Obama gets "personal" as rift with Russia over Snowden grows

[99th_Monkey]

Obama gets "personal" as rift with Russia over Snowden grows
By Danny Schechter * OpEdNews * 8/8/2013

New York, New York -- When heads of state personally intervene in matters of espionage, and demand that alleged spies be released or extradited, it is unusual -- and highly inappropriate.

It seems clear that President Obama violated that "old rule" by immersing himself so publicly, personally, and blatantly with White House pressure on Vladimir Putin to send the American whistleblower Edward Snowden back to the US, in the spirit of a Monopoly game: to "go directly to jail without passing go."

With the Announcement that the President will not meet with Putin during his forthcoming visit to the G20 meeting in Russia, because he is "disappointed with the Russian Leader," we seem to have taken a walk back down memory lane to the cold war days of tit-for-tat actions and reactions that elevate tensions. In the old days, it was usually Moscow that could be counted on for harsh responses; now it seems to be Washington that has a bad case of acid reflux whenever Putin's name comes up.

It also seems clear that he has taken Putin's decision to grant temporary asylum to Snowden personally, after using all diplomatic channels, family pressure and even a bizarre promise from the Attorney General not to torture Snowden.

Noted Yves Smith on Naked Capitalism:

"If you look at the substance of his actions, it is clear the President is losing his famed poise, at least as far as Snowden and the surveillance state revelations are concerned...one sign that Obama is off balance is his unforced errors in dealing with Russia. The absurd assumption from the get-go seemed to be that Putin would cooperate and hand over Snowden once the Russian leader was prodded a bit. Given the status of US-Russian relations, that was borderline delusional."

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Obama-gets-personal-as-r-by-Danny-Schechter-130808-192.html

[dipsydoodle]

1. Very little is more bizarre than a promise not to torture......

as would normally be the case it would seem

[snooper2]

2. opednews

LOL

You should like this site to, it's pretty cool-

http://www.thetruthseeker.co.uk/

[Rex]

5. I'm surprised you did not snoop out the source.

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/08/20138511412831474.html

An opinion by a blogger.

[BeyondGeography]

3. More likely Snowden gave Obama the chance to tell Putin to shove it

Which he has been wanting to do for some time. The very public snub of Kerry took place pre-Snowden in early May, let's remember, and Putin and Obama have never gotten on well on any level. So here comes Snowden, let's pretend Russia will do the right thing knowing full well they won't and then stick it to Vlad post-G20.

Whatever...it always surprises me when pundits think the President doesn't know his ass from his elbow in these matters.

[Mojorabbit]

9. It is totally possible. After all Obama is human.

It is unprofessional though IMO. I can't help but wonder what else is going on background for things to deteriorate so badly. None of it makes sense on the surface.

[Rex]

4. I have no doubt it has been personal from the get go

with Putin. He doesn't strike me as an elder statesman kinda guy.

[Xolodno]

6. Snowden gave Putin exactly what he wanted...

...and I don't mean "secrets".

With the US government being critical of Russia on Human Rights issues (while having Gitmo) and complaining about becoming a police state....

Snowden revealing the US as a "police state" and Russia being the granter of asylum gave Putin the opportunity to say "Pot to Kettle".

It also reassured the rest of the world that Moscow does not take orders from Washington, thereby endearing influence with other nations who grow disaffected with the USA (thank you for that GWB). And lets other nations know, they don't have to deal with just Washington....so yeah, its a cold war mentality....brought on by Washington over-reach.

Snowden is now just a pawn in the chess board. Moscow will either send him off eventually to a Latin American country...or trade him in for a concession.

[RobertEarl]

7. Ya think Putin is a racist?

I do. He's no better than McConnel in that regard.

Those people are crazy. And such are the leaders of the world these days.

[dipsydoodle]

8. Kick.

.

[CakeGrrl]

10. An "Op-Ed" is just another opinion

So you're singing to the choir, aren't you?

This is really about hoping Snowden gets under POTUS' skin, isn't it? Never mind, the answer's clear.

[99th_Monkey]

11. True. We love a diversity of views ... after all, It's a free country.

or used to be at least.

[Angelonthesidelines]

12. Apparently

The world has met the enemy, and he is us. The POTUS had a hissyfit over an embarrassing situation, a situation that has him playing the Khrushchev sans shoe while Pooty Poot plays him like a JFK.

President Obama could demonstrate response-ability and meet with Putin and patch things up. This takes a personal toll and thus by definition takes it personally (that Putin would not be his lapdog).

This role reversal should be unheard of, but today it is just yesterday's news.