Julian Assange has been granted political asylum from Ecuador

Minister of Foreign Affairs Ricardo Patino said he and Ecuador believes that Assange faces real political persecution, including the possibility of extradition to the United States, where Patino said he believed that Assange would not have a fair trial.

“It is not impossible that he would be treated in a cruel manner, condemned to life in prison, or even the death penalty,” Patino told journalists in Quito, the capital of Ecuador. “Ecuador is convinced that his procedural rights have been violated.”

The Foreign Affairs Ministry of Britain said they are disappointed with the decision, but they are going to continue to try and perform their legal obligation of extraditing Assange to Sweden where he faces sexual assault charges.

Assange rose to ‘fame’ after his site, WikiLeaks, released huge amounts of top-secret U.S documents. This led to outraged Americans and calls to politicians to have Assange hunted down like a terrorist, so he can stand trial in America for his crimes.

Assange is wanted in Sweden for questioning on allegations of sexual assault, but fears that Sweden and the United States are working together so he could ultimately stand trial in the U.S.

Ecuador Minister of Foreign Affairs Ricardo Patino

Sweden officials have claimed that two women have come forward and accused Assange of sexual misconduct, and they have denied that their actions of extradition are politically motivated. Director of Public Prosecution Marianne Ny declined to comment on the asylum decision by Ecuador.

When the decision was made that Assange was granted political asylum, there were cheers outside of the Ecuador Embassy from Assange supporters.

Assange remains in the Ecuador Embassy where he has been staying since June 19^th, just days before he faced extradition to Sweden. British authorities pledge to arrest Assange if he leaves the Embassy. The investigation in Sweden and Britain is still ongoing.

Follow me on Twitter: @chrisenloe

Crowley had been critical of the Pentagon on the detention of Private Manning, the service member that illegally delivered thousands of United State secrets to WikiLeaks.  While attending an MIT event, Crowley responded to an audience question on the treatment of the accused traitor:

[O]ne young man said he wanted to address “the elephant in the room”. What did Crowley think, he asked, about Wikileaks? About the United States, in his words, “torturing a prisoner in a military brig”? Crowley didn’t stop to think. What’s being done to Bradley Manning by my colleagues at the Department of Defense “is ridiculous and counterproductive and stupid.” He paused.

A few minutes later, I had a chance to ask a question. “Are you on the record?” I would not be writing this if he’d said no. There was an uncomfortable pause. “Sure.” So there we are.[1]

During the Egyptian overthrow of Hosni Mubarak, Crowley used twitter to say that Mubarak’s proposed actions were nothing more than a “reshuffle the deck chairs” – a reference to a popular Titanic euphemism. The White House expressed displeasure with the Spokesman as his comments had not been approved and were not appreciated.

P.J. Crowley seems to have misunderstood the role of a Spokesperson. It is not a role of one that wishes to affect policy or disseminate  opinion. The spokesperson is the mouthpiece of the entity which they represent – nothing more.

Mr. Crowley, what went down in your head.. [2]

Sources:
[1]- http://philippathomas.wordpress.com/2011/03/10/the-state-department-spokesman-and-the-prisoner-in-the-brig/
[2] – Lyrics – “Mr. Crowley” – Ozzy Osbourne