US officials are collectively shaking their fists impotently at the skies, expressing a combination of outrage, disappointment and confusion at Russia’s decision to grant whistleblower Edward Snowden asylum.
The White House insisted that they were baffled by Russia’s decision, while ever-hawkish Sen. Lindsey Graham (R – SC) declared the move proof that Putin has no respect for Obama.
Press Secretary Jay Carney expressed particular annoyance that Russia didn’t give him a “heads up” before announcing its decision, and insisted that Snowden isn’t a real whisteblower and therefore asylum shouldn’t really apply to him.
Of course despite the US insistences to the contrary, they have no extradition agreement with Russia, and therefore Russia was not obliged to hand Snowden over at any rate, nor is there anything in international law that would conceivably ban them from giving Snowden asylum just because the Obama Administration has given vague assurances he won’t be tortured.
In practice the US is looking to “retaliate” but their options are limited. Officials are once again suggesting they may not attend a planned summit in Russia to spite Putin, but even a move like this is likely to come off as petty to the international community, many of whom aren’t too keen with the NSA surveillance that Snowden unveiled nor the US reaction to it.
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I suppose the US now knows how the Russians feel when they refuse to send back all of those Russians that have committed crimes in Russia and refuse to do so!
Its called Karma!
As for Lindsey Grahams Comments, one would think that the Russians are more likely to be angry with the things he and his fellow senators have done in relation to their actions in the US senate against Russia! Some how I think that the Russians are getting sick of reading about US senators making laws that they think the sovereign Nation of Russia have to follow because the US senate has said so!
Just remember this senators, all Russia has to do these days is TURN THE GAS OFF and Europe has No cooking, heating and less power generating capacity!
Like they have forgotton who`s fart to smell "TELL THEM BUB"
This article and all articles on this topic should take a sentence or two to note the critical fact the the US is a world leader in refusing to extradite people, and not just to Russia, but to countries with whom the US actually has extradition treaties. So, for example, the US refuses to extradite known terrorist Louis Posada Carriles. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luis_Posada_Carriles)
Not only is this yet another glaring example of shameless hypocrisy and abuse of power by Washington, but it also means that, by US logic, countries that have been victim to the various terrorists harbored by the US have the right to bomb and invade the US.
Kinda reminds me of how 'furious' I was when mom put a padlock on the cookie jar. It's the same kind of fury you see in the aliens when Sigourney Weaver flees. Like they can't skip one meal…
"declared the move proof that Putin has no respect for Obama." Before the last election, we were saying that of St. Bibi… and that was legit. The case here, afaik, has nothing to do with Putin's relation with anyone. There's an audience being played-to –there are people who are supposed to be upset with them 'cause they ain't having roast witch tonight. If it's handy to include Putin in the rage-contagion, then their uncle money-bags doesn't like Putin either.
Truth hurts no matter what, so when government don't like to be part of the truth telling they become furious.
Did Putin just ‘bitch slapped’ Obama?
Slap returned ))
"Obama…….appointed Michael McFaul as U.S. ambassador to Russia. To most Americans, McFaul's appointment meant little. But to Putin, it was a cold, hard slap in the face. McFaul is a leading advocate of spreading democratic governance and freedom, and Putin was unsurprisingly outraged by the appointment…." http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2013/07/2…
Hillary Clinton diplomacy was to send her emissaries to foment discontent all over the globe.
The diplomatic spat with Egypt in 2012 was of the same nature, as Russian ,
The US has expressed "deep concern" over Egypt's decision to press criminal charges against 43 people, including 19 Americans, working for foreign funded organisations." http://news.sky.com/story/924672/growing-diplomat…
The Russians can always just say "No" to McFaul's appointment and deny his credentials. 🙂
Putin wasn't the president then. US wanted Medvedev to stay as Russian president, so he gladly accepted the credentials.
Uh-oh! All this Russian 'disrespect' will be having Nat Netanyahu dusting-off that special stool he hauls out for Israel's un-loved guests. Imagine Obama or Kerry – chin on knees, looking 'up' to real leadership, nu?
Snowden is a champion of liberty and Obama, Bush, and most of the US govt should be in jail for war crimes, in my opinion.
O' Happy Day! to see these criminal rage on. Now, let's push to have Snowden awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, which he surely deserves.
Thank you Mr. Putin..
Putin would not be alone in having no respect for Obama. Poor poor US "officialdom", seems our world grows weary of the antics.
How can an antiwar website post a photo of this war criminal Obama without mentioning it?
Obama has a hissy fit!
AG Holder has a hissy fit!
Someone must pay!
Obama has a hissy fit!
But the US has a set of standards from Bizzaro world. When a dottering old Uncle Sam does horrible things, the globe is "supposed to" show "tolerance" "understanding" and exhibit "forgiveness."
Спасибо, Россия! (Thank you, Russia!)
Благодарю Вас, господин Путин! (Thank you, Mr. Putin!)
Now let's all enjoy a stirring rendition of the Russian national anthem while sharing a toast with vodka martinis (shaken, not stirred).
A spokesperson for Human Rights Watch made the point that asylum is warranted when the applicant is likely to face persecution rather than punishment in the state that seeks his extradition.
With the Bradley Manning trial and what went before it in the headlines every day now it would seem that the Russians were well within there rights to refuse to deport Snowden.
The USA should acknowledge that it would make the same decision is similar circumstances if it wants to get back to being viewed as "the city on the hill".
Justin Amash and John Conyers believe at a minimum James Clapper should resign for lying to congress about the capabilities of NSA internal surveillance capabilities. Today at Democracy Now.
Conyers praised Snowden for coming forward although he acknowledged Snowden likely broke the law.
Many miss the irony of an American fleeing US soil to the center of the former USSR to protect his rights, freedom and probably his life. Me, I'm still laughing.
Thank you Mr. Putin.
Спасибо, Россия! (Thank you, Russia!)
Благодарю Вас, господин Путин! (Thank you, Mr. Putin!)