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# A Review: 'We Steal Secrets … The Story of WikiLeaks'
May 27 2013
Written by Alexa O’Brien.
[](https://www.addtoany.com/share)
FIRST PERSON *- They labeled me an enemy of the state, conducted character assassination, engaged in the politics of personal destruction.* **- Thomas Drake**, NSA Whistleblower
Interviewed twice, Drake was not in Gibney's film.
After transcribing the last pre-trial session of the legal proceedings against Bradley Manning at Fort Meade on Tuesday, I [attended](http://blogs.rollcall.com/after-dark/crowd-roars-at-we-steal-secrets-screening/) a viewing of Alex Gibney's latest film, "We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks" in Washington, D.C.
For a year and a half, I've produced the only available transcripts of Manning's secret prosecution. I've provided some of only analysis available on his case, a forensically reconstructed appellate exhibit list, witness profiles, and a searchable database of the available court record.
Because of my familiarity with the proceedings and investigative work, I've been able to 'un-redact' a [selection](http://www.alexaobrien.com/secondsight/wikileaks/bradley_manning/us_v_pfc_legal/witness_lists/us_v_pfc_manning_legal_filings_defense_article_32_witness_list.html) of court documents, which I have subsequently published on my web site.
I have also been at work compiling a database, to launch shortly, containing a data map of the U.S. Government's investigation of WikiLeaks-- the largest criminal probe ever conducted into a publisher and its sources.
I was recently awarded a generous grant by the Freedom of the Press Foundation for my work covering Bradley Manning's upcoming trial, which begins June 3. My work was short listed for the 2013 Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism, the most prestigious journalism prize in the United Kingdom-- for which I am unspeakably grateful.
I am aware of the escalating war by the U.S. Government on the First Amendment. As a result of my work as an independent journalist covering the Global War on Terror; the 2011 revolutions across the Middle East and North Africa; and my extramural activities helping to organize the original occupation of Wall Street in New York and five other American cities on September 17, 2011, the U.S. Government and private security contractors attempted to falsely link me and a campaign finance reform group, which I helped found, to Al Qaeda and 'cyber-terrorists'.
I subsequently became party to a [lawsuit ](http://www.stopndaa.org/)brought against the Obama administration for Section 1021(b)(2) of the National Defense Authorization Act FY2012 with author Chris Hedges and five other plaintiffs. Section 1021(b)(2) allows for the indefinite detention without trial or charges of anyone, who by mere suspicion alone are deemed by the Executive to be terrorist sympathizers.
My testimony and submissions were central to U.S. District Judge Katherine Forrest's ruling granting a permanent injunction on Section 1021(b)(2). In June, the 2nd Circuit is expected to rule on the Department of Justice's midnight appeal of Forrest's September 2012 injunction. *[(Read the rest … including inside info on the probe into WikiLeaks and more … here)](http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/05/26-4%20%20)*
-cw
CityWatch
Vol 11 Issue 43
Pub: May 28, 2013
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