Why are there no news reporters just "traveling" the same airport as Snowden, Reporting on the situation and taking new pics. I can't be that easy to hide in an airport, and it can't be that hard to wander around an international airport for awhile when waiting for a long layover... something about the reason we haven't had any of that kind of reporting smells pretty fishy to me... also, how many CIA agents do you think have "traveled" through that airport in the past few days, keeping tabs on things...?
Bolivia says Morales' plane diverted, apparently over Snowden
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Re: Bolivia says Morales' plane diverted, apparently over Snowden
#72Earlier quoted context omitted.
That's funny because, what, all US politicians use cocaine?
Table B.7 Cocaine Use in Past Year, by Age Group and State: Percentages, Annual Averages Based on 2006 and 2007 NSDUHs District of Columbia 5.10 [1] DC out in front by more than a nose, historically too. Probably not just politicians at the trough though. [1] http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k7state/AppB.htm#TabB-1
Judging by the demographics of DC... I suspect the vast majority of that cocaine is crack.
Re: Bolivia says Morales' plane diverted, apparently over Snowden
#73Question: Wouldn't it be super easy to check a private plane for how many passengers are on board? Just watching the passengers board with a thermographic camera should do the trick.
It would probably be an illegal search in violation of diplomatic immunity. (airports aren't allowed to scan diplomatic pouches)
I'm sure there is some obscure aviation security policy that makes this a maintenance requirement...
Re: Bolivia says Morales' plane diverted, apparently over Snowden
#74Earlier quoted context omitted.
If you assume the goal of all this is to deter future leaks, I'd say they are doing a pretty good job. Snowden has so much uncertainty and risk in the next few weeks that I bet borderline whistle-blowers are rethinking their plan. Arresting him quietly without the media gets them Snowden, but not the deterrent.
Snowden saw how Manning, Binney, Drake and others were treated, and it didn't stop him.
If anything, seeing how those guys got treated is why Snowden fled the country. I can imagine that future whistleblowers are going to seek asylum first, then blow the whistle.
Re: Bolivia says Morales' plane diverted, apparently over Snowden
#75Now we know what will happen to Snowden if he is granted asylum by a country that can only be reached by flight. The flight permits will be rescinded, the plane forced to land and subjected to a search, and if Snowden is present I suspect he will be arrested and extradited to the USA on the basis that the asylum is invalid on the grounds that it was not granted in the destination country. Russia really is his best ch…
"Officials in Russia, which has made clear it wants Snowden to leave, say an embassy car would be considered foreign territory if a country picked him up."
From Reuters:
http://www.voanews.com/content/snowden-aslym-options-dwindle...
There are embassies for Ecuador, Venezuela, and Iceland in Moscow.
EDIT: Oh and Bolivia too.
Re: Bolivia says Morales' plane diverted, apparently over Snowden
#76Now we know what will happen to Snowden if he is granted asylum by a country that can only be reached by flight. The flight permits will be rescinded, the plane forced to land and subjected to a search, and if Snowden is present I suspect he will be arrested and extradited to the USA on the basis that the asylum is invalid on the grounds that it was not granted in the destination country. Russia really is his best ch…
I would not put it past anyone in this circus (which the US is making) taunting the US by letting such a rumor slip in order to see what is what.
If that is true, and this was the American response, then is suggests we (the Americans) are more frazzled than we should be at this point. Whom ever is heading up the recovery effort in DC is making poor decisions at this point.
Re: Bolivia says Morales' plane diverted, apparently over Snowden
#77Earlier quoted context omitted.
They are not allowed to forcibly enter. But of course that does not stop bullying like this where they the "request" permission to enter while making it clear they won't allow him to fly through their airspace if he doesn't.
Which could/would cause as big of a diplomatic uproar as forcibly entering the plane.
You seemed to think this would be some sort of protection, but ultimately you were right. Bolivia is pissed.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/03/us-usa-security-sn...
Re: Bolivia says Morales' plane diverted, apparently over Snowden
#78Earlier quoted context omitted.
They still have to refuel...
Wouldn't it be possible and not that hard to outfit a private plane with supersize fuel tanks, occupying the entire cargo area?
Probably not. Most airplanes are at maximum takeoff weight when the fuel tanks are full and they are loaded with passengers and cargo.