[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Sparkle

As far as I'm concerned, and any self respecting human being should be concerned, Assange is innocent until proven guilty. He is not yet in Sweden, and he might not be for many months to speak (again) with investigators. He is STILL innocent until proven guilty.

He is innocent until proven guilty. However, the fact he has run to several countries (the UK and Ecuador effectively) rather than argue that innocence in court is, shall we say, odd. It could be taken to imply feelings of guilt.

I find it a rather interesting lesson in human psychology, how so many people, through their own prejudices (ie. don't like Assange, hatred of men, hatred/dislike of womanisers, rapists, etc) only see what they want to in this case whilst ignoring the rest.

The same goes both ways. To paraphrase you: "I find it a rather interesting lesson in human psychology, how so many people, through their own prejudices (ie. don't like the US, US Government or any large Government, etc) only see what they want to in this case whilst ignoring the rest."

---------- Post added at 16:23 ---------- Previous post was at 16:05 ----------

Originally Posted by Sparkle

I'm inclined to believe that this case is politically motivated.
If too you believed it was politically motivated (for the aforementioned reasons), do you think this legal, ratified extradition should go ahead?

I'd be surprised if it was politically motivated.

Here's why. Depending on who you believe, Assange is either in a position to do real damage, or he isn't. If he is, then the people involved are likely to want him out of the picture ASAP. The quickest way to do this would be to let him stand trial for the crime of which he is accused.

If he isn't in a position to cause real damage (as Stella Rimmington appeared to be implying the other day), then the powers that be probably aren't any more bothered by him than they are by a lot of people.

Another way at looking at it is that if the US do want to extradite him (and we have seen no evidence they have started proceedings - I am certain the Assange camp would make a lot of noise if they had), and they succeed, they will make him a Martyr. They don't want that. A Martyr is often a more powerful call to arms than almost anything else.

In the meantime, if the papers submitted to court are accurate, we have two women who have been raped, and their attacker (be it Assange or anyone else) is running free. How is that fair?