Correa Blasts Washington Post Editorial on Snowden Case
HAVANA TIMES — Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa today criticized a Washington Post editorial which comments on Quito’s “double standard” in connection with the request for political asylum made by former US Secret Service agent Edward Snowden, DPA reported.
“The Washington Post is accusing Ecuador of having a ‘double standard’. What a nerve!” Correa commented in his Twitter account, posing the following question to his followers: “Do you realize the power of the international media? They’ve managed to focus our attention on Snowden and the ‘evil’ countries that ‘support’ him, making us forget the terrible things about the United States and the world he brought to light.”
Following another post, Correa shared the following quote: “The world order is not only unjust, it is immoral.”
Correa also commented on the Washington Post’s statements with a popular Ecuadorian expression: “This is probably the year’s caretucada (a bare-faced lie).”
On Monday, the Washington Post published an editorial titled “Snowden case highlights Ecuador’s double standard”, underscoring the fact that Ecuador’s media law currently prohibits the divulging of secret information of the kind revealed by Snowden, who ought to be “particularly interested” in that law.
Pointing out that Ecuador’s US trade preferences expire next month, the editorial concludes that “If Mr. Correa welcomes Mr. Snowden, there will be an easy way to demonstrate that Yanqui-baiting has its price.”
Ecuador’s government is reviewing the asylum request made by Edward Snowden, who is apparently in Moscow at the moment.
“Ecuador is considering the request,” Foreign Minister Ricardo Patiño declared in Vietnam on Monday.
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Cuba should send its Ambassador to Moscow Airport and offer Snowden a Cuban passport and permanent residency in Cuba. Of all the Latin American nations Cuba is in the best position to “stand-up” to the USA. Snowden appears to be a very principled man and so it would be in Cuba’s interest to remind him that he must refrain from statements or writings which could reflect poorly on the Cuban people or the government. If this fellow is willing to “follow the rules,” in time he could become a productive asset for Cuba. Mr. Snowden needs the time, and a place, to rest, reflect and think about his future. The transit area of any airport simply does not allow for this. Accordingly, Cuba would be making a humanitarian gesture if it were to grant a passport and permanent residency to Mr. Snowden
The whole Edward Snowden non story is wasting too much time and thought. He is not a real whistle blower, as a whistle blower is someone who sounds an alarm about government illegalities. Whatever one thinks of the NSA and their snooping, it was/is not illegal, and for better or worse, it has been codified into law, with the approval of Congress. Furthermore, nobody has any right to be “shocked”, anyone who has been paying attention already knew the type of spying or snooping that was going on within the NSA.
In days past, real whistle blowers didn’t scurry away like little rodents , they bravely and defiantly took the punishment that was coming, where as this little dork tattled and ran. If Ecuador wishes to start something over this non entity then it is to their own detriment.
Obama last Thursday “My continued expectation is that Russia or other countries that have talked
about potentially providing Mr Snowden asylum recognise that they are a part of
an international community and they should be abiding by international law.”
You have to laugh – this is a country constantly breaks international law and ignores UN resolutions and only recognizes the international court on a case by case basis when it suites them.
US-educated Correa is chief among leftist hypocrites who snap at the opportunity to criticize the US in our struggle to draw the line between security and freedom, while they blatantly reject freedom not for security’s sake but for the sake of maintaining political power. Correa would like to step into Chavez’ former role as official mouthpiece for the Latin American anti-imperialists but he lacks the cash as well as the charisma to pull it off. Instead he is limited to these piss-ant comments when and where he can get someone to pay attention to him.
Ecuador has jailed journalists for criticizing the government. Correa is just angry he can’t arrest the Washington Post editors. Another case of typical leftist hypocrisy on display in this sad episode.