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168 thoughts on “Murray vs Aaronovitch on Assange”

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  • craig Post author

    Can anybody get me a copy of Aaronovitch’s recent vitriolic Times article on Assange. It is hidden behind a firewall.

  • Alaric

    Craig
    I shall be watching avidly, good luck with the article, I am sure someone on here will be able to get a copy, my usual advice is to ‘google it as a question’ however I have never needed to get an article from behind a firewall!
    Alaric

  • Mary

    You have Gavin Esler, he of Dateline. No comment. Likes the sound of his own voice. These types are all pals together but wipe the smirk off Aaronovitch’s face please Craig. Having had a serious operation recently, you would think that would have been a life changing (and mind changing) experience for him. Unfortunately not it seems. I occasionally look at his Twitter and feel sick.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01m7zjs

    Esler’s rocking around with Anna now!

    {http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gavin_Esler}

    George Galloway and Hillary ClintonIn 2005 Gavin Esler interviewed George Galloway on Newsnight regarding the London bombings. The BBC was reported to have received hundreds of complaints about Esler’s interview. The criticism was that Gavin Esler’s questioning was “rude and aggressive”. However, Peter Barron, editor of Newsnight, defended Esler’s questioning of Galloway’s tactics: “…I accept entirely that while Mr Galloway’s views run counter to those expressed by mainstream politicians they are views that may be held quite widely across the country and perhaps particularly in parts of London such as Mr Galloway’s constituency. The thrust of Gavin’s questioning was to ask if it was wise to express these provocative views – effectively “I told you so” – at a time when many politicians and Muslim leaders had been appealing for calm. I believe that was a fair and appropriate line of questioning.”

    In 2007 a BBC publication investigating into impartiality in the organisation criticised an unnamed BBC news presenter for writing an article in the Daily Mirror newspaper headlined “Why the World Needs Hillary”, stating they had been “unwise” for doing so. The headline appeared to endorse Hillary Clinton to be the next US President. The newsreader in question was Esler, although the offending headline was inserted by the Daily Mirror sub-editors without his knowledge.

    Personal life
    In 2007 Esler separated from his wife of 28 years, Patricia Warner, who lives in the family home with their two children. In late 2008 Esler began living in a townhouse in west London, with rock violinist Anna Phoebe.

    His hobbies include camping, hiking and skiing.

  • deepgreenpuddock

    Darn it. Don’t have a TV. I heard Aaronovitch speaking yesterday and his argument was basically that the Swedish system is a stainless, exemplary judicial system, among the best in the whole world, and that Assange has nothing to fear. Seymour, of Lenin’s tomb covers a lot of what Aaronovitch said in his piece.
    Why no use of Occam’s razor here, to cut through the complexities and endless speculation that have built up around the case. It is deeply suspicious that any judicial system would expose itself to such criticism and appearance of ineptitude without some over-riding political agenda. There must be big stakes here to see such entrenched positions. Even ardent Tories must start to wonder about Hague’s competence.
    it is all becoming quite surreal. At some point soon here must be some kind of decisive move as the stale mate we have at the moment is very charged.

  • Chris Jones

    Good luck Craig Murray. If your stuck for a broader point to make please consider pointing out that the stupifying propoganda and deceit of the regimes state news has become a joke that most people don’t believe or listen to anymore. And if that Mark Urban and his ridicilous digital pen is there please ask him to stop being so creepy and get a proper job

  • Clark

    Frank Bowles, I can’t e-mail you as I don’t have your e-mail address. The link on my screen name leads to my contact details.

  • Paul

    Go for it, Craig! I’m looking forward to your Newsnight appearance this evening with interest.

  • Mark Golding - Children of Iraq Association

    I have serious concerns with the US/British “Inhibited Travel List” operated under the radar of most parliamentarians.

    I believe there exists a number of travel-related security programs and databanks employing new technologies that only a couple of years ago would have been considered science-fiction. These programs allow governments to risk-score travellers, as well as collect and retain an increasing amount of personal information.

    Some travellers (Assange lawyer) encounter serious problems at airports and are often unable to understand why they are targeted, while those unfairly targeted or victims of mistaken identity or racial/religious profiling are unable to seek redress.

    I have great concern at the potential for abuse and violation of travellers’ rights in light of the discretionary and arbitrary powers granted to UK Customs officials checking passengers passports against several databases.

    There exists inadequate legislative framework, lack of due process and judicial review in the use of arbitrary and discretionary powers and criteria to list individuals. This means a complete absence of any meaningful redress mechanism, data collection and information sharing practices, and the potential violation of privacy rights.

    I intend to address this obscene, US originated, cloaked and little known dark practice with a petition and an exposure of the facts on a Facebook page soon. I hope you will support me.

  • amk

    For a contrary opinion on legal “myths” (including “The allegation of rape would not be rape under English law”) surrounding Assange, see lawyer David Allen Green

    http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/david-allen-green/2012/08/legal-myths-about-assange-extradition

    who in turn links to:
    http://pme200.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/assange.html

    Even if the above commentary is all accurate I don’t believe the implicit threat to the Ecuadorian embassy was because of alleged crimes in Sweden, but rather because of political anger at Wikileaks.

  • Lee

    http://www.organizedrage.com/2012/06/incinerating-julian-assange-liberal.html

    Good summary of the orgasmic hatred that the entire British media have for Assange. It reminds me of the support Bush received from the US media when he invaded Iraq. Especial vitriol from the once “liberal media”. They are acting like a jilted lover, and making themselves look ridiculous.

    Can you imagine anything more vile than the trio of Aaronovitch, Melanie Phillips, and John Rentoul, the three stooges of the British media. Well, Britain, what are you going to do about the fact that you have lost an independent press ? Or are you too busy stuffing your face with mad cow disease, to even bother ?

  • Anon

    BTw, delete LinkedIn details after contact if the mods want. As Frank posted under his own name, and I linked a public profile, I hope it is ok.

  • Lee

    I would like to pose a question that I hope others will try to answer, because I am not sure of the answer (I can feel it in a way that I cant properly articulate). WHY DOES THE BRITISH MEDIA, ESPECIALLY THE GUARDIAN, HATE ASSANGE SO DEEPLY, THEY GO HYSTERICAL AT THE MERE MENTION OF HIS NAME ?? Look at today’s hysteria over Galloway’s remarks:

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/aug/20/george-galloway-julian-assange-rape

    The Guardian passionately hates Galloway, but the real driver behind this over-the-top article is, I believe, a loathing for Assange that is so profound, the Guardian is at risk of excreting its intestines.

    I dont for one minute believe that this rage is driven by concerns about rape. Leaving aside the fact that this was a CIA sting operation and as Naomi Klein has shown, is a fabrication, even if Assange is guilty of rape its a legal technicality, not the kind of vicious rape that would set the blood boiling. No, its not the possibility of rape (unproven and not even charged) that the media hate so much about Assange. Its something else. Its as if he has been able to do what his critics have dreamed of and have no prospect of ever doing. The hatred seems to me (and I am a psychologist of sorts) to be driven by pathological envy.

    What do others think ?

  • Jonangus Mackay

    Pity that you can’t be at all sure you won’t receive a last-minute call from a hapless Corporation underling telling you, as on so many previous occasions—54, was it?—that your participation is no longer required.
    .
    Ratings-challenged Newsnight editor Pete ‘The Ripper’ Rippon, can take heart, however: for Murray fans if no one else, this does inject tonight’s efforts with that magic element of suspense he no doubt seeks.

  • John Goss

    Great news that Craig. You should have no problems but he’s cagey. I know from a head to head between Vaughan Smith and Aaronovitch 4 days ago on Channel 4 shows that he’s seen the video where Julian Assange interviewed President Correa for Russia Today.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDd4Y4PMSyU

    Best of luck. It will be good to see you back on television again in this ‘free’ country of ours. The ambassador who came in from the cold.

  • Clark

    Frank Bowles, please check your Inbox. My first e-mail to you was returned undelivered, but I’d made a typo in the address.

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