"What is being done to Mr Snowden and to Mr Julian Assange - for making or facilitating disclosures in the public interest - is an assault against the people." What exactly is being "done" to Julian Assange? The only reason he's stuck in the embassy is because of rape accusations.
Do you really believe that the governments involved would be going after this case so hard if it was really about those allegations? Permanently stationing police outside the embassy day and night costing over $5 million?
"What is being done to Mr Snowden and to Mr Julian Assange - for making or facilitating disclosures in the public interest - is an assault against the people." What exactly is being "done" to Julian Assange? The only reason he's stuck in the embassy is because of rape accusations.
Q: "What exactly is being "done" to Julian Assange?"
A: "rape accusations"
Sometimes you need to look no further than your own comment to answer your own question.
So cute how Wikileaks is always trying to insert themselves into this story.
Did you even read their statement? They're the ones trying to provide him safe passage to a place of refuge. Remind me again, as its a common refrain, how shamelessly self-promoting WikiLeaks is? To my knowledge, everyone involved has made great personal sacrifices (basically given up their lives) to expose the truth to an indifferent public. Bradley Manning has been locked away for years, denied almost all human int…
They do when they knowingly break the laws and run away from the consequences like Snowden and Assange have (Assange's even more appalling given the rape allegations he also ran away from). Manning, at least, didn't do that.
I stand corrected about Wikileaks role in this particular aspect of the story as they do seem to actually be helping him elude justice. But they seemed to have nothing to do with his actual leaks, yet I've seen multiple 'statements' from them on the matter that seemed to only serve as a way to remind people of their existence. At least now they have an actual reason, I guess.
Did you even read their statement? They're the ones trying to provide him safe passage to a place of refuge. Remind me again, as its a common refrain, how shamelessly self-promoting WikiLeaks is? To my knowledge, everyone involved has made great personal sacrifices (basically given up their lives) to expose the truth to an indifferent public. Bradley Manning has been locked away for years, denied almost all human int…
They do when they knowingly break the laws and run away from the consequences like Snowden and Assange have (Assange's even more appalling given the rape allegations he also ran away from). Manning, at least, didn't do that. I stand corrected about Wikileaks role in this particular aspect of the story as they do seem to actually be helping him elude justice. But they seemed to have nothing to do with his actual leaks…
At this point, if Wikileaks doesn't publish the docs Snowden has, this whole incident is a farce.
Why is this trip of Snowden made into a media event? The Aeroflot flight number was public! Is this to counter a secret rendition attempt? Did we wake-up in a world with 007 stuff happening to real computer nerds, not just high-paid actors?
The entire Snowden hoax is a media event, a PR campaign to cover up the fact that he spied on the US for foreign powers. It's the most effective case of spin and damage control that I've ever seen.
"What is being done to Mr Snowden and to Mr Julian Assange - for making or facilitating disclosures in the public interest - is an assault against the people." What exactly is being "done" to Julian Assange? The only reason he's stuck in the embassy is because of rape accusations.
Perhaps it is a cultural difference, and if so forgive me. But before the Assange affair would you have ever used the phrase "rape accusations" to describe a woman suggesting that the condom used in consensual sex may not have ripped in an accidental manner? If one uses such a broad definition of malfeasance, god knows how many notorious crimes I could have been accused of in my lifetime.
"What is being done to Mr Snowden and to Mr Julian Assange - for making or facilitating disclosures in the public interest - is an assault against the people." What exactly is being "done" to Julian Assange? The only reason he's stuck in the embassy is because of rape accusations.
Perhaps it is a cultural difference, and if so forgive me. But before the Assange affair would you have ever used the phrase "rape accusations" to describe a woman suggesting that the condom used in consensual sex may not have ripped in an accidental manner? If one uses such a broad definition of malfeasance, god knows how many notorious crimes I could have been accused of in my lifetime.
Sweden's a different country with different standards, but you're also wildly over-simplifying.
Did you even read their statement? They're the ones trying to provide him safe passage to a place of refuge. Remind me again, as its a common refrain, how shamelessly self-promoting WikiLeaks is? To my knowledge, everyone involved has made great personal sacrifices (basically given up their lives) to expose the truth to an indifferent public. Bradley Manning has been locked away for years, denied almost all human int…
They do when they knowingly break the laws and run away from the consequences like Snowden and Assange have (Assange's even more appalling given the rape allegations he also ran away from). Manning, at least, didn't do that. I stand corrected about Wikileaks role in this particular aspect of the story as they do seem to actually be helping him elude justice. But they seemed to have nothing to do with his actual leaks…
I'm afraid your understanding of justice and my own differ greatly. It's probably an insurmountable impasse. To me, exposing a massive surveillance apparatus is a laudable act of heroism, and he doesn't deserve this kind of condemnation.
What if, just maybe, the laws you defend so adamantly are unjust? What about the consequences for all of us that live under them? Why not defend those that tell us the truth?
> …because the Swedish government can make no such promise, as extradition is a matter for the judiciary This is a half truth. The Swedish government can overrule the judiciary to prevent extradition, and have on multiple occasions. They government have chosen not to offer such guarantees. Though frankly, a bigger concern is the prosecutors insistence on not questioning him in the UK and her claim she somehow can't,…
Within a month, an extradition request was made official for Snowden. But in 2 years time, no such thing for Assange.
Then there should be no problem with the Swedish government offering a guarantee against extradition.
In your opinion what were some of the best benefits of having diplomatic immunity?
I used to have diplomatic immunity as well. Getting to ignore parking tickets and other fines, police officers treating you like royalty, no security checkpoints or lines at the airport (and a very comfy ambassador's lounge), complimentary upgrades to first class and not having to pay taxes (sales or otherwise) at the host country are the first that come to mind.