"Why is the possibility of ending up in American custody a cognizable ground for resisting extradition?"

Is Salon.com serious, asking this question: "Why is the possibility of ending up in American custody a cognizable ground for resisting extradition?"

I've got an answer: Because the rule of law does not exist in America.

Let's play word association:

Guantanamo Bay

Extraordinary rendition

PATRIOT Act I

Waterboarding

PATRIOT Act II

Bradley Manning

Sneak & peak searches

The Department of Homeland Security

Blackwater

"If you're not doing anything wrong, you don't have anything to worry about"

If Julian Assange ends up in the hands of the United States, he'll be disappeared, locked away, forgotten, held incommunicado where the "pull-the-wings-off-flies" intelligence operatives will take turns giving him Drano enemas and using a staple gun on his head.

I have more faith in the kangaroo court in the Peter Lorre film M than I do in the egregious "fair and balanced" American justice system.