And in bizarre circumstances the patriot is kicking it in communist land after informing (or rather confirming) the people that the US government operating in authoritarian fashion... Now he can't come back and is stuck with communists who obviously want to know what he knows...
This is the type of **** that happens when you expose this POS authoritarian government - you end up in China - The land where Mao is still held in extremely high regard with force and where Stalin is considered a comrade..
I read that Snowden may be heading for Iceland. Had we charged him with theft, we would have had a chance to extradite him. As it is, probably not - at least not from Iceland. That's the opinion of Allen Dershowitz.
The administration seems to be backed into an ugly corner with this, and it seems they aren't helping themselves much in that regard. That they could've charged Snowden with a lesser crime and successfully extradited him makes me wonder if they aren't trying to further demonize the guy, keep him out of the country, and put the whole thing on a back burner. That's been their general approach to all the recent, and not so recent, revelations.As I understand it, the extadition treaty with Hong Kong does not include "political" crimes - this would be considered one.
Secondly, as I understand it, there are people in Iceland actively trying to secure the agreement of the government there to ensure Snowden is protected if he transfers there and that there is a private plane ready to fly him non-stop there and that the $300,000 to $500,000 cost of that flight is being covered by sympathizers in the US and other parts of the world.
What the US is doing is not popular world-wide and in many parts of the US as well. In my view, this is a lose-lose situation for the administration.
I read that Snowden may be heading for Iceland. Had we charged him with theft, we would have had a chance to extradite him. As it is, probably not - at least not from Iceland. That's the opinion of Allen Dershowitz.
It is dumb on the surface. I'm just wondering if the administration truly doesn't want him back, and that's why they didn't do the obvious. I'm saying obvious like I know what Dershowitz knows. I don't. But I have to believe that such a thing must have been considered. At least, I hope so. I'd hate to think the administration is that stupid.I heard Dershowitz say that as well. If he is right, the US might just have given Hong Kong the only possible excuse not to extradite him, as espionage is excluded from our extradition treaty with them. A dumb, dumb move on our part. We surely could have filed espionage charges after forcing Hong Kong to send him back.
It's pretty sketchy, but maybe this will help. Snowden: Iceland Talks About Potential AsylumI admit to knowing nothing about Iceland's politics, but why would it consider taking Snowden in and possibly offering him citzenship?
The Obama administration leaks classified information continuously. They do it to glorify the President, or manipulate public opinion, or even to help produce a pre-election propaganda film about the Osama bin Laden raid. The Obama administration does not hate unauthorized leaks of classified information. They are more responsible for such leaks than anyone.
What they hate are leaks that embarrass them or expose their wrongdoing. Those are the only kinds of leaks that are prosecuted. It's a completely one-sided and manipulative abuse of secrecy laws. It's all designed to ensure that the only information we as citizens can learn is what they want us to learn because it makes them look good. The only leaks they're interested in severely punishing are those that undermine them politically. The "enemy" they're seeking to keep ignorant with selective and excessive leak prosecutions are not The Terrorists or The Chinese Communists. It's the American people.
I admit to knowing nothing about Iceland's politics, but why would it consider taking Snowden in and possibly offering him citzenship?
While I pretty much agree with your overall quote, I think the Administration is backed into a corner and doesn't have a choice. It wouldn't be good to simply let it go.As I understand it, the extadition treaty with Hong Kong does not include "political" crimes - this would be considered one.
Secondly, as I understand it, there are people in Iceland actively trying to secure the agreement of the government there to ensure Snowden is protected if he transfers there and that there is a private plane ready to fly him non-stop there and that the $300,000 to $500,000 cost of that flight is being covered by sympathizers in the US and other parts of the world.
What the US is doing is not popular world-wide and in many parts of the US as well. In my view, this is a lose-lose situation for the administration.
From WaPo:
Snowden was charged with theft, “unauthorized communication of national defense information” and “willful communication of classified communications intelligence information to an unauthorized person,” according to the complaint. The last two charges were brought under the 1917 Espionage Act.
The complaint, which initially was sealed, was filed in the Eastern District of Virginia, a jurisdiction where Snowden’s former employer, Booz Allen Hamilton, is headquartered and a district with a long track record of prosecuting cases with national security implications. After The Washington Post reported the charges, senior administration officials said late Friday that the Justice Department was barraged with calls from lawmakers and reporters and decided to unseal the criminal complaint.
U.S. charges Snowden with espionage - The Washington Post
And in bizarre circumstances the patriot is kicking it in communist land after informing (or rather confirming) the people that the US government operating in authoritarian fashion... Now he can't come back and is stuck with communists who obviously want to know what he knows...
This is the type of **** that happens when you expose this POS authoritarian government - you end up in China - The land where Mao is still held in extremely high regard with force and where Stalin is considered a comrade..
From WaPo:
Snowden was charged with theft, “unauthorized communication of national defense information” and “willful communication of classified communications intelligence information to an unauthorized person,” according to the complaint. The last two charges were brought under the 1917 Espionage Act.
The complaint, which initially was sealed, was filed in the Eastern District of Virginia, a jurisdiction where Snowden’s former employer, Booz Allen Hamilton, is headquartered and a district with a long track record of prosecuting cases with national security implications. After The Washington Post reported the charges, senior administration officials said late Friday that the Justice Department was barraged with calls from lawmakers and reporters and decided to unseal the criminal complaint.
U.S. charges Snowden with espionage - The Washington Post
I'm surprised they haven't apprehended him yet. They should make their move before he slips away, or he should just turn himself in. He said in his interview that he wasn't afraid, and that he fears for the safety of his family, but his actions are saying he's going to save himself; screw everyone else. He's not a hero, he's a coward.
While I pretty much agree with your overall quote, I think the Administration is backed into a corner and doesn't have a choice. It wouldn't be good to simply let it go.
I haven't been following this case as closely as I perhaps should. The big question that I think I need to know to fully understand is, just what did Mr. Snowden disclose, and to whom did he disclose it?
As far as I am aware, the entire flap is about him having publicly disclosed facts about our federal government spying on its own citizens. If that is all he did, then I do not see how this can possibly be construed as “espionage”. I would think that “espionage” would have to consist of disclosing secret information of a militarily-sensitive nature, to a potential enemy that could use that information against us.
Certainly, our government has no authority to spy on us in the manner that Mr. Snowden alleged, and if our government is doing so, then we certainly have every right to know about it and to demand that it cease to do so at once. If that is all that Mr. Snowden disclosed, then he has done nothing wrong, and there is certainly no valid basis on which to accuse him of “espionage”. Indeed, as a witness to illegal activity, he certainly had not only a right, but a duty to bring this activity to light.
What am I missing here? Is there something else that Mr. Snowden disclosed, which somehow falls under some legitimate national security interest?
Funny, we have a big Air Force base in Iceland.
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