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UK threaten to enter Ecuadorian embassy and arrest Julian Assange

bbc.co.uk

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Re: UK threaten to enter Ecuadorian embassy and arrest Julian Assange

#11

Post by k-mcgrady »

mindcrime wrote: post #2

Isn't that basically an act of war? Or something just short of it? I can't remember another time when one country threatened to enter another country's embassy without an invitation... Have there been other cases like this in recent history??

From the article:

"The law which Britain is threatening to invoke in the Assange case is the Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act 1987.

It allows the UK to revoke the diplomatic immunity of an embassy on UK soil, which would potentially allow police to enter the building to arrest Mr Assange."

If they do that it wouldn't be an act of war, it would be legal. It definitely sets a terrible precedent though and even if it's legal Ecuador might interpret it as an act of war.

Re: UK threaten to enter Ecuadorian embassy and arrest Julian Assange

#12

Post by [deleted] »

k-mcgrady wrote: post #11
mindcrime wrote: post #2

Isn't that basically an act of war? Or something just short of it? I can't remember another time when one country threatened to enter another country's embassy without an invitation... Have there been other cases like this in recent history??

From the article: "The law which Britain is threatening to invoke in the Assange case is the Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act 1987. It allows the UK to revoke the diplomatic immunity of an embassy on UK soil, which would potentially allow police to enter the building to arrest Mr Assange." If they do that it wouldn't be an act of war, it would be legal. It definitely sets a terrible precedent though and even if i…

[deleted]

Re: UK threaten to enter Ecuadorian embassy and arrest Julian Assange

#13

Post by jere »

mindcrime wrote: post #2

Isn't that basically an act of war? Or something just short of it? I can't remember another time when one country threatened to enter another country's embassy without an invitation... Have there been other cases like this in recent history??

This may not answer your question, but it's somewhat related as it kind of did lead to war against Iran (at least that's what wikipedia tells me).

>The Iran hostage crisis was a diplomatic crisis between Iran and the United States where 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days from November 4, 1979, to January 20, 1981, after a group of Islamist students and militants took over the American Embassy in Tehran in support of the Iranian Revolution.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_hostage_crisis

Re: UK threaten to enter Ecuadorian embassy and arrest Julian Assange

#14

Post by philwelch »

billswift wrote: post #4

If the UK really is threatening that, then that is more evidence that the Swedish charges are politically motivated rather than being from an actual crime.

It could always be both. Assange is probably persona non grata to the British authorities, but even if you wanted to manufacture some cause to imprison him, you wouldn't go for fabricating a rape charge in Sweden. At most, the British authorities are reacting opportunistically to an otherwise valid, legitimate charge.

Re: UK threaten to enter Ecuadorian embassy and arrest Julian Assange

#15

Post by philwelch »

[deleted] wrote: post #5
billswift wrote: post #4

If the UK really is threatening that, then that is more evidence that the Swedish charges are politically motivated rather than being from an actual crime.

[deleted]

I would use the same terms to describe any fugitive on the run from rape charges. What on earth does Sweden have to gain or lose from this? This is just conspiracy theory.

Re: UK threaten to enter Ecuadorian embassy and arrest Julian Assange

#16

Post by philwelch »

mindcrime wrote: post #2

Isn't that basically an act of war? Or something just short of it? I can't remember another time when one country threatened to enter another country's embassy without an invitation... Have there been other cases like this in recent history??

I can't remember another time when a country used the diplomatic immunity of their embassy to harbor a fugitive from rape charges. We're in fairly uncharted territory.

Re: UK threaten to enter Ecuadorian embassy and arrest Julian Assange

#17

Post by pbhjpbhj »

k-mcgrady wrote: post #11
mindcrime wrote: post #2

Isn't that basically an act of war? Or something just short of it? I can't remember another time when one country threatened to enter another country's embassy without an invitation... Have there been other cases like this in recent history??

From the article: "The law which Britain is threatening to invoke in the Assange case is the Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act 1987. It allows the UK to revoke the diplomatic immunity of an embassy on UK soil, which would potentially allow police to enter the building to arrest Mr Assange." If they do that it wouldn't be an act of war, it would be legal. It definitely sets a terrible precedent though and even if i…

Do you honestly believe Ecuador will initiate hostilities against NATO in order to protect a foreign citizen from due legal process in that persons home country?

It would surely be less effort and risk to lift him from the roof by helicopter and whisk him to a waiting jet James Bond style.

The second option seems far more likely to me.

Re: UK threaten to enter Ecuadorian embassy and arrest Julian Assange

#19

Post by billswift »

philwelch wrote: post #15
[deleted] wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[deleted]

I would use the same terms to describe any fugitive on the run from rape charges. What on earth does Sweden have to gain or lose from this? This is just conspiracy theory.

>This is just conspiracy theory.

Somewhat, which is why I never weighed in on it before. But if the UK is threatening something as unusual as invading an embassy, that is evidence that there is likely to be something more to the issue.

Re: UK threaten to enter Ecuadorian embassy and arrest Julian Assange

#20

Post by kefs »

philwelch wrote: post #15
[deleted] wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[deleted]

I would use the same terms to describe any fugitive on the run from rape charges. What on earth does Sweden have to gain or lose from this? This is just conspiracy theory.

    charges
I think you've been listening to the MSM too much. Mr. Assange has not been charged with any crime in Sweden and is only wanted for questioning.
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