Risky Business talks with Lamo.
Just listened to Risky Business #154 a few days ago, and I am now even more disappointed with Lamo. Not only is he unable to sound trustworthy in his responses, he is completely incapable of handling criticism. What would he expect when giving an interview? A nice pat on the back and a warm cup of cocoa with marshmallows and whipped cream?
The interview was very good though; thank you Patrcik Gray. Lamo was asked the right questions and judging by how he answered them makes me question the reasoning behind reporting Manning even more. His reasoning was really poor and he sometimes sounded very evasive. It was obvious he was not prepared for the interview at all.
The attacks on Wikileaks at the end of the interview by Patrick Gray was extremely unprofessional and sounded more like a personal retaliation— as he knows Poulsen —than constructive criticism. I agree that Wikileaks’ comment on Poulsen was ad hominem, but how would you react if one of your most important informants got outed? I would be fuming with anger if that happened to me.
Gray also ends up with a borderline ad hominem attack on Wikileaks which is extremely unprofessional; if you are going to tell someone to act professional, see to it you do it yourself too. At least get a statement from Wikileaks regarding that statement they made about Poulsen.
I have also read my fair share of comments on Poulsen’s own articles where people criticise his researching and writing skills; so just because the interviewer knows Poulsen doesn’t make him immune to criticism.
Personally I find it very convenient that Lamo knows Poulsen and gives him the exclusive; with that said, I think it might be some truth to the claims that Lamo did this for attention.
As scepticism writes in a comment:
This is starting to get ridiculous. What breaking news will Kevin Poulsen reveal next about “ex-hacker” Adrian Lamo?
That Assange threatened to publish his shoe size on Wikileaks?
This whole story stinks. If there is an ongoing investigation, Lamo would never be allowed to reveal even parts of his logs to wired. Unless this media buzz is wanted.
This is starting to look more and more like a setup. Wikileak’s reputation is harmed, and Poulsen et al profit also, by breaking a news story and bringing attention to wired whenever Lamo has digestive problems.
I understand that both have a special relationship, but having Poulsen put out “article” after “article” about Lamo is starting to look really cheap.
And this whole email is looking as faked as it gets.
I don’t know assange, but I think he is intelligent enough to know that Lamo is a snitch, and that he would be safe to assume that Lamo would forward his email to wired as soon as he can press the right button.
Why should Assange bother to try to arrange a strategy with Lamo?
Lamo and Poulsen has no credibility as I see it after this. They are both taking the media for a ride.
I am also interested to know by what definition Risky Business go by saying that Wikileaks is not journalist organisation? I can claim that Risky Business is not proper journalism, but it is not worth anything if I have nothing to back that claim up with.
It is also funny to hear that Gray says that you can not mix journalism and activism. Are you serious?! Journalists should speak the truth and bring the unedited truth to the public! Ever heard about investigative journalism before? You know, journalists who go to great lengths to expose something that someone tries to coverup.
If you are going to criticise someone, do it with the facts you have at hand. Relying solely on your own biased personal opinions and anecdotal evidence doesn’t really cut it. At least portray a personal opinion as that, don’t portray it as a fact.
