US politicians warn Russian president of "serious consequences" if they do not hand over Snowden

[Catherina]

US politicians issue warning to Russia as Edward Snowden arrives in Moscow

Senator warns Vladimir Putin of 'serious consequences' if country neglects to send NSA whistleblower back to US

Dominic Rushe in New York
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 23 June 2013 16.14 BST



US politicians attacked Vladimir Putin on Sunday and called for Russia to hand over Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor who admitted leaking top secret spying documents.

As Snowden landed in Moscow after leaving Hong Kong, where the US had requested his arrest, leading Democratic senator Chuck Schumer accused the Russian president of sticking a finger in the eye of the US.

"The bottom line is very simple: allies are supposed to treat each other in decent ways and Putin always seems almost eager to put a finger in the eye of the United States, whether it is Syria, Iran and now of course with Snowden," Schumer said on CNN's State of the Union.

"That's not how allies should treat each other and I think it will have serious consequences for the United States-Russia relationship."

...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/23/edward-snowden-us-politicians-react

[FarCenter]

1. Snowden's laptops are now sitting besides the super bowl ring.

[Cali_Democrat]

4. LOL

[sgtbenobo]

9. Brilliant Reply!

nuf said.

Carry on.

[HardTimes99]

2. Shame on Schumer. If we're such great 'allies' with the Russian Federation, why are

we trying to surround their country with anti-ballistic missile sites???? Does Schumer think we don't pay attention or is he simply posturing and\or pimping the national-security state?

Christ-almightey.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. These fools are revealing something

That is essential. We might have the most powerful military in the world, but we are truly impotent, the way a three year old is.

My lord...the best they could do is work through channels, shut up in public.

I think it's time to go read some Spanish speaking media.

It is very revealing of where we truly are as an empire.

[Catherina]

10. And also where we are at 11th dimensional chess

the US version of which is known as checkers

[leveymg]

12. "Paper Tiger" someone called us a while back. But, he was commoditized, too.

[sibelian]

16. They have to do it publically.

Everyone's going to know where Snowden is. If they don't do the job up-front it's going to go badly imagewise. They're already in trouble for being secretive.

[JaneyVee]

5. Russia will comply, only after they put Snowden's balls in a vise-grip and squeeze him.

[Scootaloo]

6. Chuck "Strangle the Gazans" Schumer is rattling a saber?

Better put him next to John "Bomb Iran" McCain in the "Angry old farts seeking relevance" lineup.

[siligut]

7. What exactly does Snowden know?

"Putin has been planting a thorn in the world's side in Syria. We think they may not be playing honest with respect to the nuclear treaty. They are very aggressive around the world," he said. "I'm sure they would love to have a little bit of coffee and some conversation with Mr Snowden."

And where does Syria enter into this equation?

[Catherina]

11. Syria falls under manufacturing consent but I don't think Snowden has anything on Syria

If he does, I'll be more amazed than I am that someone so young, surrounded by those slithering snakes, grasped so much. Who knows, he very well might. He's surprised even cynical old me so far with this fresh outburst of real hope.

Can you tell our politicians are losing it? Demanding, urging, pleading, threatening. And all this after infiltrating and agitating like in Putin's case where they tried to destabilize Russia several times by using the USAID to fund student groups for another fake color revolution. And taunting them with it.

Someone tell ole gramps here that he doesn't have the first clue about chess

[siligut]

17. Yes, throwing Syria out there does seem rather sloppy

In what already sounds to be a poorly orchestrated attempt at getting Snowden back. It would seem Snowden has many layers, I do hope we will learn more.

[Cleita]

8. I'm sure Putzy is shaking in his boots if his body language at the G8 Summit was

a clue. Snowden won't be there long enough for an international incident.

[rrneck]

13. And a superbowl ring. nt

[idwiyo]

14. Yeah, sure. I can just see Putin cooperating after their idiotic demands.

[Spider Jerusalem]

15. Russia? An ally? Really? Since when?

An uneasy truce since the end of the Cold War doesn't make us "allies". Especially not when Russia's strategic aims in Central Asia and the Middle East may diverge significantly from what the USA sees as its own interests. See for instance the situation with Assad in Syria and Russia's material support for the regime.

[backscatter712]

18. ROFL! Serious consequences? I'm sure Vlad's quaking in his boot!

[Safetykitten]

19. Does that look like the face of a guy that gives a rat's ass?

[Catherina]

21. +1000000 n/t

[David__77]

20. Then the US can hand over those that are wanted in Russia.

There is more than one person sheltering in the US that Russia has sought to extradite. So much for Schumer's ally theory...

[Catherina]

22. And Cuba, and Bolivia, and Venezuela...

This is really no time for the US to embark on any moral posturing

[L0oniX]

23. YAwn

[jsr]

24. Funny stuff

[Catherina]

26. Leggo my Eggo n/t

[bahrbearian]

25. Why does Schumer insist on carrying water I thought Better of him.

[muriel_volestrangler]

27. It's an international game of Piggy In The Middle, aka Keep Away/Monkey In The Middle

and the Sunday gabfest politicians are getting a bit cranky at being in the middle.