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WikiLeaks' Julian Assange, Pt. 1

January 30, 2011 5:00 PM

Julian Assange, the controversial founder of WikiLeaks, speaks to Steve Kroft about the U.S. attempt to indict him on criminal charges and the torrent of criticism aimed at him for publishing classified documents.

Julian Assange, The Man Behind WikiLeaks

60 Minutes OverTimeJulian Assange: The 60 Minutes Interview

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by citizen-sheep January 2, 2013 7:40 PM EST
Oh they want to kill him because he is still trying to act as if there is rights in journalism and a constitution (They wiped their lower backside with that document, making the President "Dictator" and all the other right destroy in a cohesive effort between the haves and the have nothing). Journalism was exactly what he did, they said the same thing when Obama told about we got Osama Bin Laden! He let go vital secrets. All that really come out here is what a bunch of puppets our entire nation has became. Like when the FBI never charged anyone with treason when the Bush White house Stole 800 Billion under BS garbage excuses like no questions asked and it will be the worst recession ever or depression, same thing with Obama 800 Billion More BS lies. This is crap tell thee truth you bunch of Saudi Puppets.
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by Whitehorse1911 November 5, 2011 2:22 AM EDT
I am an Australian and with disgust have watched the Australian Government and our so called "leaders" speak out against an Australian Citizen who has done no wrong. Julia Gillard has got Hilary's hand so far up her puppet arse I can see Hilary s finger nails when Julia talks. The burning question is WHATS WRONG WITH THE TRUTH, if someone points out to you a criminal act going on why is the person pointing the finger being treated like the criminal?
We live in a unjust world because we have unjust leaders. Try and get rid of Julian and all you will do is produce more like him. Whomever stands for truth will always have my support.
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by sissilu212 September 4, 2011 8:10 PM EDT
I would like to thank 60 minutes for interviewing Julian Assange it has given me a clearer picture of what his organization or wikileaks as it is called is all about-(freedom of the press to be sure) and one that I can wholeheartedly support.
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by determinedforjustice February 11, 2011 4:59 PM EST
I find it most disturbing that Julian sits there and says through both of these interviews and makes statements, yet he completely makes himself looks horrible if you listen closely! He states that he enjoys watching the banks and such squirm because of their unjustified actions and he likes watching victims get justice??? Um did anyone stop to listen to that? Julian has produced so much material that has endangered lives of so many, yet it's ok for him to do it in his opinion but it's horrible for someone else to do something unjustified? wow Julian you really contradict yourself there. You claim you are doing this for the right of press and producing true documents for people to see right? Ok well you think its fair for the government an banks and whoever else you think have done wrong, to pay for their mistakes and unjustified actions?..Well why do you not think its fair for you not to go to jail for endangering our soldiers and soldiers families and the other people you have violated their rights?! Freedom of press is okay, that's one thing, but when you violate peoples person rights by producing information that you truly have no clue what really happened! Yea there may be videos that you see an produce for others to see, but were you there to see what all happened? were you there to validate exactly what happened?You can't always believe what you see or hear, theres always more sides to a story and its untrustworthy information that you are producing without all verification in the incidents!! I give props to the gentleman who did this interview...it must have been hard to talk to someone who doesnt care about how many suffer for HIS MISTAKES AND INSECURITIES!
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by bimobass February 10, 2011 2:47 PM EST
Assange must be one of the bravest man in the world. and under Kroft's biased attack, he kept cool quite well. Kroft just didnt want to talk about the main point, that the US and other nation's government is getting caught red handed doing illegitimate actions. As simple as that. The truth always hurts.
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by perryzmca February 8, 2011 10:26 PM EST
60 minutes and Steve Kroft obviously have an agenda to negatively influence the audience. Kroft calls Assange a "Muckraker" barely two minutes into the program. It seems as if he went into this interview having done very little research and then completely ignores the information on the purpose and function of Wikileaks countless times. His insistent, leading questions quickly became obnoxious as he refused to address the fact that Wikileaks is a raw data publisher. He repetitively pushed his personal, misunderstood assumptions onto Assange and the audience. He accuses Assange of "screwing with the forces of nature." A man made, made up political system is not a force of nature. The political system does not care for the natural needs of natural human beings and to call it "a force of nature" is a ridiculous notion. Editors cut off Assange when elaborating on why Bradley Manning is not a traitor. This is a blatant, bias, propagandist character attack on Assange. Kroft attempts to plant a false seed of suspicion in the mind of the viewer by suggesting that Wikileaks is the gateway to encourage publishers to "publish information much more dangerous than this information" that is purely fabricated to create fear. Moment to moment, as it unfolds, this piece actively reinforces the fact that mainstream media is rampant with predilections of certain viewpoints, the very type of propaganda that Wikileaks opposes. Denying the true purpose and function of Wikileaks as a raw data publisher is elected ignorance. Saying/believing that the purpose and function of Wikileaks is wrong is the same as saying/believing that it is okay for an establishment to do wrong and lie about it unless they get caught.
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by Matt6543 February 3, 2011 5:44 PM EST
I love this reporter's constant use of "There are people who say...," "There are people who think...," etc. Really? Which people? Could it be the guy asking the questions? It would be great if journalists held themselves to the same standards as Wikipedia editors.
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by q4500 February 3, 2011 1:52 AM EST
For those wishing to help Julian Assange, here are some ways to donate to his defense:

http://wikileaks.ch/Support.html

Let's show Julian Assange and his team our support for their conviction and courage.......
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by Malcolm_Mclean February 2, 2011 5:59 PM EST
Ahh the same old same old one camera interview, where Kroft asks questions and makes facial expression AFTER THE INTERVIEW!!

With all the news coverage that Assange has received recently - and the same questions asked over and over again, it is disappointing that 60 Minutes chose to regurgitate old news, and edited the story.

He makes Steve Kroft look dumb.

He is quick witted, Kroft is slow and pedantic - too bad this could have been an interesting interview.

And I am sure that is why his comments were edited, and instead we were treated to Kroft whining on.

It would have been interesting if Assange had brought up CBS attempt at presenting fraudulent documents to
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by q4500 February 2, 2011 5:16 PM EST
My compliments to Steve Kroft and the entire "60 Minutes" team for having the courage to run this story!!! It is a superb piece of journalism!!!

And speaking of courage, I wonder if any of us can imagine how much courage it took young PFC Manning to obey his conscience and risk his life to expose these military atrocities to the public? Or the courage it takes for Julian Assange to risk his life on a continual basis? Very few people have the convictions to stand up for truth, let alone the courage to risk their life for truth. And what do we want to do with these two hero's? Get rid of them of course before they gain a following that inspires others to stand up for truth and justice.

Too many people are hiding behind lies and secrets to avoid accountability. Like the painter Vincent Van Gogh, our goal should be to "move from darkness to light" in our dealings with one another at a personal level or a national level. Lies don't fool anyone or "stabilize" anything. Secrets and lies only breed mistrust and paranoia, making the world more dangerous.

Perhaps the U.S. Army, the U.S. Government, and U.S. businesses should provide a safe mechanism for "whistle-blowers" to report such abuses of authority and power instead of just paying "lip service" to such avenues. Everybody knows that "whistle-blowers" are punished and persecuted instead of being rewarded for their courage to stand up for what they know is right. PFC Manning and Julian Assange both surely know this.........making what they did even more courageous and heroic. It seems Julian Assange knows more about American ideals than most Americans. We've sacrificed too many of our ideals in the last several years in the name of national security.........but are we any safer? Not if people don't trust us and what we stand for.........

Kudos to Steve Kroft for his "post-interview" comments about Julian Assange........that took great courage also. There are a few great Americans left!!!
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