Manning garners support from nearly half of Britons over civilian deaths video but fails to sustain support over subsequent leaks
47% of British adults think it was right for WikiLeaks to publish the video of the 2007 US airstrikes that killed civilians in Baghdad, while a third (33%) believe it was wrong, recent YouGov research shows.
The survey finds that although more than a quarter (26%) believe WikiLeaks was correct in publishing classified military reports from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, more than half (52%) believe it was wrong. Similarly, while just under three in the (29%) believe the organisation was right to reveal reports from US embassies almost a plurality (47%) disagree with the release of the information from the embassies.
Bradley Manning leaked classified information through the WikiLeaks website and was recently sentenced to 90 years in jail. YouGov’s research finds that a plurality (46%) believe he knew what he was doing when he exposed the information. Just under a fifth (18%) believe Manning could have been exploited by WikiLeaks, while over a third (36%) are unsure of his relationship with the organisation
Julian Assange
Meanwhile, the British public’s view of WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, is less lenient. YouGov’s research finds that 40% are negative about Assange, compared to 29% who hold positive views. Assange is subject to a European Arrest Warrant and is currently seeking asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London. If he leaves, he will be extradited to Sweden to face sex charges. Of those questioned, more than six in ten (61%) believe that Assange should be extradited and 17% disagree.
Image from Getty.
