This new development is even more historically interesting than the Wikileaks themselves. It may have the same profound impact as the rise of trade unions in the Victorian era. The U.S. and its allies has deplored Wikileaks activities and rejoices in his arrest, on sex charges prompting an extradition request from Sweden.
This Blog has no idea whether there is linkage here or not. Is this the same as banging up Al Capone for tax evasion which was trivial, when his real crimes were murder and bootlegging which were not? Mr Assange did not steal the data from the U.S. One of its own officials, who in turn was one of the three million who had access to this data was responsible for that. Wikileaks put it on the Internet. A clutch of distinguished and highly respected newspapers round the world are jointly publishing extracts from these disclosures. It may be annoying, it may be harmful, it may be an outrage, but it may not be, indeed it likely is not, a crime. If it is alleged to be, by whom in the chain of disclosure, apart from the original thief? How can it be proved, under which statute and in what jurisdiction?
Sexual crime may look easier. It is less complicated. A man, two girls, no condoms. It is certainly sordid. There may be evidence, or it may be one word against another or two others. The Swedes insist it has nothing to do with Wikileaks. Very large numbers of people across the world smell a rat. Some of them, not organised in the conventional sense, but loosely based on anonymous volunteers of the moment like a modern terrorist grouping, have decided to work together to interdict against the commercial activities of those who in turn have acted against Wikileaks. They appear to be acquiring the power to close down internet shopping.
The internet has indeed change the world. Very much more than the world knows. If there are not headaches today in a good number of capitals, there should be. The rules of the game have changed. Not the way capitals direct, but as the people of the world define. This will be very intersting.