3 ms·

Priti Patel Approves Julian Assange’s Extradition to US

31 points by ABS 4y ago

jimnotgym 4y ago
I am going to separate my distaste for Assange as a person from this, and say this whole process stinks. The assymetric nature of the UK-US extradition treaty stinks. This guy should be tried for any crimes he is alleged to have committed in British courts
- jjgreen 4y ago
  I could be wrong, but I don't think exposing US war-crimes is an offence in the UK (hence the extradition): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfvFpT-iypw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfvFpT-iypw
  - rbanffy 4y ago
    Exposing US war crimes should not be an offence in the US as well. It's kind of the same logic behind whistleblower protections. If the US wanted to look good, they would have prosecuted the people who participated in the killing of civilians and those who attempted to cover it up. The moment they realized they accidentally (and it is reasonable to think they didn't know the CF they got themselves into) killed a journalist they should have sent out a note detailing the facts and profusely apologizing, while making sure no other "collateral murder" happens for the same reasons. This moral stand would most likely have prevented Chelsea Manning from leaking the information, as the moral dilemma wouldn't be there. Shooting the messenger never looks good.
  - jimnotgym 4y ago
    And does the US therefore have jurisdiction over the whole internet? If Assange did those things while in the UK, and they are not illegal in the UK he should be released. The World Police need their fingers snapping. I know the US doesn't care what the rest of the world thinks, but it should. We only pay tribute to the US (by letting them syphon off a % of all of our credit card fees for instance) because we see them as a legitimate ally. We could change that and it will speed up the decline of the US.
- raxxorraxor 4y ago
  I think he might be a bit self-centered but I don't know him personally. What I can never understand is that people seem to be more disgusted with him instead of the persecution he was subjected to, the individuals responsible for that and covering up crimes. This is far more damaging to the US than the leaks could ever be. Or at least it should be. Honestly, I think this catering to authority was responsible to enable that war in the first place.
0xy 4y ago
Seems timely to point out that the CIA has had discussions about assassinating Assange [1] and tried to frame him with a dating website front that was completely fake [2]. The UK is a pathetic and weak pushover to believe the US' claims that he'll be safe in the US. Don't forget the US allowed Epstein to be killed while in their custody in a movie tier operation (whoops the cameras didn't work and the guards were asleep). Even more pathetic and weak is Australia, which stands idly by while big daddy USA plots to kill a citizen journalist. Jail is not enough for the CIA. They want him dead. [1] https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/sep/27/senior-cia-officials-trump-discussed-assassinating-julian-assange https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/sep/27/senior-cia-off... [2] https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article110904727.html https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/electio...

31 points by ABS 4y ago

I am going to separate my distaste for Assange as a person from this, and say this whole process stinks. The assymetric nature of the UK-US extradition treaty stinks. This guy should be tried for any crimes he is alleged to have committed in British courts

jjgreen 4y ago
I could be wrong, but I don't think exposing US war-crimes is an offence in the UK (hence the extradition): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfvFpT-iypw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfvFpT-iypw
- rbanffy 4y ago
  Exposing US war crimes should not be an offence in the US as well. It's kind of the same logic behind whistleblower protections. If the US wanted to look good, they would have prosecuted the people who participated in the killing of civilians and those who attempted to cover it up. The moment they realized they accidentally (and it is reasonable to think they didn't know the CF they got themselves into) killed a journalist they should have sent out a note detailing the facts and profusely apologizing, while making sure no other "collateral murder" happens for the same reasons. This moral stand would most likely have prevented Chelsea Manning from leaking the information, as the moral dilemma wouldn't be there. Shooting the messenger never looks good.
- jimnotgym 4y ago
  And does the US therefore have jurisdiction over the whole internet? If Assange did those things while in the UK, and they are not illegal in the UK he should be released. The World Police need their fingers snapping. I know the US doesn't care what the rest of the world thinks, but it should. We only pay tribute to the US (by letting them syphon off a % of all of our credit card fees for instance) because we see them as a legitimate ally. We could change that and it will speed up the decline of the US.
raxxorraxor 4y ago
I think he might be a bit self-centered but I don't know him personally. What I can never understand is that people seem to be more disgusted with him instead of the persecution he was subjected to, the individuals responsible for that and covering up crimes. This is far more damaging to the US than the leaks could ever be. Or at least it should be. Honestly, I think this catering to authority was responsible to enable that war in the first place.

0xy 4y ago

Seems timely to point out that the CIA has had discussions about assassinating Assange [1] and tried to frame him with a dating website front that was completely fake [2]. The UK is a pathetic and weak pushover to believe the US' claims that he'll be safe in the US. Don't forget the US allowed Epstein to be killed while in their custody in a movie tier operation (whoops the cameras didn't work and the guards were asleep). Even more pathetic and weak is Australia, which stands idly by while big daddy USA plots to kill a citizen journalist. Jail is not enough for the CIA. They want him dead. [1] https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/sep/27/senior-cia-officials-trump-discussed-assassinating-julian-assange https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/sep/27/senior-cia-off... [2] https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article110904727.html https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/electio...