Hillary Clinton: China Damaged U.S. Relationship By Allowing Edward Snowden To Flee

[Purveyor]

By MICHAEL R. BLOOD 06/25/13

LOS ANGELES -- Hillary Rodham Clinton said Monday that China damaged its relationship with the U.S. by allowing National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden to flee from Hong Kong, despite a U.S. request to arrest him for extradition.

"That kind of action is not only detrimental to the U.S.-China relationship but it sets a bad precedent that could unravel the intricate international agreements about how countries respect the laws – and particularly the extradition treaties," the former secretary of state and possible 2016 presidential contender told an audience in Los Angeles.

Clinton's remarks echoed criticism from White House officials that Hong Kong's refusal to detain Snowden had "unquestionably" hurt relations between the two countries. Hong Kong has a high degree of autonomy from the rest of China, although experts believe Beijing probably orchestrated Snowden's exit in an effort to remove an irritant in relations with the U.S.

Clinton said the former CIA employee engaged in "outrageous behavior" by releasing sensitive documents that he contends show privacy violations by an authoritarian government. Snowden is now in Russia, and the White House wants him sent to the U.S. to face espionage charges.

MORE...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/25/hillary-clinton-china-edward-snowden_n_3494482.html

[Comrade Grumpy]

1. What are we going to do? Not let them bankroll our debt anymore?

The US is now in that awkward stage when we suddenly realize we can't push the whole world around anymore.

Russia and China have both told us to fuck off re Snowden. I guess we can still bully Ecuador, though.

[juajen]

18. They do not bankroll our debt. Only a portion thereof.

A pie chart on our debt that you can Google, will show that the most debt owed by this country is to its people, around four trillion; while the debt to China is a measly one trillion. The US owes more to the SS fund at over two trillion, than to the Chinese. Why should they borrow from someone they have to pay back, when they can borrow/steal from the American people with impunity.

[galileoreloaded]

2. irrelevant statements by an irrelvant functionary. this ship has sailed. nt

[AnotherMcIntosh]

5. She might be the next president. Or she might be a stalking horse for Jeb Bush.

She's not totally irrelevant. She helped Obama win.

[galileoreloaded]

6. hmm. what did we win? nt

[AnotherMcIntosh]

10. A temporary false sense of relief. n/t

[cantbeserious]

3. Hillary Is Already Representing The 1% Well - Could She Ever Represent The 99%

Chances for that happening are low.

[antigop]

14. watch it, cant. You might be called a "hater" or "basher" or something. nt

[AnotherMcIntosh]

4. No. The Obama Administration damaged such relations by undermining the rule of law with such

massive spying and then making the mistake of using a contractor who would hire a person with a conscience.

Place the blame where it belongs.

Even Communist China understands that when a government spies upon all of its citizens, that government does not feel constrained by any law. Trading partners that do not respect the law are unreliable trading partners.

If China doesn't like it, they can stop helping the international super-rich and stop sending their Chinese-made-with-children crap to this country.

[marions ghost]

13. The US can't have it both ways

as we become more like China, we can't criticize China for their lack of the very freedoms that we have lost.

Yeah, we look unreliable as hell.

[Waiting For Everyman]

7. I wonder if she's saying that, knowing that she's been wiretapped by the NSA.

Or if she still doesn't know that she was 'tapped. Russ Tice says that definitely happened. Does she know it, or not?

If she doesn't know, I'd love to see her face when she finds out.

If she does know and she can still make a statement like this, then she has a screw loose. Or she's very, very afraid.

[Catherina]

8. The irony is staggering

"That kind of action is not only detrimental to the U.S.-China relationship but it sets a bad precedent that could unravel the intricate international agreements about how countries respect the laws – and particularly the extradition treaties,"

"outrageous behavior" is the term the rest of the world is using for our conduct.

Dear Hillary, If George W. Bush is defending these secret surveillance programs, it's over.

Bush also defended the surveillance program, which began during his administration after Sept. 11, saying the programs guarantee civil liberties are protected.

“I put the program in place to protect the country and one of the certainties is civil liberties were guaranteed,” Bush said.

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/07/edward-snowden-nsa-leak-george-w-bush-comments-93604.html

Asked whether there is any “compromise” between security and privacy, Bush said, “I think there needs to be a balance, and I think as the president explained, there’s a proper balance.”

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/bush-blasts-snowden-defends-nsa-programs-he-put-in-place-civil-liberties-were-guaranteed/

[Karmadillo]

9. Respecting the laws regarding extradition treaties is extremely important. Respecting the Fourth

Amendment? Well, we'll get back to you on that one.

[DURHAM D]

11. My first thought upon seeing the headline ...

She has been briefed by the WH and it was suggested that if she is going to make a statement please supportive.

That is exactly what she did.

"Clinton's remarks echoed criticism from White House officials that Hong Kong's refusal to detain Snowden had "unquestionably" hurt relations between the two countries."

[Tarheel_Dem]

15. So Hillary isn't capable of independent thought? Is that your argument? This is gonna be a....

tough few years for you.

[DURHAM D]

16. It was an observation.

I made no argument at all whatsoever.

[Tarheel_Dem]

17. It was a weak observation. It suggests that she has no mind of her own. That's not a...

great campaign ad, and I suspect not an image that she'd want her supporters to convey.

[davidn3600]

12. To that country and its people...we look like the biggest hypocrities in the world

For years we have bitched and moaned about the Chinese spying on and hacking us. Meanwhile we've been doing the same thing to them the whole time.