US Hypocrisy Exposed: Has A Long History Of Rejecting Extradition Requests

from the dear-obama:-get-over-yourself dept

Wed, Aug 7th 2013 1:49pm — Mike Masnick

We've already discussed the general immaturity and petty nature of President Obama's decision to cancel his planned summit with Vladimir Putin over granting Ed Snowden asylum. Glenn Greenwald is now pointing out that beyond just being petty, it also shows astounding hypocrisy by the Obama administration. Various members of the administration (along with Congress) have been acting like it's the worst offense in the world that Russia -- with whom we do not have an extradition treaty -- turned down the request for extradition. Yet, as Greenwald highlights, the US quite frequently turns down these requests, and they don't turn into massive international incidents that top the headlines like this story.

New York Times, February 28, 2007: Washington Post, July 19, 2013: The Guardian, September 9, 2012: [US refuses Bolivia's request to extradite its former CIA-supported president, Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, to stand trial on charges of genocide and other war crimes after de Lozada hires Democratic lobbyists to represent him]

El Paso Times, December 30, 2010:

The US constantly refuses requests to extradite - even where (unlike Russia) they have an extradition treaty with the requesting country and even where (unlike Snowden) the request involves actual, serious crimes, such as genocide, kidnapping, and terrorism. Maybe those facts should be part of whatever media commentary there is on Putin's refusal to extradite Snowden and Obama's rather extreme reaction to it.

There may, in fact, be legitimate reasons for refusing extradition requests. But for the US government to act like Russia's decision to give Snowden temporary asylum is some major slap in the face just seems pretty ridiculous in the face of its own actions.

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Filed Under: barack obama, extradition, hypocrisy, vladimir putin

16 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 7 Aug 2013 @ 1:55pm

*do as we say not as we do.
Thanks,
US Gov
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Zakida Paul (profile), 7 Aug 2013 @ 2:15pm

The US government is the equivalent of the school yard bully. They believe they can push everyone else around with their imperialist foreign policy.

I just wish more governments would grow some balls and tell them where to go.
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- mattshow (profile), 7 Aug 2013 @ 2:44pm
  
  Re:
  The US government is the equivalent of the school yard bully. They believe they can push everyone else around with their imperialist foreign policy.
  
  This comment reminded me of this old Bill Hicks bit (I guess it would have to be old since he's been dead for almost 20 years).
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbO0f9uaWZE
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Aug 2013 @ 2:22pm

Like I said previously...
More evidence of the butt hurt epidemic sweeping DC.
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- McCrea (profile), 7 Aug 2013 @ 2:28pm
  
  Re: Like I said previously...
  Butthurt authorities leads to butthurt citizens.
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  - Avantare, 7 Aug 2013 @ 3:20pm
    
    Re: Re: Like I said previously...
    The citizens have been butthurt for quite a few decades. About time they ran out of Preparation H. Perhaps now we'll have the cajones to treat the real butthurt that our government is with forced surgery to remove the 'roids.
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Aug 2013 @ 3:44pm

be honest. the US seems to think that whatever it says, goes and whatever it wants has to be done, in fact, will be done. it is under the misapprehension that it is controlling everything, everywhere. it's time to divvy up and realise that that isn't the case. when the traffic, any traffic, is one way, why should there be any concessions given? time to stop acting like a spoiled brat, methinks!
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Aug 2013 @ 3:53pm

This has been a slow building process. Some of the things pushed out into the MSM from the Obama administration and reports from various reporters as to the reactions that followed less than sterling news reports from White House staffers has been an on-going thing sort of hidden by the media because they want access to the White House news.

However more and more the White House has been doing a end run around reporters so they don't have to answer uncomfortable questions when questions are allowed (which from what I hear isn't as often as it should be).

Now there is this steady flow of BS coming out of Washington ever since the Snowden leaks that would put a pathological lair to shame. One official says this, another embellishes and leaks yet more that wasn't supposed to be known. It's not in what they say as much as what's left out of what they say when they say it that points to these objectionable methods and secret programs.

Hypocrisy isn't new, Hillary was running around looking like an idiot claiming China should be better on human rights while Obama is busy getting NDDA passed. A program to allow anyone labeled 'possible' terrorist to just disappear from the justice system with all rights denied, including Miranda, Posse Comitatus, speedy trial, bail, arraignment; crap where does it stop? These are the very issues that when human rights are brought up in other countries they refer to.

As far as Posse Comitatus, I'm beginning to have a hard time distinguishing between the TSA, DHS, SWAT, and regular military forces.
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Steve R. (profile), 7 Aug 2013 @ 4:11pm

While not specifically a US incident, Jordan granted asylum to a Syrian pilot that "stole" a Syrian jet to defect to Jordan.
Here is what the Obama administration stated according to CNN

"Tommy Vietor, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said, "We welcome this pilot's decision to do the right thing. We have long called for the military and members of the Syrian regime to defect and abandon their positions rather than be complicit in the regime's atrocities.

"This is just one of countless instances where Syrians, including members of the security forces, have rejected the horrific actions of the Assad regime, and it certainly will not be the last."

So the Obama adminstration, on one hand, encourages the committing of illegal acts and claims that stealing and defecting is doing the right thing; but then when it comes to Snowden and Manning they claim that vile traitors acts were committed.
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- Andrew D. Todd, 7 Aug 2013 @ 11:07pm
  
  The Gold Standard of National Security Defections, to Steve R. (profile), Aug 7th, 2013 @ 4:11pm
  The classic example of that kind of thing is Lieutenant Belenko, who was actually given American citizenship by a special act of congress, after defecting with a Soviet (Russian) Mig-25 fighter
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Belenko
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pcrooker (profile), 7 Aug 2013 @ 4:48pm

All this fuss over Snowden reminds me of China
Whenever anyone with any government position speaks to the Dalai Lama, Chinese officials really spit the dummy - the current US admin is coming close to this. I'm surprised the US aren't saying Russia is interfering with US sovereignty.
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Anonymous Howard (profile), 8 Aug 2013 @ 1:48am

Re:
I'd say you're a crazy conspiracy theorist, but I'm not sure you're not right anymore..
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Ninja (profile), 8 Aug 2013 @ 4:19am

Putin is amused.
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Androgynous Cowherd, 8 Aug 2013 @ 7:55am

After how Manning was treated, Russia can credibly claim that they're refusing Snowden's extradition because he faces possible torture by the authorities here.
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- Steve R. (profile), 8 Aug 2013 @ 12:45pm
  
  Re: Dream 9 Released
  The Obama administration continues to "enforce" the law in an arbitrary capricious whimsical manner. NPR reported: "On Tuesday, immigration asylum officers found that all nine had credible fear of persecution or torture in their birth country and could therefore not be immediately removed.". 'Dream 9' Activists Released From Immigration Detention. So if these people face the fear of persecution, surly Snowden does.
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miraclesandmassacres (profile), 16 Nov 2013 @ 9:41am

An historical perspective...
If you look at Obama's moves from a historical perspective, it is clear that we have been building to this point for over 100 years.

I believe a new book - Miracles and Massacres may resonate with you - and since it is the first in a series, perhaps you can contribute to or collaborate to produce future volumes.

http://miraclesandmassacresreview.com
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