Julian Assange's speech at the Ecuadorian embassy

[Napoléon]

Thought this might interest people:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xod1PqLvaE4

[5thHorseman]

He's a dick.

[Tiberius]

As much of a dick he may be, the UK shouldn't extradite people who have not been charged with any crime. The Swedish authorities refused to question him in the UK, and they've refused to question him in the Ecuadorian embassy. There is clearly something more than rape allegations at work here.

[5thHorseman]

I agree, completely. It's ridiculous. But why wouldn't he go back to face them? He's as likely to be deported to America from the UK as he is in Sweden. Our record on deportation at America's request is just as bad if not worse. That's what I don't get.

[Tiberius]

As far as I can tell, he doesn't want to go back to face them because (a) he hasn't been charged with anything, and (b) he believes they are allegations that could result in his extradition to the US. Once he is in the custody of the Swedes and charged, it is easier for the US to extradite him, since in all likelihood he'll be permanently in custody of some kind. It's harder for the UK to do that, since there are no charges (or allegations) against him in the UK.

[5thHorseman]

I do feel sorry for him. All the furore about him being a traitor to the US(clearly a dictionary would clear up that matter) is ridiculous. It's so sad that a nation that once boasted about media freedom and championed whistleblowers has turned against its principles.

I think the worst part is, he is just the messenger, not the 'thief'.

[Cato]

I love this guy. His treatment in most news outlets in the U.S. has been abhorable, to your point regarding the much celebrated 'freedom of the press'.

[LastPoet]

This whole episode is evidence that there isn't really freedom in the world. Its a word used by those in power to get the masses drunk.

And I don't even personally like Assange, he comes across way too much conceited. That doesn't stop me from saying he has been playing the game well.

[5thHorseman]

The only issue I have with him is that he left the names of Afghans and Iraqi citizens who helped the British and Americans, in Wikileaks' cable release, whilst the newspapers edited them out so they didn't put their lives in danger. And all he had to say to David Leigh and the others was along the lines of 'tough, they shouldn't have helped them'. There was no need to keep the names in.

Except for that, he's done a lot of good.

[Napoléon]

I say fair play to the fucker. He seems to be giving a big middle finger up to the governments who think they can do what they like.