Assange’s Supporters Launch “Operation: Payback” Against Institutions that Banned Him
WikiLeaks supporters have decided to fight back in the aftermath of the arrest of the website’s editor-in-chief, Julian Assange, by bringing down the sites that turned their back on the Australian journalist last week, after the publication of the U.S. diplomatic cables.
Thus, an operation called “Operation: Payback,” set up by activists known as “Anonymous,” has began by attacking PostFinance Bank, and promised to take down PayPal; right now they are focused on Mastercard.
The groups actions were reported on Twitter, and they are deemed by those who stage them as purely show of force and support for Assange, without any financial motivation.
Julian Assange’s arrest yesterday in the United Kingdom and the possibility of his extradition to Sweden where he is expected to face charges of sexual crimes may complicate any wish of the American authorities to see him tried on American soil for the release of the U.S. diplomatic cables.
Assange has split the public opinion on the theme: his opponents consider him a dangerous agent working against the interest of the United States, while his supporters see him as a champion of truth.
The Australian website editor-in-chief surrendered yesterday to British police and is now held in custody without possibility to make bail, awaiting for extradition to Sweden.
Extradition would not serve the U.S. intention to judge him on American soil, because Sweden is renowned for 
protecting its asylum seekers, not to mention that the American judicial system would have to come up with something really good to nail him, and proving accusations would be rather difficult.
Swedish authorities have already made it clear that they would carefully consider any request presented by the U.S., but reminded that the extradition treaty between the two countries does not cover the crimes political and military in nature.
That is why some American official think that it would be more appropriate to use the broad extradition treaty with the UK in order to extradite him to the U.S. while still in British custody.
Next Tuesday Assange is expected to fight in court an extradition procedure to Sweden. He denies the accusation brought against him by the Swedish authorities, and stresses out that they are politically motivated.
Meanwhile, the American authorities are searching for judicial grounds upon which to incriminate him for releasing sensitive documents, including classified information about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, or personal opinions of American diplomats about various leader all over the world.
There is an opinion formed among some American judicial experts that while a case against Assange could be made with more difficulty, it is a good thing he is held in custody for sexual charges, because that would put WikiLeaks on hold, and buy America some time to think of a strategy.
The opinion seems to be denied by the website’s editors, who vowed to continue their activity.
Against what everybody and Julian Assange himself think, he is very lucky to have this sex case in Sweden over him. It protects him from being extradited to the US by UK and/or Sweden in the close future, because before this case is closed or put to court, he can’t be extradited by UK authorities to the US.
And it will be juridically difficult to extradite him from Sweden, because political or military reasons are not enough. And if the death penalty is even mentioned, it’s out of question.
This will take time, folks. By then the charges from US authorities will be more modest or even dropped.
Time and many long juridically processes are his best friends right now.
I am inclined to agree with you, dear Swede. Once in Sweden, Assange will be a little safer, though he has this sexual crime thing pinned on him. Good point you’ve made. Thanks for the insight.
Thanks, Mihai-Silviu.
Even the Swedish prosecuter has said in an TVNews interview, that the case is not very strong, if JA can present believable arguments in favor for him. The biggest problem for him is, he hasn’t been questioned yet.
Another thing. When the case is closed or after served time, Sweden can’t extradite him to the US without permission from the UK authorities, because he came from there. Sweden has to wait 14 days before they can make this decision on their own. This means that two different countries has to agree.
Thank you, Swede, for your input. See, that’s why Sweden rules like a queen among civilized states, being an example for all countries to follow.
MS