US charges Edward Snowden with spying

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Seems Mr. Snowden has been given permission to travel but whether such a course of action is wise remains to be seen.

Glaucus said:
Overall I don't think Snowden's leak was all that significant really and it seems Obama is treating it that way too.
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On top of the fact that Obama (or his representatives) persuaded four European nations to prevent a presidential jet from crossing their airspace and another to attempt a humiliating search, today's Guardian has a timely reminder of US previous when it comes to apprehending fugitives:

So far Snowden has had three offers of asylum from Latin America, but to travel there means dangerous hours in the air. International law emphatically asserts freedom to traverse international airspace, but America tends to treat international law as binding on everyone except America (and Israel).

Thus when Egypt did a deal with the Achille Lauro hijackers and sent them on a commercial flight to Tunis, US F-14 jets intercepted the plane in international airspace and forced it to land in Italy, where the hijackers were tried and jailed.

In 1986 Israel forced down a Libyan commercial plane in the mistaken belief that PLO leaders were among its passengers, and the US vetoed UN security council condemnation.


So there must be a real concern, particularly after Nato allies collaborated in forcing down the Bolivian president's jet, that the US will intercept any plane believed to be carrying Snowden to asylum, either because he is tantamount to a terrorist (Vice-President Biden has described Julian Assange as a "hi-tech terrorist") or simply because they want to put him on trial as a spy.


That, no doubt, is why Snowden cancelled his ticket to Cuba a few weeks ago, fearing the flight would end in Florida.
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Full article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jul/23/snowden-asylum-america-international-law

I doubt he'll ever get caught.
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Perhaps but he is probably right to be very cautious.
 
US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden has left the Moscow airport where he has been staying since June after being granted temporary asylum.

Mr Snowden's lawyer said he had left after receiving the papers he needed to enter Russian territory from Sheremetyevo Airport's transit zone.
The US has charged Mr Snowden with leaking details of its electronic surveillance programmes.
Russia's decision is likely to further strain its ties with the US.
The BBC's Daniel Sandford in Moscow says a strongly worded US reaction can be expected shortly.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23535524
 
I hope Snowden is a good Christian. Orthodox preferably.


Why American Social Conservatives Love Anti-Gay Putin

Social conservative love for Vladimir Putin’s Russia should not come as much of a surprise. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia eventually reverted to an authoritarian system that more resembles the governance of the Tsarist period than a modern liberal democracy. Russia is now heavily influenced once again by the Orthodox Church, which has essentially become a state religion and has openly declared its support for Putin’s gangster regime. Writing in Newsweek last year, Peter Pomerantsev reported that the Church has “been critical in helping Putin recast the liberal opposition’s fight against state corruption and alleged electoral fraud into a script of ‘foreign devils’ versus ‘Holy Russia.’” Shorn of its communist atheism, Russia is now a reactionary’s paradise. Those who sensed authoritarian tendencies lurking within the American religious right have had their suspicions confirmed by such vocal support for the Russian dictator.
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Glaucus said:
I hope Snowden is a good Christian. Orthodox preferably.
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Pooty-poot is trying to do an end run around America's elite. He is cracking down on western organizations that are linked to CIA and state department "democracy" campaigns, and he is appealing to the religious right in the US and the still strong religious parts of his own far flung land. Giving Snowden asylum may have played well at home, I don't know though, I haven't heard, but it definitely didn't sit well with the rulers of the US. Oddly the pro NSA spying contingent in the US has a large overlap with the religious authoritarians. But whether or not it's a western facing ploy or purely domestic, you can't really put it all at the feet of Putin. Look at the vote: 436 - 0. There is something other than Putin's say-so directing this. The Pussy Riot débâcle was all about pandering to the church and this probably is too.
 
Look at the vote: 436 - 0.
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That doesn't necessarily say much really. If Putin is as authoritarian as they say and if the church says it's paramount (and it does), voting against it is likely political suicide if not actual suicide.

Sure the CIA is all over Russia, but Putin has promised to make Russia strong again and that's done by creating division. Unite everyone against a common enemy and people feel strong. It's a great trick and Putin has done it well. This is the same tactic being attempted in Greece by the Golden Dawn party that has been going around beating up immigrants, gays, feminists and anyone they see as counter to the Church. Those who are part of the group feel strong and feeling strong makes you feel that you're doing something right. Both are Orthodox countries and share many other similarities. I just hope Golden Dawn doesn't find a leader as charismatic as Putin.
 
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