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riderinthestorm

(23,272 posts)

59. No way. They tried to get him through legal channels first

Wed Aug 15, 2012, 08:16 PM

Aug 2012

I'm quite sure the Brits (cough*the US* cough) wanted to put up a demonstration of "fairness" to the world. Afterall, Assange was on "house arrest" (itself unprecedented because there weren't any charges) so he wasn't going anywhere. Clearly they felt they could play the cat and mouse game and that time was on their side.

Assange has forced their hand by heading to the Ecuadorean embassy. I'm going to guess he has information that President Correa has never seen before and finds extremely distressing which is why they're participating in this, and which also explains why they are so angry.

Furthermore, I would presume Ecuador has made some final decisions on Assange that aren't to the Brit's (cough *the US* cough) liking and they are trying to force the situation NOW.

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UK 'threatens' to raid Ecuador embassy over Assange [View all] struggle4progress Aug 2012 OP

Four hundred years of diplomatic law on Line One for you, Mr. Prime Minister.. (nt) Posteritatis Aug 2012 #1

Ecuador says UK threatens to raid embassy over Assange struggle4progress Aug 2012 #2

... Ecuador's minister for foreign affairs, Ricardo Patino, on Wednesday released details struggle4progress Aug 2012 #3

I hope Ecuador has troops surrounding the British embassy in Quito. HooptieWagon Aug 2012 #102

Another opponent of diplomacy weighs in, hoping for escalation struggle4progress Aug 2012 #105

And raiding an embassy with police isn't escalation? HooptieWagon Aug 2012 #110

Technically, Assange still is on UK soil struggle4progress Aug 2012 #112

Not when he's inside Ecuador's embassy. HooptieWagon Aug 2012 #119

Quito's embassy in London is absolutely UK territory struggle4progress Aug 2012 #121

Why did UK whine about Iran allowing civilians overrun embassy in Tehran? HooptieWagon Aug 2012 #126

Civilians versus law enforcement personnel? I see a difference. randome Aug 2012 #127

Civilian stooges vs law enforcement? HooptieWagon Aug 2012 #128

So is Interpol and the entire U.K. appeals system. randome Aug 2012 #129

Since the extradition was filed "for questioning" HooptieWagon Aug 2012 #133

As far as I can tell, no UK authorities have entered the Ecuadorian embassy without permission struggle4progress Aug 2012 #140

Yep. They only threatened to invade. HooptieWagon Aug 2012 #151

No: Ecuador says the UK threatened to invade. That's different. Pay attention struggle4progress Aug 2012 #154

Ecuador released the letter from the UK. Its pretty clear nt riderinthestorm Aug 2012 #156

No, Ecuador merely indicated what it thought the letter said. The British Foreign Office struggle4progress Aug 2012 #162

Clear to anyone not supporting an extraordinary rendition policy. HooptieWagon Aug 2012 #164

Such brilliance! I think Assange ought to be handed over to Sweden, to honor a struggle4progress Aug 2012 #167

The content of the message has been posted. HooptieWagon Aug 2012 #163

... As we have previously set out, we must meet our legal obligations struggle4progress Aug 2012 #166

London's harboring an Icelandic banker fugitive right now, the guy who crashed their economy riderinthestorm Aug 2012 #172

Former Chair of Iceland’s Kaupthing Arrested in London (09.03.2011 | 14:16) struggle4progress Aug 2012 #173

So 17+ months of harboring a fugitive and you never posted once in poutrage riderinthestorm Aug 2012 #174

"Another opponent of diplomacy"????????? ljm2002 Aug 2012 #120

Australian Government offers normal consular assistance rootProbiscus Aug 2012 #4

Like this ? dipsydoodle Aug 2012 #20

... Britain's Foreign Office said in a statement late Wednesday that it had "drawn the Ecuadorians' struggle4progress Aug 2012 #5

... "Throughout this process have we have drawn the Ecuadorians' attention to relevant provisions struggle4progress Aug 2012 #6

REALLY? FatIrishBastard Aug 2012 #7

Hilarious! What kind of 'proof' of a rape would satisfy you? randome Aug 2012 #17

Evidence sufficient to be presented hifiguy Aug 2012 #62

Oh, please, you think the CIA couldn't take him out in an 'accident' at any time? randome Aug 2012 #65

If he's so unimportant than the CIA isn't even wasting any resources "taking him out" riderinthestorm Aug 2012 #124

Satisfaction? FatIrishBastard Aug 2012 #115

The UK, of course, has no stake, one way or another, in the Swedish allegations struggle4progress Aug 2012 #21

Is this sarcasm? The UK (cough*US* cough) has no "stake" in Assange's arrest? riderinthestorm Aug 2012 #24

What 'embarrassment' are you talking about? What has changed because of Assange? randome Aug 2012 #25

If you haven't been following Wikileaks, Bradley Manning, the release of video of war crimes riderinthestorm Aug 2012 #30

My question still stands. What consequences have the governments... randome Aug 2012 #37

We don't know exactly. So my question still stands, why are the Brits taking this unprecedented riderinthestorm Aug 2012 #40

The UK isn't storming the embassy. The Ecuadorians misrepresented the UK stand. struggle4progress Aug 2012 #45

They threatened to forcibly enter the Ecuadorean embassy and make arrests therein! riderinthestorm Aug 2012 #48

Should've done it to the Libyans in 1984, frankly Spider Jerusalem Aug 2012 #52

And yet, even then they did not. That just says a LOT to me... nt riderinthestorm Aug 2012 #54

Not really Spider Jerusalem Aug 2012 #56

And yet after participating in how many other military actions riderinthestorm Aug 2012 #69

... "We need to reiterate that we consider the continued use of the diplomatic premises in this way struggle4progress Aug 2012 #8

Hey, limeys! I've got your Vienna Convention right here! KamaAina Aug 2012 #12

I suspect that the UK has thoughtfully pointed out to Ecuador, not that struggle4progress Aug 2012 #23

So they'd break off diplomatic relations with Ecuador over this one man? KamaAina Aug 2012 #93

The UK will not act in great haste here. It values its relations with the great nation of Ecuador, struggle4progress Aug 2012 #98

... Spider Jerusalem Aug 2012 #60

And that's supposed to subvert a treaty which they signed? KamaAina Aug 2012 #92

Thereby guaranteeing Assange will be granted asylum? nt bemildred Aug 2012 #9

lies heaven05 Aug 2012 #10

Ditto. SoapBox Aug 2012 #16

Yeah, right. All those governments have suffered soooo much! randome Aug 2012 #18

The unlawful financial blockade against Wikileaks, tama Aug 2012 #96

... CBS News correspondent Charlie D'Agata reports the British Foreign Office merely reminded struggle4progress Aug 2012 #11

That goes both ways, Ecuador can invade the UK embassy in Quito too. ronwelldobbs Aug 2012 #87

Perhaps you are not a fan of diplomacy: the UK has not attacked the Ecuadorian embassy struggle4progress Aug 2012 #100

I'm sure that behi.d the scenes, the Ecuadoreans are quietly reminding the Brits... HooptieWagon Aug 2012 #106

Another enemy of diplomacy speaks up! struggle4progress Aug 2012 #107

I don't think that recognizing a quid-pro-quo action could quite possibly happen necessarily makes o LanternWaste Aug 2012 #160

The UK's "reminder" is unprecedented. Even in war the UK has never threatened another embassy riderinthestorm Aug 2012 #123

Yep. The 2 posters are quite active in defending the indefensible. HooptieWagon Aug 2012 #134

The truth. randome Aug 2012 #136

The UK has certainly withdrawn diplomatic recognition from some countries struggle4progress Aug 2012 #155

Please give me ONE example of the UK telling an embassy they were going to revoke riderinthestorm Aug 2012 #157

No law or custom can prevent the UK from informing Ecuador struggle4progress Aug 2012 #159

So in other words, you got nothing. Noted. nt riderinthestorm Aug 2012 #161

I imagine the Ecuadorians are pretty pissed off about this threat. riderinthestorm Aug 2012 #13

They have made it a pissing contest, and they will regret it. nt bemildred Aug 2012 #15

I'm betting in the long run it'll cost the limeys the Malvinas. ronwelldobbs Aug 2012 #88

They will lose those one way or another anyway, someday. bemildred Aug 2012 #114

I imagine the UK is displeased to see Ecuador harbor a fugitive in its embassy struggle4progress Aug 2012 #103

Oh for God's sake Cameron get a fucking life Smilo Aug 2012 #14

If the U.S. was pulling the UK's strings, why is Assange not in U.S. custody? randome Aug 2012 #19

Because up until now they were trying to Smilo Aug 2012 #29

For two years? Government revenge is a dish best served slow! randome Aug 2012 #33

There is a lawful UK court order, directing Assange to surrender for extradition, struggle4progress Aug 2012 #34

Assange's work in exposing war crimes transcends international borders riderinthestorm Aug 2012 #39

Under existing Swedish law, false prosecution is actionable struggle4progress Aug 2012 #58

So we circle back to the crux of it. That the US has long planned to extradite him from Sweden nt riderinthestorm Aug 2012 #61

Assange's paranoid hallucinations, contagious as they seem to be, nevertheless struggle4progress Aug 2012 #66

International machinations designed to eliminate war crimes whistleblowers riderinthestorm Aug 2012 #74

i don't see any 'International machinations designed to eliminate war crimes whistleblowers' Bodhi BloodWave Aug 2012 #142

Once upon a time rape was a crime Nuclear Unicorn Aug 2012 #144

He would have a hard time defending hjmself in a Swedish court, HooptieWagon Aug 2012 #137

For Christ's sake, what government in its right 'mind' would 'promise' to protect... randome Aug 2012 #138

"Where are his 'poison pill' documents?" Nuclear Unicorn Aug 2012 #146

Its done all the time. HooptieWagon Aug 2012 #148

Assange is not a criminal! randome Aug 2012 #165

Simple... he can be questioned at the embassy. HooptieWagon Aug 2012 #171

The U.K. is not going to 'invade' the embassy. randome Aug 2012 #175

Because "justice" has the appearance of a farce. HooptieWagon Aug 2012 #176

Assange and his lawyers were free to argue re-extradition to the US timely during their contest struggle4progress Aug 2012 #139

No. Not arguing the point doesn't mean theyVe waived the right to argue at a later date. HooptieWagon Aug 2012 #150

Don't quit your day job struggle4progress Aug 2012 #153

Shame on Britain for doing the US' dirty work. As a country (US), we suck. Vidar Aug 2012 #22

Why don't they just declare war and get it over with? malthaussen Aug 2012 #26

Can they give him citizenship and appoint him as diplomat with such immunity to arrest? jerseyjack Aug 2012 #27

interesting -- I would suppose so tomm2thumbs Aug 2012 #31

The UK would not be obliged to accept any credentials offered by Assange struggle4progress Aug 2012 #36

I have a feeling that would generate FAR more collateral damage than even the Brits riderinthestorm Aug 2012 #41

Nope. No country is ever required to accept the credentials of a potential ambassador struggle4progress Aug 2012 #101

Oh, I should hope they do "expel" him, and usher him out of the country riderinthestorm Aug 2012 #125

The UK recognizes an outstanding warrant for him struggle4progress Aug 2012 #131

Just like they "recognized" the outstanding warrant for Pinochet perhaps? riderinthestorm Aug 2012 #132

Then why didn't the UK send Assange to the US Nuclear Unicorn Aug 2012 #147

Public perception of "fairness" would be my guess. Assange is already riderinthestorm Aug 2012 #158

Poor Assange dsteve01 Aug 2012 #28

He doesn't have a gym in the embassy! And his mother wants him home! randome Aug 2012 #38

Desperate criminals after one of the greatest men of the 21st Century. nt Comrade_McKenzie Aug 2012 #32

One of the 'greatest men'? For publishing stolen documents? randome Aug 2012 #35

But we didn't, did we? He did. GliderGuider Aug 2012 #42

I approve of whistleblowing and uncovering government secrets. randome Aug 2012 #49

Shockingly, even if were proven that he did that ... GliderGuider Aug 2012 #63

I appreciate your directness! randome Aug 2012 #67

Daniel Ellsberg? Warren Stupidity Aug 2012 #130

Bottom line: the Ecuadorians have shown themselves neophytes at diplomacy struggle4progress Aug 2012 #43

Suuure the Brits did just that. GliderGuider Aug 2012 #44

LOL! What do you call forcibly entering a diplomatic embassy and arresting people therein? riderinthestorm Aug 2012 #46

not really Bodhi BloodWave Aug 2012 #68

Even during military war, the Brits have never taken this step riderinthestorm Aug 2012 #73

I'm merely pointing out it wouldn't be a breach of international law Bodhi BloodWave Aug 2012 #75

But it would be so unprecedented as to set off a firestorm of outrage globally imho riderinthestorm Aug 2012 #77

Nailed it! Thank you. GliderGuider Aug 2012 #85

Be careful what you wish for . . . ronwelldobbs Aug 2012 #89

'There are limits' to Assange support: Roxon (Aust. Attorney-General) Matilda Aug 2012 #47

If they do, Argentina will invade the Falklands again. Cleita Aug 2012 #50

This proves that is the US that wants him. Odin2005 Aug 2012 #51

You are right. n/t Cleita Aug 2012 #53

And for two years, they ignored their 'masters'. randome Aug 2012 #55

No way. They tried to get him through legal channels first riderinthestorm Aug 2012 #59

I think you're probably right. GliderGuider Aug 2012 #71

That would be an act of war. kestrel91316 Aug 2012 #57

yes lovuian Aug 2012 #64

Yes. HooptieWagon Aug 2012 #152

Q&A: UK can enter embassy, says law expert struggle4progress Aug 2012 #70

A guy who isn't even a criminal constitutes "extraordinary circumstances"? GliderGuider Aug 2012 #72

warrant for fleeing a country day before an interview and dna test in regards to rape charges and Bodhi BloodWave Aug 2012 #76

"Extraordinary" enough to provoke an international diplomatic incident? nt GliderGuider Aug 2012 #78

Not extraordinary. Ordinary. randome Aug 2012 #79

They can't? They have in the past... GliderGuider Aug 2012 #80

Still doesn't make it "extraordinary"...this is, after all, supposedly only about a rape case.. truebrit71 Aug 2012 #143

In other words "screw international law, we'll do what we want" ronwelldobbs Aug 2012 #90

What's really weird is that the Brits have engendered a LOT of international hostility riderinthestorm Aug 2012 #94

Ecuador, with its Pacific coast, is not terribly close to the South Atlantic archipelago struggle4progress Aug 2012 #99

Don't bring facts like geography into this....nt msanthrope Aug 2012 #116

... British Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman contradicted the letters apparent threat. struggle4progress Aug 2012 #81

The raids apparently happening right now. nt riderinthestorm Aug 2012 #82

Maybe not. There is a lot of confusion right now. randome Aug 2012 #83

It's hard to tell from the ustream feed exactly what's happening. GliderGuider Aug 2012 #84

Very unlikely. The UK probably deployed police because Assange supporters struggle4progress Aug 2012 #97

How long did the UK dilly dally over Pinochet? Texano78704 Aug 2012 #86

The UK is known for protecting exiled dictators. ronwelldobbs Aug 2012 #91

Great precedent being set here fujiyama Aug 2012 #95

All the more bizarre since Assange is no longer on British soil. HooptieWagon Aug 2012 #111

You are mistaken: Ecuador's embassy in London is quite definitely UK territory struggle4progress Aug 2012 #113

By the Vienna Convention... HooptieWagon Aug 2012 #118

Horse pucks. You haven't read the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations struggle4progress Aug 2012 #122

No information on UK police action: Carr struggle4progress Aug 2012 #104

... As Thursday dawned in London, there was no sign police might try to enter the embassy. struggle4progress Aug 2012 #108

... Analysts in Ecuador expressed doubts that Britain would raid the embassy. struggle4progress Aug 2012 #109

Would the UK dare to threaten the Chinese or Russian embassy jsr Aug 2012 #117

Of course not. They think they can bully Ecuador. HooptieWagon Aug 2012 #135

Is the Chinese or Russian embassy in London harboring fugitives? struggle4progress Aug 2012 #141

Nope. Just spies. truebrit71 Aug 2012 #145

Along with the usual criminal activities of money laundering and arms sales Arazi Aug 2012 #149

and none of this has anything to do with Ecuador's tenacious lawsuit mitchtv Aug 2012 #168

The CIA forced Assange to have unprotected sex in Sweden to get back at Ecuador for suing Chevron! struggle4progress Aug 2012 #169

Yes, gosh, how DARE mitchtv suggest there may be other geopolitical reasons riderinthestorm Aug 2012 #170