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Wikileaks Broke

October 25, 2011 by · Comments Off on Wikileaks Broke 

Wikileaks Broke, A year ago, Julian Assange and the organization seemed to be directed both at the top of the world.

Wikileaks was the scourge of governments everywhere with its steady stream of embarrassing leaks.

Then the founder and his organization come up with some bumps in the road. There were allegations of sexual assault directed against Assange by two women in Sweden and the financing of Wikileaks was paralyzed as organizations such as MasterCard, Visa, PayPal and Bank of America refused to process the donations from the public that buoyed Wikileaks.

Julian Assange WikiLeaks says will retire after Christmas, unless people use other ways to keep it going.

More, this is Europe correspondent Philip Williams.

Philip Williams: On the Frontline Club in London, Julian Assange, went back to the media. Not to announce the last drop of stunning documents, but rather the opposite.

WikiLeaks will take legal action against companies blocking funds in Australia, USA, Britain and several European countries.

And until it is resolved, no more revelations.

Julian Assange: We are launching our own resources in this position against the blockade, as will the removal of WikiLeaks and, potentially, the elimination of any other group that gets on the wrong side of these irresponsible U.S. financial firms.

Philip Williams: If you do not get funds flowing again, is that the end?

Julian Assange: If you do not get funds flowing again that is the end of WikiLeaks, right.

Philip Williams: And how much time you have to go?

Julian Assange: Approximately the end of the year.

Philip Williams: Are you concerned that compared to say a year ago when I was flying high, earning millions of dollars through the fans, now people are leaving you, you is not seen as the man who once were?

Julian Assange: Who says this?

Philip Williams: This is a general perception of reading the media.

Julian Assange: This is not at all a perception. In the general population in the world with more than 84 percent name recognition. In Australia, personally, the approval rating Assange is twice the rate of adoption of Julia Gillard.

Philip Williams: Since his legal problems, still unresolved, the organization under threat as never before, how do you deal emotionally with that?

Julian Assange: Well, it’s pretty easy. The work is very satisfying, very demanding and you just put yourself in the mission.

Philip Williams: Julian Assange said his own web site and other sites are no longer safe complainant infiltration. So WikiLeaks will release a new system in late November.

But with money running out quickly and a decision on the extradition of Julian Assange waiting for Sweden, cold winter can be a daunting future for man and the organization that once seemed invincible.

This is Philip Williams in London reporting for AM.

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