Wendy, a possible answer to your final question as to what are the Australian, UK and Swedish governments so afraid of, is that "afraid" is not the right word. Sweden used to have a reputation for fearless neutrality, but those days are long past.
The UK is willing to do almost anything, including breaching Article 22 of the Vienna Convention, to maintain its fading role as a world power. Insofar as it is able to exercise power it is only in conjunction with the US. When the US withholds consent, as it did to great effect in the 1956 Israel, France, UK invasion of Egypt, the UK government rapidly falls into line. Even pretended independence, such as not sending combat troops to Vietnam, was compromised by UK involvement in Laos, Cambodia and Thailand assisting the US war effort.
As to Australia, any suggestion of independence is a sick joke. Ever since 1942 the Americans have told Australian governments to jump and the only response has been "how high?"
Assange represents a threat to the western powers dominance by exposing much of their real motives and conduct. It is that which is unforgivable in their eyes. Accordingly Assange must be removed, by one means or another, as have a very long list of those who annoyed and inconvenienced the Empire in the past.

Steve Hooker was a disaster in the Olympics. But what of our politicians?

To a man and woman, they excel at jumping when told to by the Yanks. They can achieve incredible heights. We now have Yank soldiers on our soil and they have access to our airfields and ports and perhaps Cocos.

Now the British seem to be afflicted by the same problem as Wendy's excellent article attests. They are down on Assange.

I suggest both nations look among politicians for future pole vault champions!

The author says this:

"Julian Assange did not shoot a British policewoman, or anyone for that matter.

How many people died as a result of these most recent leaks?

In this regard Assange has form and is proud of it:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/01/julian-assange-wikileaks-afghanistan

Assange released documents in 2007 about Kenya:

"The leak exposed massive corruption by Daniel Arap Moi, and the Kenyan people sat up and took notice. In the ensuing elections, in which corruption became a major issue, violence swept the country. "1,300 people were eventually killed, and 350,000 were displaced. That was a result of our leak," says Assange. It's a chilling statistic, but then he states: "On the other hand, the Kenyan people had a right to that information and 40,000 children a year die of malaria in Kenya. And many more die of money being pulled out of Kenya, and as a result of the Kenyan shilling being debased."

He's a fun guy no matter what you think about transparency of government process.

>"Of what are the Australian, U.K and Swedish governments so afraid?"<

Why, of 'Big Brother', the U.S.A., of course, and specifically of what it plans to do regarding the release of classified security information into the public domain by WikiLeaks, and hence, by Julian Assange.

Sweden may not be so deeply 'in the loop', but the U.K. and Oz certainly are - the loop of engagement with and reliance upon U.S. affiliation, alliance and diplomatic and security support.

From the U.S. point of view, what may be the consequences of letting Julian and WikiLeaks get away with their 'embarrassing' revelations? Could Wiks have yet more sensitive data up its sleeve? U.S. pride has been hurt, and the security of international diplomacy compromised. It is unlikely that the U.S. could simply let this slide.

Hence, the U.S. and Oz have to come clean as to their intentions. Hopefully, 'Whistleblower' provisions could protect Julian and WikiLeaks, and surely it is time for an overhaul of covert operations and a revision and bolstering of facilities for the protection and maintenance of Human Rights in the international arena.

It is time for an end to manipulation, the closure of Guantanamo, and a comprehensive international engagement on the future of humanity - including finding a way to end conflict everywhere and to rid the world of nuclear weapons and any other weapons of mass destruction. We need a world order of peace, tolerance and cooperation, and perhaps WikiLeaks has in fact provided the catalyst to push such a future vision to the top of the international agenda.

Good on ya', Saltpeter! You're a man after my own heart!

How come most of the drongos in Ozz can't see what you and I can? Is it genetic or is it all down to indoctrination.

Perhaps when Iran is nuked, some folk will wake up? Nah, they'd just say that it was America and Israel bringing peace to the world.

I hope they go up in the Rapture Fire but it doesn't seem much of a punishment for destroying our whole world, does it?

Cohenite, you are smoking some pretty seriously weird stuff if you can claim that Julian Assange is responsible for a single hurt fingernail, let alone deaths.

He is deemed to be a terrorist by the US because he helped to expose the Collateral Murder tape of the US murdering civilians and journalists in the streets of Baghdad, revealing tens of thousands of covered up deaths by the US in Iraq and Afghanistan, Gillard and Arbib as agents for the US as they conspired to topple Rudd, and so on.

You sort of seem to think that all murders and things should be covered up.

Like today in the SMH there is a letter claiming that Israeli soldiers have to torture Palestinian children because the children throw stones.

How about this, if you want to remain wilfully ignorant be my guest but keep your ignorant ramblings to yourself.

As everybody has said, it is the United States. What has not been clearly stated is the fuzzy & irrational reasoning of our and the European politicians who act out of irrational economic, defence, and global fears.

The economic reality is that our nations have 'free' economies and business self-interests will continue to be the principle grounds for the commercial decisions to do business in each other's nations.

There is a delusional idea that the US would leap to our rescue if we are invaded unexpectedly - this is not possible or likely.

For example Indonesia by using the colony in New Guinea is about 250km from Cape York or 400Km from the Northern Territory, they could establish an irrevocable foothold within a day; and with US corporations like Bechtel being business partners with Jakarta, the truth is that the US would object and then do nothing as Sydney and Melbourne became Indonesian cities. We have a combined regular & reservist force of 81,000 opposed to 271,000 Indonesian regular forces who also have benefit of a aeronautics industry that has been designing & building Indonesian military aircraft for decades. Then there is China who have enough of their own resources but lets imagine if it wanted put its foot down and claim Australia, do you imagine the US would start a nuclear war on our behalf? - bottom line is that pandering to the US doesn't actually improve our defence, the US activities in Australia are because it benefits the US and we don't have to pander to unreasonable demands to arrest Australian citizens to continue the US Australian relations.

Then there is the Security Council, but when has Australia ever called for support of the Security Council, or when has the US ever changed a foreign policy decision on our behalf?

Bottom line is that Australia like every other nation needs to stand on its own feet and protect its own citizens, that is the job we expect Canberra to be working on. Unfortunately the people at Parliament House are a bit dim witted.

You are not a lawyer Wendy and it shows in your flawed reasoning.

Assange has managed to manipulate a government of questionable background into providing him with the possibility of him evading his liability to face the consequences of his illegal actions.

He is entitled to due process, and has an obligation to submit to it.

It would be extremely poor form to allow him to bring off this manoeuvre. Once he sets foot on British soil he should be arrested. This includes British air space, in the event of any smart alec tactics with a helicopter.

Also, you now have 100 percent proof that you are wrong. Marilyn Shepherd has agreed with you.

What illegal actions has Assange committed? Our cops say none, the media who published the reports have not been hounded so what illegal thing did he do?

He is a whistleblower.

Leo Lane strangely said:
"evading his liability to face the consequences of his illegal actions. He is entitled to due process, and has an obligation to submit to it."

Dear Leo, this is the point. Assange did check with the authorities and he waited another week before he left. He has made himself available in both the UK and now the Embassy to any further enquiries, and it is Sweden which is not following due process.

Legally Sweden perfected its answer when it agreed Assange could leave, it is only out of courtesy (a kindness) that Assange has agreed to answer any further questions. It is not due process to extract people from other countries just to answer questions.

I am also sensitive to this issue because by your reasoning Indonesia could demand that I be sent to Jakarta for questioning. The instant I was on Indonesian soil they could then convict me for 15 years for supporting self-determination aspirations in Papua, they could also claim that I was a terrorist and hand me to America for investigation on that charge. I and dozens of others if not hundreds would be in fear of deportation for our human rights advocacy..

"How about this, if you want to remain wilfully ignorant be my guest but keep your ignorant ramblings to yourself."

Marilyn, don't tell what to do, especially when you misinterpret me; and ignore what I said; I gave links to deaths that Assange's sanctimonious leaks have directly caused before the most recent one and asked the question as to how many deaths have been caused by those.

Do you really think that divulging strategic information will not have ramifications?

Otherwise, I believe in full government transparency and no censorship; is that plain? But what Assange has done is not that; and until Wikileaks is over in China, Iran, Pakistan etc releasing information from these hellholes then I'll reserve my respect.

As for the sexual assault charges, private meetings between prosecutors and charged citizens?! You must be joking, and that is what Assange is demanding; who does he think he is, God?

Daeron, due process was the application by Sweden for extradition, which was granted, despite Assange’s opposition, through his legal representatives.

He appealed and lost.

He is now seeking to escape due process with the assistance of the disreputable country of Ecuador.

When he sets foot on British soil, due process will be carried out. He will be sent to Sweden.

Your ramblings show a remarkable lack of comprehension of the subject matter, but that seems to be a basic requirement to be a supporter of this amoral lout.

Why will you not use a dictionary?