Russia gave Snowden asylum so we hate them now. Obama will still come to the party but he's not going to talk to the birthday boy. You suck Russia! Nerrr!
We're best friends with Sweden now! They raided the pirate bay and ginned up some charges against Assange that almost worked! Sweden's our friend! We're going to Sweden's house!
It's just incredible to me that with all their trillions of dollars, awesome militaries, mighty departments of state and the best advisors money can buy - the actions of these superpowers are basically indistinguishable from the machinations of a high school "popular kids" group.
And I wonder what countries like Sweden actually get, or don't get, from bending over for the USA like this. There has to be something. What's the carrot and/or the stick?
Putin is by all accounts an awful man, a cynical, manipulative politician, a misogynistic, bullying, egotistical prat, but geeze, it's good to see someone, just one head of state, tell the USA where to go. Masterfully played, too, politically. Just when Russia should by all rights be an absolute pariah with its disgusting attacks on homosexuals - they've finessed themselves into the role of protectors of free speech and whistleblowers, darlings of the techno-elite set everywhere. Masterful.
The US is like a screaming child throwing a tantrum right now. We were not so long ago lauded as the greatest nation in the world. Now we're stamping our feet and breaking relations with other powerful nations over the stupidest issue. Here's a thought: if you don't want whistleblowers, don't do things that make people blow the whistle.
Maybe in the next few decades we'll learn that meddling in everyone else's business, committing crimes against our own citizens, and blanket bombing other countries doesn't pay off in the end.
Or maybe the US government will become the totalitarian regime it's shaping up to be and keep us under military rule whilst somehow twisting our view with propaganda to make us think it's all for the greater glory (and still constitutional, of course). We do, after all, have to stop terrorism. Surely the best way to do this is to kill/torture people until everyone likes us. You can't do this with a bunch of whiny citizens blubbering about their rights.
And: People are repeating "Never forget." - and at the same time, people seem to have forgotten that there was a time when we had no terrorism (true story!).
The question nobody's asking anymore: What is the reason for terrorism? How did we get there?
Nowadays, fighting some symptons seems to be all we can come up with. (The only reason I can see for this is: Because it's big business.)
The funny thing, is that Snowden got stranded in Russia because his passport was cancelled and other countries got pressed.
And Russia could not extradite him, because when Russia invited (more than once) US to make a extradition pact, US refused.
So, US strand their citizen somewhere else, in a somewhere where they ensured themselves this stranded citizen could not be extradited, and then throw a tantrum.
How about every european country refusing to speak with president Obama because there has been "not enough recent progress in our bilateral agenda" citing lack of proof that US gov. has indeed stopped all kind of wire tapping on our communications...
International politics seem to always be done at the most base level. Our only two options are the carrot and the stick. If an opportunity to use one of those options doesn't present itself, we go home and sulk.
When I first clicked on this I assumed it was over the blatant homophobia in Russia, but no it's over them giving asylum to a whistleblower because if he goes back to the US he will almost certainly spend the rest of his life in jail + 23hrs/day in his cell.
I'm beginning to wonder whether the US even cares anymore about maintaining the illusion of its moral superiority.
Obama, what a disappointment you turned out to be.
UPDATE: That'll teach me for not fully reading TFA. He does mention the homophobia but seemingly in passing. The Snowden issue takes priority, apparently. My points stand.
As much as I wish this was an option, there is a very large rift between the US citizens and the US government. It has been separating for years now, and it would take a critical mass of citizens in agreement about something to enact any change.
Unfortunately people are too distracted working or playing farmville to care about what's happening in our country. What's more is our media completely distracts us with things like abortion and gay rights (they are important, mind you, but not as important as constitutional issues that affect basic rights IMO) so that there's no chance of standing next to someone from the other political party. As the citizens become more divided, the government grows stronger. We've seen what it does with this power.
[+] [-] enko|12 years ago|reply
Russia gave Snowden asylum so we hate them now. Obama will still come to the party but he's not going to talk to the birthday boy. You suck Russia! Nerrr!
We're best friends with Sweden now! They raided the pirate bay and ginned up some charges against Assange that almost worked! Sweden's our friend! We're going to Sweden's house!
It's just incredible to me that with all their trillions of dollars, awesome militaries, mighty departments of state and the best advisors money can buy - the actions of these superpowers are basically indistinguishable from the machinations of a high school "popular kids" group.
And I wonder what countries like Sweden actually get, or don't get, from bending over for the USA like this. There has to be something. What's the carrot and/or the stick?
Putin is by all accounts an awful man, a cynical, manipulative politician, a misogynistic, bullying, egotistical prat, but geeze, it's good to see someone, just one head of state, tell the USA where to go. Masterfully played, too, politically. Just when Russia should by all rights be an absolute pariah with its disgusting attacks on homosexuals - they've finessed themselves into the role of protectors of free speech and whistleblowers, darlings of the techno-elite set everywhere. Masterful.
[+] [-] orthecreedence|12 years ago|reply
Maybe in the next few decades we'll learn that meddling in everyone else's business, committing crimes against our own citizens, and blanket bombing other countries doesn't pay off in the end.
Or maybe the US government will become the totalitarian regime it's shaping up to be and keep us under military rule whilst somehow twisting our view with propaganda to make us think it's all for the greater glory (and still constitutional, of course). We do, after all, have to stop terrorism. Surely the best way to do this is to kill/torture people until everyone likes us. You can't do this with a bunch of whiny citizens blubbering about their rights.
My country is really pissing me off right now.
/rant
[+] [-] harrytuttle|12 years ago|reply
Only Americans ever thought this. The rest was propaganda.
[+] [-] northwest|12 years ago|reply
And: People are repeating "Never forget." - and at the same time, people seem to have forgotten that there was a time when we had no terrorism (true story!).
The question nobody's asking anymore: What is the reason for terrorism? How did we get there?
Nowadays, fighting some symptons seems to be all we can come up with. (The only reason I can see for this is: Because it's big business.)
[+] [-] raverbashing|12 years ago|reply
Don't you think he's getting some "interesting" visits and talking about "curious" topics?
What else does Edward knows about?
[+] [-] mhurron|12 years ago|reply
They're all playing the same game.
[+] [-] monsterix|12 years ago|reply
It's not a rant sir, it's rather a serious thought. Calling it a rant unnecessarily trivializes the problem at hand.
[+] [-] speeder|12 years ago|reply
And Russia could not extradite him, because when Russia invited (more than once) US to make a extradition pact, US refused.
So, US strand their citizen somewhere else, in a somewhere where they ensured themselves this stranded citizen could not be extradited, and then throw a tantrum.
[+] [-] carbuncle|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mtgx|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] grandalf|12 years ago|reply
This kind of posturing is such a clear sign of weakness... It's embarrassing to me as a US citizen.
[+] [-] Patrick_Devine|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] singular|12 years ago|reply
I'm beginning to wonder whether the US even cares anymore about maintaining the illusion of its moral superiority.
Obama, what a disappointment you turned out to be.
UPDATE: That'll teach me for not fully reading TFA. He does mention the homophobia but seemingly in passing. The Snowden issue takes priority, apparently. My points stand.
/politics
[+] [-] drunkenmasta|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] orthecreedence|12 years ago|reply
Unfortunately people are too distracted working or playing farmville to care about what's happening in our country. What's more is our media completely distracts us with things like abortion and gay rights (they are important, mind you, but not as important as constitutional issues that affect basic rights IMO) so that there's no chance of standing next to someone from the other political party. As the citizens become more divided, the government grows stronger. We've seen what it does with this power.
[+] [-] mtgx|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Luc|12 years ago|reply