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I've never understood why anyone thinks being charged with rape in Sweden gives the US any advantage. If the claim was that it was some sort of backhanded puni

I've never understood why anyone thinks being charged with rape in Sweden gives the US any advantage. If the claim was that it was some sort of backhanded punishment - that he's going to be stitched up for rape and go to prison as some sort of punishment beating from the US because they know they're not going to get him convicted of what they want to get him convicted of, I could understand that, but how does it aid or enable an extradition to the US? No US citizen was involved, the crime didn't happen in the US, the Swedes would want him to serve any prison sentence before they'd release him elsewhere, the extradition from Sweden will be more complex than from the UK (as if he's been extradited from the UK the UK also have to agree to him going to the US) and it's not as if the UK aren't massively friendly (indeed in cahoots with) US intelligence. I can completely see the idea that the US want Assange on US soil to try, but I don't see how this helps them to that end.

watwut 12y ago
The claim was that Sweden is likely to give Assange to US if US asks for it due to US-Sweden Extradition Treaty. If he is in Sweden, for whatever reason, he can be easily sent to USA if USA asks for him.
- Tyrannosaurs 12y ago
  But there's an extradition treaty with the UK which has a worrying low threshold of proof (that of "reasonable suspicion") which they'd easily clear. We've sent 77 people to the US in the last 10 years - it's used all the time. If the UK sent him to Sweden both countries (the UK and Sweden) have to agree to the extradition as the law is set up to prevent exactly this sort of thing happening. The claim you outline doesn't really make sense if you look at what's really involved.
- nols 12y ago
  This is patently false though. If Assange is extradited to Sweden then both the UK and Sweden must approve of his extradition to the US.

watwut 12y ago

The claim was that Sweden is likely to give Assange to US if US asks for it due to US-Sweden Extradition Treaty. If he is in Sweden, for whatever reason, he can be easily sent to USA if USA asks for him.

Tyrannosaurs 12y ago
But there's an extradition treaty with the UK which has a worrying low threshold of proof (that of "reasonable suspicion") which they'd easily clear. We've sent 77 people to the US in the last 10 years - it's used all the time. If the UK sent him to Sweden both countries (the UK and Sweden) have to agree to the extradition as the law is set up to prevent exactly this sort of thing happening. The claim you outline doesn't really make sense if you look at what's really involved.
nols 12y ago
This is patently false though. If Assange is extradited to Sweden then both the UK and Sweden must approve of his extradition to the US.