Post by Scumhunter on Jun 24, 2013 10:59:26 GMT -5
First of, although if you want to state your opinion its fine, this thread is not about whether you consider Edward Snowden, a former CIA employee who is now considered a fugitive for leaking out info on a government surveillance program that has records of millions of Americans phone calls, is a traitor or a hero. But rather something I'm curious about, and that is how this Snowden saga will affect future U.S. and foreign relations when it comes to fugitive extraditions.
For example, Snowden initially fled to Hong Kong. As we've seen in the case of Kenneth Freeman who became an AMW direct capture, they have extradited fugitives to the U.S. But the other day, they allowed Snowden to board a flight to Moscow, ticking off U.S. officials.
Obviously, Russia and the U.S. have icy relations, so them not cooperating is no surprise and highlights a reason we criticized Semion Mogilevich's addition to the FBI's top 10 list.
Now Snowden is still in Russia but requesting asylum in Ecuador. Ecuador, as AMW fans know, cooperated in arresting and sending back AMW direct capture #969 George Saravanos. But Ecuador has granted asylum to wikileaks founder Julian Assange. After being wanted for questioning in a sexual assault in Sweden, he is now living in the Ecuadorian embassy in London after being granted asylum by the country.
My fear is with the U.S. possibly ticking off three or more countries and vice versa, what it will do to other fugitive extraditions. If another fugitive winds up in Hong Kong, will now bitterly refuse to send them back over the bad feelings about the Snowden situations?
I really don't want to see one or more countries becoming yet another safe haven for fugitives over this, and hope this case resolves itself somehow. If Snowden stays in Russia, or is denied Ecuadorian asylum but goes to a place like Cuba, then it really won't have much of an effect since those are countries who already uncooperative in sending back fugitives anyway. The problem I have is relations with countries who had previously at least been moderately cooperative such as Hong Kong.
Thoughts?
For example, Snowden initially fled to Hong Kong. As we've seen in the case of Kenneth Freeman who became an AMW direct capture, they have extradited fugitives to the U.S. But the other day, they allowed Snowden to board a flight to Moscow, ticking off U.S. officials.
Obviously, Russia and the U.S. have icy relations, so them not cooperating is no surprise and highlights a reason we criticized Semion Mogilevich's addition to the FBI's top 10 list.
Now Snowden is still in Russia but requesting asylum in Ecuador. Ecuador, as AMW fans know, cooperated in arresting and sending back AMW direct capture #969 George Saravanos. But Ecuador has granted asylum to wikileaks founder Julian Assange. After being wanted for questioning in a sexual assault in Sweden, he is now living in the Ecuadorian embassy in London after being granted asylum by the country.
My fear is with the U.S. possibly ticking off three or more countries and vice versa, what it will do to other fugitive extraditions. If another fugitive winds up in Hong Kong, will now bitterly refuse to send them back over the bad feelings about the Snowden situations?
I really don't want to see one or more countries becoming yet another safe haven for fugitives over this, and hope this case resolves itself somehow. If Snowden stays in Russia, or is denied Ecuadorian asylum but goes to a place like Cuba, then it really won't have much of an effect since those are countries who already uncooperative in sending back fugitives anyway. The problem I have is relations with countries who had previously at least been moderately cooperative such as Hong Kong.
Thoughts?
