Wikileaks Founder Has Massacre Video

[kpete]

Source: the Daily Beast

Wikileaks Founder Has Massacre Video

by Philip Shenon Info
Philip Shenon


BS Top - Shenon Wikileaks Part 2 Julian Assange, whom Pentagon investigators fear may soon release State Dept. secrets, denies having them—but says he’s readying video of a deadly U.S. airstrike in Afghanistan.

After several days underground, the founder of the secretive website Wikileaks has gone public to disclose that he is preparing to release a classified Pentagon video of a U.S. airstrike in Afghanistan last year that left as many as 140 civilians dead, most of them children and teenagers.

In an email obtained by The Daily Beast that was sent to Wikileaks supporters in the United States Tuesday, Julian Assange, the website’s Australian-born founder, also defends a 22-year-old Army intelligence specialist who is now under arrest in Kuwait on charges that he leaked classified Pentagon combat videos, as well as 260,000 State Department cables, to Wikileaks.

“Mr. Manning allegedly also sent us 260,000 classified US Department cables, reporting on the actions of US Embassy’s engaging in abusive actions all over the world,” Assange said in an email. “We have denied the allegation, but the US government is acting as if the allegation is true.”



Read more: http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-06-15/wikileaks-founder-has-garani-massacre-video-according-to-new-email/?cid=hp:mainpromo1

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. Keep moving...

[awnobles]

18. "Serpentine"

is the best advice.

[GarColga]

62. Serpentine!

I love that movie I watch it every year or so.

"Serpentine Shelly. Serpentine! "

[EFerrari]

2. K&R

[Hell Hath No Fury]

3. Wow -

That man is fearless.

[FedUpWithIt All]

4. We have to be vigilant regarding Mr. Manning's well being.

People who do the right thing regarding human rights need to be protected. This man is a hero if he has tried to uncover the abuse and murder of innocents.

[annm4peace]

66. Agree, agree, agree!

I hope others are able to protect him.

[superconnected]

5. Glad he's still alive. Good luck Julian!

[Catherina]

6. God be with you. Stay safe Julian! n/t

[SlipperySlope]

7. The he should just stop talking and release it.

We don't need it edited, subcaptioned, framed, or analyzed. Just release the frigging thing and be done with it.

[pleah]

95. +1000

[glinda]

8. What good right now does this do? Am for transparency but

am not sure that a video showing a strike on civilians wouldn't do more harm than good. If intentional to kill and mame civilians is one thing. If incompetence is something else but still these are important.
Will this end the wars or fuel them? Could fuel them. Bottom line though is we have to own our actions. That is if we know our actions.
My step-son is in Iraq and I want the wars/invasions stopped. But it is a complicated situation that we have been netted into by Bush and cronies over years and our dependance on oil, religious BS and the insane idea that we are "the greatest Country".
I have concerns right now about the intention and timing of the release of secret info. Anger can push me towards defending release but my mind tells me we are in complicated times.
One thing for sure is that I do not want Obama to be more hurt by this. We need more progressives not for the Repubs to get power again.

[Gman]

9. Agreed... is this video something we already know about but from a different angle?

The Pentagon will always deny culpability. It's always "Who you gonna believe? Me or your lying eyes?"

[PSPS]

11. Yes, we must be sure to hide any evidence of US wrongdoing because, well, "it's complicated."

[glinda]

37. Actually... it is complicated. Especially given the stupidity of MSM reporting.

[Octafish]

78. Children and teenagers are complicated.

Imagine having to deal with 140 of them.

[superconnected]

12. If he releases the things they're afraid he will, then they don't have much reason to

stop or kill him since what they were trying to keep away from the public will be already out there.

[LiberalArkie]

15. He will be dealt with, if only for revenge.. We are a very vengeful people

[KansDem]

32. Do you envision, by chance, a "suicide" in an Arkansas motel?

Democracy Now!

[GreenPartyVoter]

13. Is this video footage of something that happened under Obama's watch or Bush's?

[superconnected]

14. Bush's. It's the worst Afghanistan massacre of civilians that the US did since invading Afghanistan

in 2001.

[SnakeEyes]

28. Did you read the article?

"release a classified Pentagon video of a U.S. airstrike in Afghanistan last year that left as many as 140 civilians dead"

[superconnected]

48. Correct, it's Obama's not Bush's.

[Enthusiast]

91. Somehow, it could

still be Obama's fault.

[ooglymoogly]

49. If this was leaked under fear of death

Who knows what has successfully been covered up. These pilots were cold blooded killers, My bet is it isn't the first time they have killed innocents.

[AtheistCrusader]

17. This would be Bush.

IIRC

[SnakeEyes]

29. Article says last year.

[AtheistCrusader]

34. Well, it's a different incident then, if that's the time of the airstrike.

I don't recall one like this under Obama's watch.

[Drops_not_Dope]

60. That's the reason they

call it classified.

Unless of course you want to believe the whole transparency thing.

[kas125]

23. Why does it matter? Killing civilians is wrong no matter

who is the president, so why does it matter to you?

[GreenPartyVoter]

I was replying to someone who was concerned about this thing hurting Obama. Since it

happened under Bush then why should she worry? (And if it was under Obama, he needs to own it anyway, right?)

[SnakeEyes]

30. Last year, according to the article

Time to hold Obama accountable. These war crimes are on him now.

[CoffeeCat]

79. I don't think Obama is running this war...

I think the the PNACy crowed took over when Bush got in office.
They were arrogant enough, to put up a website and announce that
they intended to dominate the world through military might--and
Iraq was their foothold in the Middle East.

No way in hell they were giving that up, just because a Democrat
was elected President. Obama was TOLD what his Middle East policy
would be and that he would have a strong presence in Afghanistan.

All of the things there are done without the President. I'm convinced
of it. The neocons are running the whole damn thing and Cheney
rears his pasty head when anyone (including Obama) hints at the slighest
sign of backing out or undoing all of that fine, fine progress the neocons
have made so far.

Next stop...Iran.

[dflprincess]

70. Even if it did happen under Bush

if Obama knows about it and no one is prosecuted for war crimes then he & his administration are complicit and just as guilty.

[GreenPartyVoter]

72. Agreed.

[L. Coyote]

92. Wrong? I believe it is a WAR CRIME!

Why isn't this being investigated as a war crime? Are they pleading accident or stupidity?

[eternalflame]

16. While this may be a "secret" here....

the truth of the matter is that for those people living in afghastian and the ME, incidents like are well known. My guess is that the purpose of releasing these videos is to get the American people to take action against the war, and of course to hold those responsible for the crimes accountable. But of course, the latter rarely happens and the people are never heard.
As Chomsky wrote in his new book, the only one that can enforce international law on a powerful state is its domestic population. These videos are essentially directed at the American people.

[tsuki]

35. I remember how this picture fueled the anti-war movement.

But that was when the American people had empathy.

[glinda]

36. The people that have the largest mouths right now are Tea-baggers.

[Raksha]

99. It's only because the teabaggers are allowed to have the largest mouths by the media.

But there are still more of us (decent human beings--I won't even say liberals) than there are of them.

[avaistheone1]

43. Empathy?

That is so yesterday.

[Pavulon]

55. There is a very interesting story

behind that picture, the dead man, the shooter, and the photographer.

[Scruffy1]

88. They had empathy but the war kept going

The general in the picture later ran a pizza shop in Virginia.

[Scuba]

89. That was when we had a real draft.

Not the 'poverty draft' in place today.

[liberation]

96. As usual with America, we always long for a country which we never were...

... the photographer who took that picture, later on admitted that he hated the effect it had in casting the VietNam war in a negative way. He was advising the media to be more "vigilant" in regards of what negative light they may cast on the "war on terror" as to not repeat his "mistake." Reading about the photographer say that a few years ago, sort of gave me a sick feeling in my stomach that we had entered collectively into a weird "twilight zone" episode.

Empathy it seems is not in our genetic make up as a society, because even when it happens, it seems it does so as a side effect not an actual objective.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

100. Now we can use this image...

[EFerrari]

19. This information is only "secret" to the American public.

You can be sure the families and friends and communities of the dead people already know about it.

[mbperrin]

39. Yes! My taxpayer dollars and my name are being used for massacres

of people so that the "right" people make money. Not complicated at all, and as you say, we're the only ones who don't know.

Release the video. I paid for it, and I deserve to see what my money and my name are being used for.

[hootinholler]

69. Well said. n/t

[sendero]

51. Exactly..

... and they are not going to forget.

[awnobles]

21. The Image is the symbol

that moves poeple's souls. By keeping the images hidden we are deprived of the very impetus for outrage, blame and correction of the problem. This is simple pr damage control. Don't be a divide and conquer, be an accept and improve.

[defendandprotect]

31. We are all concerned with everyone's children serving in these faked wars ....

for oil and heroin and real estate and natural resources --

The most important issue is to bring our own government to justice and to STOP

these perpetual wars for profit!

We are now into 3 1/2 years of Democrats re-funding these wars -- after Pelosi made

clear -- see video - that "Dems were elected to end the war" -- !!

[liberation]

38. Ah, here comes the "I am not racist but those damned nig..." self contradicting post

Yeah, the real "victim" in all this is Mr. Obama's public image. Those Iraqis with the bullet holes have it soooo easy!


LOL


Orwell had it right when he coined "doublethink"

[choie]

40. The reason to release these videos

is to compel the Obama administration and, perhaps, congress to force Bush et al to answer for their crimes. The only way it would harm Obama is if he continues to do nothing against these war criminals.

[flyarm]

73. oh please..I have a big brown bag of dried powder for you..compliments of Nancy Pelosi! eom

[choie]

90. what does that even mean?

n/t

[Moochy]

94. Around here during 2004 and 2006 primaries

when anti-war activists urged the house democrats to oppose escalating both wars, we were repeatedly told that its important to "keep the powder dry" which is a reference to holding fire in the time of muskets. Essentially being told that we would need to save our gun powder for when we needed it... which was never.

[glinda]

76. If he has things that would bring Bush/Cheney to face justice I am for it.

[readmoreoften]

53. The situation is complicated because we continue to make it complicated through

idiotic policy and even more idiotic covert actions. As a supporter of war resisters and troops who are trying to get the truth to the American public, I'm not too worried about "Obama's reputation" because Obama hasn't done anything for them to begin with. What's the point of having a so-called progressive president if he expands operations into Pakistan and Yemen, and expands Bagram airfield? Not to mention our completely insane covert alliances with the Sons of Saddam.

Not a single anti-war active duty troop or vet I work with has any hope or illusions about Obama. Neither does IVAW or any other vet group. Obama has expanded this war. There is precious little difference in how he runs this war than how a Republican would run it. Bush racheted up rhetoric against Iran. Obama/Clinton rachet up rhetoric against Iran.

What stopped the war in Vietnam was not a Democrat. It was war resisters emboldened by a draft and a strong anti-war movement.

[pundaint]

64. Maybe it might get enough of us to call congress to stop it.

As for Obama being hurt, all he has to do is end the wars, if he wont, he deserves to be hurt by what he is doing against humanity.

[TheMadMonk]

77. Use Napoleon's solution. Keep shooting generals until the rest get the idea. nt

[Soylent Brice]

10. K&R

[Javaman]

20. Does the truth still set people free?

I sincerely hope so.

[katty]

46. great ? - me too, hope so.....

[Dystopian]

22. KandR

peace~

[David__77]

24. I hope it fully captures the suffering of those slaughtered.

The occupation is a crime and the blood debts keep piling up.

[kgnu_fan]

25. Be safe

[SpiralHawk]

26. George AWOL Bush & the republicrony torture freaks gonna get some justice?

We shall see.

[Iggo]

27. Release everything you got, Julian.

These guys ain't fucking around.

[JDPriestly]

33. This explains why Petraeus fainted at yesterday's congressional hearing.

Is he now on medication? He and other commanders will be held responsible for this, won't they?

[avaistheone1]

44. I wouldn't be surprised.

There are few coincidences.

[elehhhhna]

he conked oiut b/c weezer McCain was blabbering on endlesssly.

[yellowwood]

41. Article about Assange in "Atlantic"

There is an article about him in this month's Atlantic Magazne. Very unique guy.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

42. If nothing came of the Afghan massacre videos... and nothing came

of this.... nothing will ever come from any of our wrong doing wherever it may occur.

[greiner3]

45. Which is why the latest release;

1 trilion in Afghanistan minerals?

[McCamy Taylor]

47. The truth will set you free.

[Socal31]

50. Are these civilian deaths that we are denying?

Or is he hoping a video of it will somehow make it "real" to average citizens?

[David__77]

52. Are his "hopes" relevant?

Isn't it information that we should have, and we can draw our own conclusions upon investigation?

[Pavulon]

54. Sounds like a dead man talking. Not for the video

in reality no one really cares. 3 day news cycle item. The cables will mark him for death from every nation who was communicating in secret with the US. Egypt, Jordan, Israel, and the rest will bury him.

If I were him I would find an embassy soon.

[tekisui]

56. knr!

[Joanne98]

57. He's denying having the State Department cables?

[Better Believe It]

58. K & R

[SILVER__FOX52]

59. God bless you. Please stay safe..........

What you are doing, is RIGHT !! Please protect yourself.

[GeorgeGist]

61. Do I sense Brash Expectations ...

running for cover?

[Capitalocracy]

63. Fighting Assange isn't a war on terrorism, it's a war on dissent and transparency.

And the policy some people have been saying they may exercise on Assange, extrajudicial execution, is completely illegal, and the justification for having it is fighting terrorism. Using a false justification for a violent act is clandestine warfare... the trademark of some of the worst dictatorships. But then again, we put some of those dictatorships in place, so should we be surprised?

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[WillYourVoteBCounted]

65. when the victims of war are seen on TV, newspapers. THEN the war will end

but MSM seems to want to censor.

And there are still alot of people who depend on or trust tv or deadtree.

[earcandle]

68. we don't need msn we have youtube.com... bring it on. Not that I will watch. It hurts me too much

[New Dawn]

67. Kick for truth.

[lovuian]

71. We are Oppressors in the Wars in Iran and Afghanistan

we are there for the resources

We are like Germany when they gobbled up one country after another

[Shining Jack]

74. Julian Assange ? Yeah,right, whatever.

Release the freaking video(s) dammit,I've been hearing about this for a while and I'm beginning to think that this is a big pile of BS.

[liberation]

85. Gotta love Americans....

... too lazy to even investigate the crimes committed in their name even after 7+ years of war, yet entitled to the upmost urgency from those foreigners actually doing a damn about it.


We make the "good Germans" look down right radical in comparison.

[MrMickeysMom]

75. HURRY... before there's no more internets.

KnR

[tavalon]

80. He needs to release this now

It needs to go viral. If it takes down the Bush/Cheney Presidency so be it.

[democrat2thecore]

81. Julian is a HERO! -nt

[liberation]

82. Australia is part of the US now?

[democrat2thecore]

83. Duh.

[liberation]

86. :-)

[derby378]

93. Well, if they were...

...at least they wouldn't be saddled with ridiculous gun laws anymore. :eyes:

[Arrowhead2k1]

84. What's the point of sitting on stuff so long? Just release it already! nt

[liberation]

87. I believe it is done in order to gather media attention, and increase exposure

If it were released without any major media outlet picking on it, the leak would most likely be buried. When you are messing with such fucked up interests as the American intelligence agencies, your best life insurance is to make yourself as visible as possible.


Same thing happened when they released the previous footage. They build up the audience, in order to maximize exposure. A lot of people were doubting they had anything then, and after the video was released... almost none of those people were honest enough to take back all the wild accusations they were making against wikileaks.

[24601]

97. Go ahead and kill this "enemy of he state" but for God's sake,

don't date intercept his communications - after all we don't want to get in trouble.:sarcasm:

[Deadgnome]

98. That airstrike was not an "error" or an "oops."

This is indicative of the tactics this country, as well as much of the Western World has engaged in for centuries in the Middle East. And what is that you ask? It is to eradicate the middle generation of Muslims so the West can do what they wish with minimal aggression and responsive force from the populations we wish to control. This is disgusting, this is sick, but it is the reality of what our Government and many other have ambitions for. Scary thing is, this is a video that is a needle in the haystack of the atrocities we've committed there.