In the continuing saga of the NSA trying to cover their unpatriotic bums, after being caught being the corporate spy machine, they told the Ambassador to Austria that Snowden was on board the plane of the president of Bolivia.
I just can not wrap my head around how far we have fallen.
This information resulted in a dangerous denial of airspace use by the head of a sovereign nation. And the inspection of his plane as if he were nothing more than a common criminal. All based on a lie. A lie propagated by those more interested in hiding embarrassment and trying to subvert trade negotiations than protecting anyone.
According to Die Presse, Eacho “claimed with great certainty that Edward Snowden was onboard.”He also made reference to a “diplomatic note requesting Snowden’s extradition.”
The Associated Press reported on July 2 that Morales’ plane had been rerouted to Austria after European countries would not allow it to fly over their airspace because they suspected Snowden might be on board. The countries included Spain, France, Portugal and Italy.
Morales’ plane ended up landing in Austria to refuel, and, according to Morales, “While the plane was parked in Vienna, the Spanish ambassador to Austria arrived with two embassy personnel and they asked to search the plane. He said he denied them permission.” But, Austrian officials apparently searched the plane. (The Guardian‘s Glenn Greenwald reported Austrian police walked through the plane but did not search it.)
If we had a functioning government I would suggest shutting the NSA down immediately.
BTW Morales wasn't even at the same airport.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Russia had received no request for political asylum from Snowden and he had to solve his problems himself after 11 days in the transit area of Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport.
Morales at Vnukovo Airport
Feel safer yet?