As a bloke who has besmirched Julian Assange’s reputation, my humble opinion probably doesn’t mean much, but it won’t stop when the same regurgitated defence statements keep being made.
Virtually all his supporters insist he was going to be sent to the US and this was the reason he hid away. Wrong. This is pure speculation. And the answer universally given as THE reason he evaded his legal obligations, not because he was worried about the sexual assault accusations. Why can’t we speculate he answered the accusations in a legally proper way, denied guilt, was cleared and is now living back high on the hog here in Australia? Because that doesn’t suit the prevailing narrative of the wronged hero freedom fighter. Speculation is the same, positive or negative.
Mr Westley is fantastic with buzzwords like state apparatus, corrupted global market interests etc, but I’m not sure comprehension is his strong suit. How he can divine that I think that accusation equals guilt, when I’ve been whingeing about Assange eluding his legal obligations, is beyond me. I would have loved to see him answer his accusers in a court of law and pass with flying colours. Then the alleged extradition would have been a moot point.
Here’s a positive prediction. Assange will be free, to make his millions on a book, speaking tours, and to visit the believers at his statue in the middle of Burringbar Street within 18 months.
I think the main person who has besmirched Julian Assange’s “reputation” is Julian Assange himself, but nobody ever admits guilt, the prisons are full of “innocent” people.