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Sweden tried to drop Assange extradition in 2013

theguardian.com

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Re: Sweden tried to drop Assange extradition in 2013

#51

Post by cuckcuckspruce »

jacquesm wrote: post #16
jvehent wrote: post #8

This is much more complex than a lone hacker being persecuted by an oppressive US government. There is suspicion that Wikileaks is one arm of Russian propaganda, and while I do not know if this is true or not, it does turn the entire Assange story into an intricate mess of international politics and power plays.

> There is suspicion that Wikileaks is one arm of Russian propaganda You can sufficiently explain all WL actions by simply assuming that they will do whatever it takes to hurt US interests.

Wouldn't you be a little salty if the runner up for President of the United States once asked if she could order your extrajudicial killing because she didn't like what you were saying about her?

Re: Sweden tried to drop Assange extradition in 2013

#52

Post by IntronExon »

felipelemos wrote: post #24

This whole situation is a laugh at the "democratic freedom" situation that we live today. At least in some countries ruled by a dictatorship there is no such hypocrisy.

Oh yeah, dictatorships are famously irony-free.

cough Democratic People’s Republic of Korea cough

Re: Sweden tried to drop Assange extradition in 2013

#53

Post by untog »

randcraw wrote: post #37
untog wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's one way of looking at it. Another: a warrant was issued for his arrest in relation to a crime that was accused. He used a foreign embassy to avoid that arrest. Giving up would not be setting a fantastic precedent for future alleged criminals who do not wish to answer questions. (EDIT: changed "committed" to "accused" as per discussion below)

Crime? I'm aware only that a charge was made against Assange by an individual for an infraction that had nothing to do with Wikileaks. This is strikingly convenient since it bypasses the introduction of any Wikileak-related evidence in Assange's prosecution, and thus prohibits it. In light of Assange's political activity, and now the astonishing level of CPS persistence in pursuing him, the Swedish charge against him…

He was charged with rape and molestation. Those are crimes. But if you want to call them "infractions" I suppose that is up to you.

To look at your logic in the reverse direction, you are basically implying that in light of Assange's political activity he cannot be credibly accused of any crime, because it will be a false accusation trumped up by state actors.

That doesn't stand up to any logical scrutiny. Just because it could be the case doesn't mean that it is. It doesn't mean it isn't either, but you can't just assume it is because it is "strikingly convenient".

Re: Sweden tried to drop Assange extradition in 2013

#54

Post by alex_hitchins »

gaius wrote: post #15

The Lauri Love case proves there’s zero probability of Assange being extradited to the US. He’s wanted here for skipping bail. The government can’t let the precedent be set that you can get away with it, or everyone would do it.

I completely agree. It would set a terrible example. Thing I find annoying the most, is that as there is no US extradition warrant placed, if he did come out he'd probably do 18 months for missing bail and be released. If the US wanted him, really wanted him then they would have a warrant out now for him.

EDIT : Down voters - why are you down voting? Are you down voting because I've made an error or breached the posting guidelines or just because you don't agree with me?

Re: Sweden tried to drop Assange extradition in 2013

#55

Post by toyg »

guitarbill wrote: post #47
gaius wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's the penalty for that crime Max 12 months in prison. The ONLY way Assange’s actions make sense is if he expects to be found guilty in Sweden.

Given the eagerness of the CPS to prosecute, seems like paranoia was a good strategy, no? There's some hidden agenda here, and it's hard to believe it's something as mundane as CPS bloke doesn't want a new case before he retires when emails conveniently get "deleted". I think you can expect better from lawyers. But it's especially galling for a lawyer who works for the government, they should have procedures to retai…

I don't think he was "fleeing". When he left Sweden, the issue seemed closed, and he was just going on about his life - had tons of contacts in the UK so he went there to continue his work. He was constantly jumping from country to country before this; it just happened that he was in the UK when Ms. Ny escalated proceedings.

But yeah, we've seen over and over in the last decade that the UK is one of the last countries you want to be in, if you have anything to do with cybersecurity and digital rights. Assange, the Guardian computers after Snowden, the Snoopers' Charter, DNS censorship...

Re: Sweden tried to drop Assange extradition in 2013

#56

Post by ryanlol »

lancepioch wrote: post #48
randcraw wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think 'farcical' appeared in the rear-view mirror years ago. The word that springs to my mind more closely resembles 'Dreyfus'. Another alternative (to a coffin) is the expiration of the statute of limitations on the charges against Assange. Britain may choose to refile/renew them indefinitely, but it now appears that they'll do so alone, without collaboration from Sweden. I think eventually the political odor of t…

I thought that the statue of limitations requires you to not leave or flee. Since he's in the embassy, isn't he technically on foreign soil?

I'm not familiar with the UK system, but this is certainly not the norm for western legal systems.

Re: Sweden tried to drop Assange extradition in 2013

#57

Post by pas »

jvehent wrote: post #8

This is much more complex than a lone hacker being persecuted by an oppressive US government. There is suspicion that Wikileaks is one arm of Russian propaganda, and while I do not know if this is true or not, it does turn the entire Assange story into an intricate mess of international politics and power plays.

This is much older though, started (as in WikiLeaks become a sort of household name) with the release of US military fuckup videos in Iraq, and the US handling it like dumbasses, then the diplomatic cables.

Though they also published climate scientists' emails, which was not a sign of great rationality on behalf of Assagne.

Re: Sweden tried to drop Assange extradition in 2013

#58

Post by dpark »

toyg wrote: post #25
gaius wrote: post #15

The Lauri Love case proves there’s zero probability of Assange being extradited to the US. He’s wanted here for skipping bail. The government can’t let the precedent be set that you can get away with it, or everyone would do it.

“Everyone” is not going to have an embassy aiding and abetting you; and any diplomat or spy worth his/her salt already has procedures to skip the country. The principle is a fig leaf on top of a political issue. This situation will not change until a different party gets in power, carrying a different view of the UK’s relationship with their traditional military allies.

> and any diplomat ... worth his/her salt already has procedures to skip the country.

It’s called diplomatic immunity. Diplomats don’t have secret plans for bailing out of countries because they don’t need them.

Diplomats don’t hide in embassies. They walk onto airplanes and fly home.

Re: Sweden tried to drop Assange extradition in 2013

#59

Post by 23443463454 »

It's quite a lopsided relationship humans have developed with the elite that control their lives and use the mechanisms of facade democracies and process to appease and distract those who want to believe that things are legitimate and honest and good, when reality is the opposite.

The Obama administration and it's origins in the globalist elite cabal trying to reestablish elite domination over the whole planet is just a clear example of that dynamic. The vast majority of people seem to think that the Obama administration was some sort of force for good, when reality is quite the opposite and the vast majority of humanity was being (and quite possibly still is being) led to a horrible outcome. Reality simply is when you relinquish power and control over yourself and your live's choices, you will never get that back and it is far more likely than not that those you entrust with control and power over your life will not be making choices that are in your best interest.

Re: Sweden tried to drop Assange extradition in 2013

#60

Post by [deleted] »

randcraw wrote: post #4

The persistence of the British CPS in pursuing Assange shows how tight the militaries are between the US and Commonwealth nations. AFAIK, Britain had no personal stake in Wikileaks / Assange. But because America badly wanted to suppress Wikileaks and its ilk from future revelations, Britain has persisted in its surrogate prosecution of Assange. I wonder, is there no blowback among Brits for the Crown so baldly adopti…

[deleted]
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