If the UK invades the Ecuadoran Embassy in order to capture Assange,

[Are_grits_groceries]

they will be shredding international law and putting all foreign missions in some measure of danger.

Most countries abide by the law that Embassies are off limits. They are considered to be an extension of the countries that they represent. This allows countries to have some official place to conduct business on a lower level. Some problems can be resolved before they ever reach a crisis point. They also provide a place that Americans in a foreign country can get some needed help.

Employees also have immunity. This drives some people crazy. However, this provides a measure of safety to our employees in embassies. They cannot be arrested on some charge and put through the wringer of a completely different legal system. I am beginning to think that it's now a very good protection to have in this country now.

If the UK with the approval if not direction by the US does invade that embassy, there will be not one inch of ground to stand on if our embassies are invaded. It will be a huge hole in the already torn fabric of international cooperation.

The leaders of many countries have lost their minds and broken their moral compasses.

[Panasonic]

1. Could Assange be granted diplomatic immunity

as a representative of Ecuadoran government and get out of the UK this way?

Does the government have diplomatic license plates?

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Not as a representative to the UK - those have to be approved by the host country

before they get any immunity. There is a theory that they could appoint him to be a representative to the UN (for which there is not body that has to approve the appointment), and he'd then, in theory, have to be allowed free passage to the UN - and then back to Ecuador.

[hack89]

8. No - it would violate international law. nt

[truebrit71]

2. We Brits had kittens when the Iranians did just that...

...there is not a single leg to stand on for Camerwrong and the Con-Dems to okay this activity if it were to happen. It would, however, prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the true rulers of 10 Downing St are located in the Washington D.C. area of the United States...http://www.cleveland.com/world/index.ssf/2011/11/iranian_students_invade_britis.html

[dembotoz]

3. don't think the british would be that stupid

attempt to smuggle him out would be a great movie.....

[HopeHoops]

5. They really don't want to do that. The repercussions are beyond measure.

[Ikonoklast]

6. Ecuador would then be within their rights to seek UN sanctions against GB.

What GB is conteplating is an act of war.

[Ganja Ninja]

10. I would think they could also arrest the Brittish Ambassador.

Whether they would do that or just kick him out I have no idea but I'm sure there would be some sort of reciprocal action.

[malaise]

7. Water-boarding was the first sign that the imperialists don't give

A flying fuck about international law

[Swede]

9. This is not going to happen.

nt

[Odin2005]

11. the Brits and Swedes are just doing what their masters in Washington tell them.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. It is an act of war, plain an simple

not that Ecuador can do more than just arrest the ambassador...

Break relations and bring this matter to the Security Council. Need I remind you that the UK is a permanent member?

[Prophet 451]

13. It would be an act of war

Now, I don't think the Ecuador government would declare war on us even if our government is stupid enough to storm the embassy but I'm pretty sure that under international law, it's considered a casus beli.