pete75 wrote:Why all this fuss and news reporting about a relatively insignificant individual. He's accused of rape in Sweden. This, to my mind, is a far more serious crime than embarrassing the US Government or armed forces so to Sweden he should be sent.
A couple of points. Assange is hardly insignificant given his role in disclosing that the US and the UK's intelligence services illegally eavesdropped on their citizens and that the US committed war crimes. Again, while Assange was never charged with rape by the Swedish authorities (and the case has been dropped meanwhile), he felt at significant risk as he suspected that Sweden would extradite him to the US...and who would blame him given America's record on illegal extraditions.
Looking at what has happened to other individuals who have "embarrassed" the US, it's little wonder he might be a little apprehensive.