John Pilger on Wikileaks
Veteran Australian journalist John Pilger discusses the latest twists and turns in the Wikileaks case.
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Veteran Australian journalist John Pilger discusses the latest twists and turns in the Wikileaks case.
Comments (24)
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Melba :
06 Dec 2010 10:34:43pm
Re John Pilger on Wikileaks:
Yes, yes, and yes! Pilger said this issue is crucially important, and he is right. The controversy has revealed the exercise of naked power for its own sake by politicians around the world, and some sections of the world media. The reason for the fury of Assange's enemies is that Wikileaks has stripped away the pretense of democracy, truth and justice, and exposed them for what they are.
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Kevin Harper :
10 Dec 2010 10:47:44am
If these creeps like Pilger and co were in their beloved socialist regime zones they would have been sent to the gulag to be executed later because of their own filthy sewer spitting slop. Speaking there has always been forbidden let alone leaking. So much for their hypocrisy related to free speech.
Soviet socialist free speech.
Right, the brand of petrol they are on is not good at all.
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Robin :
15 Dec 2010 5:01:38am
You are confused and rather than shout at you, I'm going to appeal to your intelligence. Here goes: the United states has an imperial agenda--world control if you like. Not exactly like the British Empire, but similar.America's idea of friendly countries is the countries that help them achieve that goal.
You gotta ask: is it doing you any good? There are almost 1000 US bases around the world; their military establishment is 2.5 million. They start wars to secure oil and gas supplies...for them. They support horrendous regimes like Saudi Arabia, for oil, for them. And Israel in order to have a last ditch to launch a counter attack if they looked like losing that oil and gas. They have a arrogant, manipulative, grasping attitude to other countries, including Australia. As you will see after Xmas when those cables are released. The leaks are genuine American voices, not some lefty--they are American voices. If you dont like what they are saying perhaps you should look for some new friends
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Robin :
15 Dec 2010 5:03:59am
America has an arrogant, manipulative, grasping attitude to other countries, including Australia. As you will see after Xmas when those cables are released. The leaks are genuine American voices, not some socialist lefty--they are American voices. If you dont like what they are saying perhaps you should look for some new friends
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Jerry Maloney :
10 Dec 2010 10:49:24am
No wonder they defend creeps like themselves.
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Greg Hall :
06 Dec 2010 10:35:05pm
Question for your guest John Pilger: You sounded a bit soft on Amazon, John, is that because currently Amazon is selling nine (9) of your documentaries - from your earliest films from "Cambodia Year Zero" to "Palestine is Still the Issue"?
Can it be said that there in lies the nub of the problem of criticising the systems that support this deeply interconnected world. Biting the hand of the one that helps feeds you is becoming a lot harder, even for one who had carved a career out of peeling back the layers to expose the truth.
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rc :
07 Dec 2010 1:43:27am
Great to hear some sanity on the airwaves. Pilger is like a breath of fresh air. What are our passport worth Gillard? (She being one who qualifies for a UK one in any case).
Seems like a repeat of the David Hick drama where Howard and Ruddock et al couldn't find the time to help an Australian who had not committed a crime.
Full marks to Assange for his good work -- my only hesitation is when he stops being the messenger and starts to comment on what Obama should do etc. I think he should stick to the core job and leave those additional comments to others.
My question is: when is the UN going to call in Hillary Clinton to explain her illegal actions against UN members? When is she going to resign?
BTW: I note that CHOGM is on in Perth in Oct 2011 -- any chance Pilger could show up and raise the Diego Garcia scandal while Betty W. is in town?
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Jim, England :
08 Dec 2010 8:05:42am
Yeah, because throughout JP's career he has clearly shown he is motivated by greed and the desire to enrich himself.
Keep fighting the good fight John.
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Jim, England :
08 Dec 2010 8:07:02am
(That reply was intended for Greg Hall btw)
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rc :
07 Dec 2010 1:54:47am
BTW2: what is leaking is 'plausible deniability'. Yes, information is power. And what is creeping back in is accountability. And they do not like it!
And is it not strange that two Australians are pestering the Americans -- Rupert Murdoch and his mainstream news, some might say 'propaganda', machine; and Julian Assange and his Wikileaks 'raw data' machine.
Bottom line: this is a struggle against creeping corporate fascism and that 'ceo of the world' mindset propagated by that 'great decider' -- the plutocrat G.W. Bush.
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Abezz :
07 Dec 2010 9:07:45am
When you get Aunt Petunia and her ten cats giving their two cents on international issues with alarmingly jingoistic tones as has been happening recently I think wikileaks becomes a very dangerous thing.
If everyone is privy to the frank discussions that various people have in private it becomes very hard for any one to say anything useful.
Take the conversation that Rudd and Clinton had over China, if they had known what they were saying was going to be in the eyes of the public would they have been as frank as they were? I doubt it.
As with All politicians short term interests would have been prioritized over long term ones and we would have been worse off for it.
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Sad stuff :
07 Dec 2010 10:44:13am
What a sad commentary on humanity; that knowledge of one's comments becoming public would only make you more likely to say nothing important or useful!
To suggest we would be worse off if our world leaders, financial and political, were held accountable when they bargained our country and lives away, is appalling.
If this is the case, then bring on more leaks!
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duckster :
07 Dec 2010 1:00:34pm
Strange mixture of arguments here. So Aunt Petunia gives opinion in 'jingoistic tones' because she gets to hear the truth about some conversations? So, you think her opinions are (i) better kept to herself; (ii) based on no information at all (so those who govern are the only ones with access to the truth); or (iii) to be confined to the trivial,inane cooking programs and what now passes for current affairs on Australian TV?
In any event, I hardly think what Rudd said to Rodham Clinton was news - don't we all think that about China.
Newt Gingrich's reference to "information terrorism" should strike fear through the hearts of all who are interested in democracy, free speech and society. Sounds more Taliban than Republican to me.
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Coat of many colours :
07 Dec 2010 10:38:02am
I have heard John Pilger interviewed twice on the dishonourable attempt to muzzle Assange and WikiLeaks. Both times it was on the ABC. That is no co incidence.
The likes of Murdoch et al; would never expose his mates. The world players he and his ilk massages, be they capitalist communist, fascist, dictator or whatever, all pedal the lies, deceit, secrecy, the lack of transparency, the misinformation, and the lack of truth which the WikiLeaks cables has only confirmed what those who are not bed ridden already know.
Only the brave and principled are standing up to the thugs of ALL colours, business dealings, nationalities and political beliefs, who are desperate to silence and contain exposure of their modus operandi. The coat of many colours that constitutes the status quo MUST silence Assange and those like him if they are to continue their business as usual control of world power and money.
Thankyou Phillip for interviewing John Pilger and providing a balance and truthful account of the situation.
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John Pilger speaking to P Adam :
07 Dec 2010 10:58:48am
dear Phillip ,Thank you for your interview with John Pilger, Most enlightening. What a pity this is not repeated at large. I do hope that you have not been arrested as it seems we are getting nearer to the time when this becomes possible. As a first step towards regaining some of our freedoms I hope Julian Assange takes out a writ against Julia Gillard. Best wishes Dr Vic Holland...
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colin :
07 Dec 2010 11:22:58am
Hi Phillip, thanks very much for having John Pilger on the program. It is sickening to hear conservatives such as Huckabee and Gingrich ranting about civil liberties, and it was great to hear the old crusader Pilger put good reasons why we should have access to information that "authorities" like to keep hidden. I find it most unfortunate, though, that our Attorney-General and PM have joined the pro-American chorus against WikiLeaks and its founder Assange. They will live to regret casting such aspersion on an Australian citizen who has not, to this point, been charged with anything. It sounds as though the Swedish charges are very dubious, but no doubt will be used to blacken his name. It is such a pity that Australia continues to be a lapdog to the Americans, under any Government.
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John - Adelaide :
07 Dec 2010 6:19:10pm
We have heard endless complaints about control of the news by politicians with spin. It has been something that is eroding confidence in the democratic process. It is good to let some sunshine in and clear away some of the mess they have been leaving. Does anyone seriously suggest the public is worse of for knowing that the US forces gunned down innocent journalists and civilians in Baghdad. It is important that the public starts to see the truth of the actions that politicians take on our behalf. I wish I possessed half the courage shown by Julian Assange who seems to be under attack by just about every country in the world. Even the Swiss, so noted for their desire to prevent criminals and tax cheats from using their banking system, have cancelled Assange's bank account because he was misleading about his home residence. It all has a very fishy smell.
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Jaffa :
07 Dec 2010 6:48:04pm
Pilger suggested that our foremost priority is to protect assange in his own and by his own country. Phillip, what can dispensable citizens like us do to protect Assange? Who and how can organise massive street protests in Melbourne and Sydney?
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Lynn :
09 Dec 2010 10:27:53pm
Jaffa have a look at Avaaz.org
No matter how this all plays out, let's hope it is the death of spin.
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Ben :
07 Dec 2010 7:28:14pm
Well...... Assange has been derided (even by our own PM) as a traitor, terrorist etc for the leaks. None of these attempts to defame him include reference to the charges of rape. It is obvious the pentagon want him arrested.... though apparently not for the charges they have hinted at (Umm revealing the simple truth) To charge him over the leaks would surely be difficult....If only he wasn't so well known he could be renditioned. Thank you John Pilger for spreading common concern on the matter, because he is not coming accross in the Australian media as the innocent until proven guilty Australian citizen. Rather the spymaster on the run. That's no accident.
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Ozeb :
07 Dec 2010 10:20:36pm
Brian Dawe: “Prime Minister, thanks for coming in.”
John Clarke: “Good evening Brian. It’s a great pleasure to be speaking with you tonight.”
BD: “Prime Minister, it hasn’t been a good week for the government has it? In particular the revelation concerning the foreign minister’s advice to the US, when prime minister, that they should use force against China if push comes to shove.”
JC: “Well, they are strong words, Brian, and sometimes in diplomacy you have to say what you think.”
BD: “Even behind China’s back?”
JC: “Even behind….. Well Brian, in any case, we are going to prosecute Mr Assange to the fullest….What I am saying, Brian, is that I am going to ask the Attorney General to investigate to see if we have any case against Mr Assange. We can’t have citizens of this country going around making false accusations about what ministers of this government might have said in private.”
BD: “So Mr Rudd didn’t say those words about China?”
JC: “Of course not Brian. Pure fabrication.”
BD: ”So Mr Assange didn’t reveal a secret?”
JC: “Well, er, no. But he wasn’t to know that at the time was he Brian?”
BD: “So if you do prosecute him then that would be an admission that what he leaked was true?”
JC: “I’ll be seeking advice on that Brian. However, you must understand that we can’t have people like Mr Assange running around like that saying anything that comes into his head.”
BD: “And are you going to prosecute the newspapers for revealing the same information?”
JC: “Well of course not Brian. They’re just reporting the news in a free and open society.”
BD: “Isn’t that what Mr Assange was doing Ms Gillard?”
JC: “No Brian. Mr Assange was leaking gossip and innuendo designed to maximise the harm caused to our free and democratic society, er, … allegedly. The newspapers were just passing on that gossip.
BD: “So Mr Rudd has your fullest support, does he Prime Minister?”
JC: “Of course, Brian.”
BD: “Just like he had last June?”
JC: “Good Lord, is that the time? Goodnight Brian.”
BD: “Goodnight Prime Minister.”
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Mulga Mumblebrain :
09 Dec 2010 4:22:26pm
We should not forget that these 'leaks' reveal little, and I believe are unlikely to reveal anything of note, of the real extent of US crimes against humanity, over decades and across the planet. There are unlikely to be any leaks concerning US involvement in state terror targeting Cuba and Iran amongst many others, or US support for terrorist regimes, terrorist death-squads, mass torture and 'disappearances' or the deliberate policy of mass murder by disease and neglect inflicted on Iraq during the 'sanctions of mass destruction'. The US 'real evil empire' (as Chomsky called it) is unquestionably the greatest malevolence that humanity has ever produced, with more victims and more devastation caused by its malignancy than by any other force. That the entire Australian political, media and business pathocracy are craven, groveling, lackeys to this evil is unquestionably the root of our current, and terminal, moral and spiritual malaise.
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Tj E :
12 Dec 2010 2:49:43pm
Actually I disagree,these leaks reveal just how cowboy minded the US government and military are..
It is very clear that America has held onto a grudge against cuba for many years now,and this slanderous campaign against Iran is like Iraqi propaganda all over again-claims of nuclear weapons etc...Lets hope that this time they have factual evidence before annihilating another country with bombs and explosions.Im not sure what planet you live on but it is well known that the US have and still do support terrorist organizations all over.
Pilger and Assange are beacons of light in a very heavily censored time of war and atrocity.
As John has said-the agenda hasn't changed,only more sophisticated has the censorship and propagandist story telling become by the media.
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Perry walsh :
19 Nov 2011 2:38:36am
ffe
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