Julian Assange seems to love the spotlight, yet won't confront his critics. He claims to be innocent of any wrong doing in Sweden but resists fronting the courts there. He courted the heavy hitting media (The New York Times, The Guardian and der Spiegel) and then complained and bitched about their treatment of him. He has been deserted by many previous acolytes.
He certainly is the most fascinating civilian in the world. Even videos of him dancing in a night club (and not well) can attract over 500,000 hits on youtube. And a slew of books have been written about Assange and wikileaks, film rights traded, scripts in development.
The Most Dangerous Man in the World is by Australian investigative journalist Andrew Fowler. (Disclosure: I worked with Andrew for several years).
Andrew Fowler's research spanned continents, including several meetings with Assange at the Norfolk (UK) Manor House where he is waiting on his Swedish extradition appeal. But this is not an authorised biography. "He was helpful and seemed to be looking for friends, giving insights into a life he'd kept close before," Fowler wrote in email from Australia where he is promoting his book. "(He) is a mixed character - brilliant with an IQ supposedly around 170, he's arrogant, humble, sour and humorous, all in the space of a few minutes. His politics are a cross between the anarchist left and the libertarian right; he believes in social justice but at the same time opposes the secrecy and the power of big government."
The most surprising aspect of the story, according to Fowler is the relationship between Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg and Julian Assange. Ellsberg has thrilled some, dismayed others with his public support of Assange although it hasn't always been a smooth relationship. "Daniel Ellsberg (revealed) that he contacted Assange about the Afghan War logs naming of informants and told him it was a mistake. He fear(ed) that wikileaks might be counter-productive and produce a more secretive American state," says Fowler.
Read an extract of the book's Ellsberg revelations here.
Fowler has respect for the wikileaks founder's intellect. "Assange has a detailed understanding of world events, more than many other journalists I have met. He certainly understands the high stakes involved, but appears fearless."
Fearlessness, Fowler agrees, can lead to a sanctimonious self regard and lack of empathy. He says that "often" Assange projects an air of judge-and-jury who comes across " a priest demanding unquestioning obedience from his flock."
But personality aside, the greater issues of the impact of the leaking of wikileaks documents on the future whistle blowing is the intellectual heart of this story.
It's too soon to have a reliable rear-vision mirror but Fowler says "The mass document drop is the new whistleblower weapon. We are used to combing through the records 30 years after events to understand what went on. This time we got an insight into last year's news."
And while some revelations like those of the US ambassador's observation on Burma are heartening, Fowler feels that "it should come as no surprise that the US State Department, which employs some of the best educated people to work at its overseas missions, should be able to faithfully report the local scene. What is surprising, particularly in North Africa, was the failure of US political will to more vigorously support a change to democracy.
"The evidence so far is that the impact of wikileaks has had a negligible negative impact on US overseas interests. The big test," says Fowler "will be how the US responds domestically and whether, as Ellsberg fears, there may be a move to introduce an Official Secrets Act, with curbs on freedom of speech in the US."
As an investigative journalist who sorts, contextualizes and edits leaked material Andrew Fowler is well placed to comment on the wikileaks modus operandi of mass leaking of material without editing.
"Wikileaks made major errors in releasing the Afghan War logs, naming informants and identifying regions and even towns where they lived. The identifying of facilities which the US believes are crucial strategic assets has also been criticized, particularly by Ellsberg in the book. It is important, however, to remember that of the 650,000 US State Department cables only about 4000 have actually been released and published."
Fowler is certain that Assange's feared extradition to Sweden to face the rape and sexual molestation charges will go ahead. But he also concerned about the fate of Bradley Manning. Fowler believes there is every indication that " the US military has been trying to force a confession out of him which implicates Assange. The fact that this tactic does not appear to have been successful does not mean that the US will not try to find a lesser charge by which Assange can be extradited."
Andrew Fowler has sold film rights to his book to Michelle Krumm , producer of Bobby and Factory Girl.
From Huffington Post 14 April 2011.
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