I think you're being a tad literal there. The last case I remember was Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr who was kidnapped in Italy and brought to Egypt by the CIA in 2005. Italy's streets are not less intrinsically sacred than England's.

>I think you're being a tad literal there. The last case I remember was Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr who was kidnapped in Italy and brought to Egypt by the CIA in 2005. Italy's streets are not less intrinsically sacred than England's.

I'm being literal on purpose.

Look at the other replies to me; everyone talks about the CIA, yourself included, and ignores the fact that Italy was working hand-in-hand with the CIA:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Omar_case

That's very different, and it remains absolutely disgusting nonetheless.

Ok, so is it your contention that the UK would not co-operate in similar fashion? And, if so, why? Genuine sense of political autonomy or PR?

> Ok, so is it your contention that the UK would not co-operate in similar fashion? And, if so, why? Genuine sense of political autonomy or PR?

My contention is that the US would not kidnap him from London's streets.

Word choice is important; I'm sick to the back teeth of hyperbole backed up with "wouldn't be the first time."

Is it hyperbole when it has actually happened before?

Surely a precedent means the suggestion is not hyperbolic?

I don't know why you're being downvoted. Seems reasonable to me even if I don't agree.

There was a massive scandal over UK complicity in US extraordinary rendition over here a few years ago.

The UK government was roundly condemned and the practice stopped (including refueling US rendition flights from elsewhere).

This will not happen to Assange.

They've kidnapped people from the streets of Milan, Italy.

http://www.businessinsider.com/cia-operative-extradited-to-i...

"UK police say WikiLeaks' Assange will be arrested if he leaves Ecuador's embassy" - http://www.reuters.com/article/us-ecuador-sweden-assange-bri...

So while we don't know yet about the US, the intention of the UK is clear.

Also this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Repatriation_of_Ahmed_Agiza_an...

> When was the last time the US kidnapped someone from London's streets?

I don't think that they'd need to really. Much easier to have a quiet word with the co-operative British authorities who would assist with the matter and then hand over the individual in question. All soft language and avoidance of publicity, you see. But the same result.

...that we know of. The CIA and co have means of making people disappear.