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WIKILEAKS FOUNDER JULIAN Assange first outlined the hypothesis nearly a decade ago: Can total transparency defeat an entrenched group of insiders?
“Consider what would happen,” Assange wrote in 2006, if one of America’s two major parties had their emails, faxes, campaign briefings, internal polls and donor data all exposed to public scrutiny.
“They would immediately fall into an organisational stupor,” he predicted, “and lose to the other.”
A decade later, various organs of the Democratic Party have been hacked; several staffers have resigned and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has seen the inner workings of her campaign exposed to the public, including disclosures calling into question her positions on trade and Wall Street and her relationship with the party’s left.
Many of these emails have been released into the public domain by WikiLeaks.
Some see the leaks as a sign that Assange has thrown his lot in with Republican rival Donald Trump or even with Russia. But others who’ve followed Assange over the years say he’s less interested in who wins high office than in exposing – and wearing down – the gears of political power that grind away behind the scenes.
“He tends not to think about people, he thinks about systems,” said Finn Brunton, an assistant professor at New York University who has tracked WikiLeaks for years.
What he wants to do is interfere with the machinery of government regardless of who is in charge.
Conspiracy as Governance
WikiLeaks’ mission was foreshadowed 10 years ago in Conspiracy as Governance a six-page essay Assange posted to his now-defunct blog.
In the essay, Assange described authoritarian governments, corporations, terrorist organisations and political parties as “conspiracies” – groups that hoard secret information to win a competitive advantage over the general public.
Leaks cut these groups open like a double-edged knife, empowering the public with privileged information while spreading confusion among the conspirators themselves, he said.
If leaking were made easy, Assange argued, conspiratorial organisations would be gripped by paranoia, leaving transparent groups to flourish.
When the group published 250,000 US State Department cables in 2010, it helped launch a multi-million dollar quest to unmask insider threats at home while causing problems for US diplomats overseas.
The recent leaks have affected the Democratic National Committee in much the same way, with staffers advised to use caution when communicating about sensitive topics.
Clinton supporters say Assange is targeting her out of partisan bias. US intelligence officials believe Russia is behind the hacks to interfere in the US election.
“Wouldn’t it be good reading to see internal discussions (about) Trump’s taxes?” Clinton Press Secretary Brian Fallon tweeted recently.
Wikileaks isn’t targeting Trump. That tells you something.
Picking sides
It’s possible that malicious sources are using WikiLeaks for their own ends, said Lisa Lynch, an associate professor at Drew University who has also followed Assange’s career.
But she noted that a lifetime far from public service and an aversion to email make Trump a more difficult target.
“If Trump had a political career, he’d be more available for Wikileaking,” she said.
Assange did not return messages seeking comment, but he has described allegations that he’s in the service of the Kremlin as a conspiracy theory and has denied picking sides in the US electoral contest.
He has targeted Republican politicians in the past; in the run-up to the 2008 election his group published the contents of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s inbox. Her reaction at the time anticipated the Democrats’ outrage today.
“What kind of a creep would break into a person’s files, steal them, read them, then give them to the press to broadcast all over the world to influence a presidential campaign?” Palin wrote in her autobiography, Going Rogue.
In fact, Assange has long tried to influence presidential campaigns. In 2007, WikiLeaks published a long-suppressed corruption report ahead of Kenya’s national elections. It unleashed a wave of anger and, Assange often boasts, swung the vote.
In reality, the publication barely played a role in Kenya, according to Nic Cheesman, an associate professor of African politics at Oxford University.
And it’s not clear whether the recent WikiLeaks revelations will fare differently. Clinton has a commanding lead in the polls despite the leaks.
Still, Assange appears game to try. Between the DNC emails and the inbox of Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta’s messages, his organisation has published 46,000 messages from some of the most powerful people in Democratic politics.
More is coming. When one Twitter user noted that WikiLeaks had not published any of Podesta’s emails dating past 21 March, WikiLeaks responded .
“Well spotted,” it said.
Something to look forward to.
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Putin blocked Erogan on Facebook.
Assad “Likes” this
Turkey is “feeling upset”
“Its times like this you sort out the tru frnds frm the pretenders”
Hollande phone call to Putin: what will you have for Christmas dinner? Putin: Turkey
It’s complicated.
America reacted to this
” Turkey shot the jet down , but they weren’t expecting what happened next !!”
I think the Turks have bitten off a lot more than they can chew with this pre meditated strike. That’s nearly 5 million less Russian tourists every year for the Turks to welcome, at least the Greek resorts will see a bump in business. Seeing as the Russians are in Syria with the backing of the government and they have now brought their latest missile system , I take it they can blast any Turkish jet out of the sky that comes into Syrian airspace to target the Kurds.
I can’t see many Europeans going to Turkish resorts next year, why would you want to spend your money in a country that offers support to the Islamist animals in Syria.
Oh yeah the s400 can hit targets at low as 10 feet from gtound level and has a range of 250 miles its the most advanced AA on earth.
Turkey will be only too pleased to apologise…very soon…particularly when Johnnie Turk realises the full scale of Putin’s revenge..
Ciaran..you may be correct in your specs on the S400 but I’ll need to hear it from Jason….
Dobra Vetcher Joachin (good evening! )
If I were a Turkish fighter pilot I wouldn’t be flying anywhere hear the border. I’d say if they even stuck a wingtip out of place they would be staring down a missile in seconds.
You have to remember also that Putin is another skum bag. The Turks are directly providing for 1.5 million Syrian refugees at the moment. Their entitled to have a pain in their ballix at this stage.
Evening Greg….Guten Abend!
Tweed…they’ve got one now!!!
Sanctions is the best he can do. They knew it and he knew it they knew it.
Goedenavond mijnheer Joachine (NL). Good to see ur back providing invaluable commonsense.
They might not have that amount of refugees in Turkey if they didn’t prolong the conflict by supporting their Islamist buddies in Syria.
If I were a Turkish fighter pilot I would be thinking of calling in sick….chronic altitude sickness..didn’t get a wink last night..
You are too kind Greg……I try not to get out of my depth..
Tweed: Putin is a highly respected politician across the Russian Federation. He is extremely hard working and is appreciated for applying common sense to his policies. He is in Russia a fiscal conservative and has made great progress in combatting mafia-ism in Russia at great risk to himself as the Oligarchy has much resources. He is respected. He also supports Ireland by attacking isis and is the only one with a legal mandate to do so.
Ah but ’tis a shallow pool regarding foreign politics en-irelande…monsieur j.
So why is franch & co not bombing turkey then beachmaster? You might explain.
And gregory lol. There has never been a highly respected leader of russia…ever. Funny though
Tweed, technically French bombings in Syria are ILLEGAL. u need either 1) govt permission, or, 2) UN mandate. They have neither.
Gregory, on what do you base your highly respected leadership statement?
Gold, my discussions with Russian people when I was working in Russia, and his popularity rating in Russia. Also, much publicized news in Russia and Eastern Eu (not here) about his fight against corruption and Mafia in Russia at great risk to himself while a lot of those dodgy billionaires who’ve not paid tax flee abroad, often to the Uk.
@Tweed Cap Maybe the West sees Turkey as some sort of buffer zone between Europe and the clusterfcuk that is the Middle East.
My Wexford neigbour is a Russian, as are his mates and his wife, they hate Putin and what he has done to Russia, and came to Ireland to escape his authoritarian, anti democratic regime.
Gold, I guess ur one of those people who kept saying Russia will drive tanks into Kiev last year but never happened. If Putin was a bad guy already Turkey will be hit with a few ballistic missiles in retaliation for shooting down a Russian Army figher jet for no reason. Anyway not everyone likes Putin (or Obama) but his popularity rating in Russia is over 70%.
Lol fair enough Joachin. I remember reading about the s400 a few weeks back. Apparently it can hit anything the size lf a football , going at supersonic speed and reach 14 miles high. I just remember thinking to myself that is some bloody range and height for an AA missile. At out ranges it’s nearest rival the patriot missile defence system by over 6 times the range of the patriot at 43 miles. The Russians effectively control they air over Syria.
Beachmaster the point I’m making is this. Putin didn’t magically wake up one morning and decide to help the west after regretting not getting involved in Iraq. Syria is a gas corridor and a very important one for Russia. He is helping is own interests because he has to. He doesn’t give a fcuk about Turkey, you, me, the West, ISIS or Assad. Don’t be under any illusions that he is any less greedy than the rest of them.
Gregory, Russia had been warned on multiple occasions to stop violating Turkish airspace. Russia IS NOT blameless.
Ciaran..up to about 20 years ago I was the “Jason Culligan”… I kept totally up to speed with then-modern weapon systems,MBT’s,aircraft etc….then I got married.
@,Tweed Cap I agree with you about Putin. Every country involved have their own agendas. I just feel the Turks are a dangerous and untrustworthy ally.
Tweed…he’s a politician,president of a superpower that is extremely patriotic/jingoistic..he has outmanoeuvred ALL the powers that took it on themselves to decide Syria’s future..or lack thereof…the US,NATO,Saudi,Turkey etc.and is now the arbitor projecting Russia’s power into the opportunities presented by Syria and Turkey…he’s turning the downed bomber from a crisis into a coup..he’s installing the S400′s on Turkeys..a NATO member ..border and I’m sure there is no plan to uninstall them..as ciaran says above…they have no equivalent. Hats off to Vlad…give him an inch….
Greg. Putin maybe respected in Russia, but he is nothing more than a common criminal running a mafia state. When he worked for the St Petersburg council he was going to be charged with corruption and theft. The City prosecutor at the time came under severe pressure to drop the charges which he did. But when spoke out about the pressure he came under and was about to give evidence of it he was murdered during a “Street Robbery”. And later when he became President he removed anyone that had opposed him. Death, Prison or exile were the usual options. And those that supported and still support him he made Billionaires. Including himself to a estimated $200 Billion. Romantic Abramovich is a perfect example. He went from selling rubber ducks out of his apartment pre-Putin to muti Billionaire a couple of years after Putin took over. Some stoke of luck ehh.
Ciaran..we in the west are conditioned to regard much about Russia as suspect,substandard,defective,inadequate,poor…while being poorly informed about,for example this S400,at 14 mile ceiling it reaches to the stratosphere! I wonder are erdogans f16 pilots as brave today as they were a week ago as they ambushed a 30 year old bomber?
Joachin. Let’s just as hypothetical say the Russian radar operators in Latakia spot two F16′s flying into Syria from Incirlik airbase and the launch a couple of S400′s at them. And they shoot them down. But it turns out those F16′s weren’t Turkish but US. What does Putin say to the US. Sorry we thought they were Turkish? Do you think the American Public and Congress would accept that?
Good question Mick…I’d like to think that as ultra modern NATO and national defence force aircraft their IFF systems will herald their approach and specify their identity…but..I’m pretty certain both Turkey and America will be a lot less gung ho now that that Russia are secure in NW Syria at Syria’s invitation…I think NATO will avoid anything that could potentially lead to another shoot down..actually I’m pretty certain Obama will shorten erdogans leash.BTW….very effective detail on Putin’s history….
As you know Joachin I have zero time for Islam. But equally I have zero time for Putin and his cronies. What I would love to know is who protected Putin from that early prosecution? Who got him the job in Moscow in the Yeltsin administration? Who put his name forward to become Head of the FSB under Yeltsin. Remember he was only ever (according to his old KGB commander) a mediocre KGB Officer based in East Germany. Not exactly front line stuff. Putin’s propaganda machine has been working overtime for years to promote Putin image both at home and especially abroad. And as we can see on here and other social media sites have been reasonably successful.
Joachin very true but people forget the quality of the ak47 its durability and fantastic design so much so that it’s even used today. No, I doubt Turkish pilots will be stupid enough to go near that border again
Mick..reasonably successful is an understatement…the GDR was an absolute backwater..I know,I was there as a visitor….we agree on Islam…we differ slightly on the Shi’a/Sunni risk posed to the west but you know your Putin history…..look at my recent posts..he’s making capital out of the west’s mediocre approach to Syria AND the shoot down….Turkey is making it easy for him to claim the moral high ground..
Ciaran..did you ever explore the history of the AK? Do..look up Kalashnikov and what it was copied from..stay in touch..
Ciaran. If Turkish Fighters Jets remain inside Turkish airspace Russia would risk Turkey invoking article 5 if Russia were to fire on them. Putin is not that stupid to risk that. Those missiles are more of a Political statement than any real threat. And Russia won’t do anything that would give Turkey cause to close the Bosprus Strait to Russian shipping. They do that then Russia has a major problem. No access to the Med from or the Black Sea and his only warm water port. The Crimean invasion would have been for nothing. Putin will content himself with the economic sanctions imposed against Turkey and talking tough for his domestic audience.
@bingo @gregory… Also warned many times flying nuclear bombers close to CAN/ US airspace.
And mutiple violations of Japanese airspace,etc. Putin is obviously pushing his bully- luck to the limit while candy-ass Obama wimps along in The Whitehouse
—”Russian jets flying perilously close to Japan airspace forced Japanese fighters to take to the skies 533 times over the past six months — a number up from 308 in the same time period a year earlier. Now Japan is trying to figure out why the Russian military jets have made Japan a target.—”’
http://www.inquisitr.com/1548857/russian-jets-invading-japan/
Mick Which Turkey wont do The exact text of Article 5 as found here The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognised by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area. Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall immediately be reported to the Security Council. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security. Notice the Europe and North America line. Turkey geographically is in Asia therefore NATO isn’t obliged to comit forces just as they didn’t during the las malvinas dispute at least thats how it could be interperted. Russia could also cite self defence for hitting any Turkish planes that cross over the border, and it may be considered legal under UN law. Because Turkey has already acted aggressively by shooting down the SU24. Syrian government could also claim Turkish planes are illegally invading their airspace.
If that were the case Turkey would not have been accepted into NATO. But they are a member and as such the other members are obliged to defend it. “Attack one, Attack all”.
“MickJordan” the troll spokesman for the NWO….
Turkey may be a member but article 5 is very clear about Europe and North America. Turkey is in Asia so article 5 technically foes not apply. Besides if NATO even attempted to gang up on Russia, China will join with Russia as they protect each other.
Hello Intrega. I see nurse Rachet let you at the computer again. Are you wearing your nice hat? Those Mind control rays can be dangerous. And keep a close eye out for Lizard People. You know how sneaky they can be.
Joachin – Jason’s postings here merely show that virgins have too much time on their hands.
Well he’s highly respected by me !
Jesus it must be bad in Russia , if u move to WX .
Ciaran Russia will do the only thing they can do which is sweet fcuk all. Vladimir is finished throwing his AK’s out of the buggy he knows there is no alternative and besides Gregory says he is a decent lad. Meanwhile back at the ranch the Turks won’t be losing any sleep. ISIS laughing their ballix off by the way.
Wow such armchair generals here with little clue. Turks won’t be afraid to fly in their own airspace. The Russians would not hit them inside as its nato and it would not go very well for Russia. The Turks won’t shoot down any more Russian jets as they have been put it their box now and won’t come over the border again. It’s all about saving face now for Russia. The bully got a bloody nose for picking on the wrong kid
Gregory the last guy to challenge Putin was shot 11 times. Since Ukraine the price of food has nearly doubled. , 70% popularity rating my bullocks.
It’s amazing t F at so many people don’t like to read the truth about Putin. Red thumb away but it doesn’t alter the truth. And I notice nobody even tried to challenge what I said. And that in itself speaks volumes.
I love the journal mick it’s full of left leaning nuts who hide behind pseudonyms.
No one to blame but yourself, Turkey.
No one to blame but Russia for invading sovereign airspace. They or what they deserved did the russkies.
Gold Turkey is invading Syrian airspace every day. So it’s ok for Russia to shoot every own of these planes out of the sky yeah?
Turkey invades Greeces airspace all the time.
PJM, can you show us some reports and stats on Turkish infringements in Russian airspace, please?
Seen this earlier in the week
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxTVwHXGfvI
Who mentioned Russian airspace, I said Syrian airspace. Seeing as Russia are in Syria fighting at the behest of the Syrian government, they are acting on behalf of the Syrian government so if they play by Turkish rules they should destroy every aircraft which infringes this airspace.
Pjm, then that’s up to Assad to sort out, not Putin. Fact remains that Russia continually infringed on Turkish airspace, despite warnings. Hence they got what was inevitable.
Dot Com, thx for u-tube link. U wont see such hard cold facts in the Irish News.
There has to be consequences for Turkeys recklessness and support of terrorism. Edogan is aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood. The Muslim Brotherhood and Islamic terrorism are like peas in a pod.
ISIS have no tolerance for anyone but ISIS. That includes Muslim Brotherhood members, who would be decapitated or shot if captured by ISIS. MB and ISIS are not peas in a pod, even though both are obviously capable of carrying out atrocities.
Also don’t forget that Ireland and the Irish people by association allow the terrorist Muslim Brotherhood have its European HQ and leader in this country.
I would love to know what part of my comment the red thumbers disagree with. The amount of people out there who think MB and ISIS are ‘friends’ or aligned in some way (just because they’re both terrorist groups) is quite amazing.
Dave if you actually read Len’s comment, he never mentioned ISIS! He spoke about the MB, then you took off on an ISIS rant.
While we’re at it they are the exact same, MB, ISIS, Hezbollah, HAMAS, there is no difference except the way they go about trying to bring Islamic rule over the globe. But the core goal is the same
Michael…sorry..incorrect.
@Dave murray… The Muslim Brotherhood spawned ISIS as it did Al-Kaeda , Hamas, Boko Haram and Al-Shabab. Boko Haram recently formally joined with ISIS though in spirit they were one all along like all the other MB fish.(They cooperate strategically though they differ on tactics). Their ultimate aim is a Caliphate, genocide of the Jews and submission of the the rest of the world under Islam.
Crazy amount of red thumbs for one of the few informed responses
@Stephen.. Clonskeagh to be exact- coordinates 53.3083 N,6.2403 W
Ah FFS. You won’t be able to buy Turkish delight in Moscow now.
Putin bitch slapped them.
Aldi are doing a special on Turkish Delight at the moment. €2.99 for a nice box of the stuff.
Turkish delight is disgusting no matter where you are
Russia cancelled technology for joint venture Nuclear Power Plant w Turkey. No Russian will go to Turkey for holiday (biggest client). Agri imports cancelled. Putin has principles and is respected in Russia. Opportunity for Greece now. Davei Rossiya.
So you speak for all Russians? So no Russian at all will go to turkey?
Fear is not respect Gregori, the soviet apologist.
Gold, this is on mainstream news in Russia. Not my opinion. My wife is a fluent Russian speaker and follows the news.
Being a fluent russian speaker means nothing.
Gold, I made a pile of money working for a U.S. company in Russia. Putin created stability. US business is not the same as US govt. We just try to execute projects. Exxon Mobil has a huge share in a 200 BLN oil/gas expansion in Siberia and Putin sent Medvedev to that area to support the projects. Exxon actually made joint venture with Neftegas (one of the russian gas companies). So no, we all made money out of it U.S. , many UK specialist companies, and Neftegaz. No problems.
How much money was made in bribes and kick backs?
“We wish it had never happened”… He will,it might not have come to this if Erdogan had apologised and if his tame headhacking ” moderates” hadn’t murdered and abused the Russian pilots body….
I start to like Putin
And unlike Erdogan..Putin didn’t Skype Obama for advice or encouragement before he acted decisively and punitively….
@Joachin Peiper…….Erdogan is the big Muslim Brotherhood Potentate with Caliphate ambitions. As such it’s more likely that the MB ” mole in The White House” obsequiously called Erdogan for how he/the US might help Turkey.
Possibly….either way..president Putin has staged a fait accompli on the west..Erdogan has upstaged himself..he effectively invited the red army into Europe,they accepted his invite….what a Muppet..he thought he could intimidate the bear..
Can’t see why not that Russia puts the squeeze on Turkey? Turkey has been supporting jihadist terrorism, while standing back from genocide against the Kurdish population. Same as they once did before against the Armenian people.
Kick them out of NATO and put their EU application in the bin. Putin might be bad but Erdogan is a useless waste of space. Anyone here want to sign up to WW3 on behalf of the Muslim brotherhood?
You answered your own question there martin. Because they are alighned to NATO
Martin..agreed.
Well done Journal.ie. The eyes say it all in those photos.
Landing strip for rent in Greek Cyprus. Good views and reasonable rate. Special discounts for Russian tourists needing some sun. 1 free box of olives and tomatoes for each Russian tourist.
Protests in greece dumping agri produce due to Russian sanctions. Farmers bankrupt. Tomatoes. Ghurkins. Olives etc. #marketopportunity in greece. Russianholidaysingreecebutusedtobeturkey.com
Erdogan now shoots down press freedom of most popular Turkish Daily the English Language Hurryet Daily by arresting 2 Editors Nov. 26/2015.
—”’Cumhuriyet Editor-in-Chief Can Dündar and the daily’s Ankara bureau chief, Erdem Gül, were arrested due to stories published about Turkish intelligence trucks bound for Syria in early 2014, on Nov. 26 in Istanbul.—”
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/two-journalists-arrested-for-story-on-intelligence-trucks-bound-for-syria.aspx?pageID=238&nID=91722&NewsCatID=339
Quad Estre Demonstratum. Q.e.d. Need we say more.
Always wanted to know what QED stood for…classical education Gregory?
Let this be a warning to our government…next time a badger or a bear comes anywhere near our airspace….leave it!!!!look the other way!! Say nothing..just DONT shoot it down..
badgers have largely been culled from this land.
Vco bugdet garosho (ru). Everything will be ok.
Hard to know who to believe. Both regimes have a track record of supporting rebels in other people’s countries
No. Turkey has bombed the s*it out of Kurdistan to prevent the Kurds having their rightful Republic of Kurdistan. Russia has respected the Republics to Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan all along it’s Souther Border and actually are part of the Customs Union with Russia to ensure free border trade (like EU).
Would this be like when Russia blew the shit out of Checnya to stop them having an independent state?
Vlad shall not be a happy bunny when he can’t get a kebab after a night on the vodka in Moscow come January.
Really, u can’t be serious. Funny though. Putin is fighting for us against isis. U should say thank u. remember the killings in paris by isis recently?
Putin is fighting for the gas pipeline corridor. Jesus open your eyes lol
They are also bombing other people like the FSA
Rosa…why would anyone bomb the road safety authority??? They are a Quango…not a Wahabi cult…
Good the FSA need to be wiped out because of their non-beligerance with IS. Assad is good for Syria .
Says who? All those Syrians that have left Syria? Or would it be Russia,Iran and Hezboallah?
I think you lads think I’m pro Islam but that’s not case. I’m just allergic to ar$eholes.
Yes actually. Many Syrians who left, especially the Christian and atheist ones, are really crying out for the old days of Assad. It was his family who crushed a religious revolution similar to what happened in Iran. People in the West just don’t get that democracy doesn’t work every where ( it doesn’t even work properly in our societies) and in the Middle East where religion is such a strong political force you need a firm hand to keep society in check.
Russia, u OK hun?? xx
have your say