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Ecuador Cutting Off WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange's Communications Outside London Embassy (suntimes.com)
The government of Ecuador said on Wednesday it has cut off internet access in its embassy in London to Julian Assange, the founder of the whistleblowing site WikiLeaks, saying that he was putting the country's international relations at risk. In a statement released on Wednesday, Ecuador said that the step had been taken because Assange had failed to abide by an agreement not to interfere in the South American country's relations with other states. From a report: As part of an agreement between Assange and the Ecuadorean government, he is not permitted to send any messages that could interfere with the South American nation's relations with other countries. Assange has been living in Ecuador's embassy for more than five years.
If he has no means to communicate with the outside world or to travel freely...that's the definition of incarceration. Finally.
For one thing, it's in weak countries' interest to have as much strife as much as possible between superpowers (US, Russia, China) as possible. If the big thugs are arguing amongst each other directly, they're less concerned about proxy wars and imperialism in places like Latin America. Keep 'em occupied and worried.
Plus, it feels good to punch up as the little guy.
Time for him to grow some balls and have his day in court. And im sure their are some Ecuadors who are in need of the funds their government is useing to keep him alive...
Jack of all trades,master of none
For one thing, it's in weak countries' interest to have as much strife as much as possible between superpowers (US, Russia, China) as possible. If the big thugs are arguing amongst each other directly, they're less concerned about proxy wars and imperialism in places like Latin America. Keep 'em occupied and worried.
I tend to disagree. Strife between major powers often results in proxy wars simply because teh big powers have too much to lose so they support other countries and let them fight it out. They like the idea of a little power poking the eye of their enemy, it's less risky then an all out confrontation.
Plus, it feels good to punch up as the little guy.
Until, of course, the big guy punches back.
I'm a consultant - I convert gibberish into cash-flow.
He won't quit agitating. He is attacking people using his access and you can't blame Ecuador for getting tired of it.
It seems that the Assange topic brings out the really ugly in the Slashdot crowd: petty, bitter, cynical, superficial.
Folks, sometimes you're really disgusting.
Sure. He can just contact any ISP he wants to have one installed what is considered sovereign territory of Ecuador. The country won't mind. Also all ISPs would love to get entangled in an international incident.
Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
Yes, being waterboarded at Gitmo and then executed for "treason" is how people embrace life. Bold words, AC.
My God, it's Full of Source!
OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
His home country, Australia, has cowardly turned their back on him
No. He was told that this was a criminal matter in Sweden, and then the UK. That if, at some point in the future he is charged by the US, that he can apply for a prisoner transfer to Australia.
His narcissistic fantasies aside, he was wanted in relation to a criminal investigation, refused to return to Sweden, tried numerous avenues to avoid having to face the investigation and every court and legal opinion that he has asked to review the situation has responded in the same way.
People facing criminal investigations do not get to set the terms of the investigation in any country I know of. Maybe the charges were politically motivated, maybe not. We'll never know. He's run away, left supporters liable for hundreds of thousands of pounds of bail and taken advantage of the hospitality of the Ecuadorean embassy. He's claimed persecution and asked for political asylum, but there's absolutely no evidence of any persecution.
But the US wants Assange badly
So Assange claims, and certainly several US figures have spoken out against him, but there's no warrant and no attempt to extradite him. So far all I've seen is a lot of rhetoric from someone whose other behaviour makes me question how much is real and how much is fantasies of self-importance.