[Sparkle]

Originally Posted by Stuart

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.

The rest of the information we have doesn't seem to paint that picture, he has given a statement, the case was dropped, reopened without explanation, and some reports suggest this was on the insistence of the police, not the alleged victims. This is also, shall we say, odd.

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."

Haha. I like that. Another attempt to pigeon hole me, many have tried Stuart. Good luck. I don't have prejudices, I just call things how I see them.
My parents were US military, I've lived all over the world, much of that time on military bases in foreign countries. And yes Im a US citizen working in the UK.
But because I may disagree with you then I'm automatically one of the tin hatters trying to bring down the US government. Yes, I like that.

Pure fantasy though. I live in the real world, where things don't happen exactly as they say in the papers, or even as governments claim. People lie, governments lie, the media lies.
Corruption is everywhere. However, only a fool would think that any country that replaces the US as the worlds only superpower, would behave any differently.
I'd much prefer the US in charge, than China in charge, wouldn't you?
Anyway, the corruption and lies are here to stay, whoever our paymasters are.

---------- Post added at 16:28 ---------- Previous post was at 16:23 ----------

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.

I agree with you there, but I'm not sure what the US plan to do with Assange. Martyrdom would be a disaster for the US in my view.

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?

If Assange is guilty in any way of raping someone, then he should feel the full force of the law, no doubt in my mind about that whatsoever.

But if he isn't, I doubt justice will ever be done for him because it looks to me that the character assassination is just about complete.