Twitter is censoring the discussion of #Wikileaks

No I think you misunderstood, Manning is a different story, but wikileaks stole nothing. They like the Guardian and the NY Times simply published (they are in fact working together as partners).

Oh no, yes, I know. I should have made it more clear that, as far as I'm concerned wiki leaks is acting as a media outlet. They definitely didn't steal anything.

For me, it's not about Wikileaks specifically, it is about any media publishing things that shouldn't be available to the general public.  And it's about military/national security issues...not generalized government issues (like how a politician voted).  Watergate and criminals who illegally over-stay their visas are not on the same level as key military locations and the like. 

I'm not saying torturing prisoners is ok but I can see why the rest of the world could look at things like that and think, "Their tax money goes to making sure terrorists who kill thousands of innocent Americans are treated well...while they have American citizens homeless and starving on the streets".  (Another issue, I know...but I can see that angle being played up by people who hate Americans to incite support)

I'm not for shutting down Wikileaks or North Korean style censorship.  I am for prosecuting people who illegally obtain classified documents and/or publish them. 

Today it's 'harmless' information, tomorrow it's details of a planned ambush in war terrority. 

On another note:  I read somewhere (not sure if it's true or not) that Wikileaks (whoevery 'they' are) have threatened to start releasing bank information from all around the world if the founder isn't released.  Way to keep your honor.

It is not Wikileaks itself doing anything. It is the group Anonymous.

It is not Wikileaks itself doing anything. It is the group Anonymous.

They are the ones DDOSing the sites, but Assange has intimated that they have received documents that reveal some stuff about some major banks. NOT people's bank details, but rather emails between top brass and etc.

Yes, which is quite different, and again I would say essential to maintaining ethical standards for institutions that can't seem to police themselves. This is a good interview with Assange: http://blogs.forbes.com/andygreenberg/2010/11/29/an-interview-with-wikileaks-julian-assange/

If I could modify slightly my stance that Assange has broken no laws....

First I am not a lawyer, but having read up on the legal implications of the leaks, I am going to venture a prediction that Assange will be charged under several US Acts/legal thingies. It is actually quite hard to find independent legal discussion on the subject as it seems every 'expert' holds a personal view. 'He did a bad thing and should be charged' or 'he is a hero the laws don't apply'. These from legal professors and ex-prosecutors, etc.

But one guy was saying that it hardly matters as US prosecutors often press charges on dicey grounds, if for no other reason than to seek clarification. Obviously the Espionage Act is weak and outdated, but as they see a hole in the system they will seek to use Assange as a way to find out its limits, and then they can better plug the hole. So Assange is charged, extradited, the lower Court knowing it is a big issue finds him guilty knowing it will be appealed to SCOTUS. SOTUS to my knowledge hasn't issued a strong opinion on the matter - the Pentagon papers case was not actually fully resolved.

Critical questions, in my opinion, relate to whether a website (Assange) is a journalistic endeavor, whether the First Amendment applies and whether the Act can be applied to foreign nationals operating outside the country. If prosecutors include charges relating to stolen property they will run into other challenges such as the fact that government documents are not copywritten (copyrighted?). Before any of this can take place there will be a quite difficult extradition process, as there are obvious political elements involved.

Just thoughts...