You use a Death Star to reach that level of projection? It's an undisputed fact that the U.S. bragged about spending billions to give Ukraine "the future it deserves" in front of freaking banners for oil companies. It's an undisputed fact that the pro-west faction in Ukraine's parliament fell short of the number of votes needed to legally impeach the previous president, and so resorted to a violent coup less than six months before the next set of elections.

Regardless of how you feel about the protests, there were free, fair, credible, and widely recognized elections after those events. Fail.

Other than the pro-east section of the electorate being cut out, and the billion in aid immediately sent by Congress to support the junta, you mean.

The current government of Ukraine is 100% legit by any standard.

100% imperialistic neocon horseshit, by any standard. How you American Exceptionalists managed to go through the Iraq war and emerge with worse bullshit detectors than before is bizarre.

NOW you care about elections, after the previous president was overthrown less than six months before the next polls? After the eastern part of the country that was Yanukovych's base was cut out of the electorate?

Bullshit called.

What's the appropriate response to that, American Exceptionalist?

Seriously, after that sawing off a live man's head, I have NO problem with blowing these assholes away. In fact, I would be happy to pull the trigger to launch.

Sooo many Americans that learned sooo little from the Iraq invasion. Easily manipulated once, shame on them, easily manipulated twice, shame on you.

What part of that is difficult to understand?

Oh, it's not at all hard to understand that you're a knee-jerk authoritarian ignoring the facts. Specifically, that Sweden has a recent history of turning over prisoners to the U.S. to be tortured. Which is why Ecuador offered Assange asylum.

SKIPPING BAIL.
RESISTING ARREST.

So he's subject to arrest for avoiding arrest? Didn't think that piece of circular logic through, did you?

So apart from skipping bail, resisting arrest, and everything else, the charges in Sweden mean little at this point. And the UK, whether you think they are in collusion or not, have the right to enforce their law on their soil (and, no, the embassy is NOT Ecuadorian soil, don't make that "old wives' tale" mistake).

What UK laws is he accused of violating on UK soil? You've got plenty of authoritarian mental gymnastics already, might as well keep going.

There are two women involved here: AA and SW (and no, their names haven't been scrubbed, but it's a sick testament to our society than rather than letting justice run its course, everyone wants to lead a personal witch hunt against the accusers, and I certainly won't help enable it)

Nah, you're too busy being a paid witch-hunter of the accused. Who should have their names withheld by the press in the event that they are innocent...just ask the Duke Lacross guys.

Oh come on now. Sweden should change their laws and override the separation of powers clause in their constitition because it's ASSANGE we're talking about. I mean, don't they know that he's just the AWESOMEST AWESOME that ever AWESOMED and everything revolves around him?

Forget going back years, you're contradicting yourself in the same thread:

Wrong. Sweden *additionally* has restrictions in their extradition law banning extradition for intelligence and military crimes, beyond the general EU restrictions. Which is why they refused to hand over Edward Lee Howard (the most major CIA defector to the USSR) after only a very brief preliminary investigation; it's simply banned to extradite for such crimes.

What, not enough money in the budget to hire some smarter trolls, so you're the best they could come up with? You just laid out exactly how Sweden could promise Assange that they wouldn't extradite him for for any intelligence crimes Wikileaks may or may not have committed.

Which is why they refused to hand over Edward Lee Howard (the most major CIA defector to the USSR) after only a very brief preliminary investigation; it's simply banned to extradite for such crimes.

Does your handler dock your pay when you trip over your own bullshit? You've spent years repeating the lie that the Swedish government is powerless to stop a court from extraditing suspects to other countries.

When those governments are known for ignoring their own Constitutions in order to torture, imprison or even kill innocent people, dumbass.

Because the UK, nominally at least, doesn't extradite people to countries where the suspect could be tortured or executed. Whereas Sweden DGAF. And even if he's not extradited, it is perfectly reasonable to be reticent to subjecting one's self to Sweden's Star Chambers. Suspects can be held for long periods of time incommunicado on the whims of the prosecution.

I know he is wanted on a rape charge and has decided the appropriate response is to hide. There is no valid explanation.

Actually, that's your willful ignorance talking. Assange has offered to be interviewed by Swedish prosecutors in the UK, or even return to Sweden if the government promises not to hand him over to the United States. So far they refuse to do so, which tells you that rape is the last thing this is about.

If you really think you are so important the US government wants to off you, in whatever sense, then stand up like a man and take it.

Annnd there it is: the mindless authoritarianism. Assange is not a U.S. citizen, and has never operated on U.S. soil.

graduated Harvard magna cum laude with a degree in applied mathematics economics, and won some maths related awards in university. But yeah, go on hating him to hate him. That's very mature of you.

Very telling that every one of those accomplishments were from his school days and not in a professional setting.

However, 34 years of experience at one of the largest, most profitable companies ever

And promptly pissing away Microsoft's relevance the second he was put in charge of it. Microsoft still dominates in office suites and desktop operating systems, but has missed every boat on the mobile devices that are supplanting desktops and the Microsoft ecosystem.

Like Hatorade?

Getting reimbursed for work-related calls is no different than getting reimbursed for using your car for work, as in driving to a conference or making deliveries, not driving to work.

Following that logic, they should also be required to help pay for my network at home, part of the cost of my desktop, and my work clothes, since they have required me to have all three.

Um....yeah? Do you wash the boss's car for free while ironing his socks while you're at it?