Why us furrrners get upset at some US foreign policy etc

[pErvinalia]

This is why some of us get upset at the US, even though we aren't citizens of it. The US has a disproportionate affect on foreign countries sovereignty. When the US sneezes, the rest of us cower in fear (or something like that...)

Bolivia leader's jet diverted 'amid Snowden suspicions'

Bolivian President Evo Morales's plane has been diverted to Austria amid suspicion that US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden is on board, the Bolivian foreign minister has said.

David Choquehuanca denied that Mr Snowden was on the plane.

France and Portugal reportedly refused to allow the Bolivia-bound flight to cross their airspace.

Mr Snowden is said to have applied for asylum in 21 countries to avoid extradition to the US.

Mr Choquehuanca told reporters on Tuesday that France and Portugal had closed their airspace over the "huge lie" that Mr Snowden, 30, was on board.

"We don't know who invented this lie, but we want to denounce to the international community this injustice with the plane of President Evo Morales," he said.

An Austrian foreign ministry official, Alexander Schallenberg, said Mr Snowden was not on board the Bolivian leader's aircraft, according to AFP news agency.

The Bolivian defence minister, also on the flight, pilloried the US after the unscheduled landing.

"This is a hostile act by the United States state department which has used various European governments," Ruben Saavedra said.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23156360

[Ian]

[pErvinalia]

Ok, well putting aside my butthurt, it's still an incredible act to interfere with a diplomatic flight.

[Ian]

Take it up with France, Portugal, etc.

[pErvinalia]

You don't think the US had something to do with influencing them? Why would they care otherwise?

[Ian]

Does influence equal bullied? They couldn't have said no to US demands, assuming they were made so directly?

[pErvinalia]

It doesn't matter whether you or I qualify it as "bullying" or "influencing". The point is that the US has (allegedly) interfered with a diplomatic flight in it's zealous hunt for Snowden. I find that quite shocking. I suspect a lot of other people do too. I suppose you don't.

[Ian]

Not especially.

Mostly because you're ranting about an "alleged" thing.

[pErvinalia]

Ok.

And meanwhile, the NSA director has "apologised" for lying to congress. The hunt for his arrest must be really heating up there, eh?

Many would argue that the State has overstepped its bounds, and the zealotry they've shown for Assange, Manning and Snowden while letting heads of spy agencies arguably break the laws and lie to congress is too much.

[pErvinalia]

Not especially.

Mostly because you're ranting about an "alleged" thing.

In the real world yes. In fairy land, the US is like pristine snow and doesn't influence foreign nations. What a crock. Are you seriously trying to suggest the US had nothing to do with France and Portugal's decision? Why the fuck would they care otherwise?

[Ian]

Mountains of hyperbole there. Also, putting those three in the same sentence is quite silly. They've done very different things.

[pErvinalia]

Allegedly.

[Ian]

Not especially.

Mostly because you're ranting about an "alleged" thing.

In the real world yes. In fairy land, the US is like pristine snow and doesn't influence foreign nations. What a crock. Are you seriously trying to suggest the US had nothing to do with France and Portugal's decision? Why the fuck would they care otherwise?

No, but I would suggest that perhaps France, Portugal and the twenty or so (so far) countries that have turned down Snowden's asylum request might be doing so for reasons other than the big, bad US intimidating and/or threatening all of them. Maybe they have some appreciation that he is, in fact, a felon. And maybe they don't want the world looking too much at the faxt that the US intelligence community is more transparent than any other major power on earth including theirs.

Nah, no reasons for them to care, no self-interest at all. The big, bad US must've threatened them all.

[pErvinalia]

Lol. Did you miss the head of the NSA lying last year?

[Seth]

This is why some of us get upset at the US, even though we aren't citizens of it. The US has a disproportionate affect on foreign countries sovereignty. When the US sneezes, the rest of us cower in fear (or something like that...)

Er, they all know on which side of the bread their butter is. We just asked nicely, and our friends decided to do what in their sovereign judgment was the prudent thing to do that's in the best interests of their nation.

Dunno why you would think that the US is obliged to continue to be nice to any nation that would harbor a traitor like him.

I'd go as far as to say that any country that gives Snowden asylum is committing an act of war against the United States, given what he knows about our national security infrastructure, and that if we can locate him we should stuff a Hellfire missile up his ass, no matter where he is.

Gotta love the Obama drone program...it's MADE for this sort of thing.