!. Great isn't it.

This is a pivotal moment in history and I'm truly excited about it.

It great to know that most of us (even just here on OLO) support freedom of expression.

Poirot,

Assange's comments are true. But hasn't this been all self-evident?

Dissidents exist in China, like imprisoned Liu Xiaobo, a current Nobel Peace Prize winner. Possibly others unknown to us have been executed. Is Wikileaks going to be a catalyst for greater free speech, quicker change? Hardly. China has muzzled Wikileaks. Change will take time, and can only occur from within.

The West. As for political change not resulting in real economic change? We are only too well aware of this.