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Snowden asylum still under review, stays in airport for now

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Re: Snowden asylum still under review, stays in airport for now

#41

Post by pjmlp »

zepolud wrote: post #29
pjmlp wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> ... our politicians (and technology providers) are a bunch of disgusting LIARS. I never thought otherwise.

It's safe to assume that most of us accepted that the mass surveillance programs existed. This doesn't diminish the importance of what Snowden did. It was more of an emperor-has-no-clothes moment than some unexpected, shocking revelation. It forced a lot of people to stop avoiding the problem and to actually start talking about it openly.

I think Snowden has lots of courage for doing what he did, specially since it is the type of revelation that may cost him his life.

I have been downvoted already on the parent post, but coming from an European country that experienced dictatorship for 41 years, I have a tendency to not believe in politicians.

Many fellow Europeans had to endure similar governments in the last century.

So how could in the land of free, citizens expect it would be any different?!

Re: Snowden asylum still under review, stays in airport for now

#42

Post by kwal0203 »

clicks wrote: post #21
kwal0203 wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He's already a pawn in a game he can't win. He will have to clear all of his actions with FSB from now on.

That's an over-simplistic view of things and implies that Snowden is perforce the lesser fool. I think it's rather more the reality that Snowden has been quite wise in his planning: he is aware that he is putting Russia in a position where Russia will try its darndest to be on its best behavior in sustaining that "asylum-giving, human-rights protecting" image it has recently gotten.

"able to freely speak to journalists (and American politicians) at free will"

If you believe this is how it will be for Edward Snowden under the control of Putin and the FSB you are sadly mistaken.. or you are being highly disingenuous.

"Russia will try its darndest to be on its best behavior in sustaining that "asylum-giving, human-rights protecting" image it has recently gotten.

That was your statement man... once again, if you think Russia are an asylum-giving, human-rights protecting country you are simply a fool.

Re: Snowden asylum still under review, stays in airport for now

#43

Post by junto »

tomelders wrote: post #7

Well I think this is more to do with Russia thumbing it's nose at the US rather than protecting an individual from tyranny. But fair play to Snowden, it's good news for him. But If I were Snowden, I'd be quietly sneaking out of Russia very soon lest the political winds change and he suddenly finds he's a very valuable pawn in a very dangerous game that he can't win.

At the moment I can't think of a more politically stable country for Snowden to be in. Latin American countries are historically fickle when it comes to flip-flopping between pro and anti US governments. Russia seems to be a good choice. Much better than China anyway.

Re: Snowden asylum still under review, stays in airport for now

#45

Post by mikemoka »

scrrr wrote: post #6

I wish him all the best. He's done many countries a great service. He inspired the search for truth and he made us realise that our politicians (and technology providers) are a bunch of disgusting LIARS. I hope that he will be able to have a good life in Russia, in peace and security. And that his deed will inspire future whistleblowers.

Granting asylum to Snowden will just influence relations between US and Russia,and is not done to be coherent with previous standings of the country on the topic of human rights,almost always different.

We have to be careful not to associate concepts like "freedom of speech" and "example of democracy" with countries like Russia, given the actual situation the people there live under I am not sure we can say Russia holds human rights in the highest regard in my opinion.

Re: Snowden asylum still under review, stays in airport for now

#46

Post by qznc »

dotcoma wrote: post #31
alan_cx wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Probably. But can any one name one trust-able perfect country that would give a Snowden type asylum purely on principle, rather than for political reasons? I'll be honest, Im struggling to think of one.

Germany should, as explained here: http://ind.pn/12ix0rD But unfortunately it won't :-/

He applied to Germany and was rejected due to "missing requirements". No official statement was given what requirements exactly were missing. Probably, because you have to be on german ground (or very near) to apply. The application itself is declared confidential due to privacy reasons.

Essentially, our government does not want Snowden to enter Germany.

Re: Snowden asylum still under review, stays in airport for now

#49

Post by hnha »

dotcoma wrote: post #31
alan_cx wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Probably. But can any one name one trust-able perfect country that would give a Snowden type asylum purely on principle, rather than for political reasons? I'll be honest, Im struggling to think of one.

Germany should, as explained here: http://ind.pn/12ix0rD But unfortunately it won't :-/

full url is http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/germany-should-h...

please don't use url obfuscators on hn.

Re: Snowden asylum still under review, stays in airport for now

#50

Post by ForrestN »

jeena wrote: post #48

Good for Snowden that he is not homosexual or leaked "Gay propaganda" so he won't end up in jail in russia ... http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/22/opinion/russias-anti-gay-c...

Yeah. If I were Snowden I wouldn't trust this evil government in the least. Hopefully he's still looking for somewhere else to go.
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