3 ms·

An arrest warrant was issued and the guy fled to escape being charged. And then he ran again. So saying he hasn't been convicted or charged is a pretty high-ch

An arrest warrant was issued and the guy fled to escape being charged. And then he ran again. So saying he hasn't been convicted or charged is a pretty high-chutzpah defense.

jacquesm 12y ago
You have your timing mixed up. Please study the case in detail before you make such charged statements. The timing there is very subtle and open to several interpretations depending on how you want to fill in the blanks: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assange_v_Swedish_Prosecution_Authority http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assange_v_Swedish_Prosecution_A... So I won't blame you, it's an extremely complex case that does not lend itself to the issuing of 5 word sound bites. It's complex because all parties appear to have behaved in weird and sometimes in-explicable ways and all parties seem to have made morally questionable moves (including the prosecutor). You mention 'less rape' as if to you rape has been proven beyond any reasonable doubt. Normally such language is used for convicted criminals. It's perfectly ok with me if you don't like Assange, I'm of the opinion if he did just the bits that he has admitted to and that seem to be indisputable that he's a complete douchebag but the behaviour of the women, the authorities and the process up to and including Assanges holing up in the Equadorian Embassy in London make me stop very much short of calling him a rapist. I may change that position in the future, but I'll wait for the trial (assuming there ever is one). There is a ton of stuff there that's questionable at a minimum not the least of which is the series of actions by the Swedish prosecutor.
- jamespo 12y ago
  But he is currently hiding out in the embassy to avoid being charged, so your innocent query of "has he been convicted/charged" is spurious.
  - jacquesm 12y ago
    I'm not going to speculate on what Assange's real motivations are for hiding out in that embassy, he's said enough on the subject and whether you agree with him or not that those are his true motivations is between you and him. So no, he hasn't been convicted and/or charged and as such calling him a rapist is getting ahead of the timeline. What he does in the meantime doesn't change that one bit.
    - tomp 12y ago
      I think calling him a rapist is correct. AFAIK, no-one (including him and his lawyers) is contesting the accusations against him, including the one that he had sex with a sleeping woman, which IMO is definitely rape. Of course, I still think that the whole charade around having him extradited to Sweden for questioning is just a tiny little bit too convenient for the powers-that-be to think it's only about the rape.
      - jacquesm 12y ago
        Have a read: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/aug/23/women-against-rape-julian-assange http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/aug/23/women-a... That is one piece that speaks strongly to me, mostly because of the position the women that wrote it take.
        jamespo 12y ago
        Just the picture byline I find interesting: "Julian Assange has made it clear that he is available for questioning by the Swedish authorities, in Britain or via Skype." Since when do those under suspicion get to dictate to the authorities how they conduct their investigation?
        deleted 12y ago
        [deleted]
        jacquesm 12y ago
        They don't, but Assange being somewhat paranoid is something the Swedes should be able to accommodate, especially if they want to resolve the case. Their strategy makes more sense if they don't actually want to resolve that case.
        balabaster 12y ago
        I think the content of what Assange and Wikileaks has delivered since Assange's rise to fame/infamy is far more worthy than this conversation. How about you all get back to the point.

An arrest warrant was issued and the guy fled to escape being charged. And then he ran again. So saying he hasn't been convicted or charged is a pretty high-chutzpah defense.

jacquesm 12y ago

You have your timing mixed up. Please study the case in detail before you make such charged statements. The timing there is very subtle and open to several interpretations depending on how you want to fill in the blanks: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assange_v_Swedish_Prosecution_Authority http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assange_v_Swedish_Prosecution_A... So I won't blame you, it's an extremely complex case that does not lend itself to the issuing of 5 word sound bites. It's complex because all parties appear to have behaved in weird and sometimes in-explicable ways and all parties seem to have made morally questionable moves (including the prosecutor). You mention 'less rape' as if to you rape has been proven beyond any reasonable doubt. Normally such language is used for convicted criminals. It's perfectly ok with me if you don't like Assange, I'm of the opinion if he did just the bits that he has admitted to and that seem to be indisputable that he's a complete douchebag but the behaviour of the women, the authorities and the process up to and including Assanges holing up in the Equadorian Embassy in London make me stop very much short of calling him a rapist. I may change that position in the future, but I'll wait for the trial (assuming there ever is one). There is a ton of stuff there that's questionable at a minimum not the least of which is the series of actions by the Swedish prosecutor.

jamespo 12y ago
But he is currently hiding out in the embassy to avoid being charged, so your innocent query of "has he been convicted/charged" is spurious.
- jacquesm 12y ago
  I'm not going to speculate on what Assange's real motivations are for hiding out in that embassy, he's said enough on the subject and whether you agree with him or not that those are his true motivations is between you and him. So no, he hasn't been convicted and/or charged and as such calling him a rapist is getting ahead of the timeline. What he does in the meantime doesn't change that one bit.
  - tomp 12y ago
    I think calling him a rapist is correct. AFAIK, no-one (including him and his lawyers) is contesting the accusations against him, including the one that he had sex with a sleeping woman, which IMO is definitely rape. Of course, I still think that the whole charade around having him extradited to Sweden for questioning is just a tiny little bit too convenient for the powers-that-be to think it's only about the rape.
    - jacquesm 12y ago
      Have a read: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/aug/23/women-against-rape-julian-assange http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/aug/23/women-a... That is one piece that speaks strongly to me, mostly because of the position the women that wrote it take.
      - jamespo 12y ago
        Just the picture byline I find interesting: "Julian Assange has made it clear that he is available for questioning by the Swedish authorities, in Britain or via Skype." Since when do those under suspicion get to dictate to the authorities how they conduct their investigation?
        deleted 12y ago
        [deleted]
        jacquesm 12y ago
        They don't, but Assange being somewhat paranoid is something the Swedes should be able to accommodate, especially if they want to resolve the case. Their strategy makes more sense if they don't actually want to resolve that case.
        balabaster 12y ago
        I think the content of what Assange and Wikileaks has delivered since Assange's rise to fame/infamy is far more worthy than this conversation. How about you all get back to the point.