tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058072377999486184.post3823106555780631260..comments2023-12-29T18:13:21.495-06:00Comments on pink scare: On the Allegations Against AssangeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058072377999486184.post-86524242510559221642010-12-07T23:54:05.259-06:002010-12-07T23:54:05.259-06:00there's a really good Kate Harding article on ...there's a really good Kate Harding article on this here:<br /><br />http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/12/07/julian_assange_rape_accuser_smeared/index.htmlJMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03223879013564312871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058072377999486184.post-21925521456479603022010-12-07T13:49:44.565-06:002010-12-07T13:49:44.565-06:00I wouldn't be too sure about saying that what ...I wouldn't be too sure about saying that what happened in Sweden is separate from the US war machine, because Eric Holder, the US attorney general, is now saying that "action" has been taken against wikileaks, so it is entirely possible that Assange's arrest on the Swedish warrant could result in his transfer to US custody if criminal charges have been filed under seal.<br /><br />I haven't followed the Swedish case closely, but if it is true that the first prosecutor dropped the case, but another one reopened it because of a request from a Swedish political figure, that doesn't look good.<br /><br />Of course, the gratuitous feminist bashing is ridiculous, but a curious aspect of the story is the claim that Ardin is closely associated with the anti-Castro Cuban community and has been publicly involved in propaganda efforts against Chavez. Now, that community does assist US intelligence, but it raises the question, what in the world was Assange doing with her in the first place? Setting aside the sexual allegations, nothing good could come from talking with her about anything.<br /><br />One of the problems in dealing with this subject is the fact that relating to sexual situations with the rationality that one applies to political situations is dubious. There may have just been a spark between Assange and Ardin that went wrong. After all, no one disputes that the encounter was consensual.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09164564889343805575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058072377999486184.post-41168237051925534722010-12-06T19:53:18.830-06:002010-12-06T19:53:18.830-06:00To me, it is very striking that Assange is to be t...To me, it is very striking that Assange is to be taken into custody for questioning in Nov. when the event (I read) supposedly took place in August. Why would it take so long for some law force to act? I absolutely agree with the article, but when the Powers That Be claim to take rape seriously only when it benefits their schemes, it indicates how much "women's" (everyone's) issues are twisted into being divide/conquer tactics as opposed to being legitiamte issues whose solutions are vital to our well-being.Erinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058072377999486184.post-44521314956160833452010-12-06T08:57:50.176-06:002010-12-06T08:57:50.176-06:00It's unclear what the facts are, and it's ...It's unclear what the facts are, and it's completely absurd that Interpol is involved. <br /><br />But the post isn't so much about whether Assange did or didn't do it- it's about the things that are entailed by some of the remarks made about the matter on the internet. If it turns out to be a plot to take Assange down, I wouldn't be surprised. But that doesn't justify making comments to the effect that Ardin, insofar as she is an alleged feminist, is some kind of man-eating avenger. Nor does it justify the bullshit comments some bloggers have made to the effect that rape allegations are, as such, somehow shaky and dubious. The politics of those comments have nothing to do with Wikileaks --which is part of my point. We shouldn't respond to ad hominem fallacies with more of them by trying to "discredit" Ardin by labeling her an "angry feminist". That's bullshit.thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05268192967377248928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058072377999486184.post-74453622253399719082010-12-06T07:17:15.396-06:002010-12-06T07:17:15.396-06:00The exact charge appears to be "having consen...The exact charge appears to be "<a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/abraham/detail?entry_id=78430" rel="nofollow">having consensual sex without a condom</a>" which is apparently a crime in Sweden.AlanSmitheehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14302036848656627300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058072377999486184.post-73623533846491710042010-12-06T04:43:14.616-06:002010-12-06T04:43:14.616-06:00Also--at least in the on-line media--there's s...Also--at least in the on-line media--there's seems to be a growing vagueness about the whole thing that smacks of pulling away from a setup. I've read lately that it's a "possible" rape charge. The furor and, it is to be hoped, the newly-awakened scepticism of the public (although I'm not taking any bets on that), may be the reason.Mimihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15017592585596334313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058072377999486184.post-7582129169268428982010-12-05T23:00:11.096-06:002010-12-05T23:00:11.096-06:00Oh and it gets worse with the tiny bit of homophob...Oh and it gets worse with the tiny bit of homophobia found here:<br />http://www.counterpunch.org/shamir09142010.htmlJMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03223879013564312871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058072377999486184.post-49247722722922041672010-12-05T21:02:41.472-06:002010-12-05T21:02:41.472-06:00And now Fire dog lake's getting into the act:
...And now Fire dog lake's getting into the act:<br />http://my.firedoglake.com/kirkmurphy/2010/12/04/assanges-chief-accuser-has-her-own-history-with-us-funded-anti-castro-groups-one-of-which-has-cia-ties/<br /><br />Bastards.<br /><br />Oh and Israel Shamir's pretty anti-semetic too:<br />http://jewssansfrontieres.blogspot.com/2005/06/gilad-atzmon-and-j-word.htmlJMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03223879013564312871noreply@blogger.com