Anyone can be a mole by sending private and often classified information to the Wikileaks website. It is non-profit organization who’s sole purpose is to educate people on topics that lack transparency.

Anonymous sources can send Wikileaks information which is then “fact checked” by Wiki Journalists and published on their website. Usually, the sources are people inside of an organization or  situation where they have access to information that is unreported in order to protect someone’s image. For example, Bradley Manning was a troop stationed in Iraq during the 2004-2009 war and was sent to Military Jail for leaking information that jeopardized and outed the US Military’s actions (or lack thereof). In October of 2009, Manning was sent to Iraq by the United States. A month later he contacted Wikileaks and releases found footage of a Baghdad air strike which was later published on Wikileaks in April. Once the US Army had heard about the leaked information, they sent him to the Marine Corps. Brigade in July 2010. He was held in maximum custody. Prior to the detainment, Manning was not well liked by the Army since he acted out towards his commanding officers. He had gender issues and didn’t support the war. The addition of exposing confidential information to Wikileaks was the straw that broke the Army’s back. The “Bradley Manning Support Network” set up a website to raise funds and awareness of Bradley’s conviction. On the website, there is an “I am Bradley Manning” photo campaign where people take a picture of themselves with a sign that says “I am Bradley Manning”. Some people are just supporters while others are people who submitted information to Wikileaks or a similar source. Both feel that Manning has not committed a crime. I think a better and more fair question isn’t whether or not Manning is “innocent”. Rather, what does the US Military have to hide that is so contraversial?

 In an article by The Telegraph, Senator Joe Lieberman said releasing information to Wikileaks is “an attack on the national security of the United States” because certain information is meant only to be seen by a privilaged group. Unless the information is harmful for the public eye, what does the American Government have to hide? Perhaps sweeping issues under the rug in order to “protect” America isn’t doing the country any good. Allowing citizens to live in a bubble created and controlled by corporations and their power to censor media as well as the government, will only cultivate an illusion of a perfect world. By doing this it gives people a sense of false security and masks the underlying issues that are going on. Ignorance is not the way to solve problems. Maybe Wikileaks will be a window to shed some light on dusty issues that have been put on a shelf.

-Megan Chuang