Julian Assange

The pieces in the Guardian were by people who knew J A .. including his mum!

It does seem that he is a Marmite kind of guy ( or Vegemite!) you either support or oppose him once you know him! Although there seem to be people who were 'with' him and worked closely with him but who now do not support him as a result od JAs reported inflexibilty..though there are also those who have stayed loyal.. John Pilger for example.

From snippets I have read I have wondered if he may have a condition like Aspergers Syndrome.. he seems to have odd social skills, obsessions plus a very egocentric view of the world.

Not according to the New Statesman Lilygran. More like JA dropped them.

I suppose we'll never know the entire truth of the matter.

Meanwhile, I am guessing his days are numbered.

The Grauniad was the paper that first started publishing Assange's stuff but they dropped him when they found he was totally unprepared to consider that some of the material should not be made public as it might actually result in innocent people being targeted by terrorists. He's not a whistleblower, he's a totally self-obsessed nutter person. The member of the US armed forces who gave Assange the information is a whistleblower with the courage of his convictions since he's liable to be found guilty of treason.

I am even more disillusioned with the Guardian after reading the article in the New Statesman which accuses them of biased reporting against JA through pique.

In terms of trust I used to put my faith in the Guardian but I rate the Statesman above them.

If any 'ordinary' woman had gone to the police to make a complaint such as the one against JA, I wonder what kind of response she would have met with.

It's difficult enough with rape.

Read the piece in the Guardian today..small items by people who know him. Comes over as a very contrary character..even his supporters accept he can be arrogant and egocentric ... but that does not mean he should be extradited but any sexual assault needs to be sorted out.
You'd think in this day and age you could hold a trial by video link between a Swedish court and the Ecuadorean Embassy.. would that work? Could it be agreed that, if found guilty of assault, he could serve any custodial sentence in England ? Seems such an easy solution to move the situation forward.. I know I know nothing about international legal arrangements but why am I not in charge?

I've only just discovered from a friend who is anti-JA what the sexual assault was.

Of course, wrong of him but, comparatively speaking, a bit of a technicality?

I found that a very scary and worrying video and agree that if I were JA I'd feel very vulnerable. No wonder he sought refuge in an embassy that does not cowtow to the US.

Excellent article.

If I were JA I'd be feeling quite scared.

Butternut was it the second link? Four Corners is good value and I like how the reporter went to Sweden to get the facts. I dislike sloppy journalism where they report hearsay as the facts then the public believe it as the gospel truth. Most media news nowadays is very biased.

That's the one, Faye.

Sorry here is the other one www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2012/07/19/3549280.htm

Butternut It could be a programme called Four Corners (4x4) by the abc.com.au www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2011/s3135595.htm. and www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2011/s3135595.htm.

Faye I watched an Australian investigative programme about JA just recently; a series called 4x4. Do you know it? I'd followed a series of links to get to it - and cannot remember how, otherwise I'd provide a link - but found it very interesting indeed.

He has been around for a long time. www.johnpilger.com/. Scroll further down the page.

As I said

Oi!!!

Very!

Sort of like the many-headed hydra?

John Pilger is an Australian and was born in 1939. He has immense experience, having worked for many major newspapers around the world including The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, two of 30% of newspapers not owned by Murdoch in Australia. johnpilger.com/articles

jingl was one of the many previous incarnations of JO4!

John Pilger wrote an article called Blair's Bombs some years ago - maybe that's what you're thinking of, absent and Nanadogsbody.

On the whole I really like his work, and the passion he has in his beliefs. I feel he can always be counted on to have done considerable research, whether one agrees with his sentiments or not. Yes, a marvellous independent journalist and thinker!

I think John Kampfner wrote Blair's Wars but there was another book with the same name so perhaps? I also have great respect and admiration for John Pilger and the article typically shows the depth and range of his knowledge as an independent journalist and thinker.

jeni who is jingle?

Butternut I do like John Pilger, especially when he's really got into gear. He certainly makes some worthwhile points. Was he the guy who wrote Blair's Wars?

On the whole, it didn't surprise me either B. Now a question of waiting and seeing.

jingleTIMID the two words shouldn't even appear in the same thread!