Putin is 'Determined' Snowden Case Will Not Hurt Russia-US Ties

Reason

Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly determined that disagreements over NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden will not harm Russia-U.S. ties. Snowden, who is currently at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, is facing espionage charges back in the U.S.

Today, Attorney General Eric Holder said that the U.S. will not seek the death penalty for Snowden.

From Reuters:

(Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin is determined not to allow a spat over Edward Snowden to hurt ties with the United States, his spokesman said on Friday.

However, the spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said Putin was not involved in talks over the fate of the 30-year-old former U.S. spy agency contractor, who is wanted by the United States on espionage charges and has been stuck at a Moscow airport for more than a month.

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Comments

[Jordan]

You know Putin is enjoying the hell out of this and mercilessly mocking the Anointed One behind the scenes.

[Pro Libertate]

You know, why doesn't the government just make a deal with Snowden? Guaranteed immunity, treatment as a whistleblower, and a dacha in Alaska in exchange for him not revealing anything else? He's made his point and has started some wheels moving, so it wouldn't be the worst deal for him, even on principle, and the government wins by stopping the damage and pretending to be grateful that he blew the whistle on some questionable tactics. The latter part would be a big lie, of course, but that doesn't even slow down most governments, and this one in particular loves the Big Lie.

[Jordan]

Because embarrassment is the ultimate sin to a government official.

[Pro Libertate]

Sure, but they just spin it away. Obama could do one of his little speeches of little substance, saying that he's personally intervening, thanking Snowden for blowing the whistle, mildly rebuking him for going too far, then inviting him back with a full pardon.

[BakedPenguin]

Exactly. This administration, in particular, reacts to losing face in a similar manner as a 6th century Chinese emperor would.

[Pro Libertate]

That's why you change the narrative. Forgiving the wayward son who meant well but did wrong is an easy way out. Provided, of course, that Snowden will hand back everything and is satisfied with what's already happened. If not, the government can only keep chasing him around, like Barry Morse chasing David Janssen.

[BakedPenguin]

Wait, I thought Snowden was Tom Hanks.

[Doctor Whom]

That's why you change the narrative.

Something at which Obama is consummately skilled.

[Pro Libertate]

Well, I don't know about that. He certainly spends a lot of time trying to do that.

[Loki]

Provided, of course, that Snowden will hand back everything and is satisfied with what's already happened.

What, exactly has already happened? Other than getting the word out there to people that the tin-foil hat crown was right about the NSA afterall, and getting a bunch of government fellating pundits and angry bird politicians to call him a traitor and accuse him of treason, not much has actually happened.

The program is still ongoing, Amash's ammendment failed, and the news cycle has already moved on to Zimmerman and the royal baby. I really doubt anything is going to change anytime soon.

[Pro Libertate]

I dunno, depends on Snowden's end goal. I doubt he has any illusions about solving the problem. If he was just after awareness, he got that.

Amash didn't miss by as much as that sort of thing normally misses by. We're still talking baby steps, but there is some real concern out there.

[sarcasmic]

He's a terrorist, and the United States does not negotiate with terrorists.

[Pro Libertate]

It's all how you message it. We thought he was a terrorist yesterday, but the president will reclassify him as a misguided but well-meaning doofus today. It's really that easy.

[DJF]

He is at least a terrorist supporter

1. Terrorists hate us for our freedom
2. So the government is working hard to eliminate our freedoms so the terrorist won't hate us.
3. However Snowden has exposed this plan and now the terrorists will win.

[Jordan]

Well done, sir. Well done.

[kinnath]

Because Obama is far dumber that he looks.

[Pro Libertate]

I dunno, he looks pretty dumb to me.

[Slammer]

Vladimir Putin goes to work

[Kaptious Kristen]

How magnanimous of Holder.

The only winning move for the Obama administration is to just let Snowden slip away and move on. But, we are talking about ineptitude and obstinacy on a huge scale, here.

[Rich]

I wonder how much effort is being devoted to planning a SEAL attack on the Moscow Airport Transit Zone.

[kinnath]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41XNyk-HUjs

[Pro Libertate]

No, no, no, you understand nothing of modern military thinking--nothing! If we put boots on the ground, it's an act of war. However, if we drone strike Snowden in Russia, the Russians can do nothing, because it's just kinetic military action.

[Rich]

No, no, no, you understand nothing of modern ineptitude and obstinacy--nothing!

[Pro Libertate]

You got me there.

[Rich]

Inspired, no doubt, by kinnath's video.

[ant1sthenes]

Sounds like the plot for a Russian version of Call of Duty.

[Eduard van Haalen]

"Today, Attorney General Eric Holder said that the U.S. will not seek the death penalty for Snowden."

"Oh, thank you, Marse Eric! After this generosity, I'm ashamed I ran away from such a kind master. I would be honored to spend the rest of my life in prison in gratitude for you sparing my life."

[Rich]

However, the U.S. will seek to have him renditioned.

[Eduard van Haalen]

I'm beginning to think Eric *Cartman* would be a better AG than Eric *Holder.*

[The Late P Brooks]

Today, Attorney General Eric Holder said that the U.S. will not seek the death penalty for Snowden.

It's not like he was in charge of a criminal enterprise which has trafficked guns to a foreign country which were later used to murder federal agents (and dozens, if not hundreds, of innocent civilian noncombatants in a futile and immoral "war").

By all means, life in solitary should suffice.

[The Late P Brooks]

You know, why doesn't the government just make a deal with Snowden? Guaranteed immunity, treatment as a whistleblower, and a dacha in Alaska in exchange for him not revealing anything else?

Those dachas have been known to suffer from faulty heating systems, releasing toxic levels of carbon monoxide in the middle of the night.

Sleep well, young hero. Dream of beautiful things.

[Pro Libertate]

Well, yes, there is that. Which is why Snowden would probably really do this while retaining a dead-man switch.

[Slammer]

OT: Oh no, where will I get my shitty fast food on Friday in Brooklyn when the workers strike for higher wages?

And nationwide Monday?

[Zeb]

OK.

How can we live? It's impossible.

So they are all dead? Won't be much of a strike.

[Gene]

Why not just get a better fucking job?

[Anonymous Coward]

"We live in America. Why shouldn't we have unions?" said Reynoso. "We deserve to make more money. How can we live? It's impossible."

Because unions are cartels and cartelization results in distorting the price of goods and services.

Or maybe you think you should get the same deal the lugnut tighteners at Chevrolet got before they sank the company?

[cryptarchy]

When I first read that comment I thought it said unicorns. That would've been icing on the cake

[General Butt Naked]

"My hands were burned with 190-degree water and I was out of work for three weeks," said Simon, a mother of three who earns $8 an hour

Three weeks? She's very lucky, actually. If I had taken more than ten minutes for a cut or burn in any of the places I've worked, I would have been canned.

[The Late P Brooks]

If they're picketing at my local McDonalds Monday, I'll stop in for a couple of fish sammiches.

[Swiss Servator - past LTC(ret)]

I like your thingking...should I see any such activity on my way home, I am so going in there to buy something.

[Pro Libertate]

Two Filet 'O Fishes, please. Say it exactly like that, emphasis on the "O."

[Stormy Dragon]

Snowden is just a bargaining chip. Putin's gonna keep him around until the next time Russian spies get arrested in the US and then offer to trade them for Snowden.

[Kaptious Kristen]

Snowden is just a bargaining chip

Of course he is. No one in their right mind thinks Putin is accepting Snowden out of principle. Putin clearly has no principles. And neither does his U.S. counterpart.

[alan_s]

"Today, Attorney General Eric Holder said that the U.S. will not seek the death penalty for Snowden."

Don't worry. We're just gonna torture him a little and jail him for the rest of his life at an undisclosed location without trial.