South American leftist leaders rally to Bolivia's side in Snowden saga

[ProSense]

South American leftist leaders rally to Bolivia's side in Snowden saga

By David Mercado

(Reuters) - South America's most outspoken leftist leaders gathered on Thursday to rally behind Bolivian President Evo Morales, whose plane was diverted in Europe this week on suspicions that fugitive U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden was aboard.

The summit in Cochabamba, Bolivia - where Morales began his political career as a leader of coca leaf farmers - is aimed at expressing outrage over his "virtual kidnapping" and the U.S. pressure they believe spurred it.

"Europe broke all the rules of the game," Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said shortly after arriving at the Cochabamba airport. "We're here to tell President Evo Morales that he can count on us. Whoever picks a fight with Bolivia, picks a fight with Venezuela."

Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa said earlier that if any country had denied airspace to a U.S. or European president, it "probably would've been grounds for war."

Despite the rhetoric, no Latin American country has offered asylum yet to Snowden, who is wanted by Washington for disclosure of intelligence secrets. Two radical leftist governments - Venezuela and Cuba - are in a cautious rapprochement with the United States that would be jeopardized if they gave him sanctuary.

- more -

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/04/us-usa-security-latinamerica-idUSBRE9630NV20130704

[BeyondGeography]

1. Sounds productive

[peacebird]

2. Good for South American leaders!

[ProSense]

3. Kick! n/t

[flamingdem]

4. Well, now's their collective chance to save Eddie

but sadly he's got a Snowballs's chance in hell of that.

Still, once again Eddie has been useful. This time to Morales who has rallied his base for constitutional reform and been called the new Hugo Chavez by President Correa.

Just as Eddie has been useful to Julian Assange, once again out of his closet at the Ecuadoran Embassy and into the internet spotlight.

Then there's Glenn Greenwald doing appearances on so many TV channels he's thinking of moving back to the USA!

[BumRushDaShow]

5. "Despite the rhetoric, no Latin American country has offered asylum yet to Snowden"

Meaning - alot of sound and fury signifying nothing.