Common Dreams – by Sarah Lazare
The White House spiraled into panic mode late Friday after Edward Snowden’s earlier appearance in Russia, with President Obama moving forward with plans to personally call Vladimir Putin to urge the Russian president to deny Snowden asylum.
Snowden went public earlier Friday to announce his intention to apply for temporary stay in Russia until he is able to arrange safe travel to Latin America. The whistleblower forcefully defended his moral choice to expose the vast US spying dragnet, declaring “I did the right thing.”
He was flanked by international human rights and civil liberties campaigners, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and others.
Yet, White House press secretary Jay Carney termed the meeting with renowned human rights groups a “propaganda platform” for Snowden and denounced the Russian government for allowing it to take place, declaring it a move against ‘US interests.’
Furthermore, Matt Williams of the Guardian reports that the US ambassador to Russia even tried to use Human Rights Watch as a tool to send the threatening message to Snowden that, in the eyes of the US government, he is no whistleblower.
The threats and public statements coming from the White House insinuate that those who cross US power should not have access to human rights campaigners.
Yet, human rights groups declare Snowden has every right to human rights protections. Sergei Nikitin, head of Amnesty International’s Moscow office, declared at the Friday meeting with Snowden:
We will continue to pressure governments to ensure his rights are respected – this includes the unassailable right to claim asylum wherever he may choose. What he has disclosed is patently in the public interest and as a whistleblower his actions were justified. He has exposed unlawful sweeping surveillance programmes that unquestionably interfere with an individual’s right to privacy.
Human Rights Watch insisted Friday that Snowden has a legitimate claim to asylum that deserves fair treatment:
“Edward Snowden has a serious asylum claim that should be considered fairly by Russia or any other country where he may apply,” said Dinah PoKempner, general counsel at Human Rights Watch. “He should be allowed at least to make that claim and have it heard.”
The efforts to lobby Putin come after the Obama administration made several personal phone calls to Latin American leaders urging them to reject Snowden’s bids for asylum.
_____________________
Perhaps Snowden’s information is enough to keep us from WW3? Or perhaps it is the information that leads us to WW3? What we know for sure… the American Government is corrupt as hell…and has been for all of my 53 years on the planet…they all need to be impeached, charged with treason…convicted.. and then start hanging them…the entire Bush Family…the entire Clinton family…The Obama family….convict and hang all of them…
Regards,
RJ O’Guillory
Author-
Webster Groves – The Life of an Insane Family
I just wonder how long O-bumbler was put on “hold”.
If all that Snowden had was info on how the central banks work and if the public of the world could understand said info, then that alone would be enough to stop WWIII.
Basically what he has is that the US is spying on everyone on the planet and breaking all sorts of international laws especially the ones in regard to wanton murder and torture. However, this is nothing new. You can just ask the Native Americans.
The problem here is one of national and international public opinion/public relations. Basically, people are beginning to question who is the terrorist we hear so much about, a.k.a. “with friends like these who needs enemies?”
And this is a big problem because it delays WWIII possibly past the point where the dollar becomes worthless.
Thank you Federal Reserve.
Staged pic………….for what?
If this country is scared of one young man, wait till Jesus Christ returns.
Just what are those ‘US interests” the WH is always referring to? They sure as hell aren’t the interests of the American people.
real sad part is,some folks on the internet are insisting that Snowden is a snowjob on us. On today’s WRH site,there is a real fluke of a kid called Ry Dawson. Questioning Snowden’s motives. Ry kid is creepie. Last month, I posted a disagreement on his take on 911 issue. Banned. Why does WRH, keep this guy on continious mode–day after day :^(
This is all part of the global elitist plan. The destruction of America as we know it must happen before people will embrace a new world order. America must be hated by all of the world, including its own citizens. Snowden is just one piece of the puzzle.
It sounds to me like Obama is scared witless because this Snowden guy knows a lot he hasn’t revealed yet.
We’ll probably have to wait for the book to come out, which makes all of his info worthless because it will be a year old by then.
And if that’s the case, he’s not trying to help anyone but himself.