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On 5 July 2012, WikiLeaks began publishing what it called Syria Files, a collection of more than two million emails from Syrian political figures and ministries and from companies including Finmeccanica and Brown Lloyd James dating from August 2006 to March 2012.

Release

The release of the files started on 5 July 2012. The database comprises 2,434,899 emails from 680 domains. At least 400,000 files are in Arabic and 68,000 files in Russian. Media organisations working with WikiLeaks on the release include the Lebanese daily Al Akhbar, the Egyptian daily Al-Masry Al-Youm, the Italian weekly L'espresso, the German public radio and television broadcaster Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR) of the ARD consortium, the French information website OWNI and the Spanish website Público. The United States news agency Associated Press (AP) was initially announced by WikiLeaks to be helping with the release. The claim was withdrawn by WikiLeaks and an AP spokesperson stated that AP was "reviewing the emails for possible coverage did not have any advance agreement on how might handle the material." According to Al Akhbar<>'s analysis, the Syria Files "illuminate—often in small ways—the nature of power within and the inner workings of certain political and economic elements in Syria". Al Akhbar states its confidence that "the emails are authentic, that the senders and receivers are mainly who they say they are".

Cases

Finmeccanica

According to emails published by WikiLeaks on 5 July 2012, the Italian conglomerate Finmeccanica increased its sale of mobile communications equipment to Syrian authorities during 2011, delivering 500 of these to the Damascus suburb Muadamia in May 2011, after the Syrian uprising had started, and sending engineers to Damascus in February 2012 to provide training in using the communications equipment in helicopter terminals, while the uprising continued.

Brown Lloyd James

In May 2011, the public relations firm Brown Lloyd James sent an email to Syrian authorities "on how to create the appearance it is pursuing reform while repressing the uprising", in Ynetnews' description of an email published by WikiLeaks on 6 July. Brown Lloyd James advised that "Refocusing the perception of outsiders and Syrians on reform will provide political cover to the generally sympathetic US Government, and will delegitimize critics at home and abroad. In our view, the President needs to communicate more often and with more finely-tuned messaging and the First Lady needs to get in the game. The absence of a public figure as popular, capable, and attuned to the hopes of the people as Her Excellency at such a critical moment is conspicuous. The key is to show strength and sympathy at once." The company recommended a public relations campaign to "create a reform 'echo-chamber' by developing media coverage outside of Syria that points to the President's difficult task of wanting reform" so that the "coverage rebound into Syria". Brown Lloyd James also recommended "countering ... the daily torrent of criticism and lies" by " 24-hour media monitoring and response system should be in place with assets in UK and US markets; social media sites and false sites; and a steady, constantly updated messaging document that contains talking points geared to latest developments."

Brown Lloyd James stated that the document was not paid for, was a "'last-ditch' effort 'to encourage a peaceful outcome rather than violence', and that it was sent to Asma al-Assad, the wife of President Bashar al-Assad.

Bashar and Asma al-Assad

On 8 July 2012, Al Akhbar presented an analysis of emails by President Bashar al-Assad and his wife Asma al-Assad. Al Akhbar listed the main topics of the al-Assad's Syria Files emails, and stated, "Viewed through the prism of the 'Syria Files', Syria’s first couple appear to be occupied with their representative capacities, with ample time devoted to the state of the palatial gardens, renovations, the stationary needs of low-level employees, but also issues related to bolstering the couple’s image, be it via charitable efforts or through political favors. During the first year of the uprising covered by the emails in the cache, the official and unofficial correspondence of the First Couple and ministry of presidential affairs present only few references to the ongoing tumult. ... But there is no real sense of tangible power on behalf of the First Couple present within the 'Syria Files.' What is revealed is only a façade, or perhaps fittingly, a brand calculated to cloak another system: the military-security machine, which remains as of yet tightly in control and far from prying eyes."

Commentary and reactions

WikiLeaks leader Julian Assange said of the files that "it helps us not merely to criticise one group or another, but to understand their interests, actions and thoughts. It is only through understanding this conflict that we can hope to resolve it."

References

1. ^ "List of documents - Release How the Finmeccanica technology is helping the Syrian regime". WikiLeaks. 5 July 2012. Archived from the original on 5 July 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
2. ^ Haas, Sa'ar (7 July 2012). "WikiLeaks: Western firm advised Assad on media spin". Ynetnews. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
3. ^ Rogin, Josh (6 July 2012). "Wikileaked: Lobbying firm tried to help Syrian regime polish image as violence raged". Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
4. ^ "Syria files: Wikileaks releases 2m 'embarrassing' emails". BBC News. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
5. "Syria Files". WikiLeaks. Archived from the original on 5 July 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
6. Greenberg, Andy (5 July 2012). "WikiLeaks Announces Massive Release With The 'Syria Files': 2.4 Million Emails From Syrian Officials And Companies". Forbes. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
7. "WikiLeaks begins publishing 2 million Damascus files". The Nation (Pakistani newspaper)/AFP. 6 July 2012. Archived from the original on 6 July 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
8. Calderone, Michael (5 July 2012). "WikiLeaks Removes Associated Press From List of Media 'Collaborators' On Syria Docs". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on 6 July 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
9. ^ "Asma and Bashar: Syria's British Royals". Al Akhbar (Lebanon). 8 July 2012. Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
10. "RE: Delivery of 500 Vehicular Radio VS3000 ( 1000 box)". WikiLeaks. 9 May 2011. Archived from the original on 5 July 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
11. Squires, Nick (5 July 2012). "WikiLeaks begins publishing tranche of Syria emails". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 5 July 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
12. Moschonas, Ilias (2 February 2012). "SELEX reply on urgent requests". WikiLeaks. Archived from the original on 6 July 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
13. Mackenzie, James (5 July 2012). "Finmeccanica sold radio equipment to Syria: report". Thomson Reuters. Archived from the original on 5 July 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
14. "Political Communications". WikiLeaks. 19 May 2011. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2012. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
15. ^ Brown Lloyd james (19 May 2011). "RE: Crisis Communications Analysis". WikiLeaks. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2012. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
16. "WikiLeaks releases Syria Files, almost 2.5 mln emails to be published". Russia Today (RT). 5 July 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2012.

External links

• The Syria Files
• Syria Files press conference
• Article Indymedia Calabria (IT)
• Article Indymedia UK (ENG)
• Selex Tetratac Syria Project

• Use dmy dates from July 2012
• WikiLeaks