The latest in a month-long battle to convince Russia to capture and extradite whistleblower Edward Snowden to the US, in absence of any extradition treaty, comes in the form of a letter by Attorney General Eric Holder, who “promises” in the letter that Snowden wouldn’t be tortured or executed by the Obama Administration.
Holder said that absent the threat of Snowden being tortured, there were no grounds to grant him asylum. Many would disagree, noting the politically motivated nature of the charges, and the torture of Pfc Bradley Manning ahead of a trial for similar “crimes.”
Snowden’s father Lon Snowden says that the administration has vilified his son to such a point that he is “better off” staying in Russia or some other safe haven “until an administration that respects the Constitution comes into office.”
German President Joachim Gauck, a well-known human rights activist who opposed the East German surveillance state he grew up in, noted that government misdeeds “will normally only be put right if information is made public,” and that Snowden deserves respect for having done so.
Gauck’s position could be hugely important with Germany heading into campaign season, as the NSA surveillance has been roundly criticized by Germans, with their government seen as insufficiently active in fighting against it.
The fact that they even have to make such a declaration is a shame on this nation. But ten years of bold face lies about torturing prisoners and POWs, does anyone believe anything that our leaders says. Perhaps if we just start acting like Americans again.
Come to think of it the NSA archives could come in handy one day. We might play back the presidential and congressional archives and find out what our elected officials where really up to. If history tells us anything that day might come sooner than we expect.
"Mr. Snowden believes that he is unable to travel out of Russia and must therefore take steps to
legalize his status. That is not accurate; he is able to travel. Despite the revocation of his
passport on June 22, 2013, Mr. Snowden remains a U.S. citizen. He is eligible for a limited
validity passport good for direct return to the United States. The United States is willing to
immediately issue such a passport to Mr. Snowden."
i actually laughed when i read this.
Holder says "Trust me, I'm from the government". Yeah…right.
I, Putin of Russia, would be more than happy to put Snowden on a fast plane to the US of A if the US can give me only one good reason as to why then you want him back?
No they are not going to kill or torture him where we can see, they will send in their bulldogs to do the job quietly in one of those hidden prisons in Afghanistan or in Libya. But then again such notion coming out of justice department shows that they are truly worried about rest of what Snowden knows. Look: people that's not democracy this is a total police state and is a shameful act on behalf of democracy.
And what more honest and trustworthy character to deliver this message than eric Contempt holder. Whatever this individual says, you just know the opposite is true.
i don't believe a F thing this NAZI WARMONGER MIS-ADMINISTRATION UTTERS… RUSSIA SHOULDN'T EITHER-DUH
So, we;ve now lived to see see a full reversal of roles, from the cold war era.
I bet Holder had his fingers crossed behind his back when he said this.
Snowden won't be tortured? I bet they said the same thing to Bradley Manning.
But the US does not "torture",
at least according to Cheney, Yoo, and the Constitutional prevaricator,
.. err president, Obama.
The US "renders" under Obama.
"Snowden’s father Lon Snowden says that the administration has vilified his son to such a point that he is “better off” staying in Russia or some other safe haven “until an administration that respects the Constitution comes into office.”
What are the chances of that?????????? Hasn't the corruption reached a level where TRANSPARENCY will expose our leaders as the criminals they have become, milking us for trillions and extra constitutional authority too, for keeping us safe (from them and their terrorist hirelings). The goal being to steal by force the resources of the world (E.G. Iraq).and keep the military slush funds as the tool to bribe our leaders to enforce their criminal agenda! Don't forget the $2,3OO.OOO.OOO.OOO.OO that was "lost" over at the Pentagon just noted one day before the the dawn of our new reality of lawlessness, secrecy and unaccountability…………..
Do not trust the US "gubmint" when their dastardly record sticks out like a sore hand, let alone a thumb !!! It's good to see someone standing up to the diseased parts of the Evil Empire.
"Trust dies but mistrust blossoms."
Sophocles
' I would like to believe you but… your record of treachery, duplicity, cruelty, and corruption leave me in doubt."
The Eric Holder that swears he didn't provide military weaponry to the Mexican drug cartels?
No killing or torture? Just solitary confinement, a Stalinist show trial and suicide in prison.
Have to think of what America defines as "torture". Anything, and I mean anything, goes. I have hopes people are waking up to what a monster we are and always have been. Our word is useless. We take what we want, when we want and where we want. Course have to soften a bit for the American "mind" but now a days, don't have to soften it much.
If you believe Eric Holder, I have 1 million acres of underwater farm land in Antarctica for sell at $1 and acre.
I would rather trust a televangelist turned used car salesman with previous convictions for fraud and theft from widows and orphans than Eric Holder and his boss (Satan????) . My opinion is that if Snowden falls in the hands of the state, he will be tortured a la Abu Ghraib – solitary confinement, sensory deprivation and possibly psychotropic drugs to drive him insane and to suicide.
No, just send him to Romania, Bulgaria ,or Poland where the CIA has it's secret torture camps!
What a magnanimous gesture. A promise.
Hey, GTMO closed yet?