Got plenty of popcorn here. The problem with negotiating with any kind of criminal is that they're criminal first. Anyone who would believe anything a criminal will or will not do is not making wise decisions.
Governments have already taken some big hits with the introductory releases.
Arresting Assange shows that they're willing to risk the release of more classified documents.
Either way they did Assange a huge favor because now no one can harm Assange and he will have his chance to be heard in a court of law.
MNo, once the “pill”has been released, he and his co-conspirators no longer have any power, and if you think their actions will all be forgiven and forgotten after a trial....think again, what kind of people are being damaged by these releases of secrets.
Tnere will be no mercy, no quarter, no sympathy for Assange and those who are stupidly arrogant enough to aid and abet him. They will all be hunted down.
“Got plenty of popcorn here. The problem with negotiating with any kind of criminal is that they’re criminal first. Anyone who would believe anything a criminal will or will not do is not making wise decisions.”
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Write another version of that sentence substituting government for criminal and then ponder whether one is any more or less true than the other. As a friend of mine used to say with a wry grin, “Six dozen of one, half of the other”.