He's been stuck in the Russian airport for over a week. He had hoped Russia might give it to him-as their hardly close friends of ours but to no avail. Mr. Snowden as accused Obama of poisoning the well and denying his justified request for asylum. What's clear is that no country wants to go here. Even Ecuador has pulled back. France and Italy are the latest to say no.
"Italy and France formally declined National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden's request for asylum on Thursday, according to the Wall Street Journal. Snowden has requested asylum from 21 countries, all of which have either declined, said he would need to be on their territory to have a request processed, or not responded. "
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/two-more-countries-reject-ed-snowdens-asylum-application
All of this got me to thinking: why does this story of being trapped in the Russian airport seem so familiar-he's basically not allowed on Russian soil but is safe at the Russian Airport. Then it came to me: this was a movie starring Tom Hanks.
http://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Being-stuck-at-an-airport-is-actually-enjoyable-2713286.php
It's believed that Iceland offers him the best choice. However, a vote yesterday in the Iceland parliament on a bill that would have allowed him to come to Iceland didn't do well:
"Last month, in an interview with the Guardian, the newspaper that first published stories based on his leaked documents, Snowden indicated he believed Iceland was his best hope for finding asylum. Iceland has not officially responded to his request, but a group of lawmakers in the Icelandic Parliament have proposed a bill that would grant him citizenship and bypass the issue of whether he is within the country's borders to make an asylum request. However, on Thursday, that bill received the support of just six of the Parliament's 63 members."
Wikileaks argues that he might be able to get asylum from one of the 21 if he were allowed to physically travel to their countries.
"Snowden has submitted requests for asylum to 21 countries, all of which have either declined his request, not publicly commented, or said Snowden must be on their soil to make a request. Snowden was last known to be in the transit area of the Moscow airport. Hrafnsson declined to comment on Snowden's current whereabouts. However, Hrafnsson said Wikileaks is still in communication with him. Though he said he is not personally "directly in contact" with Snowden, Hrafnsson said his "colleagues" are communicating directly with him. "
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/wikileaks-spokesman-suggests-snowden-can-get-asylum-if
This overlooks the need that requires you to request asylum. If you can go on a long extended global trip, breezily 'knocking on each country's door' in turn and asking them in person if you can have asylum you wouldn't need it in the first place. I'm in the middle of Michael Hasting's epic work I Lost My Love in Baghdad. I would highly reccommend it.
http://www.amazon.com/Lost-My-Love-Baghdad-Modern/dp/141656098X/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1373053244&sr=1-4&keywords=michael+hastings
In Iraq he came across a lot of U.S. soldiers that complained of the cowardice of the insurgency-why couldn't they fight a fair-direct-fight? As Hastings points out, once you start complaining that your enemy is fighting by agree upon rules you're in bad shape.
"Italy and France formally declined National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden's request for asylum on Thursday, according to the Wall Street Journal. Snowden has requested asylum from 21 countries, all of which have either declined, said he would need to be on their territory to have a request processed, or not responded. "
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/two-more-countries-reject-ed-snowdens-asylum-application
All of this got me to thinking: why does this story of being trapped in the Russian airport seem so familiar-he's basically not allowed on Russian soil but is safe at the Russian Airport. Then it came to me: this was a movie starring Tom Hanks.
http://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Being-stuck-at-an-airport-is-actually-enjoyable-2713286.php
It's believed that Iceland offers him the best choice. However, a vote yesterday in the Iceland parliament on a bill that would have allowed him to come to Iceland didn't do well:
"Last month, in an interview with the Guardian, the newspaper that first published stories based on his leaked documents, Snowden indicated he believed Iceland was his best hope for finding asylum. Iceland has not officially responded to his request, but a group of lawmakers in the Icelandic Parliament have proposed a bill that would grant him citizenship and bypass the issue of whether he is within the country's borders to make an asylum request. However, on Thursday, that bill received the support of just six of the Parliament's 63 members."
Wikileaks argues that he might be able to get asylum from one of the 21 if he were allowed to physically travel to their countries.
"Snowden has submitted requests for asylum to 21 countries, all of which have either declined his request, not publicly commented, or said Snowden must be on their soil to make a request. Snowden was last known to be in the transit area of the Moscow airport. Hrafnsson declined to comment on Snowden's current whereabouts. However, Hrafnsson said Wikileaks is still in communication with him. Though he said he is not personally "directly in contact" with Snowden, Hrafnsson said his "colleagues" are communicating directly with him. "
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/wikileaks-spokesman-suggests-snowden-can-get-asylum-if
This overlooks the need that requires you to request asylum. If you can go on a long extended global trip, breezily 'knocking on each country's door' in turn and asking them in person if you can have asylum you wouldn't need it in the first place. I'm in the middle of Michael Hasting's epic work I Lost My Love in Baghdad. I would highly reccommend it.
http://www.amazon.com/Lost-My-Love-Baghdad-Modern/dp/141656098X/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1373053244&sr=1-4&keywords=michael+hastings
In Iraq he came across a lot of U.S. soldiers that complained of the cowardice of the insurgency-why couldn't they fight a fair-direct-fight? As Hastings points out, once you start complaining that your enemy is fighting by agree upon rules you're in bad shape.
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