mr. putin's batman. french prime minister sarkozy is called an emperrer with no clothes. italian prime minister berlusconi, feckless, vain and ineffective. north korea's kim jong-il, a flabby old chap. embarrassing to be sure, but not a threat to national security. >> in my conversations, at least one of my counterparts said to me, well, don't worry about it, you should see what we say about you. >> reporter: today, attorney general eric holder said that crimes have been committed with these leaks. and, diane, he announced that the justice department has launched an investigation to try to figure out how it all happened and to hold those responsible accountable. >> well, thanks, john. of course, that's the question asked all day long, how could this happen? at the center of it all, of course, the mysterious, defiant editor in chief, julian assange, who considers himself a revolutionary, while others condemn him as reckless about innocent human life. he has been behind doors today but he e-mailed with our jim sciutto. who is in london tonight. jim. >> reporter: that's righ