Wikileaks' Assange wanted on suspicion of rape

[Falian]

even if it was consensual by some sort of spy hooker then claiming rape.

LOL @ spy hooker

 

[JakeStratham]

This seems like a really stupid move.

Maybe. Maybe not.

Imagine this:

Say you're a douchebag government player. It doesn't matter if you're Pentagon, DoD, Homeland, etc. Assange is a problem. A huge one. Not just because he has evidence, but he's getting play online.

What do you do about him?

Assassination is out.

Jail is out.

Making him "disappear" is incredibly difficult.

Discrediting him through "experts" just makes the experts look like idiots, even if they do it subtly - for example, "because of him, informants will die."

Yet he continues to be a problem. And will be so going forward.

What do you do?

You've tried to scare would-be leakers by keeping Manning secure, and "leaking" talk of treason.

Your toolbox is really limited at this point. There's not much you can do except wait for another publicity bomb. And that can shine lights into some extremely dark corners.

Imagine being in that position. Your job: figure out a way to "take care of Assange."

Is it stupid? Sure. But it's stupid in the same way a starving kid steals a pound of beef in front of the butcher and other shoppers.

It's desperation.