Four Corners: Feb 14

Yet another story on Wikileaks?

Yes, but tonight on Four Corners, it isn’t all about Julian Assange, but Private Bradley Manning, the man who accessed the documents that has elevated Wikileaks to such prominence.

“The Forgotten Man,” tells the inside story of the security breach that enraged the American government and the man who made it all possible.

While WikiLeaks boss Julian Assange has been cast as a heroic champion of free speech, his ongoing expose of US foreign policy would not have been possible without the work of Private Bradley Manning. It was Manning who allegedly stole the classified documents published by WikiLeaks. It is Manning who now languishes in a US military prison.

Now reporter Quentin McDermott tells the inside story of Bradley Manning and his daring intelligence heist. David House is the only civilian allowed to visit Bradley Manning in jail. He describes the young soldier’s mental deterioration and his struggle to deal with long hours of confinement.

He tells the program:-“ the US government is just trying to put immense pressure on him in order to get him to crack open.”

In this week’s Four Corners we hear the only recording of Bradley Manning’s voice and we listen to the logs of alleged conversations with the man who ultimately betrayed him.

That man is Adrian Lamo. In an extraordinary interview he tells how he came to know Bradley Manning, claiming the young soldier openly confessed to him his role in the WikiLeaks’ scandal.

Four Corners also explores the disputes that have erupted inside WikiLeaks. A former insider has told the program how he held deep reservations about Julian Assange’s determination to keep releasing material that might compromise his source.

The program puts these accusations to the WikiLeaks boss.

There is little doubt American wants to punish Julian Assange. But to bring a case vital questions must be answered. How did Private Bradley Manning steal the classified material? How did he relay it to WikiLeaks? Did he do this of his own accord or did Julian Assange conspire with him to take the information?

“The Forgotten Man” airs Monday 14th February at 8.30 pm on ABC1.