General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Spain says U.S. tipoff led it to query Bolivian flight [View all]struggle4progress
(127,024 posts)our use of airspace was not restricted. What we could not do was land ... We requested the emergency landing <in Vienna> as a precaution against a possible lack of fuel ... The President meanwhile telephoned the vice president and the chancellor to inform them what was happening ... The ambassador did not specifically mention Snowden. Our president said "Look, sir, we are not carrying anybody, not even Mr. Snowden". That unnerved the Spanish diplomat ... His response was confused ...
Bolivian Defense Minister Saavedra interview regarding FAB 001's Vienna stop
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023192568
The behavior of the Spanish ambassador in Vienna makes sense if Morales was convinced that everyone was determined to harass him regarding the possibility that Snowden was onboard. Then his calls to other top Bolivian officials are likely to have included that accusation, and someone would have contacted Spain to complain. Spain, in turn, would have sorted out where Morales was and would have sent its ambassador to meet Morales in hopes of smoothing the waters. It was the end of the day, and (according to Saavedra's interview) the ambassador told Morales he was exhausted and asked if he might come aboard for some coffee and a chat with the President -- in response to which Morales told the ambassador he wasn't a liar and that he wasn't carrying Snowden. Saavedra says: "... That unnerved the Spanish diplomat ... His response was confused ..." -- which is exactly what one might expect if the diplomat had no idea whatsoever what all this was supposed to be about