Hero or Zero

[Keven]

Also -- you're very wrong on the charges.

For starters -- two of the four were for sex without a condom and only one was rubbing against a woman. Not that it matters but the last was unlawful coercion.

But hey -- why say facts properly when you attempt to correct someone for the very same thing?

Actually, I'm not wrong. But go on keep trying to pass off you buddy Julian's rape allegations as minor and just being about condoms. I'm not the one defending an asshole alleged rapist who has to run off to a repressive backwards Central American country.

[tucker]

It's the place where someone who pissed off the American Government would go.

It actually *doesn't* sound like what someone who was accused of relatively minor cases of sexual assault (dispute over condom use) would do.

Great empty shot as his character though. Making a real argument is overrated anyway.

Of course the American Government is trying to get poor, poor Julian. The US has a president that allows much more important national security leaks than Julian the loser ever found. The USA has a president that loves to see the USA put in a bad light. We have a president that hates the idea of militarily strong USA. All of that and you still think the US Government is after poor Julian.

Why Julian is going to Ecuador?

Because he likes third world countries
Because the water tastes so good
Because he likes the neighborhood
Because he likes torrential rainfall and humidity
Because he loves the jungle
Because he’s a dumb a$$

One needs a character before people can take shots. Poor Julian struck out when god handed out character.

The only empty argument here is yours.

[tucker]

I just got off the phone with Julian and the real reason he wants to go too Ecuador is:

Because he wants to have sex with an Ecuadorian Dwarf.

[Keven]

Of course the American Government is trying to get poor, poor Julian. The US has a president that allows much more important national security leaks than Julian the loser ever found. The USA has a president that loves to see the USA put in a bad light. We have a president that hates the idea of militarily strong USA. All of that and you still think the US Government is after poor Julian.

Why Julian is going to Ecuador?

Because he likes third world countries
Because the water tastes so good
Because he likes the neighborhood
Because he likes torrential rainfall and humidity
Because he loves the jungle
Because he’s a dumb a$$

One needs a character before people can take shots. Poor Julian struck out when god handed out character.

The only empty argument here is yours.

The irony is that President Correa is so repressive in Ecuador, that Assange would have been lined up and shot if he was a Ecuadorian citizen and tried publishing Ecuadorian secrets on the internet. The country has no freedom of the press and no freedom of speech. Assange will probably not be able to continue to run WikiLeaks from Ecuador - not that he really has any intent to go there.

We all know why he is seeking asylum from Ecuador. No one expected him to do it and whatever dogcatcher politician they Ecuador has sitting in the Embassy office in Europe probably has no idea what to do. It's the perfect play for Assange because I'm sure the Ecuadorians are hastily exchanging emails trying to figure out what to do.

[tucker]

The irony is that President Correa is so repressive in Ecuador, that Assange would have been lined up and shot if he was a Ecuadorian citizen and tried publishing Ecuadorian secrets on the internet. The country has no freedom of the press and no freedom of speech. Assange will probably not be able to continue to run WikiLeaks from Ecuador - not that he really has any intent to go there.

We all know why he is seeking asylum from Ecuador. No one expected him to do it and whatever dogcatcher politician they Ecuador has sitting in the Embassy office in Europe probably has no idea what to do. It's the perfect play for Assange because I'm sure the Ecuadorians are hastily exchanging emails trying to figure out what to do.

Whatever his reasoning is I hope it turns into a nightmare.

When you think about it Julian Assange is yesterday’s news his time in the anti-American spotlight is over. He goes out a bigger loser than when he started. He will still have his hardcore followers and I’m sure they will still send him money. I guess that makes them bigger losers than he is.

[Keven]

Whatever his reasoning is I hope it turns into a nightmare.

When you think about it Julian Assange is yesterday’s news his time in the anti-American spotlight is over. He goes out a bigger loser than when he started. He will still have his hardcore followers and I’m sure they will still send him money. I guess that makes them bigger losers than he is.

Assange is the 21st century's version of those old corny TV preachers.

"Send me money for my wives and girlfriends and private jets and big houses."

[Meridian]

Assange's problem is not with the Swedish government (the charges there probably won't fly), but with the fact that once out from under those charges (whether by serving time or not) he will almost certainly be extradited to the US, and there likely to get 20 years at least. For some other-worldy reason he's not keen on the idea, so he's trying to get to country with no extradition treaty to the US.


M

[Pehu]

Julian Assange is afraid of charges in Sweden? It's not like the Swedish judicial system is something too scary (and probably one of the least corrupt in the world) - I doubt he's to face any prison time for his charges in any case, probably a fine and a suspended sentence IF found guilty. Not to mention that any prison time in Sweden would likely be safer and less restricted than life in Ecuador... His actions do appear those of a guilty person (but who knows...).

[Enmore]

Yes, he's certainly not afraid of Swedish prisons, they're like Holiday Inns. He's worried about getting the death penalty in the US. There's no way Sweden or the UK would extradite him if the death penalty was on the table though.

South America is where you go when you want to disappear.

Plenty of Nazis thought so too.

[Keven]

Assange's problem is not with the Swedish government (the charges there probably won't fly), but with the fact that once out from under those charges (whether by serving time or not) he will almost certainly be extradited to the US, and there likely to get 20 years at least. For some other-worldy reason he's not keen on the idea, so he's trying to get to country with no extradition treaty to the US.

Ecaudor has an extradition treaty with the US. It does not have one with Sweden. So, it seems that Assange is more concerned with his criminal issues in Sweden at the moment.

It's probably best that Assange avoids the US, but I haven't seen really any intention that the Obama administration is out to get him. Obama hasn't really been pounding the table about him and Attorney General Eric Holder has enough on his plate as it is. And I doubt there are any enterprising US Attorneys who would press charges against Assange considering they're all Obama appointees at this point.

Besides, being an asshole isn't a crime in the US. Bradley Manning is the one who's head is on the chopping block for the WikiLeaks leaks. I think Assange would be protected. The US Supreme Court ruled favorably for freedom of the press (regarding publishing classified materials) in New York Times Company vs. United States (1971) and United States vs. The Progressive (1979).

[tucker]

Ecaudor has an extradition treaty with the US. It does not have one with Sweden. So, it seems that Assange is more concerned with his criminal issues in Sweden at the moment.

It's probably best that Assange avoids the US, but I haven't seen really any intention that the Obama administration is out to get him. Obama hasn't really been pounding the table about him and Attorney General Eric Holder has enough on his plate as it is. And I doubt there are any enterprising US Attorneys who would press charges against Assange considering they're all Obama appointees at this point.

Besides, being an asshole isn't a crime in the US. Bradley Manning is the one who's head is on the chopping block for the WikiLeaks leaks. I think Assange would be protected. The US Supreme Court ruled favorably for freedom of the press (regarding publishing classified materials) in New York Times Company vs. United States (1971) and United States vs. The Progressive (1979).

That sums the whole thing up pretty well.

The current regime might consider trying to extradite Assange if they thought it would take some of the heat off of Fast & Furious.

Strictly show case diversion.

[Keven]

That sums the whole thing up pretty well.

The current regime might consider trying to extradite Assange if they thought it would take some of the heat off of Fast & Furious.

Strictly show case diversion.

I think Obama would be wise to stay away from Assange politically to appease his own base.

The American Left is pissed at Obama because he left Guantanamo Bay open, he signed the NDAA into law, he left the public employee unions in Wisconsin out to dry (didn't campaign for Tom Barrett) among other things. We all know lefties love WikiLeaks and Julian Assange and if Obama were to go after him, it would just alienate his own people even more.

[Enmore]

Sounds about right. From a British perspective I think we just want the creep out of here, on his way to Sweden.