Australian government joins international witch hunt of Edward Snowden

Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop
Over the past fortnight the Australian government has joined the witch hunt being orchestrated by the Obama administration against National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden with the aim of charging and jailing him in the US, or silencing him permanently.
Australia’s Prime Minister Tony Abbott last week branded Snowden a "traitor” who was guilty of “betraying his country.” Abbott’s comments followed those of Foreign Minister Julie Bishop who hysterically accused Snowden of “unprecedented treachery” and “shamefully betraying his nation while skulking in Russia.”
These denunciations feed directly into the campaign of lies and threats being whipped up in ruling circles in the US. Unnamed American intelligence and military officials are publicly airing proposals for Snowden’s assassination. Senior government officials such as National Intelligence Director James Clapper and Attorney General Eric Holder demand his return to the US to face a show trial on trumped-up espionage charges.