Julian Assange Announces Plan to Leave Ecuadorian Embassy 'Soon'

[countryfree]

All he has to do is leave the embassy on a diplomatic helicopter.

And when the helicopter lands?  Can't think of too many places where they wouldn't be able to arrest him as soon as he gets out of the helicopter.  Honestly don't know if it's possible to make it to international waters on a normal fuel tank.  Anyone care to do some research?

Flying over London in a helicopter, if it was legal, isn't a way to go unnoticed.

[Bonam]

All he has to do is leave the embassy on a diplomatic helicopter.

And when the helicopter lands?  Can't think of too many places where they wouldn't be able to arrest him as soon as he gets out of the helicopter.  Honestly don't know if it's possible to make it to international waters on a normal fuel tank.  Anyone care to do some research?

Flying over London in a helicopter, if it was legal, isn't a way to go unnoticed.

It's not a matter of being unnoticed. Would the British military try to force down a diplomatic helicopter? Remember the outrage when Austrian authorities grounded a Bolivian diplomatic aircraft on rumors that Snowden was on board?? Maybe they would, but there's a good chance they wouldn't, and that may be his best bet to get away.

As for range on a fuel tank... typical helicopters can get up to about 500 nautical mile range, so that's not an issue.

[latinna]

Julian Assange should return to Sweden to face inquiries about sexual assault.

Interpol still has a Red Notice allert on Julian Assange - arrest on sight and deliver to Swedish authorities.

Julian Assange can fabricate whatever story he likes, but London authorities still wait to arrest him. He must answer questions in Sweden, regardless of whatever charges or extradition attempts remain from the USA.

Man up, Assange! Go to Sweden and talk to the authorities there.

[bitcointurn]

I neither consider him a hero or a villain, but I do feel he should have gone to Sweden and answered to the charges. Ironically, if he had been found guilty, figuring Sweden's relative leniency and good prison conditions, he would probably be out now and in better health.

[dankkk]

Julian Assange should return to Sweden to face inquiries about sexual assault.

Interpol still has a Red Notice allert on Julian Assange - arrest on sight and deliver to Swedish authorities.

Julian Assange can fabricate whatever story he likes, but London authorities still wait to arrest him. He must answer questions in Sweden, regardless of whatever charges or extradition attempts remain from the USA.

Man up, Assange! Go to Sweden and talk to the authorities there.

The problem with this is the timing of the accusations. They were made very shortly after wikileaks released documents and videos relating to the Iraq war that are of public interest but made the US look very bad. The charges are more likely then not politically motivated and not true.

[Bonam]

I neither consider him a hero or a villain, but I do feel he should have gone to Sweden and answered to the charges. Ironically, if he had been found guilty, figuring Sweden's relative leniency and good prison conditions, he would probably be out now and in better health.

Once in custody, he likely would have been handed over to the US and disappeared in a dark hole somewhere for the rest of his life, after a secret trial with secret laws and no recourse.

[counter]

A life of self-imposed imprisonment in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London versus the unknowns of legal battles in Sweden or the US - While an unenviable choice, I can see why Assange has decided to fly the coop. But why advertise the fact? It will only put his adversaries on hyper-alert.

Why not advertise the fact, it's better to let the world know his intentions so he isn't disappeared on some secret dark site for "interrogation" no?  People have their differences of opinion with these whistle blowers and while the discussion is up in the air I think it's a good time to test the waters.  There has been many scandals sense the leaks from Assange.  He made his info known and people have had time to digest it so why live in hiding forever, or sneak out like he's trying to hide something?

[intighet]

Whatever health issues he has ,he is responsible for. He has allegedly leaked important classified information. If he is extradited back to the USA he will be given due process. He has chosen not to have his date in court. Therefore, he has to accept the consequences of his actions which has resulted in his poor health. The USA is not barbaric he would not be shot on the spot. Ask the terrorists that have been incarcerated . No sympathy just a fair trial is all he deserves.

There will be no due process. There will be military detention. There will be solitary confinement. There may be torture. The treatment he will receive in the US, taking into consideration his already poor conditions of health, will be worse than being shot on the spot. A fair trial is exactly what he deserves. He desires assurance of no extradition because he knows he will not be granted one.

EDIT:

I neither consider him a hero or a villain, but I do feel he should have gone to Sweden and answered to the charges. Ironically, if he had been found guilty, figuring Sweden's relative leniency and good prison conditions, he would probably be out now and in better health.

Once in custody, he likely would have been handed over to the US and disappeared in a dark hole somewhere for the rest of his life, after a secret trial with secret laws and no recourse.

[bryant.coleman]

There will be no due process. There will be military detention. There will be solitary confinement. There may be torture. The treatment he will receive in the US, taking into consideration his already poor conditions of health, will be worse than being shot on the spot. A fair trial is exactly what he deserves. He desires assurance of no extradition because he knows he will not be granted one.

Bradley Manning was forced to undergo sex-change surgery against his will once he was returned to the US. Who knows what will happen to Snowden once he is captured by the United States? Forcible castration? We have to remember that the FBI / CIA is the world leader in inventing more and more innovative methods of torture and humiliation.

[Kluge]

Bradley Manning was forced to undergo sex-change surgery against his will once he was returned to the US.

Manning threatened to sue the Army for not paying for hormone therapy after declaring he wanted to be a woman.

[dankkk]

There will be no due process. There will be military detention. There will be solitary confinement. There may be torture. The treatment he will receive in the US, taking into consideration his already poor conditions of health, will be worse than being shot on the spot. A fair trial is exactly what he deserves. He desires assurance of no extradition because he knows he will not be granted one.

Bradley Manning was forced to undergo sex-change surgery against his will once he was returned to the US. Who knows what will happen to Snowden once he is captured by the United States? Forcible castration? We have to remember that the FBI / CIA is the world leader in inventing more and more innovative methods of torture and humiliation.

Yea, this is not what happened. He is gay and wanted to undergo the sex change. See the below quote from kluge

Manning threatened to sue the Army for not paying for hormone therapy after declaring he wanted to be a woman.