Julian Assange

[echt]

Following recent developments it's amusing to see how the Murdoch press has buried this. Arseholes.

So shameful that Australia permits the owning of so much media by a foreign national.

Yeah, strange isn't it? LOL. I'm relieved to see the saga over and him home.

It's been an extraordinary saga. I'm glad he is free although I think he is a bit problematic.

Yes he is very problematic, there's no arguing that point. I hope his relationship with Stella goes smoothly now he is finally free.

Very glad to see him free, but yes I agree he's "problematic".

I wonder if the Murdoch media have changed their tune because some Fox News darlings like Marjorie Taylor Greene have been revealed as having been working behind the scenes towards his release?

Not sure what the situation is in Australia but the Times UK (Murdoch) has extensive coverage of this.

They're covering it, but have conveniently forgotten that he's public enemy #1 and a threat to us all, should be hung drawn & quartered etc.

Well a lot of people here agree with that view, especially those in the Military. The Murdoch press wasn’t alone in that view.

I feel a bit sorry for his wife.
But I'm a bit sick and tired of the whole Julian Assange thing.

It's kind of sad he's spent so much of his life living like a guinea pig in a cage, and nice that he is free now. I never paid him much attention, but did wonder about his white hair. He looks very middleaged since his time in jail.

His hair turned white at a very young age, before he was imprisoned.

Of course, but suddenly the Murdoch press have dropped their long term position on him.

Yes, I was just reading about it. I thought he dyed it, after being loosely involved with The Family cult as a child - not sure where I got that idea!

The ABC had live coverage of his arrival in Canberra. But nobody mentioned that he had been accused of rape and skipped bail before the US brought charges against him. It was all about journalistic integrity and freedom of information.

Julian Assange has fallen out with every single media organisation he collaborated with and a good chunk of his supporters too. It’s terrible how the rape charges have been glossed over.

In all the coverage I can’t see any media outlet Murdoch or not going over their “ long term position “ on him, why would they ? It’s hardly relevant in reporting on his release.

Actually the UK Times (Murdoch owned) has an absolutely excoriating editorial on Assange’s character today.

The rape charges were dodgy as hell, they did seem to be a way to get him renditioned to Guataunamo (sp). Once he was in Sweden, it would have been a quick trip to the US.

I’m slightly surprised he was released so easily after all the allegations.

Also, even more surprised that Australia welcomed him back so openly as a conquering hero considering what he had done.

It really wasn't a matter of being released easily. There was a lot of quiet work and negotiations behind the scenes to get this done. This has been years in the making.

I also would disagree he's been treated like a hero. Yes, there has been a lot of media attention and a lot of people are expressing relief that it's over. But that's not the same as treating him like a hero.

@Prismsandprunes I agree about the rape charges. Normally I would always believe women who bring forward rape charges. But there was always something about these accusation that seemed not quite right.

He has not been universally held high as a hero. The story has been covered in Australia but there are very mixed opinions when discussing Julian Assange.

Australians hold hero status for Ned Kelly, remember, so some will admire a person who takes on the authority and wealth of the day.
I personally hear that Australians do hold strong opinions either way so discussion is short. People disagree and it is not worth having a family rift due to Julian Assange. I hear many people think he did the wrong thing. I hear that people don't think he deserves the death penalty or any more gaol time.

Julian Assange will go down in history as one who orchastrated his own lock up for many years, one who published vital and sensitive information and one who made it difficult for journalists to scrutinise, and make public, information. He didn't know what was really in the best interests of all people, when airing sensitive information.

That is what made him dangerous.

I hope Julian Assange thinks not about himself nor any political gain. I hope he devotes his next fifteen years solely to his children, wife and parents. I hope he feels thankful and makes a peaceful home. It is not fair that his family suffer any more.

Julian Assange has fallen out with every single media organisation he collaborated with and a good chunk of his supporters too. It’s terrible how the rape charges have been glossed over.

Indeed. The rape charges in particular give a very different impression than hero returning home. The first thing he was cowardly hiding from were those charges.

Andrew O’Hagan wrote a long essay for the London Review of Books on working with Assange. It’s worth reading to get a balanced and non-paranoid view of the man. He comes across as a megalomaniac narcissist. And certainly a misogynist. There’s a summary of O’Hagan’s essay here:
amp.theguardian.com/media/2014/feb/21/julian-assange-ghost-writer-autobiography-wikileaks

What was “dodgy” about the rape charges exactly? That’s not my impression and there were plenty of other allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards Assange made my multiple women.

Indeed. It was not just one woman. The pattern of force, and non-consensual sex, including sex without a condom when the woman had only consented with a condom (seems a particularly manipulative pattern by Assange) seemed pretty clear to me.

But of course, women are merely service humans to the great freedom warriors - who was it who said in the 1960s that the place for women in the American civil rights movement was “on their backs.” These great men, fighting for human freedom, have to have sex whenever and however they want it.

</sarcasm font off>

Also, even more surprised that Australia welcomed him back so openly as a conquering hero considering what he had done

Yep. I’m super pissed that my tax $$ have gone towards this. Previous governments have had the do sad too bad ‘not our problem’ line that I’ve been happy with, and now I’ve paid for this. Brilliant.
I’d have been happier if he was quarantined to some lovely warm island somewhere with lots of cocktails, but they had no access to internet there, and he was of no danger of costing me god knows how much in the future. He is the Australian equivalent of the UK’s Clive.