MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
US ‘extremely disappointed’ with Russian asylum to leaker Snowden
White House officials say they are “extremely disappointed” by Russia’s decision to grant asylum for one year to Edward Snowden, who is accused of leaking U.S. government secrets. Officials are deciding how to respond. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesI just love it how the US government twists the fact that they are spying on the whole world in the name of keeping US citizens safe.
Aug 02nd, 2013 - 03:47 am - Link - Report abuse 0They reek of hypocrisy!
Please not another Olympic boycott.
Aug 02nd, 2013 - 03:57 am - Link - Report abuse 0Russia would not have made such fuss with one of their own citizens. It would have sorted with quiet diplomacy over a nice cup of tea..
Aug 02nd, 2013 - 06:22 am - Link - Report abuse 0“Polonium? One lump or two.”
#3 such an ugly death too. But technically....it was quiet.
Aug 02nd, 2013 - 08:39 am - Link - Report abuse 0What a wonderful feeling it must be to know that only those countries that are unapologetically opaque, unapologetically snoopy, unapologetically opposed to free speech, unapologetically opposed to due process and unapologetically opposed to individual rights are the only ones who will take you. And what a wonderful feeling it must be to know that your asylum comes with inevitable strings.
Aug 02nd, 2013 - 09:11 am - Link - Report abuse 0@2, no just send the gay athletes. That'll raise some hackles over there. And only send punk rock grrrrrls as spectators.
This story is getting boring now, who cares anymore?
Aug 02nd, 2013 - 10:33 am - Link - Report abuse 0Ah! It appears that the US do not have the awe inspiring effect on the the rest of the world, that they think they possess.
Aug 02nd, 2013 - 11:57 am - Link - Report abuse 0Snowden now with the freedom to travel in Russia.....that private jet charter that would cost $130,000 to SA avoiding US Airspace is now possible!
I would have thought Russia, would be quite keen unofficially, to foot the bill or Wiki donations maybe and Snowden is probably not short of a bob or two!
Take up the marriage offer.......is what I say......and stay!
@1 But then I love it how latam doesn't bother to “twist” facts. It just lies. From the meanest buggerer to the heads of state. Liars.
Aug 02nd, 2013 - 01:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@2 Good idea! Once in international airspace, jam all radio communications and then shoot it down. There are some lovely spots in the Atlantic that are so deep that pressure alone will make it impossible to recognise an aircraft wreck.
When our land is illumined with liberty's smile,
Aug 02nd, 2013 - 02:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0If a foe from within strikes a blow at her glory,
Down, down with the traitor that tries to defile
The flag of the stars, and the page of her story!
By the millions unchained,
Who their birthright have gained
We will keep her bright blazon forever unstained;
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave,
While the land of the free is the home of the brave.
.........Go get him Tiger!
@ 9 A_Voice
Aug 02nd, 2013 - 04:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Well you started it!
The following is the modern version of the Argentine National Hymn, adopted in 1924, without the vivid attacks against Spain. (with my comments in brackets)
Hear, mortals, the sacred cry:
“Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!”
Hear the noise of broken chains, (that’s another frigate rolled over then)
see the noble Equality enthroned. (but don’t look directly into her eyes)
For their most honourable throne has opened
The United Provinces of the South.
And the free ones of the world reply:
“To the great Argentine people, hail!” (of course we do dear!)
“To the great Argentine people, hail!”
And the free ones of the world reply:
“To the great Argentine people, hail!”
And the free ones of the world reply:
“To the great Argentine people, hail!” (bit repetitive but good for the poor sods who can’t read)
May the laurels be eternal, (no chance now TMBOA is on the throne [get it?])
the ones we managed to win, (oh well, that’s bollocks that then)
the ones we managed to win.
Let us live crowned in glory...(you have your losers medal what more do you want)
or let us swear in glory to die!
Or let us swear in glory to die!
Or let us swear in glory to die! (ha, ha, ha, an argie swearing to die for honour!)
Many apologies to the non-Peronistas but I just couldn’t help myself.
I strongly recommend all the Brits, et al to read Wikipedia, it’s worth it for the typical argie cock-ups from the beginning of chucking the Spanish out and then realising they wanted things off them so they had better reform the National Hymn. You could NOT make this up.
I don´t think Russia´s goverment cares that much of US being dissapointed on them, but they hoped to have a good G20 and G8 summit this year so they aren´t that happy in having Snowden either, Putin recently did a interesting interview about that, he even said, “thanks for that gift, happy christmas for to you too” XD
Aug 02nd, 2013 - 06:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Sadly, the “K Corruption List” is very long:
Aug 02nd, 2013 - 06:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0In 1993 as governor of Santa Cruz Province he expatriated 654 million dollars in public funds into tax havens of which only small amounts trickled back; when a local lawsuit was filed on this case he maneuvered the case and ended up being acquitted by judge Santiago Lozada who is his nephew-in-law;
Widespread public works bribery in the Infrastructure Ministry run by crony Julio De Vido; when former economy minister and whistle-blower Roberto Lavagna publicly disclosed this in 2005, Mr. K promptly fired him;
Embezzlement of government railway subsidies under crony transport ministers Ricardo Jaime and Juan Pablo Schiavi; both are under investigation over a railway accident that killed 51 passengers in February 2012 in Buenos Aires’ derelict, run-down and unmaintained passenger trains;
Cristina Kirchner’s 2007 presidential campaign funding where a Venezuelan crony was caught trying to bring into the country a suitcase stashed with 800.000 dollars cash “for Cristina’s campaign”, as well as campaign contributions from illegal drug front-companies;
Public funding for the “Madres Plaza de Mayo” NGO - a front for 70’s terrorists’ rights – embezzled by its head Sergio Schoklender (who spent decades in jail for murdering his parents in 1981), whose treasurer is Felisa Miceli, a former K economy minister forced to resign in 2005 after bundles of hard cash were found in her ministry toilette.
12
Aug 02nd, 2013 - 07:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0yeah..... whatever A_V0ice copy........boring......find your own Voice
I dare say you could pick any country at random and make accusations of corruption..............Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely!
There's needs to be a Fark-style image of Snowden and Manning out there with the caption, “Would you trust these people with your bank/health/school information?” I'm not sure their fan base has realized it yet and since they are not going to be in circulation for a while, Manning in the stockade, Snowden a most-likely reciprocating guest of the Russian intelligence (let's not be naive), no human resource officer can sleep tight over not having to vet them for hiring anytime soon.
Aug 03rd, 2013 - 01:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Agreed......even in Russia if he ever get's work, he will never be trusted even by his rescuers. I can she his future work.
Aug 03rd, 2013 - 04:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“let's see....that's a number 1....regular or supersized?”
@15, Nah... they'd never let him near the Special Sauce, the Colonel's Secret Recipe of Seven Herbs and Spices, or any other trade secret. I'm not even sure some people would trust him with a mop.
Aug 03rd, 2013 - 07:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0That's funny but true. I hear Snowden is exhausted and misses his girlfriend. He needs to get use to Moscow girls keeping him warm at night. Snowden has traveled the world so I am sure he realizes that he will not have any of the comforts or access to the little things he would be use to in the USA.
Aug 04th, 2013 - 10:25 am - Link - Report abuse 0He is still going to have to make significant adjustments to life in Russia and being played by Putin (he is at the mercy of Putin, does Putin exude human compassion) and having handlers. Life in purgatory for the next year may be more of a challenge than he realizes, until he makes it to the promised land of Venezuela or Bolivia that Assange arranged for him, lol.
Snowden's situation, whether it is reported or not and believed by his naive supporter's is totally controlled by Putin himself and at his continual mercy. He ran to a country that essentially:
Criminalizes homosexuality
Imprisoned the Pussy Riot girls
The charges against Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky for real whistle-blowing
Raids foreign NGO's (not American either)
arrests his opposition
Yes Snowden really chose a wonderful place to be. One thing is certain, history shows that Russia does not place westerner defectors on a pedestal and worship them as heroes. One only needs to read of Philby, Maclean or Burgess and there are many more. And these guys were spymasters, not a pawn, as Snowden is not ever at a pawn level, he is an analyst. Of course many will say that was then and this is now. Let us not forget Putin is cut from the old cloth and longs for the old days of the cold war in which he is helping to retool.
Putin gave the USA a bitch slap with the one year asylum. Snowden is definitely under the controls of Russia and Putin and are at their beck and call whether he likes it or not and whether he admits it or not. Men of higher value and intellect struggled in Russia, we shall see how Snowden, the whistle-blower/traitor manages life in the next 12 months and if he makes it to the pro
@17 Captain Poppy
Aug 04th, 2013 - 10:44 am - Link - Report abuse 0Living in Russia has to be better than being stuck indoors and living in a tiny embassy.
I doubt Snowden will be in Russia for as long as year, possible not even a month.
Perhaps you are right.....my post did not complete as we are limited to 2000 friggin characters. The last sentence was that if he makes it to the promised in South America. Even then, I hardly see life in Venezuela as a dream come true, but yes, better than embassy life.
Aug 04th, 2013 - 11:12 am - Link - Report abuse 0As for embassy life, it could not have happened to a nicer man. As Ecuador grows tired and weary of the MOUTH and China continues to contract, South America must reach beyond China's limitations, they will be seeking more trade. Africa will not be South America's new savior. But for China.....Africa is the new South America.
And of course Venezuela is a country with a state dominated press with Cadenas used to to aid incumbents, contrarian press outlets brazenly shut down, “private” conversations of even people in the ruling party are aired on state television to put the uppity in place, and of course where the ruling party can beat the crap out of opposition legislators in their own chambers and sniveling fascists sympathizers here thing it's da bomb.
Aug 04th, 2013 - 12:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Snowden's life as the poster boy for openness will be a lie and he knows it. He overplayed his hand, losing people like me who should be in his “base,” and will never get that do-over back. Like Manning who callously sold out the Belarus opposition to Luckashenko via Wikileaks/Shamir, he is hero for whistle-blowing only for for bein-pensant suckers with hatchets to grind while true whistlblowers (like the guy fired from the Florida prosecution office) are treated with silence because they called attention to the wrong narrative or otherwise can't be used to stick it to The Man.
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