Assange Watch

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 19 Aug 2012, 11:01

frank_begbie wrote:
biffvernon wrote:Live feed from Ecuador Embassy.

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/occupynew ... ium=social

Assange may be giving a statement 11.30 this morning.

What a lot of policemen there are outside the embassy!
Thanks for that.

No wonder its costing over £50,000 per day!

How many coppers do they need? Its only one man ffs!

It almost makes you think there's more to it than whether or not a woman knew the man she was with was wearing a condom.

Little John · Post by **Little John** » 19 Aug 2012, 11:14

I've got a nasty feeling that they might try and arrest him this very morning before he makes a live statement.

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 19 Aug 2012, 11:15

This old article is trending (whatever that is!) on Facebook. You'll be very surprised to know it's about some sort of discussion between Sweden and the US to arrest him. I wonder what that's all about!!!
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/cr ... es_in=6418

UndercoverElephant · Post by **UndercoverElephant** » 19 Aug 2012, 11:16

stevecook172001 wrote:I've got a nasty feeling that they might try and arrest him before he makes a live statement.

If there was a serious risk of that happening, why would he put himself in that position?

Little John · Post by **Little John** » 19 Aug 2012, 11:26

UndercoverElephant wrote:
stevecook172001 wrote:I've got a nasty feeling that they might try and arrest him before he makes a live statement.
If there was a serious risk of that happening, why would he put himself in that position?

I think because he has few options. He has to make a statement since the media cannot simply ignore it as this would be, finally, beyond any pale of misunderstanding regarding their biased reporting. However, the authorities will already be aware of they are at risk of losing the propaganda war. Any statement this morning by Assange could make it even more difficult for them to move on him. They may see this as their last best chance to nab him. Even thought the negative publicity will be appalling, it will be limited to a few minutes of unpleasant coverage. That may be, in their judgement, less damaging than if he makes a statement and this thing drags on for ages, possibly to the point where public opinion makes it impossible to get him.

In short, he has to make the statement. But, if we assume the government are determined to get him to the US in as damaging-limiting a way as possible to them, then arresting him today prior to his making a statement may be, in their judgement, the least damaging option.

UndercoverElephant · Post by **UndercoverElephant** » 19 Aug 2012, 11:32

stevecook172001 wrote: In short, he has to make the statement.

But why does he have to step outside the embassy to make it??

UndercoverElephant · Post by **UndercoverElephant** » 19 Aug 2012, 11:36

Ah....apparently he's not going to step outside the embassy. He's going to give a statement from a balcony, which is technically still inside the embassy.

Little John · Post by **Little John** » 19 Aug 2012, 11:39

It all depends on how determined they are to get him to the US. That will determine if they are prepared to weather the dreadful publicity that would ensue around the world if they move on him today.

UndercoverElephant · Post by **UndercoverElephant** » 19 Aug 2012, 11:41

stevecook172001 wrote:It all depends on how determined they are to get him to the US. That will determine if they are prepared to weather the dreadful publicity that would ensue around the world if they move on him today.

From the BBC:

James Birtles, Senior Home News Editor at Sky News, has tweeted that a first floor window at the embassy is being removed.

I think there has been some confusion in the reporting. Assange isn't going to place himself in a position where he can be arrested. There's no need for him to do this. I do not believe the police will take him from the balcony if it is part of the embassy.

It's not just about whether or not they try to get hold of him today - it's about whether or not they have to breach the borders of the embassy in order to do so. They would arrest him without a moment's thought if he actually steps outside, but he's not going to do this.

Little John · Post by **Little John** » 19 Aug 2012, 11:51

UndercoverElephant wrote:
stevecook172001 wrote:It all depends on how determined they are to get him to the US. That will determine if they are prepared to weather the dreadful publicity that would ensue around the world if they move on him today.
From the BBC:

James Birtles, Senior Home News Editor at Sky News, has tweeted that a first floor window at the embassy is being removed.
I think there has been some confusion in the reporting. Assange isn't going to place himself in a position where he can be arrested. There's no need for him to do this. I do not believe the police will take him from the balcony if it is part of the embassy.

It's not just about whether or not they try to get hold of him today - it's about whether or not they have to breach the borders of the embassy in order to do so. They would arrest him without a moment's thought if he actually steps outside, but he's not going to do this.

I understand what you are saying UE and you are probably right. However, it seems to me, given that the UK government have been prepared to go this far in damaging their reputation and they have been prepared to go this far in pushing some pretty unsubtle propaganda down the media pipe, that it also seems to me that they are absolutely determined to get Assange to the US no matter what it takes. If the above is the case, then it is at least possible that they could decide to breach internationally agreed protocols and try and get him.

I've put a live Reuters link below

http://reuters.livestation.com/demo

UndercoverElephant · Post by **UndercoverElephant** » 19 Aug 2012, 11:55

stevecook172001 wrote:
I've put a live Reuters link below

http://reuters.livestation.com/demo

Cheers for that. Whatever happens, this is going to be very interesting...

ETA: looking at that stream...if they try to grab him from that balcony with the whole world watching live, then there is going to be a riot.

Little John · Post by **Little John** » 19 Aug 2012, 12:00

A citizen's stream here

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/julian-as ... ium=social

frank_begbie · Post by **frank_begbie** » 19 Aug 2012, 12:06

How about a nice assassination?

One bullet one problem solved.

Maybe the yanks are that desperate.

UndercoverElephant · Post by **UndercoverElephant** » 19 Aug 2012, 12:14

OK we have our answer. You can see right now a man is testing the microphone, and he's standing exactly at the point where the window is. They are trying to make sure the microphone works without Assange actually stepping outside of the building.

UndercoverElephant · Post by **UndercoverElephant** » 19 Aug 2012, 12:16

frank_begbie wrote:How about a nice assassination?

Well, that would be ironic. We would have gone from Libyans shooting police officers outside, from inside the their embassy, to police officers shooting whistleblowers inside an embassy, from outside.