A report that whistleblower Edward Snowden is seeking temporary asylum in Russia has sparked a flurry of public warnings from US officials that Snowden is seeking a “propaganda platform” and that granting him asylum would do serious harm to US-Russian relations.
President Obama also stepped up the rhetoric in a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, reiterating US demands that Russia immediately capture Snowden and turn him over to the US.
Russia is said to be in an awkward situation on the case, with officials saying that Russia doesn’t want Snowden to cast a pall over the September summit talks, but likely can’t afford to appear to be giving in to unreasonable US demands to abide by an extradition treaty that doesn’t exist.
Russia has suggested they would offer Snowden conditional asylum assuming he didn’t do any more leaking of classified US data, and there are reports Snowden may accept the deal, though this is unlikely to change the Obama Administration’s bellicose position.
US "warns" Russia? Ewww, the Russians must be shaking in their boots.
The warnings to China were so effective……………..
You'd think that at least Putin can stand up to Obama just a little bit.
As former KGB head, Putin would have zero respect for Snowden, and watching Obama squirm is only worth so much.
Putin was never a former "KGB Head" but a civilian who worked a desk job.
He did briefly head the FSB in the late 1990s, but that's not really the point. There's little incentive for him to give Snowden up since the propaganda value is too great. The US constantly uses its "Human Rights" NGO's to harass Russia day in and day out, so Putin can now turn the tables on them by jamming the "Human Rights" card right back down their own throats.
Correct on what Putin did at FSB but when he won this last election he threw out all ngo or you had to register as an agent for a foreign power, nobody did they packed up and left.
I'm sure he doesn't give a S$$$ what Amerika wants.
Oh, many of them are still there bitching and complaining that the law undermines them and makes them look like agents of a foreign power, which frankly, many of them actually are. The NGO law is now in the process of being modified to only pertain to those NGO's specifically engaged in political activity. A few NGO's involved in other causes (medical & environmental research, etc.,) have been unfairly targeted by the law, so the Duma will be revising it to apply to political groups only.
Da ! Rough Tough cream puff ! Gee. remember "duck and cover ?" when we were being told that the Russians were coming ? Well, were they ? Hell, No ! The US didn't have a damn thing they wanted. I hope Russia tells the Empire to take a flying leap.
The Russians Are Coming ^2 — one of the great Cold War films of all time. Now everyone repeat after me:
"E-mer-gen-cy! Everybody to get from streets!"
Is there a chance that Putin would actually hand him over to Washington?
I don't see why not. The NSA may have something on him. I don't know what if any commercial interests there could be. And he's doesn't seem particularly interested in flexing his muscles on this issue. I don't see why not though. The US gov already hates him. And clearly this is an issue where the US is pretty much on its own.
I think it's pretty remote.
The Russians would actually be in violation of several European Human Rights Conventions if they did, since Snowden is fleeing political persecution. If Snowden said he was willing to meet Putin's demands, then there's really no reason for him to deny asylum. Putin will probably site these Human Rights laws to Obama and also remind him that there's no extradition treaty between the two countries, so there's no "legal obligation" to hand him over.
I think it would do SERIOUS harm to Russia's rep if they did hand him over, so I don't see Putin making such a counter-productive move.
Yea I think you are right. If for no other reason it would be embarrassing and a huge blow to Russian and Putin's pride to give in to US pressure now.
Russia doesn't have an extradition treaty with the US, so there is no legal mechanism for any extradition. Maybe if the US removes the missile defense systems aimed at Russia, something might happen, maybe.
Oooo, Putin has been Warned. I'll bet the KGB Colonel is just shaking in his boots.
Whatever happens, I win.
Mr. Putin, please tell Obongo the following:
прогуляться по короткому пирсу
Translation: "Take a long walk down a short pier." (Tip of the hat to Google Translate.)
Like.., what kind of warning we are talking about here, they won't let the Russian fisher mans not to fish in Alaska, or not to let the Russia submarines to pass the international water, or their satellites to orbit the earth.., or usa is going to start bombing russian cities.., i don't think that they are that stupid but with such government, no one knows what tomorrow will bring.
What is America going to do sail Aircraft carriers up and down the Russian coast! Have the Arabs shut of their oil, threaten them with Military intervention!
Just remember this in a war between the US and Russia the US has more to lose, LA, Washington DC, NYC, Dallas Fort worth and a plethora of others, Russia can retaliate in ways that most other countries forget, and for the record attacking Russia will have the rest of Europe in economic turmoil!
One word causing it "GAS" Russia is attacked and they turn it off, Instant shut down of Europe!
Which is why Moscow is the safest place for Snowden to be and the reason why Obama called Putin yesterday to "ask" NOT "demand" that Snowden be sent back to the US.
You certainly won't see Obama personally on the phone talking to Maduro or Morales, because DC knows they can threaten those two small nations into giving him up just as they did with Ecuador.
Fraudman Obama, please do the world a favour and drop dead! No one is listening to the twisted diatribes of a pathological liar who has absolutely no moral compass and who has gone beyond the total betrayal of his office and his oath to uphold and defend the US Constitutuion.
US—needs to be tried in the WORLD COURT–FOR MASSIVE EVIL CRIMES'AGAINST' HUMANITY..NOW
I'am waiting to see if Putin is going to bend over and hold is ankles for Obama.
Doesn't matter what Putin says, the corrupt media will translate what he says into what they want him to say (just like anything said by anyone in Iran or Syria) – this country has evolved beyond the truth.
I think you mean "devolved."
Well, Obama wants to make unreasonable demands.. What else is new? The world is just amazed at the people who pretend to be the leaders of the world, but do not seem to be able to compose a sentence without making a threat to someone, anyone, anywhere on this planet. Poor planet Earth. Deserves better.
Moron statecraft at it's pinnacle………… If the "Os" wanted him so much, they should have STFU & done or said nothing until the moment they could actually get him. All their threats and and indictments only serve to make them appear weak and morally feckless, adding fuel to the fires of indignation they are trying to quell!! Can anyone suggest a worse way the "Os" could have handled this Snowdon episode….??????
Putin just needs to tell O'bummer right where he can stick it & maybe he did ! LOL
Russia has granted asylum.
Link to article http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/breaking-…
Names RT.com as original article.
Or I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house down.
Thought a fairy tale appropriate since Uncle Sam lives in a fantasy world.
How things change. Remember when defectors used to escape from the evil Police State USSR to the West for asylum?
Yeah, the times they are a changin'
At the moment I have about one thousand times more respect for Vladimir Putin than I do for Obama. I just hope that Putin continues to demonstrate superior leadership and high character by telling Obama where he can stick his latest veiled threat.