Profile In Focus | Wikileaks - Part 3 (2011 - 2012)
“United States & Iran” by OSeveno, Ssolbergj, and P30Carl under CC BY 3.0.
In 2011, the United States was concerned about leaks of classified information and called for action to prevent insider leaks. The U.S. government even subpoenaed Twitter for details of WikiLeaks activists. Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, signed a publishing deal in Edinburgh, Scotland, but expressed fears of facing the death penalty in the United States. The New York Times published an article discussing the challenges of dealing with Assange and the secrets leaked by WikiLeaks.
In April, Ecuador expelled the U.S. ambassador over WikiLeaks cables, showing the strain between countries. The New Yorker published an article titled "The Secret Sharer," shedding light on (then known as) Bradley Manning, a U.S. Army intelligence analyst suspected of leaking classified documents to WikiLeaks. PBS aired a documentary called "WikiSecrets," exploring Manning's involvement.
Throughout 2011, there were various interviews conducted with Assange, Manning, and former WikiLeaks spokesperson Daniel Domscheit-Berg, providing insights into their motivations and actions. The U.S. government intensified its crackdown on leaks and faced setbacks when an ex-N.S.A. aide gained a plea deal in a leak case. Controversies arose, such as Fox News' Eric Bolling making false claims and inflammatory rhetoric.
In August, it was revealed that the former WikiLeaks spokesperson had destroyed thousands of unpublished documents. WikiLeaks faced criticism for leaving the names of diplomatic sources in their cables, potentially putting lives at risk. The debate surrounding the use of GPS trackers and the Patriot Act continued, and WikiLeaks resorted to selling items on eBay to raise funds.
In December, the last convoy of American troops left Iraq, marking the end of the war. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that placing a GPS tracker without a warrant violated privacy rights. The Russian national elections took place, with Vladimir Putin winning the presidency amid allegations of fraud.
In 2012, WikiLeaks faced legal challenges as Julian Assange lost another bid to halt his extradition to Sweden. The Obama administration accelerated cyberattacks against Iran, and Attorney General Eric Holder directed U.S. attorneys to track down the paths of leaks. Assange sought asylum in Ecuador's embassy in London, fearing extradition to the United States.
The leak-related cases increased, and concerns grew about the Obama administration's lack of transparency regarding the National Security Agency's collection and review of Americans' emails. The Green Party faced struggles to gain recognition, and leaks continued to cast a chill over coverage. The New York Times published articles discussing surveillance and the surveillance state.
In October, the NPR Third-Party Candidate Debate took place, providing a platform for alternative voices. Petraeus resigned as Director of the CIA due to an affair, and the U.S. Senate passed a trade bill with Russia, despite human rights concerns. The lawyer representing WikiLeaks in the case against Bradley Manning criticized his treatment in Marine jail.
The year ended with Russian opposition leader Navalny facing another inquiry and Putin signing a bill banning U.S. adoptions, causing distress for affected families. The events of 2011 and 2012 showed the ongoing tensions and controversies surrounding WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, and the leaks of classified information.
Written in part in collaboration with ChatGPT on June 5, 2023
Previous: Profile In Focus | Wikileaks - Part 2 (2010)
Next: Profile In Focus | Wikileaks - Part 4 (2013)
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 3 (2011 - 2012):
US urges action to prevent insider leaks – BBC January 5, 2011
US wants Twitter details of Wikileaks activists – BBC January 8, 2011
U.S. Subpoenas Twitter Over WikiLeaks Supporters – The New York Times January 8, 2011
Wikileaks’ Julian Assange in Edinburgh publisher deal – BBC January 10, 2011
Wikileaks’ Julian Assange ‘fears US death penalty’ – BBC January 11, 2011
Dealing With Assange and the WikiLeaks Secrets – The New York Times January 26, 2011
Ecuador Expels U.S. Ambassador Over WikiLeaks Cable – The New York Times April 5, 2011
The Secret Sharer – The New Yorker May 23, 2011
WikiSecrets | Frontline – PBS May 24, 2011
Bradley Manning’s Facebook Page – PBS May 25, 2011
Senators Say Patriot Act Is Being Misinterpreted – The New York Times May 26, 2011
Interview Julian Assange – PBS May 26, 2011
Interview Adrian Lamo – PBS May 28, 2011
Interview Daniel Domscheit-Berg – PBS May 30, 2011
Ex-N.S.A. Aide Gains Plea Deal in Leak Case; Setback to U.S. – The New York Times June 9, 2011
U.S. Pressing Its Crackdown Against Leaks – The New York Times June 17, 2011
Ex-WikiLeaks Spokesman Destroyed Thousands of Unpublished Docs – PBS August 22, 2011
WikiLeaks Leaves Names of Diplomatic Sources in Cables – The New York Times August 29, 2011
Inside WikiLeaks’ “Harm-Minimization Process” – PBS August 30, 2011
Court Case Asks if ‘Big Brother’ Is Spelled GPS – The New York Times September 10, 2011
WikiLeaks Goes on eBay to Raise Cash – The New York Times September 16, 2011
Out and Proud to Serve – The New York Times September 20, 2011
Public Said to Be Misled on Use of the Patriot Act – The New York Times September 21, 2011
Putin to run for Russian presidency in 2012 – NBC News September 24, 2011
WikiLeaks’ Founder, in a Gilded British Cage – The New York Times September 25, 2011
Founder Says WikiLeaks, Starved of Cash, May Close – The New York Times October 24, 2011
Hillary Clinton and the Rise of Smart Power – Time November 7, 2011
How the GOP Became the Party of the Rich – Rolling Stone November 9, 2011
Russian National Elections in 2011 and 2012 – Human Rights Watch November 21, 2011
Last Convoy of American Troops Leaves Iraq – The New York Times December 18, 2011
Justices Say GPS Tracker Violated Privacy Rights – The New York Times January 23, 2012
Five Questions for Jill Stein of the Green Party | The Caucus – The New York Times February 14, 2012
Obama Order Sped Up Wave of Cyberattacks Against Iran – The New York Times June 1, 2012
Holder Directs U.S. Attorneys to Track Down Paths of Leaks – The New York Times June 8, 2012
WikiLeaks Founder Loses in Court Again – The New York Times June 14, 2012
WikiLeaks Founder Turns to Ecuador for Asylum – The New York Times June 19, 2012
Nine Leak-Related Cases – The New York Times June 20, 2012
Party Strains to Be Heard Now That Its Voice Isn’t Nader’s – The New York Times July 12, 2012
Documents in Plain Sight, but Still Classified – The New York Times July 23, 2012
Inquiry Into U.S. Leaks Is Casting Chill Over Coverage – The New York Times August 1, 2012
The Scorpion and the Frog – Foreign Policy August 7, 2012
The Program | Opinion – The New York Times August 22, 2012
Giving In to the Surveillance State | Opinion – The New York Times August 22, 2012
Eric Bolling’s Conspiracy Theory Trifecta – MediaMatters August 26, 2012
The NPR Third-Party Candidate Debate – NPR October 6, 2012
A Messenger Who Does the Shooting – The New York Times October 12, 2012
Ukraine: What is Nato and why doesn’t Russia trust it? – BBC October 14, 2012
Green Party ticket arrested at debate – Politico October 16, 2012
Petraeus Quits; Evidence of Affair Was Found by F.B.I. – The New York Times November 9, 2012
Russian opposition leader Navalny faces third inquiry – BBC December 24, 2012
Russian Prosecutor Seeks Acquittal in Lawyer’s Death – The New York Times December 24, 2012
Putin Signs Bill That Bars U.S. Adoptions, Upending Families – The New York Times December 27, 2012