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In reply to the discussion: Ecuador: Media Distorting Our Words. We're Pulling Out of US Trade Agreement. Offer US Economic Aid [View all]ProSense
(116,464 posts)12. Why Ecuador?
Why Ecuador?
By David Weigel
<...>
But why Ecuador? First, the country has an enviably loopholed extradition treaty with the United States. Outlaws wanted for offenses "of a political character" can dodge extradition. The oh-so-bright American senators who rushed to call Snowden a "traitor" have certainly created the impression that Snowden is wanted for political reasons, and in his interviews he's happy to reinforce this.
Second, the ruling regime in Ecuador doesn't really care what America thinks. In 2006 the country gave its presidency to Rafael Correa. A fan and ally of Hugo Chavez, Correa reversed decades of Ecuadorian kowtowing to the United States by declaring the national debt illegitimate and defaulting on the country's bonds. A country that had adopted* the U.S. dollar as a default currency had sparked a nationalist debt revoltand it sort of won. Correa, never as colorful as Chavez, still consolidated power and won a landslide re-election. Giving asylum to people who make America look weak, and spill its secrets, is easy politics for him.
The result: Snowden, avoiding extradition, is on a world tour of regimes generally more hostile to press and information freedom than the United States is. At the moment he's less concerned with irony than with avoiding jail.
http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2013/06/23/why_ecuador.html
By David Weigel
<...>
But why Ecuador? First, the country has an enviably loopholed extradition treaty with the United States. Outlaws wanted for offenses "of a political character" can dodge extradition. The oh-so-bright American senators who rushed to call Snowden a "traitor" have certainly created the impression that Snowden is wanted for political reasons, and in his interviews he's happy to reinforce this.
Second, the ruling regime in Ecuador doesn't really care what America thinks. In 2006 the country gave its presidency to Rafael Correa. A fan and ally of Hugo Chavez, Correa reversed decades of Ecuadorian kowtowing to the United States by declaring the national debt illegitimate and defaulting on the country's bonds. A country that had adopted* the U.S. dollar as a default currency had sparked a nationalist debt revoltand it sort of won. Correa, never as colorful as Chavez, still consolidated power and won a landslide re-election. Giving asylum to people who make America look weak, and spill its secrets, is easy politics for him.
The result: Snowden, avoiding extradition, is on a world tour of regimes generally more hostile to press and information freedom than the United States is. At the moment he's less concerned with irony than with avoiding jail.
http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2013/06/23/why_ecuador.html
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Ecuador: Media Distorting Our Words. We're Pulling Out of US Trade Agreement. Offer US Economic Aid [View all]
Catherina
Jun 2013
OP
I have long admired President Correa. The US just doesn't get it. Money is not everything
Catherina
Jun 2013
#5
You admire a man that actively deprives gay citizens in his country of their civil rights.
Ikonoklast
Jun 2013
#32
If we stopped using Chinese goods, we'd buy them from other developing countries
geek tragedy
Jun 2013
#24
And maybe, just maybe, the U.S. wanted Snowden to run, and not stay one minute more
Ikonoklast
Jun 2013
#35
Apparenty protecting Snowden is more important than protecting the 8 million acres
geek tragedy
Jun 2013
#10
No he's not. But this stuff about principles over profits is political posturing. nt
geek tragedy
Jun 2013
#21
We should accept the $23 million for human rights training / we need it. nt
limpyhobbler
Jun 2013
#19