Evo Morales was NOT the target of that hijacking.

Axa is confused: Evo Morales was neither the target of the hijacking, nor would it matter for the objective judgement of the hijacking whether he, Snowden or someone else was or wasn't in jail. It's simply irrelevant and the fact that people bring such absurd and ludicrous arguments shows how one-sided and confused the majority of the posters are.

Of course, the point was not to jail Morales. The US (as stated by then-and-now State Dept spokesperson Jen Psaki) put this in motion, to see if they could capture Edward Snowden. Now to guess what would have happened to him in that case. Hint: Assange and the Baraitser ruling, though Snowden being an American citizen, you can also look at Manning.

As for Morales, the same power (State Dept, via OAS rather than NATO) did manage to force him into exile later. Until the people of Bolivia got payback, but that's a pending story.

Still, it is fair to wonder why there would have been no reaction on EF when two large countries bordering Switzerland forced a sovereign flight onto the ground of another country bordering Switzerland on behalf of a major state that is home to a good many EFers. Perhaps a deficit of information at the time?

Nobody disagrees that the US oversteps lines quite often. I personally dont get why we keep discussing the Morales case while the Americans keep on bombing the crap out of at least seven countries since then... but anyways: You are very much jumping to conclusions here. Imagine Snowden was on that plane. He'd probably get arrested by the Austrians... and then a legal process will set in with a chance of an extradition on one side and the chance to get political asylum on the other extreme. I am not a lawyer specializing in Austrian law, but I am near certain that in Germany the courts would grant him asylum - even if Merkel would do anything she could to support her US buddies. And I'd say that he would have a fair legal system to challenge anything in Austria as well... very much more so than in the US.

In the Minsk case does hopefully nobody in his right mind claim that the opposition has a chance to get a fair trial... or not getting tortured. Because thats what the Lukashenko regime has proven over and over again is what they do.

Your optimism behooves you. Still, it would be interesting to have evidence of Germany or Austria giving political asylum to any American citizen.


I would say great optimism in Germany's case, given what it let happen at the time. https://www.dw.com/en/cia-uses-germa...says/a-1792376

And Russia is using the same way of thinking to justify occupation of Crimea, saying “look what Americans did in Yugoslavia”. People are the same everywhere.

We're going down the rabbit hole......I better run while possible

While I agree with all what you wrote while technically above statement would be invalid - should Snowden be on the plane - he'd enjoy diplomatic immunity of his host "country" being Bolivia and its president.

Austria also has no jurisdiction over anybody on board of the plane that is Military plane.

Best they could do is let plane fly away in either case .

What is not the same and seem everyone forgets that is Snowden in fact released information that does threaten security of the country (USA) and likely today is used by Russian intelligence either to exploit it or understand what informations USA may be in possession of based on their conduct in the past as well Snowden could still be a thread by releasing more information or assisting in conducting and building similar espionage operation with know-how etc.

With Belarus - there was absolutely no information that this young man possessed obtained when working for a state being privileged to that he was sharing with EU/NATO

To me - Snowden morally did right thing however he betrayed his country releasing classified 'top secret' information to public and foreign intelligence.

Similar story to Snowden actually happened in UK around Iraq war in 2003 - Katharine Gun - while damages were 'smaller' and no security of UK was compromised by that information - she was cleared of her chargers even so she provided top-secret memo copy to the public.

No, EU didn't sign Budapest Memorandum.

- UK, US and Russia did

France and China joined some parts of that memorandum but not all.

Recently Ukraine is reconsidering to become nuclear power state again due to the fact they won't join NATO and cant benefit from nuclear-sharing .

No, intentions are different way I see it

- Snowden - was and is active security thread to USA.
- Belarusian - he is nothing more than political figure with no possession of top-secret information that could hurt the state that he acquired on his own.

Expertise makes it dangerous in wrong hands , person voicing his opinion is just opponent but not dangerous to population of the country.

Dean Reed?

That Germany...

Fair point, I stand corrected. Doesn't change my statement and view though.

Really... which guy has worked for not one but two foreign governments?

I know I'd rather have that guy on my team. Just take the time to listen to him.

you seem to uncover the truth already one click away , what a surprise these surface exactly with rhetoric that is needed for certain people with well defined political agenda.

Would you seriously believe these are real ?

Have you ever consider why these are easy accessible with context that fits narrative ?

Have you had a chance to live in Communist country ?

You think I don't agree with this?
My response or instinct was to reject the victim card and think of what I see now. I just wouldn't let outrage for anyone's past misdeeds take over now. There's a situation at hand and yes, I'd be glad if people/govs managed to gather the right amount of outrage so this man will be released. Preferably alive and in one piece.

Would he own up to it, when you consider the "warm" reactions people have been getting? Basically - bad regime = your fault. Germany not paying reparations after they gassed most of your country = your fault. A dictator usurping power in your home place because they get a free pass in some US/Russia/China/EU quotas, oil or nuke deal shinenigans = your fault.

Gaburko, sezegnin - really good points you made.

In the Minsk case and in Russia or China....you know, these sorts of regimes. I wish some people would be more consistent in their outrage.

What if A+B ?

Seriously... that's the level of denial?


And along the way you impugn both MSNBC and one of the few independent journalists in Germany... way to go!