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Don't know how separated the German judiciary is from its government, which seems contradictory on its position, but for Snowden to accept some sort of German j
by alan_cx 13y ago
Don't know how separated the German judiciary is from its government, which seems contradictory on its position, but for Snowden to accept some sort of German judicial protection would be on hell of a gamble. Could be a great solution, but could also result in a one way ticket to the US. At least Germany has a reasonable and comparatively open political and legal system, which doesn't rely on politics and cash in the bank.
On the face of it, if the Germans did go this way, in the way suggested, I think I'd take it. But Im willing to bet nothing is quite that simple, or likely.
- 9h1d9j809s 13y agoIt's a gamble no matter what he does. Of all Western countries, this is probably the best choice he can make.
- contingencies 13y agoNew Zealand would have been a fair option, they have pretty anti-US sentiment historically and that has been recently fanned by the MAFIAA's raid on Mr. Dotcom's house.
- mainevent 13y agoThey also have a very cozy intelligence relationship with the US government and, along with the UK, Canada and Australia, are in fact classed as a "2nd party partner" by the United States. [1] [1] http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/secret-documents-nsa-targeted-germany-and-eu-buildings-a-908609.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/secret-documents-n...
- ra 13y agoAgreed. NZ is one of the five eyes and relies quite heavily on the ANZUS treaty for defence. In Snowdons case I'd avoid NZ - even if it was possible to get there without flying through psuedo-US controlled airspace.
- threeseed 13y agoNew Zealand doesn't have an anti-US sentiment. And seriously people need to stop with this "historically X" nonsense. Diplomatic relations between countries can and do change on a dime. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand–United_States_relations http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand–United_States_relat...
- contingencies 13y agoI was talking more about the average sentiment of residents, not the government's posturing.
- flyinRyan 13y agoBut that's irrelevant. I'm sure most in the UK didn't like one of their own being extradited to the US for having a UK-legal link site.
- contingencies 13y agoIt's only irrelevant if you capitulate that democracy has failed and is non-representative (ie. protests and other public action would not alter the outcome). While I am somewhat inclined to that perspective myself, it's important not to be completely defeatist, and I think New Zealand is doing relatively well in that department.