https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/julian-assange-faces-decades-in-us-jail-over-spying-claims-3fh27jcck
The extradition treaty between the United States and the United Kingdom dates from 2003, and was implemented by the UK in the Extradition Act 2003 and came into force in April 2007 following its ratification by the US Senate in 2006.Since that time just 7 US citizens have been extradited to the United Kingdom as against the 34 UK citizens extradited to the United States. The latest victim of this very one sided "treaty" is likely to be Julian Assange, who has been resident in the Ecuadorean embassy in London nearly seven years since seeking protection inside. Assange is not a terrorist, or a murderer or even a sex offender. His "crime" was to expose "evidence of atrocities in Iraq and Afghanistan". This of course coupled with the video footage of American gun ship helicopters killing innocent Iraqi civilians and evidence of what are best described as war crimes in these areas, has caused the United States Government severe embarrassment and mortification in the eyes of the world. For these reason and these reasons alone, the American government has for some years sought to "bring Assange to justice" as they did with Chelsea Manning to ensure that both spent many years in prison, no doubt as a deterrent to others. Initially it seems, the United States sought to rely on extradition from Sweden as the "softer" option with some very flimsy allegations of sexual assault and rape, by two Swedish women. Allegations eventually dropped, after Assange repeatedly offered to answer the charges and questions from the safety of the Ecuadorean embassy and the Swedish authorities repeatedly refused to come to London to question him. It is notable that these allegations have mysteriously re emerged in Sweden, after Assange was forcibly removed from the embassy yesterday.
It seems that the British government will become complicit in the attempted removal of Assange to the United States, no doubt since they also share some responsibility for the allegations of atrocities in Iraq. Comments by Jeremy Hunt and other government ministers, demonstrate quite clearly the present thinking of the political establishment and the remarks in court at the hearing for Assange for "skipping bail in the UK" lead one to believe that the case against him is already sealed. Again it seems, that the United Kingdom will be subservience to the US State department and will do whatever may be necessary to comply with America's demands for the removal of people to face United States "justice". It is clearly evident for anyone to see that this extradition request is all about American embarrassment at being exposed rather than computer hacking charges. The British government must resist any attempt to remove Assange from this country to the US or even to Sweden as the possibility of a fair trial is non existent.
Julian Assange faces decades in US jail over spying claims.
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The extradition treaty between the United States and the United Kingdom dates from 2003, and was implemented by the UK in the Extradition Act 2003 and came into force in April 2007 following its ratification by the US Senate in 2006.Since that time just 7 US citizens have been extradited to the United Kingdom as against the 34 UK citizens extradited to the United States. The latest victim of this very one sided "treaty" is likely to be Julian Assange, who has been resident in the Ecuadorean embassy in London nearly seven years since seeking protection inside. Assange is not a terrorist, or a murderer or even a sex offender. His "crime" was to expose "evidence of atrocities in Iraq and Afghanistan". This of course coupled with the video footage of American gun ship helicopters killing innocent Iraqi civilians and evidence of what are best described as war crimes in these areas, has caused the United States Government severe embarrassment and mortification in the eyes of the world. For these reason and these reasons alone, the American government has for some years sought to "bring Assange to justice" as they did with Chelsea Manning to ensure that both spent many years in prison, no doubt as a deterrent to others. Initially it seems, the United States sought to rely on extradition from Sweden as the "softer" option with some very flimsy allegations of sexual assault and rape, by two Swedish women. Allegations eventually dropped, after Assange repeatedly offered to answer the charges and questions from the safety of the Ecuadorean embassy and the Swedish authorities repeatedly refused to come to London to question him. It is notable that these allegations have mysteriously re emerged in Sweden, after Assange was forcibly removed from the embassy yesterday.
It seems that the British government will become complicit in the attempted removal of Assange to the United States, no doubt since they also share some responsibility for the allegations of atrocities in Iraq. Comments by Jeremy Hunt and other government ministers, demonstrate quite clearly the present thinking of the political establishment and the remarks in court at the hearing for Assange for "skipping bail in the UK" lead one to believe that the case against him is already sealed. Again it seems, that the United Kingdom will be subservience to the US State department and will do whatever may be necessary to comply with America's demands for the removal of people to face United States "justice". It is clearly evident for anyone to see that this extradition request is all about American embarrassment at being exposed rather than computer hacking charges. The British government must resist any attempt to remove Assange from this country to the US or even to Sweden as the possibility of a fair trial is non existent.
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