France: The Plane Wasn't Denied Our Airspace

[frontier00]

Source: AP

PARIS -- Bolivia's president left Europe for home on Wednesday amid diplomatic drama, a day after his flight was rerouted and delayed in Austria amid suggestions that he was trying to spirit NSA leaker Edward Snowden to Latin America.

Bolivia demanded explanation from various European countries it accused of thwarting President Evo Morales' flight.

French officials denied Wednesday that France refused to let the plane cross over its airspace amid suspicions that Snowden was aboard. Spain, too, said the plane was free to cross its territory.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/03/bolivia-snowden_n_3539179.html

[Hooray for Pepe]

1. It's become clear that the Bolivian President made this up

It wasn't true.

[rucky]

3. It was just an excuse

to pick up a can of sausages on the way home.

[Major Nikon]

10. Turns out the ones they were getting weren't authentic

[idwiyo]

6. You forgot the sarcasm smilie?

[Freddie Stubbs]

15. Morales is known to chew coca leafs. Perhaps he was hallucinating

[Ash_F]

30. Sup

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014526035#post27

[Ash_F]

29. Eat crow much?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014526035#post27

[markpkessinger]

35. Care to retract that . . .

. . . now that France has retracted its denial?

<crickets> . . . . <crickets> . . . <crickets> . .. .

[postulater]

2. The NSA has all the metadata on this

Maybe a leaker could get it for us.

[idwiyo]

4. Either someone is lying or someone managed to convince the pilots they were air traffic control.

Somehow I doubt it would be possible to pull a stint like that. I also doubt Morales is lying.

[davidpdx]

5. It's not about France!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh the humanity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[alcibiades_mystery]

17. ROFL

[GoneFishin]

7. Nonsense. They tipped their hand, and now they are trying to backpeddle because

their plan failed.

[Mojorabbit]

25. Yes, they are trying to make the incident go away. nt

[chimpymustgo]

32. Happy 4th of July! Celebrate the fireworks!

They make me sick.

[WovenGems]

8. Silliness

If the Soviets wanted him out they could put him any country they chose. They have a good spy agency. The Soviets could give a new ID and sneak him into Canada. This incident was nothing more than a bully tactic and shameful one at that.

[Paulie]

16. The Soviets are back?

When did that happen?!?!?

[Rstrstx]

34. Wasn't Putin KGB? Old habits die hard

I think Putin probably egged on the whole thing just to yank our chain for a little bit of fun and some political points. If Snowden really is in the "Transit Zone" or whatever they call it and not in confinement somewhere then you can bet someone (manyones) are keeping an eye on him. The Russian authorities could have easily staged a fake scene to make it look like Snowden was moving and used Morales as a pawn (or maybe willingly - there was nothing but political upside for the Bolivian president out of the whole affair). I wonder how many Snowden doubles are at the Moscow airport?

[Myrina]

9. Ooooh, look at the shiny object!

Redirect, anyone? My guess is that Snowden was moved on a different plane, going in a different direction, while the hub-bub was going on around this one.


JMHO.

[JoePhilly]

11. More proof of the Global Police State!!

Now France is in on it.

[wtmusic]

22. Happy to help connect the dots

since you seem unable.

[Ash_F]

31. Pretty much

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014526035#post27

[Arctic Dave]

12. Let the ass covering begin.

It wasn't me! (points to other guy)

I was only doing what I was told! (points to other guy)

He said I would get a promotion. (points to other guy)

etc., etc. etc...

[OilemFirchen]

13. Fuck! Another narrative blown?

Can't anything go right for the Conspiracy Coalition?

'Sokay, they already had their list of talking points at the ready:

1) France is lying

Alright, not much of a list, but it is pretty pithy, eh?

[OilemFirchen]

14. I should add this gem from an outlier:

France remotely tweaked the fuel gauge to make it look like they were running low.

Pretty batshit crazy, but, hey... at least it shows a bit of creativity for a change!

[wtmusic]

23. You sound a bit desperate

like your worldview is collapsing. Is that true?

[OilemFirchen]

24. I'm managing quite well, thank you.

But let's engage, shall we?

What is my worldview, pray tell?

[temmer]

20. Hey! The plane was searched in Vienna. Why?

This game will be interesting to follow. It's already Austria vs. Spain.

So who pulled the strings? Spain?

[Historic NY]

18. You have to ask who started the rumor in the first place?

Diplomats still have to process through a departure gate, so its obvious who was coming & going.

[davidpdx]

40. Good point

Where did the rumor come from? Everyone seems to be assuming the US decided to ground the planes based on intelligence they gathered. Did it come from the airport where the president was leaving from (which is a different airport from that to which Snowden was at)? Why would they think Snowden would be at the other airport? I don't think people realize there are two separate airports. Snowden is at the main airport where most people fly in and out of. Bolivia's president flew out of the other airport. This was covered in at least a dozen news articles.

[muriel_volestrangler]

19. Update at link: France won't say if permission was refused on Tuesday

French government spokeswoman Najat Vallaud-Belkacem said "France ended up authorizing the flight over its airspace by Mr. Morales' plane."

She said the plane "was authorized to fly over French territory" but wouldn't explain whether there had been an initial refusal Tuesday night amid the rumors about Snowden's presence on the plane.

They're all saying they gave permission on Wednesday - after Morales had landed in Vienna, and had said Snowden was not on board (and Austrian police officers had been on board, though whether this was a 'search' still seems unclear). But they're not denying that the refused permission on Tuesday evening.

[wtmusic]

21. You're not supposed to notice that.

What citizens in supposedly democratic societies wouldn't give for a little honesty these days.

[Ford_Prefect]

26. Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!

[PoliticAverse]

27. France admits permission was denied, apologizes...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-23174874

Ministry spokesman Philippe Lalliot said: "The foreign minister called his Bolivian counterpart to tell him
about France's regrets after the incident caused by the late confirmation of permission for President Morales'
plane to fly over [French] territory."

[Mojorabbit]

33. I can't believe they had the nerve to deny that they denied permission nt

[pscot]

36. It wasn't a denial

It was a "late confirmation". Completely different thing.

[Mojorabbit]

37. Last night it was a denial. nt

[pscot]

38. Yes, but that characterization is now inoperative

A failure to affirm is not necessarily a denial. It's a denial with deniability.

[Mojorabbit]

39. :) nt

[Forgot10Hiro]

41. It was just the least untruthful way in which they could express their orders...

pfft.

[JI7]

28. Obama must have threatened to drone France and Spain