Did Morrison know of Pompeo's Assange hit plan?
The adage “Sleep with dogs you wake up with fleas” has a lot of merit when it comes to former Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s relationship with Mike Pompeo.
Pompeo's duplicity has long been a subject of contention in US politics, with many believing him as underhanded, particularly with his shifting stance on Trump.
So, what should Australians think about Morrison teaming up with Pompeo in business, nothing much right? Wrong!
The announcement by Morrison to quit politics is one thing, but his decision to join a strategic defence consultancy with former CIA director Mike Pompeo and former Trump security adviser Robert O’Brien is another.
The move is concerning not because Morrison is leaving politics, but because of who he is choosing to work with, especially in light of the treatment and persecution of Julian Assange.
Morrison’s decision to partner with Mike Pompeo raises serious questions about his moral judgment, a trait often questioned during his time as PM.
The partnership, given Pompeo's controversial time as CIA director, could have significant implications for Australia's foreign and defence policies - casting a glaring light on the treatment of Assange.
It also raises questions about whether Morrison was aware of Pompeo’s intentions to organise a CIA hit on Assange.
The nature of the relationship between Pompeo and Morrison would suggest Morrison could have been aware of the plan.
If Morrison did know, then as PM, allowing an Australian citizen to potentially be put in harm's way is not just disturbing, but calls into question his fitness for the top job in Australia when he was Prime Minister.
Morrison's move to align himself with Pompeo - known for his hardline stance on national security, appears to be a stark contradiction to the duty of an Australian leader to protect Australians.
The alliance seems to betray a concerning disregard for the rights and welfare of an Australian national and suggests Morrison made the decision to ignore the internaional pursuit against Assange.
Pompeo's time as CIA director, which has been confirmed considered plans to assassinate Assange, is deeply disturbing.
Partnering with Pompeo in a consultancy role could be seen as an implicit endorsement of Pompeo’s aggressive tactics, raising alarming questions about Morrison’s commitment to the rule of law and human rights, particularly in protecting Australians abroad.
Morrison's decision comes at a time when on February 20-21, in a two-day hearing, Assange will learn of his fate and whether the Americans are successful in their quest to extradite him to the US.
Assange's supporters have long called on the Australian government to intervene and ensure his safe return to Australia.
However, the Morrison government remained silent on the issue, prompting accusations of abandonment and a failure to uphold its duty to protect an Australian citizen.
Morrison’s silence, and now partnership with Pompeo, signals a troubling stance for the Australian government, suggesting a willingness to align with international powers at the expense of Australians' rights and well-being when abroad.
It not only undermines Australia's commitment to human rights but also damages Australia’s international reputation.
Aligning with Pompeo, Morrison seemingly abandoned Assange and was it appears prepared to betray Australians.
The Pompeo partnership is indicative of a broader issue in Australian politics: a tendency to prioritise strategic defence interests over the rights of Australians.
The Australian government's lack of action in the Assange case reflects a broader complacency towards human rights abuses and a concerning deference to international allies like the United States.
This perception challenges the integrity of Australia's foreign policy and raises questions about its commitment to upholding international law and human rights standards.
The Assange case isn’t only about the fate of Assange; it’s bigger than that. It’s about the values and principles that define Australia.
Upholding human rights and the commitment to justice should never be a secondary consideration in the pursuit of strategic interests.
Had Pompeo gone ahead with the plan to assassinate Assange, and Morrison knew, he would have sat silent knowing of Pompeo’s plan and did nothing to stop it from happening and protect him.
Morrison must come clean about whether he knew of any discussions by Pompeo to assassinate Assange. If he did know of a discussed plot, why did he choose to remain silent and do nothing?