White House press secretary Jay Carney said the Obama administration is ‘extremely disappointed’ by Russia granting NSA leaker Edward Snowden temporary asylum.
There has not been in American history a more important leak than Edward Snowden’s release of NSA material – and that definitely includes the Pentagon Papers 40 years ago. Snowden’s whistleblowing gives us the possibility to roll back a key part of what has amounted to an “executive coup” against the US constitution.
Since 9/11, there has been, at first secretly but increasingly openly, a revocation of the bill of rights for which this country fought over 200 years ago. In particular, the fourth and fifth amendments of the US constitution, which safeguard citizens from unwarranted intrusion by the government into their private lives, have been virtually suspended.
Edward Snowden has been granted temporary asylum in Russia and is allowed to enter the country’s territory and can roam freely throughout Russia.
A statement by the WikiLeaks has revealed the words Snowden said after he was handed the Russian asylum certificate.
“Over the past eight weeks we have seen the Obama administration show no respect for international or domestic law, but in the end the law is winning,” the NSA leaker stressed. “I thank the Russian Federation for granting me asylum in accordance with its laws and international obligations.”
Snowden departed at around 15.30 Moscow time (11.30 GMT), airport sources said. His departure came some 30 minutes before his new refugee status was officially announced.
His present location has not been made public nor will it be disclosed as CIA operatives in Russia may try to kidnap or assassinate him.
“He is the most wanted person on earth and his security will be a priority,” the attorney explained. “He will deal with personal security issues and lodging himself. I will just consult him as his lawyer.
The whistleblower was accompanied by Wikileaks activist Sarah Harrison when he left the airport in a regular taxi. History will remember Putin as the only man in International politics with a spinal cord.
