Wikileaks release Iraq War Logs

That may be the case- and indeed making sure that there were adequate cut-outs in place between the source and the CEO would be a good idea.

It does remain that Manning is widely agreed to have been the source of the leaked information, and his defence is being paid for (or contributed to rather) by a whip round of concerned citizens.

Assange seems to be pretty silent on the whole thing- and certainly is not putting his hand in his corporate pocket.

That's a whole heap of assumptions you are making. Also, would Assange speaking up for Manning really help him or just make things worse? And how about the way Manning is being treated in a US jail? That's less noteworthy than these tabloid concerns about whether or not he is a weirdo or smug or whatever? Assange's motivation does not matter one whit.
Dicki does have a valid point about Assange's Russian colleague though.