MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Evo Morales' plane rerouted on suspicion Snowden on board.
The plane carrying Bolivian President Evo Morales home from Russia was rerouted to Austria on Tuesday after France and Portugal refused to let it cross their airspace because of suspicions that NSA leaker Edward Snowden was on board, the country's foreign minister said. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesThis young man of 29 was brave enough to say that we need to protect the world from the American imperial elite. Hurrahh it's not just us Brits then. Go USA
Jul 03rd, 2013 - 04:16 am - Link - Report abuse 0You know you're unimportant when....
Jul 03rd, 2013 - 05:13 am - Link - Report abuse 0Not nice when a country says you can't pass through their airspace is it Evo ?
Jul 03rd, 2013 - 05:28 am - Link - Report abuse 0I love the way they said the decision 'put the life at the President at risk'.
Jul 03rd, 2013 - 05:31 am - Link - Report abuse 0And just how is that? God these people really are fools.
It was easy to get permission to fly through France and Portugals airspace. Just land and PROVE that Snowden isn't on board.
But never mind, maybe some nice country in Africa will let you overfly them.
If Bolivia has let Snowden in, then they've opened themselves up to a world of pain, all for a few minutes in the spotlight.
A bit like Snowden really...
Absolutely brilliant, all the smoozing of South America Obama has been doing over the last few years and the Bolivarian alliance has stuck one on him.
Jul 03rd, 2013 - 05:47 am - Link - Report abuse 0I can just picture them all sat around the table in Russia at their so called 'oil producers' conference - “you take him, no you take him”.
Learn who your friends are Mr Obama, it's not hard, they are the ones risking their lives on the battlefield next to your own soldiers.
I'm guessing he won't be treating the OAS to another “las Maldives” speech again with the rest if the delegates sniggering at him. Tool!
5 Britworker
Jul 03rd, 2013 - 11:16 am - Link - Report abuse 0How I wish your post was correct but I have not seen ANY move by Obama towards Britain and I expect nothing to change until this disappointment of the century has left office.
This soap opera has made me laugh every day.
Jul 03rd, 2013 - 12:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0French authorities deny the accusations and say the aircraft has permission to fly through their airspace. I am wondering if Morales was jealous of the attention other SoAm leaders were getting so made it up.
LOL!
Hahaha!! Pmsl.
Jul 03rd, 2013 - 12:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Reuters carrying a story that Ecuador say they have just found a bug in the offices of their London Embassy.
I do not think they are referring to Assange either.
Like in all great comedies, timing is everything!
7 Elaine,
Jul 03rd, 2013 - 12:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0That rings true for me. I can't imagine the French closing their airspace to Bolivia's presidential jet. Further, in the Snowdon case France, nor any other European country, will be happy with the US over the allegations.
Evo is just doing a Correa here. Making something up for domestic consumption.
I can see Julian seething in the embassy. ”*I'm* the It-Boy for leaking, not him! That workstudy brat gets a private jet?!!? How dare they. He gets a private jet and I don't even rate a private bath room... or my own office... or my own personal chef, I mean heck last week someone put some strange $%&#^@ in their lunch and I spent the afternoon afterwards squirting yoohoo (or whatever they have in the UK/Aus) for four hours non-stop while the consolate staff keep pounding on the door asking saying they had to go (the nerve of them, don't they know who I am?! They've had over a year to figure it out!) and then they started saying 'hey, the police are gone, here's your chance, Jules, come on!' and I knew it wasn't so because I could hear them laughing. This is an outrage. That private jet was MINE not that... that... INTERN! Those interviews? Shouldabeen MINE. I'm a f_______ hero, man. I'm THE f_______ hero! Not him! And I look better on TV too. Why can't these idiots give ME a private jet out of here. Correa says I'm great, and THEN starts pandering to Wesley Freakin' Crusher? And now the foreign looking guy is getting into the act. Why can't they do that with me. I'm so much more important. This is bulls___....”
Jul 03rd, 2013 - 03:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I’ve just read the latest update on this from the BBC news.
Jul 03rd, 2013 - 03:58 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-23158242
Now reading this it suggests the plane was NOT denied travel through the airspace but was actually an issue with fuelling etc. Hmmmmm… I wonder if there is, as often seems to be the case with South American Countries, more to this story than first appears and its actual a smoke screen for a more embarrassing underlying issue?
Anyway… They want Unasur to have an emergency meeting on the subject. Clearly it’s another chance to claim the West is being unfair and, If Argie’land are there, another excuse to reiterate the overwhelming support for the Falklands belonging to Argentina. Mainly because this full matter has nothing to do with the UK but clearly Argentina will never miss up a chance to bring it up lol…
LOL! (Morales) described the incident as “almost a kidnapping of 13 hours”. LOL. Who would want to kidnap him? He has no value.
Jul 03rd, 2013 - 04:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Such drama! Over nothing.
Putin is such a great game player. You have to admire his ability as a puppet master.
Evo's paranoia and delusions can no doubt be attributed to excessive coca leaf chewing.
Jul 03rd, 2013 - 04:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Wish they'd shot the fokker down instead.
Jul 03rd, 2013 - 04:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0.Well!
Jul 03rd, 2013 - 05:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0They say it at the pantomime, and it works.
HE, S BEHIND YOU== LOLOL
If it's true Morales is making a mountain out of a molehill ! CFK will certainly get a red face ! making accusations without gaining all the facts.. That old lady uses Twitter like it's her soap box to all Argentine's IT's pathetic & embarrassing to hear some of her comments....
Jul 03rd, 2013 - 06:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The two most important topics of this article seem to be ignored by the all the post of the readers:
Jul 03rd, 2013 - 06:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 01) Has any Goverment the right so spy regular citizens with out any legal authorization? Can a private company (hired by the Government) chase and follow the movements of any of us? And the movement of all of us? Where are our rights? What about our privacy?
2) Has any country the right to deny the usage of its air space for any real or alledged reason?
I would like to read comments about these topics taking into account that most of you are british people, a country where rights are respected and internalized in the social culture.
Otherwise we wil be focused on Evo Morales that honestly I don't care a s...
17 pgerman
Jul 03rd, 2013 - 06:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0There is more discussion on these points here:
http://en.mercopress.com/2013/07/03/oas-secretary-general-expresses-deep-displeasure-over-airplane-incident-involving-president-morales-in-europe#comment258555
and here:
http://en.mercopress.com/2013/07/03/oas-secretary-general-expresses-deep-displeasure-over-airplane-incident-involving-president-morales-in-europe#comment258555
Expect more to come in this circus. Edward Snowden will most likely end up in a banana, bolivarian republic like Bolivia, Venezuela or Ecuador. Why? because neither China nor Russia, nor anyother big country in the world want a foreign policy problem with the United States, because the United States has many, many more options than all of them together. That´s why China was quick to toss Snowden out, clearly they fear economic, political and military repercussions from the US, specially in the South China Sea, where the US and not China, has the final word. Russia, well, it´s embarrassing enough that Putin had to warn Snowden that he could be granted asylum, but only upon condition that he stops he´s rants agains the US, clearly Putin didn´t know how to handle the hot potatoe passed to them from China.
Jul 03rd, 2013 - 07:19 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Evo Morales, Correa and Maduro are irresponsible heads of state, poor clowns in the circus of WikiLeaks and Assange. This is the league where Assange and Snowden play, that´s their level.
What aircraft was he flying in? The distance from Moscow to Vienna is 1000 miles, not far for a modern air liner.
Jul 03rd, 2013 - 07:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Are we to believe they took off in a presidential aircraft, without a pre arranged flight plan, with refuelling stops already planned in advance?
Something fishy going on here?
Well, well, well…………….
Jul 03rd, 2013 - 09:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0They “Haughty Ones” don’t allow our Presidents planes to overfly……..
In the eighties they used to plant bombs on our President’s planes……
Presidente Omar Torrijos 1929 – 1981 (presente)
Presidente Jaime Roldós 1940 – 1981 (presente)
I guess “They” expect us to be grateful for this “improvement” in international relations……..
Thank you 21 Think and 17 pgerman, for continuing the good fight.
Jul 03rd, 2013 - 10:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The sheer ignorance of the arguments, the twisted perceptions, and the neocolonial stances of the comments above (BTW - amazingly similar to the style of writing and logic that White Supremacists and Southern racists use in Amerika), is so silly that it no longer makes me want to reply, as if a dialogue can ever actually occur. I just laugh and shake my head in wonder.
what is hilarious is that they think a southamerican president in an official plane would fly with this man over europe.
Jul 03rd, 2013 - 11:37 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Ok… Trying to stay on topic and ask questions about the article…
Jul 04th, 2013 - 08:45 am - Link - Report abuse 01. I think the fact that Snowden had highlighted what the US have been doing to us all should be commended. I find it very concerning that I should be spied on for no reason and that this behaviour is positively promoted through congress officials in the states. I have nothing to hide but the principle of what they have been doing does concern me. I know there is a fine line between spying and providing security but in this case I believe the US has gone far too far over the line.
2. I find it strange that they did not have a preapproved flight plan in advance. Second to this I then find it strange that the communications from the countries involved state that they were allowed passage but not to land… This seems to contradict the statements coming from Morales’s crew. On this basis I do believe there has to be much more to this story than any side is letting on or admitting. That said however I do believe there is greater transparency from the likes of the French and the Austrians and that it’s allot harder to hide things under the carpet in these countries generally which results in me looking for Moreales to prove his statements more than for these countries to provide statements of defence on the matter.
I do think the need for a cam on the matter however. He was not kidnapped. He spent less time in the airport than I did the last time I flew to spain as there was delays with our flight due to, randomly, refuling issues…
I'm maybe being a bit dense but why would a plane heading to SA from Russia having refueled in Spain then fly back to Austria? This flightplan stuff is clearly rubbish
Jul 04th, 2013 - 11:26 am - Link - Report abuse 0Yes; dirty tricks at work, with us only being fed the pap that governments release to their media to try and smoke-screen their tricks.
Jul 04th, 2013 - 11:39 am - Link - Report abuse 0Bottom line is that the USA leant on EU countries to down a plane carrying only the president of a sovereign nation so that the USA could examine his baggage.
Extraordinary Rendition has evolved a new dimension: even the presidents of the nations of the world can be downed at the whim of the president of the United States.
Nobody is safe from this arrogant nation.
An arrogant nation? Don't you mean an arrogant, thin skinned, President?
Jul 04th, 2013 - 12:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You can't generalise like that and brand a whole nation.
Having said that, all argylanders are indeed complete fuds.
25 Juan
Jul 04th, 2013 - 01:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I understand the plane was over Austria when notified that French and Italian airspace was closed. From Austria it would be a further 4000km to Spain (flying around Italian airspace). The jet has a range of 7000km so if the plan had been refueling in Spain, it wouldn't have made it.
It refueled in Austria before flying on to Spain to fuel again. Why it would fly back to Austria as reported makes no sense.
France has issued a humbling apology (very un-French) to Bolivia saying they didn't know it was the Bolivian presidential jet. Which maybe implies that they were acting on misleading information and were given “least untruthful answer possible” by someone.
28 Condorito
Jul 04th, 2013 - 03:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Come on! You can't believe that when the Cowpat Falcon applied for permission to use French airspace that they did not disclose the true status of the plane?
I agree, Chris;
Jul 04th, 2013 - 04:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0French airspace control, etc, must have been informed of the transit of a president.
That they then closed their airspace shows that they were subsequently disinformed by 'the USA'.
Only a 'clear and present threat' argument could have caused this reversal in the French position.
The USA will - and must - be put in the dock in the court of world exposure to clarify this.
A claim of “No can do ... It's a 'Security' issue, pal!” butters no parsnips.
Other than injun joe's word this happened, is there any proof, considered there is contrary stories out there? Seems to me evo is getting jealous of the lack of attention. Just like assange is jealous of snowden anad thus the claims of a hidden mic......lol
Jul 04th, 2013 - 06:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Attention grabbers.....lol
and the Morale's of this story Evo..........Don't Mess with the Yanks or they'll Mess with You!
Jul 04th, 2013 - 07:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0God Bless America!
(Hehehe..... got to keep in with the Yanks if they are monitoring me with Prism or RIOT)
#32
Jul 05th, 2013 - 09:30 am - Link - Report abuse 0The point is that Bolivia was NOT 'messing with the Yanks'.
But the USA did it 'because it could'.
Oh, yes; the world has taken the message ... big time.
From now on the US President will be told by every country around the world to put both his hands on the table before any talking takes place.
And for Poppy @ #31 ...
My partner is an 'Injun Jane', and you are beneath contempt. I suggest you take you and your comments away from this site; you have identified yourself as the worst kind of 'American'.
Poor poor SA geoffie........so now you 've soon SA justice, convicted without any evidence..........lolololololol
Jul 05th, 2013 - 09:44 am - Link - Report abuse 0abrazos y besos to injun jane
Stop it, Poppy. You are not funny.
Jul 05th, 2013 - 12:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0That is a matter of an opinion, such as respect to SA “heads of State” on official cocaine business......
Jul 05th, 2013 - 01:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0bahahahahahahahaha
Where can I get a bowl for a haircut like evil morales?
Poppy,
Jul 05th, 2013 - 02:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0If he had been on “official cocaine business” he would have been in the US - by a long way the largest coke snorting nation on the planet.
ahhhhh is that so......you snorters seem to sniff them out anywhere.
Jul 05th, 2013 - 03:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Condorito
Jul 05th, 2013 - 04:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Coke has become the drug of choice here in the UK, never use to be, but is fast becoming as popular as cannabis.
Some years ago we were really successful in drying up the supply of cannabis in one of our local towns.
The local dealers convinced the kids, if the smoked heroin instead of injecting it, it was not addictive.
The result, hundreds of heroin addicted adults, destroyed life's, a living death. So much for a success in the war against drugs.
Me, I would adopt the one Islamic law I agree with and hang every ferkin drug dealer I could get my hands on!
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