Academic bravery does happen. But how few in the academy are willing to seriously challenge the state itself? There’s no need for the entire DVD collection of James Bond films when there’s the unfolding intrigue of Julian Assange and WikiLeaks. Deakin University’s senior lecturer in international relations, Dr Scott Burchill, is keeping a close eye…
Showing all posts tagged Australia
NSW Greens move forward with BDS embrace
The following statement was released by the NSW Greens yesterday: Israel: Greens NSW back international Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions Greens NSW State Council has agreed to back a series of military, trade and services boycotts of Israel and to support the growing international BDS (Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions) movement. Greens NSW Senator-elect Lee Rhiannon said,…
Canberra holds its nose and helps Assange a little
Well, bloody bravo: Kevin Rudd confirmed Australia was giving consular support to Julian Assange, the Australian-born founder of WikiLeaks who was arrested in Britain on Tuesday over alleged sexual assaults committed in Sweden. ”I’m the foreign minister of Australia, responsible for the consular well-being of all Australians and therefore I just want to make it…
Australia’s view of the world; suck Washington’s left toe hard
More invaluable insights into how diplomacy really works. Egos and bowing to the US and Israel. That’s quite a vision for world peace and security (and what’s a few thousand civilians killed by our cluster bombs?) Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd is an abrasive, impulsive ”control freak” who presided over a series of foreign policy blunders…
This is how Australia is seen; vassals used by Washington over Wikileaks
Wikileaks news is coming thick and fast. Some “highlights” over the last 24 hours. One: [Israeli] Defense Minister Ehud Barak Tuesday told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that a deal was never reached with the United States on a renewed settlement freeze because the US is preoccupied with the mass of documents being…
Let’s not get overly focused on Assange legal wranglings (and do US job for her)
Just what the US wants; anything to not talk about its bankrupt foreign policy: The founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, has been arrested by London police on behalf of Swedish authorities on suspicion of rape. The Metropolitan Police Extradition Unit confirmed at 10.30am London time (2030 AEDT) that the 39-year-old Australian had been arrested “by…
Open letter to Julia Gillard and the Australian government over Julian Assange
I was honoured to be called by Overland editor Jeff Sparrow on Sunday to discuss the possibility of launching a petition in support of Julian Assange. I offered a little advice and was one on the first signatories. Released publicly today (and lead story on ABC) and already garnering more than 2000 comments, this issue…
Wikileaks support protest in Sydney on Friday
MEDIA RELEASE — MEDIA RELEASE — MEDIA RELEASE — Support Wikileaks rally called Supporters of the website Wikileaks will mobilise on Friday (10/12/10) to protest against the backlash it has faced for its release of more than 250,000 US government cables. The protest will hear from independent journalist Antony Loewenstein, award-winning author of My Israel…
If the aim is to silence Wikileaks, failure is guaranteed
The utterly shambolic nature of the public case against Julian Assange is revealed here. Political pressure, anybody? TONY EASTLEY: Lawyers for WikiLeak’s editor and founder, Julian Assange, say he could have a meeting with British authorities to discuss sexual assault charges laid against him by Swedish police, within 24 hours. Scotland Yard has received a…
So Assange is victim of massive Canberra smear
Watch the Australian government embarrass itself in front of the world. How many trade deals do we want from the US this time, peoples? Prime Minister Julia Gillard has again been unable to name any Australian laws broken by the controversial WikiLeaks website or its founder Julian Assange. Western governments are increasingly calling for Mr…