Assange Rampage

WE CAN'T JUST SHOOT THE BASTARD! (or can we?)

Most of the papers have devoted their front pages to Julian Assange, whose messianic appearance at the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy yesterday told us nothing new about the ongoing extradition saga nor about his dubious character. There was no confirmation of a purported voluntary return to face investigation in Sweden, only the vague reveal his team would carry out 'legal action' on his behalf. Mr Assange's position is fairly precarious, and unsustainable; at the same time the Foreign Office misjudged its communication with the banana republic Ecuador - indeed, the only winners from the whole sorry mess are the South Americans, who have not missed the opportunity to point a finger at the UK and scream "colonialism!"

With each day passing the Foreign Office looks more silly. The problem with this coalition government is that it fails to follow-through on its promises and policies and is better known for its numerous U-turns. The more energetic rhetoric it emits the more likely it will renege in the wake of mainly LibDem objections. The correct cautionary note to the chiquitas in Quito, that their "embassy" could be declared fair game for London coppers in the wake of gross abuse of diplomatic relations, is now followed by frantic back-paddling of the FO.

The timid appearance of the accused rapist, fearfully stepping no further out the balcony than the doorframe, looking around with angsty eyes for lasso-swinging cops or CIA sharp-shooters (oh I wished!) was a hardly convincing ploy to sell himself as a victim of a sinister world, out to get him. With his trademark mix of megalomaniac arrogance, impertinent abrasiveness and remarkable psychotic paranoia, the goon stumbled dozens of times while trying to read his tedious sermon of attempted confrontation with the British, Australian, Swedish and American authorities, culminating in a surreal exclamation of "Mr Obama, do the right thing!" Well knowing that his case is of purely criminal nature, and the truly right thing - shooting the idiot from the balcony - will not happen.

He's living to die another day. We'll pray for that.