Snowden Begs Putin for Asylum

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright July 2, 2013
All Rights Reserved.                                      

             After hitting the White House with a big cream pie after exposing U.S. eavesdropping secrets, 29-year-old Edward Snowden fled the U.S. for Hong Kong, then to Moscow to elude the long arm of U.S. justice.  President Barack Obama and angry members on Capitol Hill promised swift-and-effective retribution for the former CIA employee who broke his confidentiality agreement with National Security Administration contractor Booz Allen Hamilton when he gave the Washington Post and U.K.’s Guardian secrets about U.S. spying operations.  Now stuck in Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport without a U.S. passport, his plans to go to Ecuador have all but fizzled.  Snowden remains “under the care of the Russian authorities,” said Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa.  What’s unclear is whether or not Snowden has been debriefed by Russia’s FSB, formerly the KGB.

             Russian President Vladimir Putin threw a monkey wrench into U.S. plans when he denied a U.S. extradition request, citing, among other things, that Snowden was not technically in Russia, only an airport holding area.  Since Snowden arrived in Moscow June 23, he’s been subject of much press speculation as to his whereabouts, but, more importantly, who’s he talking to.  Now that Snowden’s officially requested Russian asylum, it puts Putin into a difficult position.  Denying U.S. extradition requests prompted more Cold War vitriol on Capitol Hill.  Granting Snowden asylum would be a slap-in-the-face to the U.S. government.  Putin’s new statement that he wouldn’t grant asylum until Snowden stopped leaking information about his U.S. “partners,” sounds patronizing and smacks of insincerity.  U.S. officials must now be worried about what Snowden’s telling Russian officials.

             Deciding on asylum or extradition, Snowden faces some big hurdles continuing to lash out at the U.S. government.  Flexing his muscles with the U.S. government, Putin reminded Washington that he’s now pushover.  When Obama decided to defy Moscow over sending military support to Syrian rebels, Putin didn’t feel inclined to grant the U.S. extradition request.  Whether or not things would have been different had Obama stopped short of arming Syria rebels is anyone’s guess.  Russian’s Presidential Council for Human Rights supported Snowden’s efforts to get out the facts about U.S. eavesdropping operations.  Protesters in Moscow showed Snowden support with signs reading “Edward, Russia is your second motherland,” hinting that Moscow might grant asylum.  Given that Europe has raised concerns about U.S. spying on the EU, Snowden’s hope for asylum might be getting closer.

             Judging by press reports about Snowden, he’s made some serious miscalculations trying to play whistleblower, while, at the same time, exploited by 41-year-old WikiLeaks founder Australian-born Julian Assange.  Currently holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, Assange’s handlers have been managing Snowden’s asylum requests.  It’s conceivable that the 29-year-old computer-hacker and college dropout is now exploited by practically everyone.  Pulled by Wikileaks and twisted by the FSB, Snowden has become the latest propaganda tool for both Russian and WikiLeaks.  When Ecuadorian President Correa heard from Vice President Joe Biden last week, he apparently got the message that Snowden could cost Ecuador some serious cash.  “This is a decision of the Russian authorities,” Correa told the press, passing the buck why he hasn’t granted asylum.

             Snowden’s June 11 classified disclosures June 11 to the Washington Post and Guardian was a stinging embarrassment to the U.S. government.  Explaining now why the U.S. spies equally on its allies and adversaries raised eyebrows in the EU.  “Public opinion on the subject is very rich,” said Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov tol Ekho Moskvy radio, barely containing his glee, referring to the public’s inclination to grant Snowden asylum.  While the Russia chooses to milk the Snowden situation for every drop of propaganda, it could backfire on Moscow.  Granting Snowden asylum, rightfully or wrongfully, would slap the White House and Congress in the kisser, causing strained relations for the foreseeable future.  If Putin sees that Snowden is really manipulated by WikiLeaks, he’s be best served ending the controversy, turning the wayward NSA contractor over to the U.S.  embassy.

             Putin shouldn’t get seduced by the old Cold War games played endlessly by Fidel Castro and other pariah-states around the globe.  Putin’s decision shouldn’t hinge on Snowden’s alleged humanitarian acts but rather how granting asylum would set back U.S.-Russian relations.  Given Russia’s struggling economy, Putin would be far better off finding real ways to partner with the U.S. on a host of cultural and business activities.  Letting a punk like Snowden hijack U.S.-Russian relations looses sight of the bigger picture.  Whatever Snowden’s problems getting asylum, Russian authorities need to weigh carefully any unfinished business with the U.S. against what’s good for business and geopolitical relations.  Snowden’s caused much embarrassment to the U.S. without Russia adding insult-to-injury.  Getting Snowden off the radar screen should be Moscow’s first order of business.

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.  He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com.and author of Dodging the Bullet and Operation Charisma.