Profile In Focus | Wikileaks - Part 2 (2010)
“WikiLeaks Truck on Capitol Hill” by Wikileaks Mobile Information Collection Unit under CC BY 2.0.
In 2010, a series of events unfolded that would bring Wikileaks and its founder, Julian Assange, into the spotlight. It all started with a classified video released by Wikileaks in April, showing a U.S. military helicopter killing Reuters journalists in Iraq. This video raised questions about the conduct of the U.S. military and garnered significant media attention.
In June, an Army intelligence analyst named (at the time) Bradley Manning was arrested and accused of leaking classified information to Wikileaks. Manning had allegedly turned over a large number of documents to the organization, including diplomatic cables and military reports. Despite Manning's arrest, Wikileaks remained undeterred and continued to release sensitive information.
The release of classified documents by Wikileaks in July, known as the Afghan War Diary, caused a major uproar. These documents detailed the realities of the war in Afghanistan and raised concerns about civilian casualties, Iranian involvement, and the use of private contractors. The U.S. government condemned the leak, citing potential threats to national security.
As the leaks continued, the U.S. government demanded that Wikileaks return the documents and requested assistance from the FBI to investigate the source of the leak. The Pentagon also asked Wikileaks to edit the files to remove any sensitive information that could put individuals at risk, particularly Afghan names.
Amidst these developments, Julian Assange faced personal troubles as well. In August, he was accused of rape by Swedish authorities, which led to a cancellation and reinstatement of a Swedish arrest warrant against him. Assange remained on the run, trailed by notoriety and legal issues.
The leaked documents continued to expose U.S. diplomacy and activities around the world. They revealed candid assessments of various countries, including concerns about UK home-grown extremism. The release of the documents prompted discussions about the need for greater transparency in government actions.
The impact of Wikileaks' disclosures reverberated globally. Interpol issued a Red Notice for Assange's arrest, and WikiLeaks fought to stay online after its domain name was withdrawn by a U.S. company. The U.S. government also began considering legal actions against Wikileaks, studying potential charges and trying to build a case for conspiracy.
Amidst the chaos, the release of confidential Swedish police reports detailed the allegations against Assange, further complicating his legal situation. Bank of America suspended payments to Wikileaks, and the organization faced challenges in maintaining its operations.
The events surrounding Wikileaks in 2010 brought issues of government transparency, freedom of the press, and individual privacy into the forefront of public discourse. The leaks sparked debates about the role of whistleblowers, the ethics of publishing classified information, and the balance between national security and public accountability. These controversies would continue to shape the narrative surrounding Julian Assange and the impact of Wikileaks in the years to come.
Written in part in collaboration with ChatGPT on June 5, 2023
Previous: Profile In Focus | Wikileaks - Part 1 (Up To May 2009)
Next: Profile In Focus | Wikileaks - Part 3 (2011 - 2012)
Return to start: Profile In Focus | Wikileaks
Putin Is A War Criminal
Russia Is A Terrorist State:
Part 1 (1990s)
Part 2 (2000s)
Part 3 (2011 - 2016)
Part 4 (2016 - 2019)
Part 5 (2020 - 2021)
Part 6 (2022+)
Sources for Profile In Focus | Wikileaks - Part 2 (2010):
Pentagon Sees a Threat From Online Muckrakers – The New York Times March 17, 2010
Video Shows U.S. Killing of Reuters Employees – The New York Times April 5, 2010
An Eye on America Is Also Under Watch – The New York Times May 6, 2010
Army Leak Suspect Is Turned In, by Ex-Hacker – The New York Times June 7, 2010
Wikileaks site unfazed by arrest of US army ‘source’ – BBC June 8, 2010
Wikileaks makes contact with US government – BBC June 22, 2010
2010: Goodbye, Green Party? – The Texas Tribune June 24, 2010
With Shift in Afghanistan, Talk Turns to Exit – The New York Times June 28, 2010
US soldier linked to Iraq helicopter video leak charged – BBC July 6, 2010
US government lifts lid on alleged leak to WikiLeaks – BBC July 14, 2010
In Disclosing Secret Documents, WikiLeaks Seeks ‘Transparency’ – The New York Times July 25, 2010
Government ‘laments’ Afghan war documents leak – BBC July 26, 2010
Wikileaks row is the last thing Nato needs – BBC July 26, 2010
Excerpts: Leaked US Afghan war records – BBC July 26, 2010
The history of US leaks – BBC July 26, 2010
US says Wikileaks could ‘threaten national security’ – BBC July 26, 2010
Wikileaks reveals awkward truths – BBC July 26, 2010
Afghanistan war leak papers will take ‘weeks to assess’ – BBC July 27, 2010
Welcome to a new age of whistle-blowing – BBC July 27, 2010
Accused Wikileaks source Manning moved to US for trial – BBC July 30, 2010
FBI to help investigate leak of documents on Afghan war – BBC July 30, 2010
Pentagon demands Wikileaks return Afghanistan documents – BBC August 6, 2010
Wikileaks asked to edit Afghan names from US files – BBC August 10, 2010
Intelligence experts weigh the impact of Afghan Wikileaks revelations – BBC August 13, 2010
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange accused of rape – BBC August 21, 2010
Swedish rape warrant for Wikileaks’ Assange cancelled – BBC August 21, 2010
Sweden to Question Founder of WikiLeaks – The New York Times August 25, 2010
U.S. Military Tallies Deaths of Iraqi Civilians and Forces – The New York Times October 14, 2010
Leaked Reports Detail Iran’s Aid for Iraqi Militias – The New York Times October 22, 2010
Detainees Fared Worse in Iraqi Hands, Logs Say – The New York Times October 22, 2010
A Grim Portrait of Civilian Deaths in Iraq – The New York Times October 22, 2010
WikiLeaks Founder on the Run, Trailed by Notoriety – The New York Times October 23, 2010
Use of Contractors Added to War’s Chaos in Iraq – The New York Times October 23, 2010
Letters between Wikileaks and the U.S. Government – The New York Times November 26, 2010
Leaked Cables Offer Raw Look at U.S. Diplomacy – The New York Times November 28, 2010
WikiPublishers Face Their Readers – Columbia Journalism Review November 29, 2010
Interpol Called for Arrest of WikiLeaks Founder – The New York Times December 1, 2010
Vast Hacking by a China Fearful of the Web – The New York Times December 4, 2010
What is Wikileaks? – BBC December 7, 2010
U.S. Prosecutors Study WikiLeaks Prosecution – The New York Times December 7, 2010
Wikileaks founder Assange bailed, but release delayed – BBC December 14, 2010
Release on Bail of WikiLeaks Founder Is Delayed by Appeal – The New York Times December 14, 2010
Air Force Blocks Sites That Posted Secret Cables – The New York Times December 14, 2010
Wikileaks chief Julian Assange ‘remains defiant’ – BBC December 14, 2010
Wikileaks cables: US worry over UK home-grown extremism – BBC December 14, 2010
UK Government websites may be next pro-Wikileaks focus – BBC December 14, 2010
Air Force Blocks Sites That Posted Secret Cables – The New York Times December 14, 2010
U.S. Tries to Build Case for Conspiracy by WikiLeaks – The New York Times December 15, 2010
Wikileaks: Barriers to possible US Assange prosecution – BBC December 17, 2010
Bank of America Suspends Payments to WikiLeaks – The New York Times December 18, 2010
Wikileaks ‘should lead to greater transparency’ – BBC December 31, 2010