Wikileaks Assange Persecuted by US?

[dontworrybehappy]

[Professor]

Why should Sweden try to bargain with him? You don't bargain with fugitives.

Of course, I don't like the guy anyway. If you publish state secrets, knowing that they are state secrets, then you go to jail. Just as guilty as he who stole the secrets in the first place.

[JDHURF]

[eynon81]

I'm confused, why would he face a treason charge in the US?

[JDHURF]

[eric]

[The Dharma Bum]

Clearly the sexual assault charges are trumped up. Anytime someone is on the US government's shit list there are all kinds of false allegations and insinuations that will come into play. As such these charges are highly suspect. The fact that they seem to be spurious (having sex with someone they previously had sex with without a condom? C'mon.) makes them see even more suspicious.

The guy can't be said to be a traitor or a spy. He's not a US citizen and he released the documents publicly instead of clandestinely selling them to another country.

Basically he's being persecuted because he revealed some true information about what's happening in the world today. It's pretty ugly and if the public had a more informed opinion they wouldn't allow it much of it. Thus this activity is far more beneficial than it is harmful.

I think that makes him an important figure. And yes, this is political oppression. He is being persecuted, rightfully or wrongfully there is no question of that.

[PPark]

From my perspective the real issue here is that governments are utilizing what appears to be a rather broad definition of state secret. In other words, for providing evidence of abuse of power Assange is being persecuted by those abusing their power. It's more than a little bit absurd. It doesn't take much of a leap to view the charges against him as possibly additional evidence of abuse of power. As it stands, Assange is the only one that has presented solid evidence to back his claim.

[Professor]

[JDHURF]