Truth: Wikileaker isn't a rapist (but he is an a-hole)

[Bucky]

Julian Assange has been charged with rape. The second I heard that, I assumed there was something fishy about the timing of the complaint. When you read about the complaints, it's clear that he's at best a cad, but can probably be best described as a narcissistic douchebag. What he's not, however, is a rapist.

Here's the skinny: He went to Sweden to give a speech and attend a few other events. Enjoying his brief celebrity, he seduced a woman who had let him stay at her apartment. They had consensual sex, but he claims that the condom accidently tore. Then he quit calling her. Then he went off to another conference and finagled another notch in his belt. Didn't call her back either. While with them he apparently spent a lot of time twittering and talking about himself.

Assange is a a cad and a sleazeball in his personal life. Ladies, don't be charmed him. His behavior is indefensible. DUers, don't hold him up as a hero. His antics seem to be useful to civilized society, as he's throwing a spotlight on things that need to be exposed. But so far, he's not a criminal. Indeed the charges have been reduced from rape to molestation (which is still a stretch for seducing a couple of groupies and never calling them back). So he's marginally less than a sociopath and he's certainly not a role model. But don't think for a second his being charged and then re-charged isn't political.

Someone's bringing pressure on him for his first round of leaks--the important ones about Iraq & Afghanistan. When the pressure turned up against him, it looks like he retaliated by releasing the diplomatic cables. But they're useless. They're mostly a lot of catty gossip. The big takeaway here is that Obama's foreign policy is gradually rebuilding damaged relations around the world with the polish and flexibility we expect from diplomatic professionals, while effectively isolating the dangerous regime in Iran. There's no real scandal to be found among the cables--it's the geopolitical equivalent of getting caught at the laundromat washing the skid marks out of your underoos. Awkward as hell, but entirely human.

I'm a lot more interested in seeing what comes out of the new set of leaked documents from "a major US bank." Some time in the next year or so, I suspect Julian Assange will burn himself out. He demonstrates a reckless, inflated ego coupled with bad and amoral personal judgments about how to live his life. Sudden fame is not for the flaky of mind. But until he burns out, enjoy the light he's casting on a few really dark shadows in public life.

[DonCoquixote]

1. In other words

Assange is the spiritual son of Larry Flynt

[EVDebs]

39. ......his wick leaked ? (sorry, couldn't pass it up) nt

[AndrewP]

46. LOL

[awoke_in_2003]

43. no, in other words...

the powers that be are arranging things to make him appear an ass, so they can discount what he says.

[Mimosa]

2. Puh-leeze, there were no rapes.

I wonder who's is behind the women.

[Bucky]

14. They were admirers of his, until they met him. I never said he was a criminal.

Far as I know, they still support his cause. But he's a world class jerk. My caveat is that he not be treated as a hero. Heroes in this day and age shouldn't put so much effort into avoiding the use of condoms during one night stands. He's useful to the cause of transparent government. But I don't think he's going to last long if he continues to act this recklessly in his private life.

[LawnLover]

34. Just out of curiosity, do you know this guy personally?

Because it certainly sounds as if you do.

[HipChick]

3. So far we only have one version of the story..

His....

I'd like to hear from his dates..

I wasn't there..not going to even pretend I assume to know what happened

[Bucky]

10. Read the links. If you follow the links you can read their sides of the story.

I'm glad he's releasing these papers. But I just don't see him as a paladin.

[frazzled]

4. Oh, so you were in the room?

There's no other explanation for your knowing what went on in a bedroom between two people in Stockholm. I'd be blushing if I were you.

[Bucky]

16. The woman seems credible.

The second round of charges, I don't doubt, is political. In fact, I stated as much in my OP. Did you read the whole thing?

[provis99]

30. this women who advises women to file false rape charges against ex-boyfriends is credible?

what world do you live in?

[Sonoman]

5. Problem is, INTERPOL is on his ass.

I wonder when was the last time INTERPOL was involved in a somewhat questionable sexual assault.

There must be some higher priorities.

Sonoman

[EmilyKent]

6. And interestingly enough, the two 'ladies'

know each other.

This is simply an attack on Assange. Unfortunately for the govts involved it doesn't change the reality of the leaks.

[brentspeak]

7. The "cad and a sleazeball" link simply regurgitated the Swedish accusors' claims

There doesn't seem to be any history of Assange having similar issues with women prior to the Swedish controversy from this year.

[Bucky]

19. "regurgitated" = "reported news I don't want to think about"

It's amazing how much we'll believe bad news if it reports on people whose politics we oppose. If Assange was publicizing Democratic misdoings, we'd be hailing these ladies as Swedish Anita Hills.

I like the analogy someone made upthread. He's like another Larry Flynt. He's got the right ideas about government, but because of his personal foibles is definitely not the best messenger for our cause...

.

[asdjrocky]

8. So it appears he enjoys having sex with women, and sometimes doesn not call back.

Seriously, hold me to this standard and you have to totally wipe out my late teens and all of my twenties.

What would you call it if we were to go after a woman for her sexual exploits? The word is right on the tip of my tongue.

[JVS]

13. Someone get me my fucking smelling salts, I do believe I'll faint.

[msongs]

9. actually your OP title is false because it is merely an opinion, not truth nt

[Tunkamerica]

18. actually your response is false because it is merely an opinion, not truth nt

[ProgressiveProfessor]

11. As I understand it, he has not been formally charged at this point

Which means the warrants (EU and Interpol) are highly suspect. He is only wanted for "questioning"

[midnight]

12. He seduced a woman who let him stay at her apartment, and

because he was traveling and not living at this area, he is now maginally less than a sociopath....

This sounds like a distraction and smear campaign, but time will tell.....

Anyways, this information, hopefully will be assimilated by a thoughtful public, and then we can decide what is important and what isn't.

[EFerrari]

15. I think you are missing some things that have been confirmed in the release

that reflect neither polish nor flexibility but bad faith against democratic governments. Namely, confirmation that USAID was spying in Bolivia while it was funding the opposition -- which wouldn't be too bad except the opposition was trying to get Morales killed. And, that despite the fact that Obama hemmed and hawed about calling the Honduran coup a military coup, his government agreed internally that it was one nearly immediately.

As for Iran, the only thing the cables show so far is how intent on scapegoating Iran the political elites are.

[drm604]

17. I can't speak to the claims of these women

but, his personal actions aside, it seems a stretch to say that the cables are useless. For one thing, most of them haven't become public yet and we have no idea what future releases will reveal. For another, there have been some interesting revelations from the small number that have been released.

I'm also looking forward to the bank release, but you can be sure that the talking points, the cries of "catty gossip", will accompany them also. As with the current releases, I will judge them based on their contents rather than others assessments of their interest or usefulness.

[Ramulux]

20. So all people who engage in casual sex are assholes?

What the fuck are you talking about?

Seriously, explain why he is an asshole or stop posting bullshit posts meant to smear him. You might also want to study the leaks before claiming there is nothing important in them. There are a couple huge revelations that have come out that seriously damage our reputation and sheds light on seriously corrupt activity.

[Bucky]

22. No, but guys who refuse to use condoms and "has a problem with taking 'no' for an answer"

is just someone I'd warn progressives off of being too closely aligned with. He's useful, but a loose cannon can't always be counted on pointing the right direction.

But you did a fine job of dumbing down my comments to mean something besides what I said.

[Ramulux]

26. Where is your evidence

that he refuses to wear condoms and "has a problem taking no for an answer"? You say in your post that he wore a condom when he had sex with that girl, where do you get that he "refuses" to wear condoms? Where do you get that he "has a problem taking no for an answer"? You are just making this shit up.

[uppityperson]

32. Read the articles linked in OP.

The two women who filed the original charges had sex with Assange on successive nights. Both seemed pissed that he charmed them into bed and then never called them again. Both were mortified to learn, after the fact, that he had had sex with them on back-to-back evenings. One was annoyed that, after seducing her in a movie theater, he spent the 45 minutes in the cab riding from a movie to her apartment "tweeting and texting and reading stories about himself." Both said he preferred not to wear a condom. One said he seemed to have an aversion to the word "no."

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/reminder-here-are-the-sex-crimes-interpol-wants-julian-assange-arrested-for-2010-11#ixzz16q2A0SgS

[MadHound]

27. Wait,

You said that the condom tore, so that means he didn't refuse to use condoms, and that it was consensual sex, so then the word "no" wasn't involved.

You are contradicting yourself in order to make your point. Bad form, really bad form.

[Ramulux]

28. What I dont get

is why this guy is trying to smear Assange with lies in the first place. His entire premise is bullshit and he makes two very obvious contradictions in his response, yet hes so intent on smearing Assange he either doesn't see the contradictions or doesn't care. I dont know whats going on with all the anti-wikileaks dumb-asses on this site but its depressing.

[MadHound]

33. Oh there are a number of theories that one can speculate on,

But not talk about here. Then there are others, like the fact that these leaks show the administration in a horrible light, that we can talk about to a certain extent. But whatever the reason is, these people are showing their true, totalitarian, authoritative nature, and you're right, it is depressing.

[uppityperson]

42. I think Bucky overestimated the ability of his audience to read the links he/she provided

[uppityperson]

31. "but was reported to police after he refused to use a condom or, later, take an STD test."

http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/wikileaks-sex-scandal-deepens-as-estranged-son-enters-the-fray-20100830-143ao.html
One of the links in OP. From same link

Ardin has told a Swedish newspaper that Assange had "a twisted attitude towards women and a problem with taking 'no' for an answer""

More of same article:
"She said in her statement that he spent the 45-minute journey to her home tweeting and texting on his mobile phone and reading stories about himself. She complained that "he paid more attention to the computer than to me".

She said when they arrived at the flat the passion and attraction had worn off. The Daily Mail said most of what happened next had been blacked out of the police statement but the paper quoted a "source" as saying Assange had sex with her without a condom, despite her insistence that he wear one.

So he not only doesn't want to wear a condom but talks on his cell phone in the car! (tying in with another Du topic here)

SECOND link in OP http://www.businessinsider.com/reminder-here-are-the-sex-crimes-interpol-wants-julian-assange-arrested-for-2010-11

The two women who filed the original charges had sex with Assange on successive nights. Both seemed pissed that he charmed them into bed and then never called them again. Both were mortified to learn, after the fact, that he had had sex with them on back-to-back evenings. One was annoyed that, after seducing her in a movie theater, he spent the 45 minutes in the cab riding from a movie to her apartment "tweeting and texting and reading stories about himself." Both said he preferred not to wear a condom. One said he seemed to have an aversion to the word "no."

[MadHound]

37. Now that's truly unbiased reporting,

Yet Assange says that the condom tore, so this really comes down to the nasty business of he said, she said.

So let's see here, the guy is guilty of:

Either not wearing a condom, or having the condom tear.
Spending excessive amounts of time on the hook up tweeting or texting.
Having sex with two different partners on back to back nights.

Geez, sounds like a fairly typical social scene in virtually any college town across the country.

The horror:eyes:

[uppityperson]

41. Just replying to your "you contradicted yourself" thing.

Not saying it is good reporting or both sides or anything. Just seems that you hadn't read the articles that were linked, just the OP.

[asdjrocky]

54. Yeah, that's what she said, right?

This is total bullshit.

[boppers]

21. "his first round of leaks"? Uhm.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WikiLeaks#Leaks

These have been coming out since 2006: bringing banking sectors down, releasing gitmo manuals, Scientology documents, Sarah Palin's email, 9/11 pager records, etc etc. etc.

[Bucky]

24. Of course. But the first really big splash he made was with the DoD reports this year

It was those action reports coming out of the Afghan and Iraqi campaigns that led to his engagements in Sweden and the trumped up rape charges.

[boppers]

29. Ah, I had been following wikileaks for a long time.

Depending on different stories, wikileaks (and Assange) has become notorious in different places.

[Luminous Animal]

23. You linked to an article based mainly on Assange's son. An article that his son has refuted.

"“My Wiki dad” needs a break, ffs

Posted On Friday, August 27th, 2010 By somnidea

The New York Post recently published some godawful sensationalistic tripe constructed in the main by quote-mining some comments I made on a friend’s Facebook profile concerning a certain increasingly infamous family member. I’d just like to note here that the comments in question were very tongue-in-cheek and never intended to be made public like this, much less support the conclusions of the article. The NYP did not interview me or otherwise attain my consent in any way for their publication. I have much respect for my father and his cause, and these ridiculously ill-handled allegations of sexual abuse serve only to distract from the audacious awesomeness that he has actually done.

Also, some factual corrections: I have not been a student of the University of Melbourne for some time, and I am 20 years of age, not 21. The latter point is particularly hilarious given that my birth date is publicly available on my Facebook account. You know… that same account that they just quote-mined. It takes a certain level of skill to fail that much, it does."


http://www.lemma.org/2010/08/

[Bluerthanblue]

48. kind of ironic that his son claims that the quotes were "never intended

to be made public like this"-

:shrug:

transparency is only good when it applies to others?

[Luminous Animal]

50. As much as my daughter and I are alike, she is her own person.

No doubt Julian and Daniel are distinct individuals, as well.

[Swamp Rat]

25. I hope he releases info on what Glenn Beck did in 1990.

:)

[Webster Green]

35. You didn't make much of a case for him being an asshole.

I think he's pretty fucking cool.

[Fool Count]

36. A single guy's not calling after a one-night stand makes him a sociopath?

A cad and sleazeball? An a-hole? In what universe? What, he was supposed to date them for 6 months before
having sex? Was he supposed to propose marriage after? Maybe before? What a freaking joke.

[Marr]

38. It's amazing how much we learn about the sex lives of people who make powerful people uncomfortable.

I don't care if Assange is a car thief and a crack addict. He's not the story.

[David__77]

40. None of this is relevant.

What we need to be attuned to is analyzing the veracity of forthcoming (dis)information, and assessing how it should inform progressives strategically. I DO hope that there is a general exposure of US geostrategy in the coming period. I want pictures.

[DonCoquixote]

44. I was speaking more in general

Is Larry Flynt is sleaze? yes
Is he someone who actually had the fortitude to attack the right wing and do actual damage? yes

Which is why assange will fit in

[here_is_to_hope]

45. not one rec....hmmm...

"The big takeaway here is that Obama's foreign policy is gradually rebuilding damaged relations around the world with the polish and flexibility we expect from diplomatic professionals, while effectively isolating the dangerous regime in Iran."

Right...

puddipuddipuddi

[seabeyond]

47. i am pretty sure you dont know that. putting it out as fact, really, a couple women been seduced

and unhappy after. he is a cad women, dont fall for him

i think i will wait before i decide it is nothing.

he is a creep, from all appearances. crimal activity exposed, ok. dumping without responsibility or vetting, bullshit.

[ecstatic]

49. I'll wait to hear the women explain their side

Thank you very much!

[whatchamacallit]

51. Thanks for the dirt, Linda Tripp!

Your decency crusade = hit job fail.

[court jester]

52. WWBS What Would Bubba Say

[Dreamer Tatum]

53. Whenever I lack moral clarity, I just assume the object of confusion is a Republican.

And *poof* all doubt goes away: Assange is a rapist and a spy.

Bada bing, bada boom. Case closed.

[Forkboy]

55. I think there's more lacking than that.