Ecuador, not US friendly

[dales]

How 'bout the cockroaches and bedbugs?

[Rick]

Like the goats and cats they're prolly imports...

[oldr_n_wsr]

If it bites me, it will be "eliminated".

[Econoline]

До свидания, Эдвард.

Good luck with those Siberian mosquitoes; I hope you brought lots of DEET.

[Lord Jim]

Some rare bipartisan agreement:

Snowden asylum threatens US-Russia talks

WASHINGTON — The White House says it is "evaluating the utility" of an anticipated meeting between President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the G-20 meeting in Moscow in September after Russia granted temporary asylum to NSA leaker Edward Snowden.

"Mr. Snowden is not a whistleblower; he's accused of leaking classified information. He has been charged with three felony counts, and he should be returned to the United States as soon as possible, where he will be accorded full due process and protections," White House press secretary Jay Carney said during a briefing Thursday afternoon.

"This move by the Russian government undermines a longstanding record of law enforcement cooperation, cooperation that has recently been on the upswing since the Boston Marathon bombings," Carney added.

The NSA leaker was stranded for six weeks in Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, but with a one-year refugee passport, he spent his first night of freedom in Russia at the home of an American expat family. NBC's Jim Maceda reports.

Snowden has been granted temporary asylum in Russia and has left the Moscow airport where he had been stranded for more than a month, his lawyer said Thursday.

An airport representative told Reuters that the former intelligence contractor had already crossed through the immigration line and left the airport.

The move by Russia unleashed a wave of criticism on both sides of the political spectrum.

"Russia has stabbed us in the back, and each day that Mr. Snowden is allowed to roam free is another twist of the knife," Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement released Thursday.

"Others who have practiced civil disobedience in the past have stood up and faced the charges because they strongly believed in what they were doing. Mr. Snowden is a coward who has chosen to run. Given Russia's decision today, the President should recommend moving the G-20 summit."



Edward Snowden's new refugee documents granted by Russia are seen during a news conference Thursday in Moscow.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., released a statement calling on the U.S. "to fundamentally rethink our relationship with Putin's Russia."

"Russia's action today is a disgrace and a deliberate effort to embarrass the United States. It is a slap in the face of all Americans," McCain said.

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said that Russia's providing Snowden asylum is "not a positive event in the relations between our two countries." But he would not comment on whether Obama should go through with the coming talks between the two countries.

Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement Thursday that "this action is a setback to U.S.-Russia relations."

"Edward Snowden will potentially do great damage to U.S. national security interests and the information he is leaking could aid terrorists and others around the world who want to do real harm to our country. Russia must return Snowden to face trial at home."

[Gob]

Snowden asylum threatens US-Russia talks


"Russia has stabbed us in the back, and each day that Mr. Snowden is allowed to roam free is another twist of the knife," Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement released Thursday.

"Others who have practiced civil disobedience in the past have stood up and faced the charges because they strongly believed in what they were doing. Mr. Snowden is a coward who has chosen to run. Given Russia's decision today, the President should recommend moving the G-20 summit."

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's hyperbole man!!

[Lord Jim]

Personally I think he nailed it.

[Sean]

Speaking of Ecuador; has anyone been to the Galapagos?

My mom went a couple of years ago. Pro tip: Do not kill Galapagos spiders in your hotel room.

Is it because 10,000 of the buggers will show up for the funeral?

[Joe Guy]

No. It's because it would make a big mess....

[Sean]

Ah they have Huntsman spiders there. I was thinking it was going to be big and nasty...

[oldr_n_wsr]

For once I agree with my Senator.