I don't care about him relishing in martyrdom but the rape allegations are serious business in many ways, so yes if those are true then his actions would be hideous.
The problem is that I don't know if they are true and that they essentially don't take away from WikiLeaks mission and Assange's part in it - as horrible as those allegations are.
Who should be given the benefit of the doubt?
I would argue the weak.
Who are the most vulnerable and weak in this whole issue?
The women Assange allegedly took advantage of against their will? Probably.
A man shedding and successfully marketing the ugly truths of very powerful people? Probably.
It's a complicated world and not only that, it seems as if the game has been rigged from the get go (by all powerful parties) so I don't feel like I could allow myself strong judgement.
The woman Assange allegedly raped is currently refusing to cooperate with the prosecutor and police. She is even refusing to sign her own testimony. The unsigned testmony states however that she was "half-asleep" when Assange initiated sex, which is what the prosecutor is using to charge Assange for lesser degree rape.
Her intention, as far as public statements has been, is quite clear. She wanted him tested for HIV. She had asked him, but he refused, so a few days later she went to the police to ask if they could force him to take a HIV.
I remember reading that she simply felt tricked by the prosecutor/police when the media circus started with the arrest warrant and extraditions. If we want to take her side (which should do), then what would the correct course of actions be?
The problem is that I don't know if they are true and that they essentially don't take away from WikiLeaks mission and Assange's part in it - as horrible as those allegations are.
Who should be given the benefit of the doubt? I would argue the weak.
Who are the most vulnerable and weak in this whole issue? The women Assange allegedly took advantage of against their will? Probably.
A man shedding and successfully marketing the ugly truths of very powerful people? Probably.
It's a complicated world and not only that, it seems as if the game has been rigged from the get go (by all powerful parties) so I don't feel like I could allow myself strong judgement.