Assange - who are we trying to please?

[pdq1]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-19259623

Is it the US or Sweden?
if he does get extradited to Sweden its expected they will hand him over to the US with a possible death penalty being enforced.

Won't we then be accused of rendition?

[DTCwordfan]

Again the question must be asked why the Swedish police do not come here to interview him - and then press for charges and extradition if there are genuine grounds.

Personally, and knowing a little about Sweden, they wouldn't give up someone who is looking at a potential death penalty for treason charges be it from the US, Russia, Iran, Israel or anyone with those draconian punishments. It may be true that the US thinks that Sweden is a softer touch (naive but then how often IS Us foreign policy) or they can kidnap him or execute him.

[Ellipsis]

> Again the question must be asked why the Swedish police do not come here to interview him - and then press for charges and extradition if there are genuine grounds.

That's moot now. He's skipped bail (so broken our laws) and I doubt the Swedish police would be allowed to interview him in the Ecuadorian embassy.

But this question was presumably considered in each of the following four judgements from various legal processes that Assange has been through since being arrested in the UK (as reported at http://www.bbc.co.uk/...orld-europe-11949341)

24 February 2011 - At Belmarsh Magistrates' Court in south London, District Judge Howard Riddle rules that Mr Assange should be extradited to Sweden.

2 November 2011 - At an appeal hearing, two judges at the UK High Court uphold the decision to extradite Mr Assange to Sweden over the sex crimes allegations.

30 May 2012 - The Supreme Court rules that he should be extradited to Sweden to face the charges against him. The judges rule by majority that the Swedish public prosecutor seeking his return is a judicial authority, dismissing Mr Assange's challenge. He has 14 days to challenge the ruling.

14 June 2012 - The Supreme Court dismisses Mr Assange's bid to reopen his appeal against extradition, branding it "without merit".

[bazwillrun]

@Ellipsis

you really dont like Julian do you ?1

[Ellipsis]

I agree with this conclusion from http://pme200.blogspo...2012/08/assange.html:

Mr Assange is innocent until proven guilty of all the offences which he faces. He has not yet been charged. However, it seems fair to say that he has skipped bail in this country and that he is a fugitive from justice, who is wanted for questioning regarding very serious criminal sexual offences.

This issue is not like choosing sides in a soccer match. You can be pro-Wikileaks and keen to see the rule of law operate. This does not make you anti-Assange, an Assange Hater or anything else. I, like you, have no idea whether he is guilty of the alleged crimes back in August 2010. I do feel that the alleged victims deserve to be taken seriously, having taken the step of reporting the alleged offences to the Police, and that they should have some form of closure.

It is frankly irrelevant who the man is who is wanted for questioning, and what other great things he may (or may not) have done. If you believe in judicial process and the rule of law, it is hard to argue he should not return to Sweden for questioning (after, of course, dealing with the consequences of his behaviour here in jumping bail).

[sandyRoe]

Could the Swedish be any more malleable than the UK authorities when it comes to extradition to the USA?

[McMouse]

The US of A is all powerful and exert influence world-wide. Under Swedish law Assange is accused of rape because be had consensual sex but omitted to wear a condom. If the Swedes get him back they will allow USA extradition which meads he's going to either face the death penalty or face life imprisonment without the hope of parole. UK government should have the balls to reject extradition.

[bazwillrun]

why wont/havent the swedes taken him up on his numerous offers to come here and question him ?