Aeroflop - Snowden takes his toll on US-Russian relations

[flamingdem]

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1787998/Comment-Aeroflop-Snowden-takes-his-toll-on-US-Russ

--- snip

Moscow had hoped to pay a minimal price for co-organizing Snowden's passage, but it did not become afraid of Washington when things went wrong. American attempts to pressure the Russians, as John Kerry appeared to do at one point, only hardened their stance. "We never extradite anyone [to the West], and nobody extradites anyone to us," Putin quipped. "At best, we exchange people."

As potential swaps are concerned, the Russians have their wish list ready. It includes the arms dealer Viktor Bout and the commercial pilot Alexander Yaroshenko, both arrested outside the United States, brought to America for trial, and sentenced to long prison terms. Moscow also wants a mutual extradition treaty with the United States, which Washington balks at, ostensibly because the Russian constitution — like France's, which has such an agreement with the United States — prohibits extradition of Russian citizens. These are pipedreams. President Obama has publicly refused "barter deals," and the U.S. Congress is unwilling to hand over fugitive Russians, other than common criminals, to their authoritarian government.

The Snowden case also exposed interesting features and fissures within the non-Western world. Beijing benefited most from the incident because it conveniently blunted Obama's accusations of Chinese hacking at precisely the time of the Obama-Xi meeting last month. By welcoming Snowden to Hong Kong, the special status of which does not interfere with the Chinese public security ministry's freedom to operate, Beijing was probably able to look into the laptops Snowden was carrying. Finally, China was able to wash its hands of the whole affair by handing Snowden off to Aeroflot for onward journey. True, it has not escaped all U.S. criticism for its behavior, but the price was slight in comparison to the payoff in both propaganda and intelligence.

The Latin Americans have been more mercurial. Ecuador, which had been expected to deliver travel documents to Snowden so that he could pass through Sheremetyevo, has failed to do so. Bolivia was furious over the treatment of its presidential plane in Europe's skies, especially since it was not smuggling Snowden out of Moscow. Cuba has been keeping a very low profile throughout, at a time when Raul Castro is seeking improved relations with the United States in order to help revive the Cuban economy. Of the Latin leftists, that leaves only Venezuela and Nicaragua as potential safe havens. It is now crucial for Moscow that either Caracas or Managua accept Snowden, and do so soon. Venezuela's Maduro must have heard that directly from Putin in Moscow 10 days ago. The Russian leader certainly has no interest in keeping the American at Sheremetyevo, as Obama is scheduled to visit Russia in early September.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

1. That's what happens when a low level doofus thinks "I'm an international man of mystery!"

unintended comedy will abound.

[flamingdem]

3. Oh to be a fly on the wall when Putin told Maduro to

take this brat off my hands asap spasibo!

[sabrina 1]

5. If you could be more wrong, I can't think of a way. Snowden never played 'internationl Man of

mystery'. He COULD have and remained anonymous. Instead, he ended the mystery and revealed who he was and where he was.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

8. but he got to flash a rubiks cube to let Glenn know it was 'safe' to have the rendezvous

sounds like international spy thriller to me.

[Whisp]

14. Shagadelic, baby.

[Gravitycollapse]

2. My God. This evil man has ruined our historically positive relations with Russia...

[Skittles]

4. he sure has touched a nerve in our resident swooners

[Pretzel_Warrior]

7. I believe the term is Obamabots and he is known as "dear leader"

[CakeGrrl]

9. Good grief: It's "Dear Leader"

Get it right.

(swooooooooon)

On second thought, I think I personally prefer

"The One"

He IS dreamy.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

11. 1000 apologies to Dear Leader for such an unintended insult

I'll gladly serve time in the gulag, but I hope I'm out in time to worship his birthday with my family.

[Whisp]

15. Long Live the Swoon.

hubba hubba

[Maximumnegro]

6. When will this farce end: Vaginas trump Snowden

I think it's beyond hilarious there have been non-stop NSA and Snowden Obama hate diaries and only blips on the chastity belt lockdown that is actually impacting people's lives directly and harmfully.

This Obsession w/ Obama as the root of all evil (or 'disappointment') is getting creepier and creepier.

[flamingdem]

10. True. It will be over soon, probably this week

and for sure before September!

[Douglas Carpenter]

12. that is so sad. When I was a really little kid in the late 50's and early 60's we always heard

stories about how wonderful Russia was and how Americans and Russians have always been and will always be brothers and sisters.

[Cha]

13. For now, but I'm thnking the USA and Russia's relationship will

survive mr pipsqueak. they have more important issues to help each other with.

[Whisp]

16. Mr. Pipsqueak...

[flamingdem]

17. And soon

Señor Pipsqueakito

[Whisp]

19. ha!

I had someone the other day question whether I am anti-gay because I said something unkind about GG the asshole. So I wouldn't be surprised if someone takes offense at calling him Senor. In some little desperate and dark cavern the racist thing will come up.


Senor Pipsqueakito...
He could very well have become Meester Snowdenskisokolov
or
there was a time it was considered that he may be Mr. Snowdengudmunsson

but no matter what, he will never be Mr. Cool, like the President.

*swoonnnnnnn

[Tx4obama]

18. On MSNBC Lawrence's Last Word: Snowden segment was the last four minutes of the show - LOL :)

Thank goodness he is starting to fade away and is not getting massive coverage anymore in the news