Has Obama said anything? in the last couple days?

[xiamiam]

about this latest fiasco? Has anyone from this administration addressed the Bolivian presidents plane officially?

[hrmjustin]

1. Why should he?

[GeorgeGist]

4. Jesus would be proud ...

of your arrogance.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

7. that comment was uncalled for

why can't you just coexist and assume not all DU posters believe Obama should be pilloried regarding this tin horn from Bolivia and his wild accusations.

[hrmjustin]

8. Excuse me? That was not funny!

There is no evidence the President has anything to do with this. Perhaps a simple written statement saying this should have never happened but that is it.

[morningfog]

26. There is lots evidence of US involvement. Tons, actually.

France apologized. Spain said they were told Snowden was on board and had to "act straight away." State Dept admitted to being in contact with EU countries. It was the US ambassador who called Austria and told them Snowden was on board. Maduro was told by an EU minister that the CIA was who told them Snowden was on board.

I don't think the State Dept will be able to "no comment" this for much longer.

[hrmjustin]

27. If we are responsible than we should say sorry and move on. I have not seen

the bit on the ambassador. Is he admitting this or is this just a report from sources?

[morningfog]

28. It's a report from the FM of Austria. I haven't seen the US ambassador make a comment or

be asked to.

[hrmjustin]

31. Realistically I would not be surprised we were involved. I still would like to hear what

the president has to say.

[WovenGems]

39. Me thinks

The Soviets pulled one on the CIA. Made them think Snow was the plane then just let the story develop.

[Marrah_G]

30. He is the head of state, isn't he?

And his state department caused this fiasco. At the very least I would think he would extend an apology for his administrations actions against another head of state.

[hrmjustin]

33. If we are responsible then yes I would say sorry and move on.

[Marrah_G]

37. Since it is pretty clear our administration was behind the rumor

Then as President he should personally be calling Morales.

What do you think would happen if this was HIS plane that was grounded? Morales is his peer, his equal. To treat him otherwise shows arrogance and contempt towards our neighbors.

I expect our President to be a better man then Bush was and I expect him to step up when his people ( or himself) screws up.

[hrmjustin]

38. Point taken!

[Life Long Dem]

44. We don't know that our administration was behind the rumor

[Cleita]

35. Because as President of the United States and leader of the free world, he should.

[hrmjustin]

36. If he is responsible then yes.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

2. no. they are smart. no need to advance nutjob from Bolivia agenda

[GeorgeGist]

6. You need to travel more.

or change your sig line.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

10. I've traveled plenty. I'm not attacking people due to race or anything along those lines

I'm attacking him the same way I would crazy Putin, insane Ahmadoofusjad, or any others who attack our country and president because it is in vogue.

[chimpymustgo]

16. Then perhaps READ more.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

19. what do you suggest?

maybe something about Spain and eventually the U.S. dominating Latin America with colonial behavior therefore it is ok to give the Bolivian president the benefit of the doubt on everything spewing from his mouth?

[ForgoTheConsequence]

32. More anti-latin American xenophobia from center-right Democrats.

Amazing.

[Union Scribe]

46. not so sure about the "center" part. nt

[Arctic Dave]

3. Like most bullies, when confronted with their action, back away

Obama is doing just that.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

11. wrong answer

[Arctic Dave]

14. Absolutely the correct answer.

I got a smiley face for it


<-------see.

[Motown_Johnny]

5. Hardly a fiasco

They will let the story develop at least through the weekend.


It already looks like all the initial reports were exaggerated (at least).


We need to see how things shake out after the Sunday talk show circuit has their say. Then (I assume) it will be addressed next week and be old news by next weekend.


The jobs numbers are bigger news.

[GeorgeGist]

9. Watch this drive.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

13. yes. this is exactly like that time. uh...no.

for one, Bush was being a jackass when asked about a bombing in Iraq and the upsurge in violence there after the so-called mission was accomplished.

this is about a president refusing to be drawn down into the mud with the pigs over a non issue surrounding an outlaw from U.S. justice.

[brooklynite]

12. Has Bolivia filed an official complaint with the US?

call in the US Ambassador to complain?

Until then, no reply to no complaint seems appropriate.

[morningfog]

29. They have filed a complaint with the UN.

[brooklynite]

34. ...which is not the same thing.

...and which is meaningless since there does not appear to have been any treaty violation within the UN's jurisdictoin, considering:

1) the other sovereign nations of Europe were within their rights to deny flyover

2) the plane was not "forced to land" (it chose to land because of mechanical problems)

3) Austrian authorities didn't violate Bolivia's diplomatic immunity by forcing their way onto the plane.

[morningfog]

41. There was a treaty violation. Article 54.

Article 54
Obligations of third States
1.If a consular officer passes through or is in the territory of a third State, which has granted him
a visa if a visa was necessary, while proceeding to take up or return to his post or when returning to the
sending State, the third State shall accord to him all immunities provided for by the other articles of the
present Convention as may be required to ensure his transit or return. The same shall apply in the case of
any member of his family forming part of his household enjoying such privileges and immunities who
are accompanying the consular officer or travelling separately to join him or to return to the sending
State.

2.In circumstances similar to those specified in paragraph 1 of this article, third States shall not
hinder the transit through their territory of other members of the consular post or of members of their
families forming part of their households.

3.Third States shall accord to official correspondence and to other official communications in
transit, including messages in code or cipher, the same freedom and protection as the receiving State is
bound to accord under the present Convention. They shall accord to consular couriers who have been
granted a visa, if a visa was necessary, and to consular bags in transit, the same inviolability and
protection as the receiving State is bound to accord under the present Convention.

4.The obligations of third States under paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this article shall also apply to the
persons mentioned respectively in those paragraphs, and to official communications and to consular
bags, whose presence in the territory of the third State is due to force majeure.

http://untreaty.un.org/ilc/texts/instruments/english/conventions/9_2_1963.pdf

The plane was forced to land to refuel when denied flyover of France and landing in Portugal.

[struggle4progress]

45. Bolivia expelled the US ambassador in 2008 after the Bushistas tried to destabilize the country

In turn, Bush expelled Bolivia's ambassador to Washington

We have an embassy there, than Morales is threatening to close, but no ambassador

[Tarheel_Dem]

15. I would be sorely disappointed if he issued an apology for some perceived US slight.

Latin American leaders are lining up to be the next Chavez, and I hope the president doesn't play along. This shit happened in Europe. An apology from Obama would only be met with condemnation by the very folks who are urging him to make one.

[treestar]

22. Your last sentence is one of the most likely to come true predictions

of the internets!

[Tarheel_Dem]

24. Ain't it the truth?

[leftstreet]

43. OP didn't specify an apology. Stmt of support would be nice

You know, one leader to another

[Tarheel_Dem]

47. I wouldn't even acknowledge him, but that's just me. Suffice it to say, PBO is much nicer than I.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

17. No. He's busy making CYA statements to Europe about the NSA spying on them.

[xiamiam]

18. i guess he hasn't from the responses thus far

looks very bad for us in my opinion ..for those of you who think this is a non issue and have posted nonsense like why should he, I feel sorry for you. I feel sorry that you need to wait to have an opinion recognizing our culpability in this mess until the president tells you what that opinion is.

[Itchinjim]

20. 85...

[treestar]

21. No, He went golfing.

[kentuck]

23. He's been cleaning off his mantel right next to the Bin Laden trophy...

To make room for the new Edward Snowden trophy?

[forestpath]

25. Does he ever say anything about any fiasco unless it's to apologize to

Republicans for something?

(Rhetorical question.)

[HipChick]

40. I think he is too busy starting rumors about Morales hairdresser

[xiamiam]

42. I don't know why I thought somebody would say something by now..its infuriating

what do they think? do they think we're not concerned? do they think this will just go away if nobody mentions it? baffling behavior