I know it's in the News forum, but I'd like to get a flavour of the room in here.

Julian Assange is gonna be doing a live web chat at 1300 with The Guardian and I think this a really huge, fundamental issue for us as a society. What do you think?

Yes, absolutely behind him.

There's a very good and insightful interview with him at TED which can be seen here... http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/julia ... leaks.html

Also if you want to get onto the wikileaks website (which is currently not available) you can still access it through www.wikileeks.org.uk

Or http://46.59.1.2

Mark

Or http://213.251.145.96/

Or wikileaks.ch

Watched that TED link last night Oli. Fascinating stuff.

I love the ted website. Especially when it comes up with stuff like this.

The objections are nothing to do with endangering lives, they roll that one out every time they want something kept quiet.

This is purely because he's airing their dirty laundry in public.

It's about time someone did.

No doubt that will flag me as an extremist and I'll be disappeared anyti..

hopefully cos of this man the world will finally wake up

This is definitely a major win for those trying to "wake" people. The strength of will determined to shut this guy up or down is indeed far more conspicuous than any previous effort. However, there will be plenty of idiots who will continue to buy the party line. It's a numbers game and until there are a critical mass of people who will question and think for themselves, Julian Assange and the rest of us will continue to be screwed by oligarchs (or kleptarchs in the Motherland's case )

Broadly speaking I'm supportive of what has been done although I think quite a lot of it could have been guessed by anyone with half a brain (though confirmation is good).

My principle concern is the effect this will have on future diplomatic exchanges and internal communications. Will people be less open and/or less willing to have things in writting as a consequence?

I do however look forward to the upcoming expose on the banks.

Will people be less willing? At this stage, I don't think so. It seems to me that the system currently believes it's winning (and maybe it is), therefore, as PJ Crowley, Asst Sec State says, "We expect diplomacy to me more difficult for a time". The system is embarrassed and clearly angered, but they currently believe that this will all be over soon.

What with the snow, X-Factor, FIFA and all the other insignificant nonsense going on in the media, the goldfish memory of the British public will kick in and next week, most people will have forgotten all about the fact that a small group are fighting for transparent governance on a global scale.

Bear in mind however, that diplomacy has to use written communication, due the distances involved and the need to have clear, concise information.

Check out Assanges responses to Guardian readers questions:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2010/dec/03/julian-assange-wikileaks

The "Authorities" should be arresting people like Mr Flanagan.

Toronto Sun

The stupid half arsed paper refers to Assange as:


FFS.

Nope.confidential information is confidential information

sorry but that's like saying how long is a bit of string. The secure network most of this came from had over 1 million users.

I think Wikileaks is brilliant and what they're doing is great.

I also think Assange is a total cock.

Interesting. I was inclined to lean that way a little actually. Thing is, I think he's right that the organisation needs a lightening rod to prevent speculation and stop people looking for the individuals behind the thing. At least he means well.