Dear Joe (Loudmouth),

I'm rather dubious I have to admit about the charges
of rape coming from these two Swedish women. It doesn't
make sense to me at least - that one would host a
party for a man who raped you. Which is what one of the
women did (and the other attended the party) a few days
after the alleged rape. The story goes that both women
only reported the supposed "rape" to the police quite
some time after the "rape" and they only went to the police
to be tested for STDs and to try to get Assange to take the
test as well. It was the police who persuaded the women
that they had a case for "rape." And that they could make
some money from selling their stories to newspapers.
A Swedish Magistrate originally had thrown their case out -
claiming - insufficient evidence. Perhaps that's why women
are not taking up this cause - because its a bit fishy.

Dear David F.,

It wouldn't surprise me at all if the Australian Government
will tread very carefully regarding Julian Assange. Not wanting
to offend the US. And of course you're right. Regardless of
everything - they should help one of their own. I feel that
most Australians still believe in "Innocent until proven
Guilty," and would expect support as citizens from their
own Government.

Dear runner,

A Government has an obligation to protect all of its
citizenry.

Dear Pelly,

I also believe that there are vested interests involved
in the Assange case and these interests will try to influence
the actions of our Government.

cont'd ...

cont'd ...

Dear SM,

I'm not so sure that charges don't have to be laid
in order for a person to be extradited. I'll have to
check into that a bit more. I think according to the
British Legal System - charges do have to not only
be laid - but evidence against the person must also
be supplied. It will be interesting to see whether
the UK allows a legal precedent such as this to be
set - virtually giving any one in Europe the right
to have someone extradited on mere heresay.

Dear Yuyutsu,

You've raised some excellent points. I also suspect
that this attempt at extradition to Sweden has much
more to it then we realise.

Dear o sung wu,

I agree. It was a bit of a risk for Assange to have
published all those tens of thousands of secret US
documents. He surely must have expected that there
would be repercussions for his actions. Not sure
what category to place him in - rebel, or foolish
young man - or a bit of a dreamer - as the Griffith
link calls him.

Dear Belly,

We have to wait and see what happens next.
Interesting times ahead.

Dear Joe (Loudmouth),

I forgot to add that most of Assange's
current legal advisers are now female.
It seems that they are volunteering
their expert legal services. Which I
guess says a great deal about his
innocence regarding the "rape" allegations.
There must be something to the fact that
females are not supporting the two Swedish
women - and their allegations against Assange.

One of the things I admire about America is its constitution.
And the brave rebels who wrote it and founded the rebellion.
That constitution guarantees free speech.
These leeks are of seemingly wrong and hidden things.
A brave or silly releasing them?
I prefer brave, and needed.
Today, after being asked not to, an American news paper printed photos of Troops displaying body parts.
Unsure if that is wrong, the act of being seen showing those parts of human bombers.
But sure it will bring retaliations.
Do we blame the news papers, the troops, should we have seen or hidden the photos?
I think no one should be free to hide the truth from us, but if weakileaks is evil what is that paper,and those troops?

runner wrote: “Most Aussie I guess are more interested in whether someone is guilty or not.”

Dear runner,

You don’t seem to get the idea. The legal technicalities you seem contemptuous of are to ensure that the accused gets a fair trial and is actually found guilty through due process. Whether public opinion or the press promotes the idea that someone is guilty or whether you think the acts of David Hicks are clearly despicable is not important. What is important is that an accused gets a trial according to the legal procedures set up to ensure that the trial is fair. The attitude, “We know he’s guilty. Let’s hang him.” expresses the mind of the lynch mob.

david f

'What is important is that an accused gets a trial according to the legal procedures set up to ensure that the trial is fair.'

so you are saying that the Swedish courts (one of the bastions of humanism) are corrupt?