White House: no comment on Venezuela's asylum offer to Snowden

[ProSense]

White House: no comment on Venezuela's asylum offer to Snowden

(Reuters) - The White House on Friday declined comment on an offer of asylum for former U.S. spy contractor Edward Snowden from Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, referring questions on the matter to the U.S. Justice Department.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/06/us-usa-security-venezuela-whitehouse-idUSBRE96500I20130706

[Enrique]

1. Maduro can just forget about us recognizing his election now

so there.

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. America has become the Paula Deen of Diplomacy.

[99Forever]

3. Bwahahahahahahah.

Good stuff!

[quinnox]

4. smart to keep their mouth shut

the U.S. has done enough damage in the diplomacy dept. lately.

[ProSense]

5. From the standpoint

"smart to keep their mouth shut the U.S. has done enough damage in the diplomacy dept. lately."

...of those rooting against U.S. diplomacy, maybe. Everything still hinges on the outcome.

[Savannahmann]

7. Really?

...of those rooting against U.S. diplomacy, maybe. Everything still hinges on the outcome.

So the ends justify the means? When did that become the operating policy of this nation? When did we gamble with laws, and treaties, and international relations?

[ProSense]

8. I guess

"So the ends justify the means?"

...it doesn't if you believe the U.S. government shouldn't be pursuing a fugitive.

[Savannahmann]

32. Read the Vienna Conventions.

The highlights are here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vienna_Convention_on_Diplomatic_Relations

The important one for the Morales plane snafu.

A diplomatic bag must never be opened even on suspicion of abuse. A diplomatic courier must never be arrested or detained.

Obviously a Presidential Flight is a Diplomatic flight, and protected under the Vienna Conventions.

We went with the ends justified the means there, and we came off looking like bullies, and incompetent. If you are going to gamble, you don't gamble what you can't afford to lose is the first rule.

[cali]

9. it's already a hash. Many SA countries are angry

that's just fact. And no, diplomacy is not going to solve this with the result being that Snowden is extradited. The U.S. might pull a rendition thing or force a plane down, but that's how it'll have to get Snowden.

[ProSense]

11. You're just

"Many SA countries are angry that's just fact. And no, diplomacy is not going to solve this with the result being that Snowden is extradited. The U.S. might pull a rendition thing or force a plane down, but that's how it'll have to get Snowden. "

...skipping a whole bunch of step in the process. Snowden has no papers. He's stuck in an airport in Russia.

[cali]

14. any reason venezuela couldn't issue him a passport?

[ProSense]

17. Maybe

"any reason venezuela couldn't issue him a passport?"

because he's not a Venezuelan? Have you been following the difficulty in issuing documents, like the fake travel document from Ecuador?

[cali]

19. any reason he couldn't be made a citizen?

If the President wants to make him a citizen and issue him a passport?

[ProSense]

21. Oh, I don't know?

[cali]

24. of course you don't.

[ProSense]

27. Yeah, wait for it.

[flamingdem]

20. Venezuela will have problems refining their oil if they damage relations

That will cost them i think

[cali]

6. It will have and it's not hard to predict what it will be

along the lines of "grave disappointment" "not adhering to international law governing fugitives" "we have asked Venezuela to extradite..." (not that that hasn't already happened.

[Cha]

10. Good for the White House not commenting on something like this..

get your comments from DOJ.


thanks ProSense

[Number23]

12. There would be no real reason to comment. The US does not have diplomatic relations with Venezuela

Relationship has been bad for a while.

Every one of the US's allies and even some of its staunchest enemies turned him down flat. That says a hell of alot more than Venezuela accepting his asylum request as yet another opportunity to protest the US.

[CakeGrrl]

22. Yep. Not the WH's issue, it's been in the hands of the DOJ

and they will not, like those cheering Snowden on, forget the laws he broke.

Nor do I think the fantasy of him sipping cocktails as he releases U.S. documents at a leisurely pace will necessarily pan out.

I wouldn't feel too warm and fuzzy knowing I was used to stick it to the US over Syria:

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2013/07/05/world/americas/05reuters-usa-security-venezuela.html?smid=tw-bna&_r=0

[flamingdem]

23. But there is trade.. I think the usa is number one for trade

Also oil refining

[Number23]

28. Well, there is that... but I guess Venezuela feels that they don't need American dollars anymore

It will be interesting to see how all of this plays out.

[flamingdem]

29. Hola china iran russia

All obamas fault will be cited later

[JaneyVee]

13. It really seems like the US doesn't care about getting him all that much.

[cali]

15. lol. now that's ironic, given the U.S. actions since he hit Hong Kong.

[sheshe2]

25. Actually, cali. IMHO

There has been more action on DU extolling his virtues than the president trying to throw a net over him.

[JaneyVee]

26. I've seen local police use more aggressive tactics trying to pursue a suspect.

The prez seems like they would like to get him or they could care less.

[cali]

30. that's a spurious comparison

the administration has aggressively gone after Snowden through diplomatic channels- many, many extradition requests, Kerry making personal phone calls, etc. And then there's the whole Morales plane deal. Who told Spain and other countries that Snowden was aboard? Who wants Snowden? Not to mention the Austrian search of the plane. Why would Austria do that unless they'd had a request to do so. Who would make such a request, hmm?

[JaneyVee]

34. Phone calls and requests isn't exactly aggressive. I've had worse bill collectors.

As for the plane deal, I'll wait for facts.

[ProSense]

18. Likely because the process is routine for the situation: extradition of a fugitive. n/t

[struggle4progress]

16. Holy shizz! They ain't talkin! That kin only mean they's behind the whole thing!

[galileoreloaded]

31. ever kinda wish Bush was back so you could have a real emotion about this stuff?

i do.

[railsback]

33. I'm sure the WH has already informed Maduro of the consequences

Maduro, like Correa, will find a way out of this mess.

[flamingdem]

35. Seriously, is Snowden worth millions of losses over the years

Creo que no!

[JI7]

36. i don't think they really want him

[flamingdem]

37. I'm tired of the teasing! Take him already

... wonder what excuse they'll use to backpedal.

Maduro might even know how this is trending already.

Deal made with the USA by Putin?

Stranger things have happened.

If that's so then all the Left countries can hold out their proposals
with no danger of getting the Libertarian dumped on them!