U.S. asks Ecuador to reject any asylum request from Edward Snowden

[wtmusic]

Source: CNN

(CNN) -- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden asked Ecuador "to please reject" the request for asylum from self-avowed National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden, according to Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa.

Snowden wasn't in Ecuador on Saturday, but if he does arrive there, the country will make a decision based on sovereignty, taking into account U.S. input, Correa said in his weekly broadcast on state TV.

Ben Rhodes, deputy director of the U.S. National Security Council, confirmed that Biden spoke with Correa about Snowden and the bilateral relationship, but Rhodes declined to provide details.

In a telephone conversation with Biden on Friday, Correa told him "what was the Ecuadorian position" and that Ecuador "can't even proceed with the request because Mr. Snowden is not in Ecuadorian territory."

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/29/politics/nsa-leak/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

[idwiyo]

1. How bloody pathetic! VP 'asks' a foreign country to reject a possible Refugee Claim because

Last edited Sat Jun 29, 2013, 06:30 PM - Edit history (1)

that's what US wants. Can't get any lower than that.

[Zorro]

2. What's bloody pathetic?

Nothing wrong with Biden talking about the matter with Correa.

[idwiyo]

3. Everything about it is pathetic. Including euphemism 'asked'.

[Zorro]

12. Did you participate in the phone call?

Are you challenging Correa's reported remark that "Biden asked?"

[idwiyo]

13. I challenge the premise of 'asking'. One doesn't 'ask' another to flatly ignore the law. Period.

[Zorro]

14. I did not realize

you were an expert in international law and US-Ecuador diplomatic relations.

Sorry.

[idwiyo]

15. It's OK, nothing to be ashamed or sorry about. I am sure there are a lot of people out there who

think there is nothing wrong with 'asking' others to ignore (or outright break) the law.

Have a cup of tea and relax. It will be OK.

[Ohio Joe]

7. We should what... Order them? Threaten them?

Start dropping bombs now?

[idwiyo]

9. How about don't make an arse of yourself and don't encourage others to break an international law?

The decision on who gets and doesn't get a Refugee Status is governed by international law and should be decided without bullying by one of the world's biggest superpowers.

[Ohio Joe]

10. ahhhh... I mis-understood. I thought you were going off on some 'He's weak because he 'asked'' thing

Not what you were saying though, my apologies.

[idwiyo]

11. NP, my apologies for writing an ambiguous post. I can see how one could get confused.

[Iliyah]

4. Hehehehe

Thanks VP Biden.

[UTUSN]

5. And Ecuador replies, "It's *Opposites* Day!1 Whatever you ask we do Opposite!1 Ain't it fun?!1" n/t

[NoOneMan]

6. I think its important for sovereign nations to follow their asylum criteria

After all, if they just do what other nations want, what is the point of offering asylum? A program to let people in if their origin country doesn't mind (who then therefore do not need asylum)?

Let Ecuador figure it out. They are big boys, as much as the US is.

[primavera]

23. Ironically, if Snowden were from some other country, we'd probably grant him asylum here

The definition of a refugee under US law is "any person who is outside any country of such person's nationality or, in the case of a person having no nationality, is outside any country in which such person last habitually resided, and who is unable or unwilling to return to, and is unable or unwilling to avail himself or herself of the protection of that country because of persecution or a well founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion."

Snowden is a.) outside his home country and b.) unable to return to the US because of a well-founded fear that he will be persecuted on account of his political belief that the US government is violating domestic and international law through its national security surveillance practices.

[Zorro]

8. Exclusive: Documents Illuminate Ecuador’s Spying Practices

The country where anti-surveillance hero Edward Snowden wants to take refuge spent half a million dollars on an Israeli-made “GSM interceptor” in a deal brokered by a U.S. middleman. Seeking the capacity to “intercept text messages, falsify and modify the text messages” among other tricks.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/rosiegray/exclusive-documents-illuminate-ecuadors-spying-practices

Whoops!

[Major Hogwash]

16. Wow, somebody's got egg on their face now!!!

It's not 'spying' if the other guy is doing it.

What a complete fool Correa has made of himself.

[wtmusic]

17. You take the psyops bait so easily.

You were in the service, no?

[Major Hogwash]

19. It's not bait if it is true.

Yes, I served in the military.

Welcome to DU.

[wtmusic]

20. And you know it's true, how?

[wtmusic]

21. .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023130384

[Ash_F]

18. Can you elaborate on what your point is?

It would appear you are trying to point to some apparent hypocrisy. You are going need make a complete argument to show that.

That is a common law enforcement tool that should be used after there is sufficient evidence of probable cause, on paper, with signed affidavits from known investigators and witnesses, approved by a known judge, in writing. What I described is a proper and just warrant process. All of which is subject to public scrutiny and review so that the judges and investigators can be replaced through legal or political means if need be.

The real controversy over PRISM is not about the technology, but the abuse of it. The lack of oversite. The lack of a paper trail. The lack proper warrant practices. The total lack of the public's ability to obtain accountability due to the fact that it was hidden from them in the first place.

Do you have evidence that the new government in Ecuador has committed all of those abuses? Or any at all? The old government did, and it got replaced.

[Zorro]

22. Why don't you read the article before you automatically make excuses for Correa

[Ash_F]

24. Why don't you make a lick of sense?

argle bargle?