We were already choking on the irony when Vladimir Putin, leader of Mother Russia, offered to let National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden stay at the Moscow airport for as long as he wanted.
Why is that ironic? Because the leader of the “free world” – a.k.a. the United States of America – is trying everything within its power to extradite Snowden as a traitor.
And yes, for those of you just catching up on this drama, the current definition of “traitor” is a guy who gives up his freedom, a six-figure salary and hot girlfriend to let the American people know their government is spying on them. What a bastard, right?
Anyway … while “sweet land of liberty” continues to track Snowden like some sort of dangerous animal, several South American countries have offered Snowden safe haven.
Venezuela, for example, is offering “humanitarian asylum” to Snowden – while Bolivia and Ecuador have also made it clear they would welcome the leaker. A fourth country, Nicaragua, has said it would consider a request from Snowden.
None of these nations have particularly compelling histories when it comes to democracy – but all of them are opening their arms to this dissident who was wiling to give up his comfortable life in the “Evil Empire” to make us aware of what our government is up to.
Somebody cue Alanis Morissette …
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70 comments
As Ron Paul has said, “Truth is treason in an Empire of lies.”
“[Ron Paul’s politics] is just savagery, and it goes across the board; in fact, this holds for the whole libertarian ideology. I mean, it may sound nice on the surface, but when you think it through, it’s just a call for corporate tyranny; takes away any barrier to corporate tyranny.
Noam Chomsky
Keep in mind that Noam Chomsky calls himself a variant “anarchist”…lol…the man might be brilliant in linguistics but he’s a veritable moron in political discourse.
Further though, he can’t even grasp the concept that libertarian minded people want free markets, which if allowed would end “corporate tyranny”.
It’s not even an advanced concept…but he’s too busy calling for free college for everyone apparently versus sorting out his own convoluted thinking on the matter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdWA8KriO4A
As Ron Paul has said, “Truth is treason in an Empire of lies.”
“[Ron Paul’s politics] is just savagery, and it goes across the board; in fact, this holds for the whole libertarian ideology. I mean, it may sound nice on the surface, but when you think it through, it’s just a call for corporate tyranny; takes away any barrier to corporate tyranny.
Noam Chomsky
Keep in mind that Noam Chomsky calls himself a variant “anarchist”…lol…the man might be brilliant in linguistics but he’s a veritable moron in political discourse.
Further though, he can’t even grasp the concept that libertarian minded people want free markets, which if allowed would end “corporate tyranny”.
It’s not even an advanced concept…but he’s too busy calling for free college for everyone apparently versus sorting out his own convoluted thinking on the matter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdWA8KriO4A
Either Sic Willie is stupid or he is just acting like he is. All of the countries mentioned could care less about Snowden and his faux hero status. They just love twisting the US’s tail. Once they tire of the fun they will shit can him. He is nothing but a pawn.
You on the other hand are one of the traitor de jour. Flavor of the month. This way or that, dependent on the wind. Sidle up to Reid and Smelosi. Have a drink on me.
How was Canada when you were in hiding?
Never been there.
So how did you escape service?
Here we go. I’m a despicable unpatriotic scumbag that dogged service and have no right to speak because I don’t know shit. Whatever libitard.
Thanks for the explanation.
Either Sic Willie is stupid or he is just acting like he is. All of the countries mentioned could care less about Snowden and his faux hero status. They just love twisting the US’s tail. Once they tire of the fun they will shit can him. He is nothing but a pawn.
You on the other hand are one of the traitor de jour. Flavor of the month. This way or that, dependent on the wind. Sidle up to Reid and Smelosi. Have a drink on me.
How was Canada when you were in hiding?
Never been there.
So how did you escape service?
Here we go. I’m a despicable unpatriotic scumbag that dogged service and have no right to speak because I don’t know shit. Whatever libitard.
Thanks for the explanation.
What no offer from Argentina?
There’s no crying in Argentina.
Argentina offered.
What no offer from Argentina?
There’s no crying in Argentina.
Argentina offered.
He took the job to betray America.
I do not believe that informing the American people that their government is trampling their constitutional rights to a frightening degree as a “betrayal.”
Maybe a betrayal of a government wanting abusive powers, but that just helps the “hero” case.
yep yep
Nope, he didn’t. He admits he was an initial victim of the propaganda machine in the part 2 interview released today:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2013/jul/08/edward-snowden-video-interview
He took the job to betray America.
I do not believe that informing the American people that their government is trampling their constitutional rights to a frightening degree is a “betrayal.”
When does our government using abusive powers become a “betrayal” to the country?
yep yep
Nope, he didn’t. He admits he was an initial victim of the propaganda machine in the part 2 interview released today:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2013/jul/08/edward-snowden-video-interview
Maybe running off to Hong Kong was a bad idea. The next leg to Moscow has been less than he thought also. Well maybe, just maybe a trip to Venezuela will work out just fine !
Maybe not? Where is Tom Clancy when you need him !?
Maybe running off to Hong Kong was a bad idea. The next leg to Moscow has been less than he thought also. Well maybe, just maybe a trip to Venezuela will work out just fine !
Maybe not? Where is Tom Clancy when you need him !?
Snowden is a Hero. A Giant among the turds in DC. THANK YOU EDWARD SNOWDEN. I shall teach my children to aspire to this kind of Greatness. History will undoubtedly judge you and your kind, kindly. God Bless You.
Snowden is a Hero. A Giant among the turds in DC. THANK YOU EDWARD SNOWDEN. I shall teach my children to aspire to this kind of Greatness. History will undoubtedly judge you and your kind, kindly. God Bless You.
Going to China and Russia to protect your human rights… The jokes just write themselves. I think this guy is an idiot more than a hero
Well, they haven’t thrown him in jail…so he’s that much farther ahead then he would be here…where the violation of Habeas Corpus is now routine and the US gov’t is charged with human rights violations by a UN special investigator in regard to Manning:
“Mendez, who runs the UN office that investigates incidents of alleged torture around the world, told the Guardian: “I conclude that the 11 months under conditions of solitary confinement (regardless of the name given to his regime by the prison authorities) constitutes at a minimum cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in violation of article 16 of the convention against torture. If the effects in regards to pain and suffering inflicted on Manning were more severe, they could constitute torture.”
Really though, more troubling is the mass Stockholm syndrome here, where the US gov’t is suddenly the “victim” in it’s illegal behavior and Snowden is at fault.
It’s bizarro world.
As if the UN doesn’t have an anti US agenda.
Factual statement.
I don’t disagree, but it doesn’t change the facts stated above.
I do find it interesting though that the US gov’t doesn’t necessarily shrink away from “obeying” UN laws & directives when convenient.
Exactly factual and more relevant.
Going to China and Russia to protect your human rights… The jokes just write themselves. I think this guy is an idiot more than a hero
Well, they haven’t thrown him in jail…so he’s that much farther ahead then he would be here…where the violation of Habeas Corpus is now routine and the US gov’t is charged with human rights violations by a UN special investigator in regard to Manning:
“Mendez, who runs the UN office that investigates incidents of alleged torture around the world, told the Guardian: “I conclude that the 11 months under conditions of solitary confinement (regardless of the name given to his regime by the prison authorities) constitutes at a minimum cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in violation of article 16 of the convention against torture. If the effects in regards to pain and suffering inflicted on Manning were more severe, they could constitute torture.”
Really though, more troubling is the mass Stockholm syndrome here, where the US gov’t is suddenly the “victim” in it’s illegal behavior and Snowden is at fault.
It’s bizarro world.
As if the UN doesn’t have an anti US agenda.
Factual statement.
I don’t disagree, but it doesn’t change the facts stated above.
I do find it interesting though that the US gov’t doesn’t necessarily shrink away from “obeying” UN laws & directives when convenient.
Exactly factual and more relevant.
BULLSHIT hero. There are real heroes in the world, and it is yellow journalism, if that can be associated with this occasionally amusing blog. He betrayed an oath, when there were other channels (Inspector general, Congressional inquiry, chain of command) to use that he ignored. He also escalated the BS response by saying he could get anyone’s phone information on demand. He ignored the system in place that provides checks and balances. The BS of his background was closing in and the job was coming to a close. He violated his oath for fame and the first blush of “heroism” by idiots like sic willie who swallowed this BS. Being a convenient libertarian (sic willie) is not an excuse for public ignorance for the sake of having nothing better to post.
Other would-be whistleblowers were charged and convicted of espionage when going through said channels. If you had something to report, but you knew you would go to jail and the information wouldn’t see the light of day, what would you do? This guy showed the courage to do what most people could not or would not do. What’s the definition of hero again?
Judging from the reported treatment of Bradley Manning, I can’t blame Snowden for getting the fuck out of Dodge before he struck the match.
There’s actually a large amount of military judicial law/rulings as well as civilian laws in the works that support exactly what Mr. Snowden did. You are your brother’s keeper as it were.
The movie A few good men was very loosely based on this. I think a great ideal from this movie is that we, as citizens, should stand up for those that can’t or won’t stand for themselves.
Good call
BULLSHIT hero. There are real heroes in the world, and it is yellow journalism, if that can be associated with this occasionally amusing blog. He betrayed an oath, when there were other channels (Inspector general, Congressional inquiry, chain of command) to use that he ignored. He also escalated the BS response by saying he could get anyone’s phone information on demand. He ignored the system in place that provides checks and balances. The BS of his background was closing in and the job was coming to a close. He violated his oath for fame and the first blush of “heroism” by idiots like sic willie who swallowed this BS. Being a convenient libertarian (sic willie) is not an excuse for public ignorance for the sake of having nothing better to post.
Other would-be whistleblowers were charged and convicted of espionage when going through said channels. If you had something to report, but you knew you would go to jail and the information wouldn’t see the light of day, what would you do? This guy showed the courage to do what most people could not or would not do. What’s the definition of hero again?
Judging from the reported treatment of Bradley Manning, I can’t blame Snowden for getting the fuck out of Dodge before he struck the match.
There’s actually a large amount of military judicial law/rulings as well as civilian laws in the works that support exactly what Mr. Snowden did. You are your brother’s keeper as it were.
The movie A few good men was very loosely based on this. I think a great ideal from this movie is that we, as citizens, should stand up for those that can’t or won’t stand for themselves.
Good call
How many more diplomats are we going to have pulled over under suspicion of harboring Snowden? That shit pulled against Bolivia has already won Snowden more allies.
any “allies” that count? perhaps you need to review the “golden rule”.
Thank God that Paranoid Schizophrenia is a treatable condition.
Obutthead should be knocking soon!! :)
How many more diplomats are we going to have pulled over under suspicion of harboring Snowden? That shit pulled against Bolivia has already won Snowden more allies.
any “allies” that count? perhaps you need to review the “golden rule”.
Thank God that Paranoid Schizophrenia is a treatable condition.
Obutthead should be knocking soon!! :)
He’s not a whistle blower,he’s a criminal.Obama should act like a man, and get the little bastard.
He’s not a whistle blower,he’s a criminal.Obama should act like a man, and get the little bastard.