These people must have the patience of Job (or they just get some sort of perverse value out of the attention).
Wikileaks was a good idea started and run by an apparently bad person.
Apparently Ecuador has the patience of the Dalai Lama.
Both WikiLeaks and Assange himself have overinflated opinions of his importance and reputation. He could have his flesh eaten off of his bones by feral pigs and no one would care. If they really were the saviors they pretend to be, they would be doing everything in their power to avenge the murder of Khashoggi by Saudi Arabia, but, heavens to Betsy!, how can they be bothered to deal with piddling non-issues like that!
What is so great about setting up an anonymous dropbox for hacked information? Wikileaks is easily manipulated by intelligence services and bad actors.
This, boys and girls, is how bribery affects justice. I’m sure it will never happen here though.
I have often wondered, especially in the past couple of years when it has been clear from communications that there is hostility between the institution (embassy and staff) and Assange, why they continue to let him stay/harbor him. Your suggestion that perhaps they are being paid to … (bribed) seems as good an explanation as any - no, a better explanation than many.
The ministry said Assange has demonstrated “ingratitude and disrespect” toward Ecuador, despite the protection the Ecuadorian embassy has offered him since 2012.
Yeah, I’m confused why you’d put up with a houseguest who you publicly disparage for behaving boorishly. Because if you then don’t send him on his way, it makes you look either weak or corrupt or both.
Even if it’s not quid pro quo bribery, it seems completely reasonable that Ecuador might assume Assange’s expulsion and arrest wouldn’t be taken favorably by Trump. I also think it’s possible, if not likely, that Assange has hacked materials unfavorable to other GOP pols. And I have no doubt he would release anything he had on anyone if he thought it would save his skin.
Kick out the Ass, but keep the cat.
After obtaining refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy during the Correa presidency (Correa was flamboyantly, exhibitionisticaly anti US, along with his buddy Hugo Chavez), Assange obtained Ecuadorean citizenship in 2017. So, I don’t know if that takes bribery of someone within the Ecuadorean government completely off the table, but he is an Ecuadorean citizen. Even if ungrateful, disrespectful and rude. Which were qualities probably all quite predictable or visible at the time President Correa decided it would be a poke in the US eye to give him asylum. .
It allows government whistle blowers to blow whistles. That is what was, would be, or could be great about it.
LLOL This honestly reads like some messy Facebook status updates between an adult child and their parents.
Kid: Looks like I’m gonna be homeless soon. Anyone got an extra couch where I can crash?
Parent: Kyle, we’re not kicking you out of our home. We’re your parents and we love you very much. We’d just like for you to clean your room, take care of your pets, and get a job. We love you, son. We just want you to do better.
Kid: If you loved me you’d let me be who I am!!!
So I’ve been wondering how long Assange was facing in prison with his various charges (sexual assault in Sweden, whatever the U.S. might have charged him with?) As it is, he’s had coming up to seven years of incarceration in a minimum security prison in downtown London, with a bunch of cellmates and a cat who really don’t seem to like him (I hear the cat is working on a 'Tell All" book).
I keep wondering when Assange will suddenly wake up in the middle of the night and say to himself “Mate, I’ve been had!”
That’s an interesting point. He may have been able to negotiate a plea deal that would’ve at least had him out of prison on the Swedish charges by now.
Sounds like the Ecuadorian president was considering Assange’s expulsion, floated a balloon to see how it would play, and didn’t like either the domestic polling or international response.
Or, maybe they’re just denying it until they do it, for security or publicity reasons.
Or rascal_crone is right about bribery. I hadn’t considered that maybe Ecuador is being paid to give Assange room and board, but it fits the behavior we’ve seen so far - resentful continuance.
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The Ecuador Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement on Friday combatting WikiLeaks claims that the embassy in London intends to expel WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and had already arranged for his arrest
Bummer.
Wikileaks and/or Assange has been claiming his expulsion was imminent every six months for the past four years or so. They do it whenever they feel people have forgotten they exist.
Assange treatment of Equador make clear what a despicable human being he is. If they keep him, they get what they deserve.
That’s why it reminds me of an enabling parent and spoiled, petulant child relationship. They act like they weren’t the best parents when he was a kid and now he’s grown into an asshole and they feel guilt-ridden and responsible for the lout he became. Just let that kid go!