CNN: On WikiLeaks scandal, hacker says he didn't want to be a 'coward'

[Renew Deal]

(CNN) -- A California hacker said he doesn't regret going to federal officials to show them alleged confessions an Army private made about leaking more than 90,000 documents that reveal secret information about U.S. war strategy.

Adrian Lamo spoke to CNN from the Sacramento Public Library, where he was trying to get away from reporters and a throng of people who, he said, are angry with him. He says he has received death threats in person and on his Facebook page and Twitter messages from people who feel like he betrayed Pfc. Bradley Manning.

"I went to the right authorities, because it seemed incomprehensible that someone could leak that massive amount of data and not have it endanger human life," Lamo said. "If I had acted for my own comfort and convenience and sat on my hands with that information, and I had endangered national security ... I would have been the worst kind of coward."
<snip>

Lamo said he strongly suspects that Manning did not act alone.

"As far as I know, he conducted the database himself but got technical assistance from another source," Lamo said. " was aware of one other person in military engaged in accessing databases without authorization."

Lamo refused to elaborate on why he believed this.
<snip>

According to the a version of the chats published in the Washington Post, the messenger believed to be Manning seems despondent, lonely and frustrated. Manning allegedly wrote: "my family is non-supportive . . . im losing my job . . . losing my career options . . . i dont have much more except for this laptop, some books, and a hell of a story."

Manning also is thought to have written: "i mean, i was never noticed ...regularly ignored... except when i had something essential... then it was back to "bring me coffee, then sweep the floor...i never quite understood that...felt like i was an abused work horse..."

Lamo said he felt sympathy for Manning, calling him a "genuine, nice boy."

"He struck me as someone who was easily led," Lamo said. "And I think others took advantage of that idealism and naïvete."

When Lamo was Manning's age, he was in trouble for hacking, scared of facing years in prison.

"I got the same chance to reinvent myself that I hope Bradley Manning gets," Lamo said, adding that he hoped the world would see Manning one day and not immediately think about the WikiLeaks fiasco.

Lamo said he's ready to testify in court if that's necessary.

"I'm not going to run out on this process," he said. "I know what Mr. Manning did, and actions have consequences. Mine do. His do. I've accepted mine, and in time, he will accept his."

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/07/29/lamo.profile.wikileaks/index.html?hpt=C2

It's worth reading the entire thing. Unfortunately I can't post it all.

[atreides1]

1. The name fits, Lamo!!!

I'll bet he thought he'd never get caught and when he was hacking.

"Lamo also told Salon in an interview that he had told Manning he was an ordained minister. He said he could treat Manning's talk as a confession."

Another reason to put your trust in a "man of god"!

Lamo is just another Linda Tripp, being told something in confidence and then beccoming the whistle blower, for fame a fortune.
Unfortunately for Mr. Lamo, fame isn't all it's cracked up to be, and just think how the defense is going to rake him over the coals during the trial.

This should be interesting.

[Renew Deal]

3. Not exactly

Lewinsky knew Tripp. Manning didn't know Lamo. And think about it from Lamo's point of view. He doesn't want to be in trouble with the law again. Just knowing about this might have been bad for him.

[bemildred]

2. Boy, this sure sounds like horseshit.

Not sure what kind of horseshit, but horseshit indeed.