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Member for

14 years 5 months

Posts: 4,956

A point of information concerning your first sentence. How do we know how he is being held inside Wandsworth?

In answer to BB - neither. He is certainly no hero in any definition of the word I understand. As for a public menace - I think that is ascribing to him far more than he deserves. He is an irritation, little more.

Member for

17 years 6 months

Posts: 9,739

Whatever he may, or may not, be he is currently being held (almost completely incommunicado) in solitary confinement for 23.5 hours a day despite not having even been charged with any crime, let alone tried and found guilty of one.

It is somewhat strange isn’t it; £240,000 bail, and for a crime that (even if he is found guilty) would probably not result in imprisonment in Sweden.

If he were a Burmese politician - or a Chinese artist - our Government (and that of the USA) would be demanding his release in the most forthright of terms, and we would all be nodding our heads in agreement.

What are we becoming? :(


Yes, I’m beginning to wonder!

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 2,886

What are we becoming? :(

Good question, and the answer probably merits a thread all its own. I'm sure that people very much more educated than I can see whats going on in this disturbing state of affairs. I have a feeling that the Swedish government, along with many other governments, has become a willing participant in a very big and sinister 'game', at the behest of a manipulative foreign power, and the Swedes are not alone. I think their actions will have far reaching consequences, not only for Sweden and its perceived neutrality, but also for its reputation as a paragon of freedom and tolerance. To me, its ironic that the leaked documents were very probably passed to WikiLeaks by a citizen of the US who is almost certainly a member of their own armed forces or intelligence network. Surely the question that the American government should be asking itself is why these seemingly disgruntled personnel are repeatedly passing on this kind of material to outside organisations.

I am not a great fan of conspiracy theories, but whats going on here seems to me to be a very clumsy attempt to keep on 'shooting' the messenger, and if that fails, then to subject him to a an appearance in a kangaroo court. The treatment of Assange draws striking parallels with the treatment of detainees in states with a less than decent pedigree. Some people argue that Assange is nothing more than some kind of attention junkie. That may well turn out be the case, but IMO the actions of certain governments in this matter appear to suggest otherwise. I'm quite ready to be shot down in flames over this, but this is just MY take on the topic.

"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster." Friedrich Nietzsche

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 3,566

Surprised he was granted bail - the guy has been in hiding recently (albeit in the Frontline Club apparently) so would he have jumped bail if granted? As Sweden is asking for him to extradited maybe they had the same concern?

All the celebs crawling out of the woodwork to champion this person in the name of freedom of speech but I wonder how much of it was FOS/FOI rather than some personal vendetta against anything and everything American, irrespective of any lives that may be put in jeopardy?......

Member for

14 years 5 months

Posts: 4,956

Interflug - "Surely the question that the American government should be asking itself is why these seemingly disgruntled personnel are repeatedly passing on this kind of material to outside organisations." - and to find them and kick them out of the military immediately with the accompanying permanent stain on their record.......

And we are all contributing to the daily pufffing of a story which doesn't deserve it. After all, what have actually learned in thousands of leaked diplomatic documents that we either didn't already know, couldn't have guessed at and are not surprised by?

It's another media field day!

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 2,886

Interflug - "Surely the question that the American government should be asking itself is why these seemingly disgruntled personnel are repeatedly passing on this kind of material to outside organisations." - and to find them and kick them out of the military immediately with the accompanying permanent stain on their record.......

And we are all contributing to the daily pufffing of a story which doesn't deserve it. After all, what have actually learned in thousands of leaked diplomatic documents that we either didn't already know, couldn't have guessed at and are not surprised by?

It's another media field day!

Well the Americans seem to be doing more than enough 'puffing' for all of us in connection with what many regard as being nothing more than a passing fad. The Americans and indeed others appear to be in a diplomatic 'blind panic' about this situation and seem to have a desperate need to have a scapegoat, and Assange is 'easy meat' as they seem unable to locate the 'viper in their bosom'. As far as the media is concerned, there's mileage in this story who's outcome could have a quite profound effect on the freedom of the press, the internet and other media in the future.

Member for

14 years 5 months

Posts: 4,956

I certainly agree with your initial comments, but I don't subscribe to the analysis in your final sentence.

Member for

19 years 6 months

Posts: 1,518

It is somewhat strange isn’t it; £240,000 bail, and for a crime that (even if he is found guilty) would probably not result in imprisonment in Sweden.

According to sources I have heard, if he is convicted then he faces a 5000 Kroner fine, about £470

Rather heavy handed for such a crime, isn't it! Almost enough to make one think this is politically motivated!

Member for

17 years 6 months

Posts: 9,739

According to sources I have heard, if he is convicted then he faces a 5000 Kroner fine, about £470.

Presumably the UK will end up compensating him for 'false imprisonment' then? :rolleyes:

Member for

17 years 6 months

Posts: 9,739

Surprised he was granted bail - the guy has been in hiding recently (albeit in the Frontline Club apparently) so would he have jumped bail if granted?

Until a warrant was issued for his arrest Assange was perfectly entitled to 'hide' (as are the rest of us); when a warrant was issued he gave himself up within hours...

...that hardly makes him a risk does it? :confused:

Member for

19 years 11 months

Posts: 10,160

A point of information concerning your first sentence. How do we know how he is being held inside Wandsworth?

It was clearly stated on Channel 4 News yesterday evening, both during the news item on the bail hearing and by his lawyer during an interview later in the programme.

Would you happen to have any evidence to contradict this?

Member for

19 years 11 months

Posts: 10,160

As Sweden is asking for him to extradited maybe they had the same concern?

Sweden appears to have her own reasons for wishing to quieten Mr Assange.

Of course none of this is political. :rolleyes:

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 3,566

Until a warrant was issued for his arrest Assange was perfectly entitled to 'hide' (as are the rest of us); when a warrant was issued he gave himself up within hours...

...that hardly makes him a risk does it? :confused:

Unlike many people granted bail he does not have a fixed abode. Therefore it would be a consideration as to whether he would abide by any bail conditions (remain at home, surrender passport etc etc).

Risk of flight maybe...

Member for

15 years 2 months

Posts: 971

I am sure that even if the sex charges don't stick on Assange, they will find something else. He must be punished to make an example out of him.

Otherwise, whistleblowers from all countries will start doing the same.

By the way, a new aspiring site has come up. Maybe soon we will have our "euroleaks". :D

http://brusselsleaks.com/

God bless the whistleblowers.

Member for

14 years 5 months

Posts: 4,956

It was clearly stated on Channel 4 News yesterday evening, both during the news item on the bail hearing and by his lawyer during an interview later in the programme.

Would you happen to have any evidence to contradict this?

No, why should I?:confused:

Apart from his lawyer, to whom you have referred, and the prison authorities and of course Mr Assange, no one knows the details of his detention - most certainly not Channel 4 news. And we might describe his lawyer as an "interested party", mightn't we?

Now the guy accused of having his wife murdered in South Africa got out on how much bail?

Member for

19 years 11 months

Posts: 10,160

No, why should I?:confused:

Apart from his lawyer, to whom you have referred, and the prison authorities and of course Mr Assange, no one knows the details of his detention - most certainly not Channel 4 news. And we might describe his lawyer as an "interested party", mightn't we?


We might indeed. But "interested party" isn't synonymous with "liar".

After all, the Swedish prosecutor is also an "interested party" (perhaps to a greater extent that we first thought, in the light of the story in this morning's Telegraph).

Are you equally sceptical about what they say?

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14 years 5 months

Posts: 4,956

Yes, I am generally sceptical.:) Just the way I was brought up, I suppose....you do like your bold typeface, don't you?;)

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 3,566

It's a Mod thing (the bold typeface) - they have a weekly allowance but it has to be used up - no accruing bold typeface to the next week........ :)

Member for

14 years 5 months

Posts: 4,956

:D:D