Edward Snowden gains temporary asylum in Russia
● “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,” Snowden said as he received the certificate granting asylum.
● The asylum grant has, predictably, provoked denunciations and threats of reprisal from US officials. Snowden has become an international symbol of resistance to the all-pervasive surveillance state that has been established by the United States and other capitalist governments. As such, he is a source of enormous frustration and hatred within the US military-intelligence complex, the corporate-financial oligarchy, and their political front men in the government.
● The latest information on spying operations to emerge from the Snowden affair has been exceptionally significant and damning. The day before news of the asylum broke, the Guardian published another Snowden-leaked report detailing the NSA’s “widest-reaching” internet spying operation, known as XKeyscore, which involves dragnet internet surveillance and the reading of the contents of individual emails, among other functions.
● According to CNN.com, XKeyscore “makes available everything you’ve ever done on the Internet—browsing history, searches, content of your emails, online chats, even your metadata—all at the tap of the keyboard…The program gives analysts the ability to search through the entire database of your information without any prior authorization—no warrant, no court clearance, no signature on a dotted line. An analyst must simply complete a simple onscreen form, and seconds later, your online history is no longer private.”
Stephen Lendman: Russia Grants Snowden One-Year Asylum ● Snowden's currently in seclusion. Eventually he'll talk to the press. He needs quiet time to decompress, settle in, and decide what's next. He need permanent quarters, work, and a new life. He needs to learn a new language and customs. He needs trusted associates. He needs protection. America's long arm won't rest. As long as he's free, he's a wanted man. He understands. He took the risk. He acted responsibly. Doing the right thing is its own reward. Millions thank him for it.
Jason Ditz: US Officials Furious at Russia's Snowden Asylum ● In practice the US is looking to “retaliate” but their options are limited. Officials are once again suggesting they may not attend a planned summit in Russia to spite Putin, but even a move like this is likely to come off as petty to the international community, many of whom aren’t too keen with the NSA surveillance that Snowden unveiled nor the US reaction to it.
Russia Today: ‘Battle won, war continues’: Snowden asylum victory is just the beginning – WikiLeaks
Russia Today: ‘No plans to leave Russia’: Snowden has job offer, awaits reunion with family, girlfriend
Wired: Declassified Memos Confirm Dragnet Phone Surveillance Program Was No Secret From Congress