Sweden to issue international arrest warrant for WikiLeaks founder

Ha!Ha!Ha! Yes! I really hope they throw the book at this fool! He could be some double agent for Russia etc...for all we know.

I really hope they throw the book at this fool! He could be some double agent for Russia etc...for all we know.

I mean HOW DARE HE EXPOSE the huge cache of hideous secrets and war crimes about America! We are the nation of the FREE and BRAVE. Those secrets should have NEVER been exposed! Hang him! You right-wingers really HATE transparency and uncovering the real face of America, don't you? Hopefully, he will get off (two women at the same time, is a bad, bad idea), and even if he doesn't, there will be someone else exposing these secrets. Which, BY THE WAY, came from thousands of servicemen who were FED UP with participating or watching these crimes. GET IT.

Following a revision in 2005, the threshold for what is considered coercion to a sexual act was lowered, and the definition of rape was widened to include all sexual acts, instead of only intercourse. The change also meant that someone who has sex with an underaged, unconscious, drunk, or sleeping person can be convicted of rape. “Sweden uses the designation rape in a way no other country uses it,” said lawyer Per E Samuelsson

Ummm... Per E Samuelsson clearly is no expert on international law, because I know at least one other country where being unable to legally consent to sex (being underage, drunk, unconscious, sleeping, under the influence of drugs, etc) would be sufficient grounds to claim rape.

It is however indicative of an international trend in sexual offenses laws that all seem to give undue weight to the testimony of the alleged victim. This trend is in defiance of all common sense, and even the Romans knew this nearly 2000 years ago: Ei incumbit probatio, qui dicit, non qui negat; cum per rerum naturam factum negantis probatio nulla sit. = The proof lies upon him who affirms, not upon him who denies; since, by the nature of things, he who denies a fact cannot produce any proof.

This is the basis for the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, and is a cornerstone of the legal system in most countries around the world (Japan being a notable exception).

Assange might be guilty (although his lawyer claims, "Both women have declared that they had consensual sexual relations with our client", and if he's in possession of a declaration to this effect then I fail to see how there is any case) but mostly this case highlights the inherent basis and breakdown of logic in sexual offenses cases. It's a case of "politically correct" gone too far, where to even suggest that a woman might be mistaken or untruthful about a rape claim is taboo, despite the wealth of evidence that this happens with reasonable frequency (upwards of 10 to 25% of the time).

I mean HOW DARE HE EXPOSE the huge cache of hideous secrets and war crimes about America!

War, good or bad, what he did was stupid. Not only did he expose America, he also exposed a number of the names of locals in the Middle East that were informants for the US and it's allies. I hope these Govt's took care of these people, and thier families before the terrorists can get to them.

it was only a matter of time before he was fitted up for something.. one does not make a fool of the US of A without repercussions...

The good that will come of this is that the rest of the world can now behold the horror of the Nanny State, on steroids:

" The Swedish rape law is broader than similar laws in many other countries, partly because it covers rape within relationships. "

" Following a revision in 2005, the threshold for what is considered coercion to a sexual act was lowered, and the definition of rape was widened to include all sexual acts, instead of only intercourse. The change also meant that someone who has sex with an underaged, unconscious, drunk, or sleeping person can be convicted of rape. "

" The Swedish rape law is broader than similar laws in many other countries, partly because it covers rape within relationships. "

" Following a revision in 2005, the threshold for what is considered coercion to a sexual act was lowered, and the definition of rape was widened to include all sexual acts, instead of only intercourse. The change also meant that someone who has sex with an underaged, unconscious, drunk, or sleeping person can be convicted of rape. "

Tim, this sounds exactly like the definition of rape here in the US. What do you find objectionable in this?

Whether or not he's guilty, it's pretty clear politics is dominating the issue when prosecutors are overriding each other and nobody following the rules including the government itself.

Yeah to follow up on Triumvere's comment, Tim's description of Swedish law is pretty much the same as USA law. And the law of many modern nations. It's quite bizarre that there are still countries that don't believe having sex with someone who is drunk or unconscious is not rape.

Samuellson's quite a moron and liar if he thinks Swedish law is in any way unique.

Governments and some of Assange’s own colleagues have denounced him for releasing Afghan documents that contained the names of Afghan intelligence sources for NATO forces, saying that could place the sources’ lives at risk.

It would be nice if for a change if people could start speaking real English instead of this 21st century PR mumbojumbo.

That sentence quoted above is meaningless. If somebody is an Afghan intelligence source for NATO forces then their life is at risk already. If they added the word "increased" and said "at increased risk" then it would make sense. But of course the propaganda effect would be less if the words showed that these people's lives were already at risk.

one does not make a fool of the US of A without repercussions...

It will be nice one day to have the US NOT do war crimes in which it is liable to be exposed and made a fool of. BUT I do not see that happening ever in light of the number of right-wingers who love the shock and awe of it all. The problem with Nazi Germany was that they were too darn sloppy. NOT the U.S.--until now.

I don't 100% agree with everything this guy has done with regards to the releases. But let's face facts, both wars have been wasteful death traps for our people and the people in those countries. And for what?

Will Iraq become the bastion of democracy in the Middle East? No! Will Afghanistan settle into something resembling Singapore? Never! Will either war end terror? Absolutely not. Did either war make America safe? Laughable to even think they could have.

It is good for someone to shed a light on the many abuses, lies, misappropriations and theft that have gone along with these wars. And good to know how poorly both conflicts have been run.

Seems like a Globalist trap. I would post a global internet class-action CO2 lawsuit against all countries that do not allow video conferencing questioning.

(two women at the same time, is a bad, bad idea),

Learn to read dude:

1 two women at the same time is not bad, it's fun. 2 Assange had consensual sex with both women who then turned on him after becoming aware of each other’s relationships.

Pretty sure if both were in the room at the same time, one would have noticed the "same time thing"

Poor Mr Julian Assange. Not only have his leaks backfired (they seem to vindicate Bush, since they provide proof that some WMDs were found in Iraq and that Iran is actively involved in aiding the 'insurgency' in both Iraq and Afghanistan) but his rather typical Lefty perception of Sweden as a progressive paradise has made him a fool and a fugitive from the very sort of "social justice" he has no doubt always seen himself as a champion of.

If I were a conspiracy type I might think it is not so much Sweden as it is the international Left who has it out for him; they are angry that his leaks are less than 100 percent critical of Bush, and the big bad "neo-conservatives"

Go Julian !!! Yeah, bay-bee !! This is better than Austin Powers !!!!

Looks like a smear campaign to me! I don't sympathize much with him but in one point he's right "conventional news media has failed!".

The cartel is not going to go down voluntarily, and they seem willing to bring everybody else down with them, that is clear.

Surely you can be a bit more precise than just telling us there is a cartel. Such groups, by definition, have individual members. Let's hear who they are...

I think the way the law is written in Sweden means if a man has intercourse with two separate woman on different occasions within a short period of time; one on Monday and one on Thursday for example, then the first woman from the Monday can claim that she was molested.

If I were a conspiracy type I might think it is not so much Sweden as it is the international Left who has it out for him; they are angry that his leaks are less than 100 percent critical of Bush, and the big bad "neo-conservatives"

Unbelieveable psycho-babble and analysis. It is a rape case and not about his Wikileaks. Shame people are SO terrified of war crime secrets being unearthed. Ashamed right-winger that we are no better than Nazi Germany? Um? What over 100,000 civilians dead in Iraq. Not a problem for a right-winger! That there is victory!

Assange had a good idea -a place whistleblowers could safely release material --but he became quite egotistic, controlling, unhinged and in addition, quite consumed by the US. It was no longer a place for people to leak stuff --it became his pet project to do whatever he could to further his own agenda.

This took its toll on the whole administration and staff of wikileaks --quite a few of the top staff became disillusioned and quit as Assange became more irrational and consumed. It's not unthinkable that Assange got carried away in his personal relationships --tho that's yet to be proven in a court of law.

Let justice run its course and see how it ends up. I really do not see either Iceland nor Sweden as beholden to the US. I think they took this matter up on their own accord due to rape allegations.

So, put your personal sentiments regarding the man on hold and let justice take care of the matter.

PS. I'm quite certain that if instead of Assange, it was anyone from the Bush or Blair governments, most people would be champing at the bit and hardly crying foul. Just b/c you agree with the guy's "ideals" does not mean you have to excuse possible violent behavior on his part.

@ frungy, triumvere and bdiego

From reading the article I think the difference in law is not related to the comment you highlighted but to the following two comments:

threshold for what is considered coercion to a sexual act was lowered

It doesn't state what the threshold of coercion has been lowered to. Is saying "I will kill myself if you don't have sex with me" enough coercion to get convicted of rape? There is not enough information in the article to know. Additionally,

definition of rape was widened to include all sexual acts, instead of only intercourse.

This appears to indicate that you could be charged with rape for "feeling up" someones breast. Admittedly, in other countries you can probably get charged for other reasons such as assault for this but probably not rape.

tkoind2: I don't 100% agree with everything this guy has done with regards to the releases. But let's face facts, both wars have been wasteful death traps for our people and the people in those countries. And for what?

Your objections to the wars have been well documented on JT. Not sure what you think you're going to accomplish by rehashing them. The fact is that there are rape and molestation charges against this man. Perhaps your opinion on that would be more relevant.

Who said anything about putting the Taliban or their followers on a pedestal. All I am saying punish those war criminals and war profiteers (like they did in WWII)--read Halliburton which provided dirty drinking water and rotten food to our troops at sky high prices. I feel a little anger here dude. What? Is it OK for our side to commit war atrocities? Is it a crime to whistle blow on these people? Is it?" Ok, I misunderstood your post. It just seems lately, especially from many on JT, that those we are supposedly fighting are the good guys and Americans are the bad guys.

“Both women have declared that they had consensual sexual relations with our client and that they continued to instigate friendly contact well after the alleged incidents,” he said. “Only after the women became aware of each other’s relationships with Mr Assange did they make their allegations against him.”

Great. Then let him come in and answer questions, clear his name, and get everything behind him. If he's telling the truth he has that on his side plus a very, very large chuck of people who are willing to believe him even if he's lying because they hate the US. He's got more than a fighting chance if he's innocent.

Watch Assange turn up in the US, begging for asylum.

Get him. Disgraceful man.

Sounds like Sweden has a law against philandering, which sounds harsh. Perhaps someone prosecutors or Lawyers from Sweden may leak some of the harsher aspects of this law.

What Assange is exposing are the symptoms, not the underlying system that allows these things to happen in the first place. Are the charges trumped up? Probably. Are the things he exposed in the leaked documents shocking? Not really, they are just the inevitable things that are going to happen when you have an unlimited line of credit to hang around in Afghanistan and Iraq for years and years. That is the real story.

If you want to think that is just conspiracy talk, go ahead. I wish it was.

Perhaps the 'conspiracy' consists in the apparent collusion between the two alleged victims after the event. There is more to this than meets the eye.

Assange is defintely the subject of a witch hunt. Governments don't like it when you spill the beans. This rape story seems a perfect way to shut up the leaker.

A Swedish court on Thursday approved a motion to bring Julian Assange into custody for questioning. The decision paves the way for prosecutors to seek his arrest abroad through Interpol. Assange, whose whereabouts are unknown, is suspected of rape, sexual molestation and unlawful coercion.

Assange doesn't get to attack, molest or rape women because of who he is, what else he's accomplished or under any circumstances what so ever.

The quicker he's caught, the safer the women of the world will be.

Maybe someone will leak the documents about his case on his website. We have the right to know, ya know....

This appears to indicate that you could be charged with rape for "feeling up" someones breast. Admittedly, in other countries you can probably get charged for other reasons such as assault for this but probably not rape.

This wasn't how I interperated it; rather, that you could be recieve a full rape charge for something that wasn't vaginal intercourse (say, oral for example). Sweden already has a sexual molestation charge which is seperate from rape - we know this because Assange is charged with it as well.

I support the concept of Wikileaks, if not necessarily the implimentation. We need institutions that combat the ever creeping overreach of gov't secrecy apparatus. That said, Assange has come off as an arrogant self-ritgeous ass who thinks he is some sort of martyr for truth and justice. Exposing the misdeeds of the US gov't does not entitle you you go out and force women into having sex with you.

I guess it's true what they say about the bull and the horns!! LOL

This story still looks like a frame no matter what opinion you have on the leaks.

You'd think there would be more women coming forward if he really is the sex-predator that is capable of raping two women on a trip to Sweden.

His lawyer isn't mentioning a frame. He's saying they became angry after finding out he slept with both of them. Maybe he's lying to protect the US government?

Or maybe it's proving difficult to prove...

Madverts - Or maybe it's proving difficult to prove...

The Swedish police believe there is enough evidence for an investigation and a Swedish court approved the motion to bring Assange in for questioning. INTERPOL accepted Swedens request to issue an international warrent for his arrest.

Assange can "prove" his case IF wants to appear in court and make it.