US Officials Freak Out Over Russia Giving Snowden Temporary Visa
from the well-of-course dept
The news of the morning, of course, was that Russia had agreed to grant Ed Snowden a temporary one-year visa, so that he could at least leave the airport (which he promptly did). In response, US government officials seem to have lost all perspective in making it sound like this is the worst offense ever:Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., called it a "slap in the face of all Americans." Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez, D-N.J., called the development a "setback to U.S.-Russia relations."A slap in the face? A game changer? Who do they think they're kidding? The White House is being equally ridiculous if only slightly less hyperbolic, in suggesting it may cancel an upcoming Putin/Obama summit:
[....]
"If these reports are accurate, Americans in Washington should consider this a game changer in our relationship with Russia," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said in a statement, calling Russia's decision "provocative" and "a sign of Vladimir Putin's clear lack of respect for President Obama."
"We're extremely disappointed," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters. "We're evaluating the utility of a summit in light of this and other issues."You know what? These arguments would have a lot more weight if they didn't come a day after the US government was able to successfully convict a guy who leaked classified documents to the press in order to blow the whistle on government wrongdoing. And the fact is that the American public is increasingly realizing that, yes, Ed Snowden is a whistleblower, not someone guilty of "espionage." And yet the US government is trying to paint him as some sort of evil hacker spy.
However, the very fact that Congress is actually having the debate about these programs, that the NSA and the FISA Court are declassifying various documents, and that it's clear that the NSA's surveillance powers are going to be somehow limited, seems to support, very strongly, the claim that Snowden was, in fact, a whistleblower. The defenders of the government can whine and moan about this or that, but if they wanted to have any credibility on this topic at all, perhaps they shouldn't have tried to brand Snowden as a criminal when everything that's happened since has proven he's a whistleblower.
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Filed Under: asylum, barack obama, bradley manning, ed snowden, russia, visa, vladimir putin
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Senator McCain, you seem to have left some words out...
'...slap in the face of all Americans.'
...I'm fairly sure you meant
'...slap in the face of the NSA, the USG, and all others who prioritize their personal power above their responsibilities to the US citizenry.'
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Re: Senator McCain, you seem to have left some words out...
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Re: Senator McCain, you seem to have left some words out...
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How times have changed, it should have been a trip to the woodshed.
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What about when the US tried to plant missiles in Eastern Europe aimed at Russia - supposedly to defend against middle-eastern rogue states - despite Russia making it very clear that they didn't like the idea?
Hypocrites.
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This dipshit doesn't speak for me. The things Snowden revealed the gov't is doing are the real "slap in the face to all Americans."
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Angry Grampa and Clown face
"That one guy" nailed it however.
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http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/aug/01/nsa-paid-gchq-spying-edward-snowden
Our tax dollars are not only funding the NSA but the GCHQ as well.
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Not sure which country it's most shameful to, probably the Brits because they still had a feeble illusion of pride but the US has no shame.
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Gay sex between heads of state?
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Re: Gay sex...
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In that this shows Russia is now more compassionate than the US?
"a sign of Vladimir Putin's clear lack of respect for President Obama"
Oh come on...Was that a surprise? What reason is there for him to respect Obama? A title? Psh, it takes more than that when you have equivalent titles.
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I don't listen to what they say, I look at what they do, and damn it, I want to see some real, meaningful action on this.
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Oh please. Trying to act like this would make a summit useless? It makes a summit all the more important if you want to get Putin to do what you want. Especially now that Snowden's in Russia proper, not some place where Russia can pretend they don't have jurisdiction. Sure, if Snowden starts hanging out at someone's embassy they can't just grab him, but it still makes it tremendously easier to keep track of him, and keep him from going anywhere. No more need to panic any time someone's plane takes off (or alternatively, no more people claiming you grounded their plane to look for Snowden).
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The United States government is persecuting a man who leaked documents exposing abuse by government officials and the Russian government is standing strong for human rights and granting him protection.
Are we FINALLY going to get the cool fuzzy hats with ear flaps for everyone here?
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What I considered a "slap in the face of all Americans." was Obama coming out saying "we need another sputnik moment" and then shortly after that he kills the space shuttle program making us buy rides into space from..... Russia. Is it just me that finds those two things put together extremely insulting?
Follow that up by our government feeling the need to promise "we won't torture or kill him"..... It seems like every day I get up and loose a little more respect for the government. I'm not even sure how it is possible anymore really....
I was once proud to be an American, and I guess in some ways I still am. I am proud of what this nation once was and of the ideals it was built on. What I am ashamed of is what our government has become and what it is doing to this nation.
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Re: The Cold War ended??
As a 100% Disabled & Decorated US Naval Veteran, I am fed up with the embarrassment of their corruption & greed. Revolution or not, we need immediate reform and plenty of sweeping out the TRASH!
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http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2013/08/obama-starting-to-lose-it-over-snowden.html
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Putin cleared his throat early on and reminded the US that Russia had no extradition treaty with the US and in general did not extradite people. Packing Snowden off because the US asked for him was not on the table. Putin took the position that the Snowden wasn’t worth exploiting for his annoyance value to the US: “It’s like shearing a piglet: a lot of squealing and little wool.”
A very "diplomatic" way of saying "Stick it up your nose!" I think. :-)
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Then you'll simply use Snowed as a pawn and bargaining chip..
Snowden is going to have a 'great' time in Russia.. LOL
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How's grappling with the reality that Australia is a haven of government-sponsored Adobe piracy working out for you? Did you tell your solar panel wife yet, or is your dick still too sad to do it?
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Did Snowden REALLY Leave the Airport?
And if so, was there anyone accompanying him?
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Re: Did Snowden REALLY Leave the Airport?
Also
"We're evaluating the utility of a summit in light of this and other issues."
Could the "other issues" they are referring to possibly be the discovery that the US "collects" all internet traffic / phone calls / whatever... from their citizens?
Could Mr. Obama be arrested in another country for violating their privacy laws, should he enter their country?
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Re: Re: Did Snowden REALLY Leave the Airport?
There are photographs of him showing his back, not his face.
Since we all know that body doubles are never used in tv and movies (Stars do all their own stunts), that's conclusive proof...
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The real slap in the face
The REAL "slap in the face of all Americans" is half of Congress STILL SUPPORTING this unconstitutional plan under the guise of national security.
McCain et al certainly don't speak for me.
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Re: The real slap in the face
McCain doesn't speak for anyone I know and he certainly doesn't speak for me either.
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Asylum, etc.
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Re: Asylum, etc.
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- US (is caught) spying on everyone
- Defends it as being necessary (although its against everything they stand for and is blatantly unconstitutional)
- Snowden goes to China/Russia because the US is not safe for Whistle blowers. (ie they get tortured and life in prison and the actual criminals and the people who gave the orders to commit war crimes and unconstitutional orders go free)
- Clapper lies, Alexander lies and Mike rogers lies to everyone.
- After torturing him, The US throws the book at manning with ancient espionage charges.
- The US stomps their little feet when a Visa is issued to snowden (a hero) who would like not to be tortured for telling the truth.
Irony overload.
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Or maybe they just don't care, as long as "their" names aren't on that database, why would they care if people's identity gets stolen or worse?
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Whats he gonna do, start a war with Russia, and totally disregard those lives he claims to speak for
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yanks did not help us when germany forced an "alliance" with my country. yanks did not even help my country to kill off the remaining nazi forces. The soviet union "helped" us, and stayed for a few years (150). Get your facts right pal, you did less than what you think you did.
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That old sack of shit needs to keep his fucking mouth shut. The only slap in the face here is the constant lying by officials to cover up them shitting all over the 4th amendment in order to 'protect' everyone.
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The US has time and again granted asylum to political refugees from Russia and other communist countries. Now it's bad enough that Russia and these other communist countries are to be desired over the US.
What's wrong with this picture and who deserves the slap in the face? So far my tally says the idiots in Washington are the ones deserving of being on the receiving end.
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How do you not understand that leaking classified documents is illegal. Manning was convicted for exactly that. Seriously, how many of the 700,000+ documents "blew the whistle"..... not that it particularly matters? Manning sure as hell doesn't know because it is unlikely he read the vast majority of them.
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You obviously just believe whatever congress tells you!
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how dare you
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Note how Graham spins this against Obama even when he purports to defend America. Disgusting.
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and what did i say before
ya know obuma you really boned up on this one....you lost major pr to the russians and you aint getting it back.
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nice quot eby putin
hehe i swear he's certainly the right guy to lead a nation he won't mix words.
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Re: nice quot eby putin
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Good luck Snowden.. you'll need it..
"how can we get more political points and power by exploiting this not-so-bright traitor and spy".
If you think Russia is all that is goodness and righteousness then you need to be prepared for a major disappointment.
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Re: Good luck Snowden.. you'll need it..
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Huh? What information did he disclose that was unrelated to federal snooping? I've yet to see anything.
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Release extent of data being collected and by whom? "Whistleblower". Start treading beyond that line by taking and threatening to disclose unknown information and the title begins to quickly tarnish.
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To the Moon, Snowden
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The Last Word
“This dipshit doesn't speak for me. The things Snowden revealed the gov't is doing are the real "slap in the face to all Americans."