Wednesday, June 20, 2012

12-06-20 Assange dodges jail!

Photo
Bradley Manning, Julian Assange

How 20th Century!

Abandoning proper legal process? Such thinking seems so  - to borrow words from the eminent legal scholar Alberto Gonzales - so "quaint," so "obsolete," so pre-9/11! Abandoning proper legal process post-9/11 has become the "new paradigm" adopted not only by the Bush, but also by the Obama administration.

Not only is Julian Assange within his rights to seek asylum, he is also in his right mind. Consider this: he was about to be sent to faux-neutral Sweden, which has a recent history of bowing to U.S. demands in dealing with those that Washington says are some kind of threat to U.S. security. Glenn Greenwald on Tuesday provided an example:

"In December 2001, Sweden handed over two asylum seekers to the CIA, which then rendered them to be tortured in Egypt. A ruling from the U.N. Human Rights Committee found Sweden in violation of the global ban on torture for its role in that rendition (the two individuals later received a substantial settlement from the Swedish government)."

(from Ray McGovern, linked below)


Julian Assange asylum move is 'a tragedy' for his accusers, says lawyer: 
Lawyer representing two women who accuse WikiLeaks founder of sexual assault says he still expects extradition to go ahead
http://is.gd/wGn5Za

Julian Assange requests asylum at Ecuador embassy - live coverage 
http://is.gd/wGn5Za

Julian Assange's Artful Dodge
By Ray McGovern
Barring a CIA drone strike on the Ecuadorian embassy in London, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's sudden appeal for asylum there may spare him a prison stay in Sweden or possibly the United States. 
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article31662.htm

Julian Assange's Right to Asylum
By Glenn Greenwald
Given the travesty that is American justice, WikiLeaks' founder is entitled to seek asylum and well-advised to fear extradition. 
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article31645.htm

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