[nirvana]

Julian's situation seems very weird to me, given the stories about how secretive he was, how he kept in hiding, etc. At the same time, he was very clearly and publicly the face of wikileaks.

Why did he not simply remain anonymous? All that Wikileaks has done could be done without having a public figurehead, right?

Being public seems to have been the tactical error. (or was he trying to be anonymous, but got outed at some point and then given that he couldn't be anonymous anymore he decided to embrace it?)

[danielweber]

According to the people at the New York Times he worked with, he became transformed by his celebrity.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/30/magazine/30Wikileaks-t.htm... goes into their history. I'm tempted to quote a few paragraphs but it wouldn't be fair since there is a very large picture being painted.

[gringomorcego]

Hahahahahahahaha.

Guess what Bill Keller also wrote?

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/08/opinion/the-i-can-t-believ...

[iand]

My recollection was that Assange chose to be a figurehead to allow the other wikileaks members to remain anonymous. If that's true then it's been a superbly successful strategy.

[stfu]

At one point people fearing for their life have to make the decision if they want to become protected either by anonymity or by celebrity. While his high profile makes him an easy media target, it reduces the probability of unfortunate "accidents". Plus his public image should give him certain securities - such as raising money or awareness - that he would not have otherwise.

[OzzyB]

>All that Wikileaks has done could be done without having a public figurehead, right?

I say no.

Taking a feather from Rock 'n Roll, you need a front-man.

[planetguy]

Because fame and ego. Assange is a weird-looking socially awkward epsilon-male, but make him the figurehead of anti-Americanism and apparently a bunch of Swedish leftist chicks want to bang him. At least once. As long as he puts on a condom.

In all seriousness, if you find yourself asking "Why did this man choose fame, glory and groupies over the good of the cause he claims to espouse" then you don't know much about human psychology.

[ForrestN]

It must be nice to live in a world with such simple people!