There is no use crying over spilled semen

[rick-day.livejournal.com]

Is GB about to toss out the Vienna Convention over Assange in the Ecuadorian Embassy flap?


... returned to the UK today to be astonished by private confirmation from within the FCO that the UK government has indeed decided – after immense pressure from the Obama administration – to enter the Ecuadorean Embassy and seize Julian Assange.

This will be, beyond any argument, a blatant breach of the Vienna Convention of 1961, to which the UK is one of the original parties and which encodes the centuries – arguably millennia – of practice which have enabled diplomatic relations to function. The Vienna Convention is the most subscribed single international treaty in the world.




Which, um, would not be a good thing, given the exposure of our diplomats in areas (MANY areas!) hostile to the US.



Then someone went and made it 'all political':

The government’s calculation is that, unlike Ecuador, Britain is a strong enough power to deter such intrusions. This is yet another symptom of the “might is right” principle in international relations, in the era of the neo-conservative abandonment of the idea of the rule of international law.

Assume this is not drivel, and Assange is hunkering down in new residences for the foreseeable future.

Ecuador is considering legalizing marijuana country wide, with a nifty tax system ready to reap the rewards. Now they are thumbing their noses at the Big Guys™ over something called 'freedom'. Related? Probably not' I just think it's cool of them to even discuss that option.



My opinion: this one man is not worth all of this attention and waste of energy, unless some totalitarian government demands to make an example of the demonized 'truth seeker' ("V", Manning, et al.).

"Hey Julian! Where is your Julian mask??"

So what do you think the world reaction would be if British troops stormed, and/or, oops, killed a 'resisting' Assange? Over allegations of a leaked condom?

Just what is the deal with this one guy and all the fuss to get him to Sweden for questioning? And how does he keep convincing people to give him free room and board?

Comments

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

America’s Vassal Acts Decisively and Illegally

The title is very apt.

[mikeyxw.livejournal.com]

What is the Decisive and Illegal Act that America's Vassal has committed? The UK seems to have done little more than thinking bad thoughts about Mr. Assange. Okay, they put the bad thoughts on paper and sent them to the Ecuadorans. This still doesn't strike me as decisive, illegal, or much of an act.

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

Having thoughts? Who allowed them to have thoughts?

Her Majesty's Thought Police would like a word with you. If you could please enter this dark room with the opaque glass, please. And please don't mind the bright light directed at your face...

[danalwyn.livejournal.com]

I think we'll have to see how things turn out. There seems to be no strong confirmation in either direction right now. We have reports from secondhand sources, and notes that Britain has threatened to use the Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act, but so far the situation is unclear. Whether the UK will choose to do anything, or simply wall off the Ecuadorian embassy, remains to be seen.

What is clear is that Assange isn't going anywhere for a bit, unless he manages to get a bit of collusion from the UK government. One wonders which direction this will fall out.

[rick-day.livejournal.com]

If only reality television could be this entertaining *le sigh*

[dwer.livejournal.com]

this would be a terrible violation. I've no doubt it will happen.

[policraticus.livejournal.com]

I doubt it will happen, but if it does I also doubt it will have many far reaching implications.

If I was David Cameron and if Julian Assange really was that important, I'd just threaten to revoke the Ecuadorian diplomatic portfolio and expel them from the country. Ta-da, not a gun drawn.

So what do you think the world reaction would be

The usual kerfluffle, then it would be quickly forgotten. I always remember Walsingham's rejoined to Norfolk, No. They will forget. Not that Assange is worth the bullet.

Just what is the deal

I don't know. Rule of Law, maybe?

And how does he keep convincing people to give him free room and board?

Ha. Easiest question to answer. The US Government hates him.

[chron-job.livejournal.com]

> if Julian Assange really was that important, I'd just threaten to revoke the Ecuadorian diplomatic portfolio and
> expel them from the country. Ta-da, not a gun drawn.

current legal direction is the Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act 1987, which is a way to "DE-recognize" an embassy or consular property... but the wording of the law is such that its only suppsoed to be used if the other party is doing something that violates international law.

the key here is "if Julian Assange really was that important". Why is he? Why is the violation of another sovereign's embassy even ON THE TABLE?

> I don't know. Rule of Law, maybe?

Unilateral Revoking a diplomatic portfolio, or other legalistic end-runs, over an asylum request is not about strengthening the Rule of Law. The Rule of law is in fact weakened, being bent to the political expediency of the current players.

[telemann.livejournal.com]

Mr. Assange has no immunity once he sets foot out of the embassy. He wouldn't have any immunity even if he was given Ecuadorian diplomatic status, because GB has some role in granting him such status (that's part of the process normally). He's in quite a pickle.

[allhatnocattle.livejournal.com]

A diplomatic vehicle (car or plane or whatnot) is sovereign.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_country_codes_on_British_diplomatic_vehicle_registration_plates

[lafinjack.livejournal.com]

Really really big diplomatic pouch.

[terminator44.livejournal.com]

Sadly, I think even if Assange makes it to a non-extradition nation, he won't be safe from the U.S. government. Nobody who angers them ever is.

[telemann.livejournal.com]

Say he can get out of the country. Would you be surprised if the US tried to force the plane to land somewhere to board it and arrest him? Mr. Assange is a marked man.

[policraticus.livejournal.com]

Nobody who angers them ever is.

Yeah, Fidel Castro is gonna get his aaannny minute now.

[oportet.livejournal.com]

I'd be worried if I was a British diplomat somewhere else in the world - won't they be easy targets if they pull out of this agreement?

[rick-day.livejournal.com]

that issue was raised in my OP.

[ddstory.livejournal.com]

Sooo... we in the West support freedom of speech and the human rights. Those are The Values That We Stand For (tm). Right?

Except when these cross our national interests. I mean... the interests of our masters from across the Big water. And then... fuck freedom of speech! He's a criminal! CRIMINAL! How dare he expose our dirty laundry! He's not supposed to do that! Is he?

He isn't, right?


What a farce.

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

You are free to be liberated from the truth!

Why don't they just kill the guy and be done with it? Put his head on a spike at the gates! Maybe it'll postpone the arrival of the next whistleblower to the big broad scene, with, like, a year? I hope this time it'll be someone who had spent their life in a cave, so they couldn't dig anything from his past, and accuse him of...

...wait. Raping a bat is a crime, isn't it?

Shit.

[whoasksfinds.livejournal.com]

stealing classified information and releasing it to the public is not freedom of speech.

[mikeyxw.livejournal.com]

"And how does he keep convincing people to give him free room and board?"

I don't know what will happen in the next few days, but I'm pretty sure he will not have to pay rent ever again.

[luvdovz.livejournal.com]

So what do you think the world reaction would be if British troops stormed, and/or, oops, killed a 'resisting' Assange? Over allegations of a leaked condom?

But I'm sure the British authorities would then apologize for it. Very politely.

[comeonyouspurs.livejournal.com]

I hate those masks

[rick-day.livejournal.com]

yes...and?

[anfalicious.livejournal.com]

If Sweden either a) charged him with a crime or b) provided an assurance he wouldn't be extradited, this wouldn't be an issue. The first one is important, he hasn't been charged, he is just wanted for questioning. There is precedent for that questioning taking place in a country other than Sweden, but for some reason, they refuse to do that.