15 June 2010. Based on spelling errors and syntax, this message does not appear to be written by Julian Assange, perhaps by someone on his behalf. Could be a forgery to gather data on WL supporters. To protect identity of supporters, WL is usually careful to authenticate its communications. However, security may be lax due to the furor roiling WL into losing control of opsec discipline -- the very technique Bradley Manning asserts led to the Army's negligence into protecting its assets from him. Not that what Lamo and Paulsen claim Manning chatted has been authenticated. More likely, the usual threats, lies, disinfo, exaggeration and braggardy are being spread to advance seemingly competing interests. Seemingly. Could be mutual back-scratching, the secretkeepers' and secret peddlers' most-favored operation. No threat, no need for secrets, no market for leaks. Best to work together to fleece the gullible with national security confidence gaming.

Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2010 12:05:11 +0200
From: 
To: cypherpunks[at]al-qaeda.net
Subject: WikiLeaks may be under attack

----- Forwarded message from WikiLeaks <wl-office[at]sunshinepress.org> -----

From: WikiLeaks <wl-office[at]sunshinepress.org>
Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2010 11:55:00 +0100 (BST)
To: 
Subject: WikiLeaks may be under attack


WikiLeaks may be under attack.

You were generous enough to write to us, but we have not had the labor resources 
to respond.

Your support is important to us. Please read all of this email to understand what 
is going on. We apologize for not getting back to you before. It is not through any 
lack of interest on our part, but an enforced lack of resources.

One of our alleged sources, a young US intelligence analyst, Bradley Manning, has 
been detained and shipped to a US military prison in Kuwait, where he is being held 
without trail. Mr. Manning is alleged to have acted according to his conscious and 
leaked to us the Collateral Murder video and the video of a massacre that took place 
in Afghanistan last year at Garani.

The Garani massacre, which we are still working on, killed over 100 people, mostly 
children.

Mr. Manning allegedly also sent us 260,000 classified US Department cables, reporting 
on the actions of US Embassy's engaging in abusive actions all over the world. We 
have denied the allegation, but the US government is acting as if the allegation is 
true and we do have a lot of other material that exposes human rights abuses by the 
United States government.

Mr. Manning was allegedly exposed after talking to an unrelated "journalist" who then 
worked with the US government to detain him.

Some background on the Manning case:

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/06/11/transcript-daniel-ellsberg-says-he-
fears-us-might-assasinate-wikileaks-founder/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradley_Manning
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/06/leak/
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/06/wikileaks-chat/
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/06/state-department-anxious/
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2010/06/143011.htm

[ note that there are some questions about the Wired reportage, see: http://www.
boingboing.net/2010/06/13/video-wikileaks-foun.html#comment-809677 ]

WikiLeaks a small organization going through enormous growth and operating in an 
adverserial, high-security environment which can make communication time consuming 
and the acquisition of new staff and volunteers, also difficult since they require 
high levels of trust.

To try and deal with our growth and the current difficult situation, we want to get 
you to work together with our other supporters to set up a "Friends of WikiLeaks" 
group in your area. We have multiple supporters in most countries and would like to 
see them be a strong and independent force. 

Please write to friends[at]sunshinepress.org if you are interested in helping with 
Friends of WikiLeaks in your area. You will receive further instructions.

We also have significant unexpected legal costs (for example flying a legal team 
to Kuwait, video production. Collateral Murder production costs were $50,000 all 
up).

Any financial contributions will be of IMMEDIATE assistance.

http://wikileaks.org/wiki/Special:Support

Please donate and tell the world that you have done so. Encourage all your friends 
to follow the example you set, after all, courage is contagious.

Julian Assange
Editor in Chief
WIKILEAKS

----- End forwarded message -----