Anonymous did instead, I think. (Not sure if that was the same documents though...)
They weren't, if memory serves. I think Applebaum (ioerror) confirmed it, but I'm not sure.
I can imagine the release coming after sufficient interest in the current legal proceedings against Assange die down, such that the leak obtains full attention.
I agree. WL has been way smarter about PR lately... They are actually defining the message now rather than letting the rest of the media define them.