Still time to place your bets. Where will Snowden be by this time next week?

[flamingdem]

1. Moscow. He's still at the "special" airport hotel.

2. Venezuela. He flew back to Caracas on Presidente Maduro's private jet. Maduro arrives tomorrow for a meeting and his jet doesn't require a stopover anywhere. He's also offered the possibility of asylum.

3. Ecuador. A potential trade agreement could get in the way of any continued asylum offers.

4. United States. Putin tires of Snowden and finds some good reason to make nice with the USA.

5. Russia. Putin has given Snowden an offer he can't refuse.


I chose No. 2 because Maduro's offer sounds more sincere than Putin's so far. Also, I want to enjoy the irony of a Libertarian exiled in a Socialist republic. Trade between the US and Venezuela would probably not be impacted much over this incident.

[cali]

1. Who cares? this is so fiddling while Rome burns

it's a silly distraction.

[flamingdem]

2. I think it's very telling. We really don't know the full story

and this next chapter will be revealing. I think it's especially interesting to observe all these countries, some seen as enemies and some as friends, working out this situation.

[HipChick]

3. Doing the perp walk on US soil

His drama overode his message

[flamingdem]

5. So Putin agrees to have him leave

I wonder what the mechanism will be when they don't have a formal treaty and I wonder what kind of flight he'll be on.

This is my second choice, though I'm between this and Putin letting him stay and trying to make it a kind of grey area humanitarian thing (he can't stand not knowing if there is something of value to extract).

[arely staircase]

4. India

freeing them of British colonial rule. Or perhaps Boston, warning them the Redcoats are on the march. Then again he may be in Virginia trying to start a slave rebellion.

Seriously, it may be Virginia - but being arraigned in a Federal court. I think he will be back in the US.

[flamingdem]

7. OK, we've got two for USA

Snowden doesn't resemble revolutionary soldiers, even less Civil War soldiers at least from the North. They were "Americanists" - pro USA all the way

[Tx4obama]

6. Since he can NOT leave the Russsian airport without a U.S. passport...

... my guess is that the will still be stuck at the airport.

If he is able to leave the airport then the only way I can see that happening is if Putin tells The USA that we can come arrest him, handcuff him, and bring him back on a military plane.

[flamingdem]

8. I can't wrap my head around how the USA gets Snowden out of Russia

You're right there's just no way that the USA does the handcuffing. Interpol? That's a little too James Bond. If it's military it might have to be a neutral country. Someone Russia can stand.

[MADem]

11. Maduro could issue him a travel document...like Ecuador did, sorta kinda, out of Assange's Personal

Embassy in London!



It would serve him right to have to live in VZ, the crime rate there is mind-blowing...I don't know where he'd get sufficient money or how he'd survive--maybe Maduro needs an untrustworthy sys admin?

[pinboy3niner]

12. The lack of a passport is a technicality

If some state wants to help him get out, he'll be issued travel documents to satisfice the legalities. Ba-da-bum and Bob's your uncle.

[Tx4obama]

15. Thought I read yesterday that Putin said he wouldn't let him leave airport without a U.S. passport

[customerserviceguy]

27. If Putin's unshakable on that

then Edward Hackerhands will just be held in "airport detention", while Putin figures out how to play him as a bargaining chip, or calculates the best way to get more information from him. I wonder how much money he's got to do this, airports are expensive places to hang out.

[flamingdem]

46. CSG now that's original

Edward Hackerhands !

[customerserviceguy]

64. Can't claim credit

I saw it here first. There are some darned creative people here, and I thought it was worth repeating.

[HipChick]

43. Technically..shouldn't he be deported back to his origin if he has no passport

[Historic NY]

29. Yup.

[alcibiades_mystery]

39. He'll negotiate a return to the US with the marshals

Doubt they would go to get him there.

[flamingdem]

47. You may have nailed it. Just posted an article on how

the USA and Russia are working out the details of a transfer, or at least it sounded like that.

[longship]

9. The Sheremetyevo Transit Zone Cinnabon!

All that gooey, sugary goodness. How could one avoid it. They probably have all the coffee and WiFi you want... as long as you can keep shoveling in those sticky buns.

We're not going to recognize Snowden when comes out of this because he's gonna gain about 100 pounds. Not just the Cinnabon, but there's a Borscht R Us right around the corner.

He'll also be wearing Groucho glasses.

You'll never recognize him.

[flamingdem]

10. Excellent analysis, did you see this about the airport?

Edward Snowden Is Livin’ the Dream at Sheremetyevo International Airport

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/06/25/edward-snowden-is-livin-the-dream-at-the-sheremetyevo-international-airport.html

If he’s really there, Edward Snowden might be having a blast. From fear-of-flying therapy to free Wi-Fi and fresh OJ, the airport’s not a bad place to hide out.

f he’s hungry ...

Whether he’s stuck in the transit section or has access to restaurants in other terminals, Snowden is likely far from starving. “There are plenty of restaurants ... at least a dozen,” Daria said. From American classics like Subway to Russian coffee houses like Shokoladnitsa, he’s got a buffet of options. Perhaps he’s testing out Burger King’s new summer barbecue menu or digging into a Caesar salad from Costa. And for dessert? Cinnabon, of course.

[pinboy3niner]

13. Yeah, but do they have...

...an Olive Garden?

[Cha]

18. lol

[longship]

14. I just love the scenerio that nobody recognizes him.

The Onion had this spoof where the world's journalists were frantically searching for another photo of Snowden. (Gees! They're right!!!! There is only one.)

So I thought if he gained a hundred pounds or so, and grew his hair out, and shaved for a change. Nobody would recognize the dude. Plus, if he did Groucho glasses, we're done. He could walk right out of the transit zone to any embassy he wanted and nobody would say, "Hey! Isn't that Edward Snowden?"

I think I am going to send this idea to Assange. I'm sure they'll have Groucho glasses at Sheremetyevo some place. Shit! If they have Cinnabon they'd have to.

[pinboy3niner]

16. They've already found a foolproof disguise for him...

"Nah--that's just Waldo."

[flamingdem]

44. Now I get it ..

he blends in!

[Tx4obama]

17. An AP Article from Sunday...

Ecuador president: Snowden can't leave Moscow

PORTOVIEJO, Ecuador (AP) -- Edward Snowden is "under the care of the Russian authorities" and can't leave Moscow's international airport without their consent, Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa told The Associated Press Sunday in an interview telegraphing the slim and diminishing possibility that the National Security Agency leaker will end up in Ecuador.

Correa portrayed Russia as entirely the master of Snowden's fate and said Ecuador is still awaiting an asylum request from Snowden before deciding its next moves.

-snip-

"This is the decision of Russian authorities," Correa told the AP during a visit to this Pacific coast city. "He doesn't have a passport. I don't know the Russian laws, I don't know if he can leave the airport, but I understand that he can't. At this moment he's under the care of the Russian authorities. If he arrives at an Ecuadorean Embassy we'll analyze his request for asylum."

-snip-

He said Biden had asked him to send Snowden back to the United States immediately because he faces criminal charges, is a fugitive from justice and has had his passport revoked.

"I told him that we would analyze his opinion, which is very important to us," Correa said, adding that he had demanded the return of several Ecuadoreans who are in the United States but face criminal charges at home.

-snip-

FULL article here: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/L/LT_NSA_SURVEILLANCE_INTERVIEW_CORREA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Sounds like IF Snowden makes it to Ecuador then he probably will end up being one piece of a prisoner swap.

I guess if Snowden has enough money he could just stay in the airport FOREVER

[Cha]

19. I have no idea but if I absolutely had to guess.. I would say

Russia!

Have you seen this, flamingdem?

Our unlikely man in Moscow takes on Putin over human rights, spying and Snowden

Reacting to Putin’s claim that he couldn't extradite the American because there was no such treaty between the United States and Russia, McFaul fired off this reminder: "Over last 5 yrs US has returned 1,700 Russian citizens to Russia w/ 500+ of them being criminal deportations" – a shrewd talking point followed by more chatter about basketball

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/29/19176611-our-unlikely-man-in-moscow-takes-on-putin-over-human-rights-spying-and-snowden?lite

[flamingdem]

48. Wow! No I didn't know about that. Putin has to keep that in mind

Seems a little lopsided in this area! Not many US citizens want to live in glorious Russia I guess

[davidpdx]

20. I'm going with the special hotel at the Moscow airport

Nothing will change in the next week.

How about making the cutoff midnight Eastern time on Sunday the 7th?

[flamingdem]

49. I think people will note the time I posted

but reality is that it looks like a deal is being worked out right now between the US and Russia.
Check out the Reuters article in Late Breaking News

[napoleon_in_rags]

21. The temptations are so great for him right now.

He can go to Ecuador, and live an open but constantly oppressed life like Assange, or he can just disappear into the shadows of Russia, and become part of a machine similar to the one he leaked about. The former is a constant fight, the other is just another easy version of the life he left behind, in a new country. The forces pushing him to the former are much weaker than the forces pushing him to the latter right now.

I hope he's able to make the jump to Ecuador though. Its exceedingly hard in this modern world to stand up for something and make it count, but in the long term, I think its good for the world when people do.

[pinboy3niner]

23. The Temptations are, indeed, great

[Hekate]

22. Has he looked into Putin's soul yet?

My guess is that one interview with the old KGB hand will have Snowden curled into a fetal ball under an airport bench, waiting for Harry Potter.

[flamingdem]

50. ha ha ha I forgot about

Bush and his look into Putin's soul. Yes, I believe he would intimate Snowden inside out.

[East Coast Pirate]

24. Hanging out with Waldo.

[randome]

25. He will be where he's been for the past three weeks.

In big trouble.

[hr]
[font color="blue"][center]I'm always right. When I'm wrong I admit it.
So then I'm right about being wrong.[/center][/font]
[hr]

[morningfog]

26. I could not care less where he is. I just hope more info from his thumbdrive makes it to

the public airwaves by this time next week.

[Kolesar]

30. The maximum liability for the US is the important thing ...

[morningfog]

31. More transparency is a good thing. More information on the illegal and over broad NSA

programs will serve us all in the end.

[Kolesar]

33. You are wishing that my employers' trade secrets be compromised

That will happen if the Chinese read what the US and its contractor Mandiant have been doing.
Seriously

[morningfog]

34. You work for Mandiant?

The consequences rest squarely with the US government for its actions, not with the revelations of such actions.

[Kolesar]

35. We hired Mandiant

Our VP did, actually

[pinboy3niner]

28. ...

[Recursion]

32. "Edward Snowden" will be acknowledged as an alias

And we'll find out the guy in the video is an actor, the stripper girlfriend is an actress, and he was never in Hong Kong or Moscow.

[Thinkingabout]

36. Let any country have him who wants him, no cost to the US to transport him, cost of a trial or cost

Of incarnation. He has made his bed now let him lie in it. I am beginning to think the files stolen does not contain harmful information to the US. I think the cause over estimated the affect of whole plot. It just may turn out his revealing information of collecting phone call records of which was already known was just dumb.

[riqster]

37. 6. In Deep Shit. nt

[Warren Stupidity]

38. Do you oppose massive domestic surveillance programs?

[tridim]

40. DERPville

I think he's already there though, along with half of DU.

[randome]

41. What time is the 'What are we going to do about Snowden' meeting today?

Anyone know?

[hr]
[font color="blue"][center]I'm always right. When I'm wrong I admit it.
So then I'm right about being wrong.[/center][/font]
[hr]

[flamingdem]

51. Well Pres. Maduro has a Hugo Chavez street naming ceremony to attend in Moscow

Perhaps he can extend an invitation to Snowden? That way he can start his Libertarian Retraining regime

[99Forever]

42. "Frankly, my dear...

... I don't give a damn."

I do however, much give a damn about the UnConstitutional surveillance of hundreds of millions of law-abiding, taxpaying, American citizens going about their lawful daily lives.

I have principles.

You?

Apparently, not so much.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

45. Hopefully, in a safe and comfortable place with the gratitude of a now informed public.

[Chipper Chat]

52. A snow den in Siberia?

A leaky hut in Uganda?

[flamingdem]

55. Snowedin in Siberia

Now has Uganda offered asylum? Well it's good to keep an open mind.

[Progressive dog]

53. No. 1, he always intended to set a record for the

most time living in an airport.
That was his real reason for divulging classified information.

[wandy]

54. As good a guess as any....

That is if the people who stand some loose some real profit on this, the M.I.C., don't find him first.
I mean, if he stays in the news long enough the citizens of "Boston" may start demanding that the NSA get their wings clipped.

[Life Long Dem]

56. Number 4 maybe

This morning...

"Obama on Monday also said the U.S. has held "high-level" discussions with Russians to get Snowden out of a Moscow airport and back to the United States to face criminal charges."

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765633221/Obama-US-will-give-allies-info-on-spying-claims.html

[flamingdem]

58. Interesting. There's a real war of media stories about Snowden today

Half imply he'll get asylum and the other half that the USA and Russia are working out a deal.

[treestar]

57. Still at the airport in Moscow

Don't see how he's going to get out of there until he's willing to come to the US or the Russians deport him.

[flamingdem]

59. I think you're right that it won't be easily resolved

though I just read that Snowden has applied to 15 countries for asylum. That still leaves Putin making the final choices as to whether the US gets him or someone else.

[Brother Buzz]

60. Mining the furniture in the airport for coins

[frylock]

61. still up the asses of all the resident authoritarians is my hope

[flamingdem]

62. Do you think the optics are good for his asylum in civil rights heaven Russia?

"@ABC: Confirmed: #Snowden applied for asylum in #Russia Sunday night, per official who received envelope from @wikileaks' Sarah Harrison"

[emulatorloo]

63. Please! Don't let the facts get in the way of a DU'er who wants to call you a Nazi