Well, what a surprise. One of Julian Assange's accusers, Anna Ardin, worked for an anti-Castro, US funded organization with links to our good friends, the CIA.
Apparently having consensual sex in Sweden without a condom is punishable by a term of imprisonment of a minimum of two years for rape. That is the basis for a reinstitution of rape charges against WikiLeaks Assange that is destined to make Sweden and its justice system the laughing stock of the world and dramatically damage its reputation as a model of modernity. Sweden’s Public Prosecutor’s Office was embarrassed in August this year when it leaked to the media that it was seeking to arrest Assange for rape, then on the same day withdrew the arrest warrant because in its own words there was “no evidence”. The damage to Assange’s reputation is incalculable. More than three quarters of internet references to his name refer to rape, although in fact this is not what he is accused of. The chances of a fair trial in this case are so close to zero that we can only hope that the British judge refuses to grant extradition. Many are saying that this is the Titanic moment for the internet, when we must fight for the right of the people to know what is done in their name. Joe Lieberman is already making accusations against the New York Times. At least we know that the US dirty tricks department, with its mainstream propaganda and tax dollars, is on a witch hunt. The ghost of Senator McCarthy is rattling his bones.
"The Swedes have a practical reason behind their deceptively slapstick police-work. The WikiLeaks founder, pursued by malevolent forces around the world, sought momentary relief beneath Sweden’s reputation as a bastion of free speech. But the moment Julian sought the protection of Swedish media law, the CIA immediately threatened to discontinue intelligence sharing with SEPO, the Swedish Secret Service. That got the present right-wing government out of its chair, as it does everything it can to bury the Prime Minister Olof Palme’s legacy of careful neutrality. The suspicion of whether the rape farce is an orchestrated campaign, might be illuminated by these facts: (1) Sweden sent troops to Afghanistan, (2) Assange’s WikiLeaks published the Afghan War Diary which exposed this cruel and needless neo-colonial campaign."
"One of two women involved told Aftonbladet in an interview published today that she had never intended Assange to be charged with rape. She was quoted as saying: "It is quite wrong that we were afraid of him. He is not violent and I do not feel threatened by him."Speaking anonymously, she said each had had voluntary relations with Assange: 'The responsibility for what happened to me and the other girl lies with a man who had attitude problems with women.' Sources close to the woman said that issues arose during the relationships about Assange's willingness to use condoms. In her interview, she dismissed the idea, seized on by many conspiracy theorists that 'dirty tricks' lay behind the rape allegations, because of WikiLeaks' defiance of the US government. She said: 'The charges against Assange are of course not orchestrated by the Pentagon.' said the Guardian back in August.
Seems there is more to Sweden than cheap furniture with screws missing.
Meanwhile back in the USA, from Philip Crowley at the state department: "The United States is pleased to announce that it will host Unesco's World Press Freedom Day event in 2011, from 1-3 May in Washington, DC."
"The theme for next year's commemoration will be 21st Century Media: New Frontiers, New Barriers. The United States places technology and innovation at the forefront of its diplomatic and development efforts. New media has empowered citizens around the world to report on their circumstances, express opinions on world events, and exchange information in environments sometimes hostile to such exercises of individuals' right to freedom of expression. At the same time, we are concerned about the determination of some governments to censor and silence individuals, and to restrict the free flow of information. We mark events such as World Press Freedom Day in the context of our enduring commitment to support and expand press freedom and the free flow of information in this digital age."
