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Non-Economic rant: Tom Flanagan and his Fatwa against Julian Assange


Tom Flanagan is was a senior advisor to Stephen Harper Canada's Prime Minister.  On Monday, he joined Aytollah Khomeini (against Salman Rushdie for his book) in proclaiming a "Fatwa" against Julian Assange (the Wikileak guy), and that he should be killed.

is words were:  
I think Assange should be assassinated, actually," Flanagan said with a laugh, and when asked to expand upon his answer, added that he "wouldn't be unhappy" if Assange "disappeared."
When the CBC's Solomon commented that his position was "pretty harsh stuff," Flanagan, who is known for his off-the-cuff sense of humour and often brings props to panel interviews, replied: "I'm feeling very manly today, Evan."
   (Source: here) 

Now Flanagan is part of Harper's inner circle, originally from the University of Calgary (don't laugh it’s actually a good school).  This guy has been professor of political science since 1968, so the man knows "what is what", and yet he went on national TV and said something so incredibly stupid and unwarranted, that it begs the question: Is this guy for real?

There are a few issues here: First, Wikileaks revelations are mostly embarrassing, the kind of High School bitchy gossip comments about all kind of worldly politicians.  Second, Assange has probably not broken any laws, contrary to what some believed, Assange did not commit treason, since he's not American he owes no allegiance to America!

What it does expose is a streak among certain politicians to deal with dissent in a way that is at the extreme opposite of our democracies are about.  Mr. Flanagan's comments would be acceptable in a repressive regime, but here this is not the case. 

The most charitable way of looking at this incident is that he’s an out of touch angry old man.  Less charitable is that is the kind of guy who shoots the messenger!







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