Interview with Assange on the publishing of The Wikileaks Files

Available from Verso Books

Richard Mellor
Afscme Local 444, retired

I just watched an RT interview with Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks who has been holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London for over three years. 

The interview is about Wikileaks' just published book, The Wikileaks File.   It is a fascinating interview and for some reason I cannot get the code off Youtube as I wanted to put the interview here.  The link to it is here.  In the interview, Assange talks of the US Empire and its destabilization of Syria as well as reading some of the US cables in the book.  He talks of the massive US presence globally that includes some 1400 military bases in 120 countries.  But what is staggering and something we all know, all of us that are open to seeing it that is, is the massive US intelligence apparatus.  Assange never talks of capitalism or imperialism but makes it clear that US foreign policy, it's violence and costs do not serve the interests of US workers.

He points out that Obama has gone after more whistle blowers than Bush and reminds us that Chelsea Manning in receiving a 35 year sentence got more time than anyone convicted in Iraq for rape and murdering of entire families.  Workers who believe in the right to know the activities of government owe a debt of gratitude to the likes of Manning and Edward Snowden as well as Assange.

Assange also comments on the startling rise of Jeremy Corbyn and his likely victory in being elected the next leader of the British Labor Party.  He points out that Corbyn supported him in back in 2011. He points out that we are dealing here with world powers and reads from cables that reveal a conversation between British politicians that included now prime minister Cameron and George Osborne. They describe themselves as "Atlanticists" in the Thatcher mode and that the UK's alliance with US imperialism cannot be broken, anyone entering 10 Downing Street (the British Prime Minister's official residence) understands that. 

Assange also points out that Corbyn has talked of pulling the UK out of NATO. This, Assange considers a dangerous threat from the view of US and British imperialism. He says that Corbyn has softened this position calling for a reflection of British membership but Assange argues that if he were to act act on pulling the UK out and the British ruling class were unable to kick Corbyn out through the usual leaks in the press about personal lives and tastes he would fear for Corbyn's Safety.

Once again, I cannot embed the code but the interview is on YouTube here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3HWiydFlJc

Here is a shorter clip of an interview by the BBC, typically directed at discrediting Assange and Wikileaks. It does include the statements from Cameron and Osborne quoted above. However, if the longer RT interview is still functioning I strongly recommend watching it.