That being said, the US can hardly say no, that is, to an Australian Prime Minister who makes it known with firmness and confidence that he believes that, as he said in December about Assange, “enough is enough.” . That is to say, it is enough that he suffered all three years in Belmarsh prison, sometimes with his arms and legs chained as if Hannibal Lecter, in addition to eight years of self-imposed exile in the Ecuadorian embassy.
In the context of Australia’s role as an ally, the weight we give to the US empire, the decision to let Assange take free five-minute care in President Biden’s oval office. And our ambassador in Washington should be delegated to trot up and down the aisles of the Senate telling Republicans that if they value our friendship, they could fire the president for listening to Canberra in this case.
In any case, Biden and his advisers could conclude, it is time to release all the baggage of Afghanistan and Iraq. Afghanistan was America’s longest war to eliminate al-Qaeda and later oust the Taliban. After 20 years of blood and wasted treasures, the Taliban have firm control and al-Qaeda is once again claiming the miserable country as a refuge.
The Iraq war only demonstrated the paradox of unintended consequences, liberating the Islamic State from the world and giving a benefit to the projection of Iranian power. Assange’s persecution makes it seem that the pending issue of these wars depends on the persecution of a chained Australian, even as if snatching Assange was the last expression of American frustration at the defeat of the camp. of battle by the shattered insurgents. It’s time to dump her and move on.
Last week, Bill Clinton said for the first time that he feared for the future of America as a “constitutional democracy.” He was referring to laws enacted by Republican state governors that make voting difficult and make it easier for state officials to annul the popular vote. And Trump’s return. Fifty percent of Americans believe their country is heading for civil war; a similar number believe their country will end up being a dictatorship.
However, as it sinks further down the list of democracies published by Freedom House, the battered American republic may teach the world one or two things about its right to freedom of expression in the First Amendment. . His claim to being a nation of laws is stronger if Assange, this dissident editor, raises the threat of extradition. If sentenced to death in prison, the New York Times and the Washington Post would face a precedent against them anytime they want to expose the bad wars and atrocities that follow.
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The U.S. and Australian military have had to admit that no lives have been lost due to Assange. But we would not have heard of serious war crimes in a counterproductive war if it were not for the emaciated Belmarsh prisoner.
Our new prime minister may say, “We’re not fans of that either, Mr. President, but it’s been a long time. We are good allies. Let it fall. “
And if Albanese asks, I guess America will agree.