Will Obama go to war to get Snowden?

[Levant]

I'm stunned that this president actually refused to meet with Putin over Snowden.  They're including complaints about human rights in Russia.  While Obama thinks this adds justification to cancelling the summit in Moscow, this really heightens the tension.  We attacked in Iraq and are arming rebels in Syria over civil rights violations.  By escalating the issue, Obama elevates the threat to Moscow.  Does Obama really think Snowden is worth open hostility to Russia?

No one in the world is afraid of Obama.  Our super-power status is viewed as a joke around the world.  The only people afraid of Obama are us.

All I can say is that the Whitehouse must truly be afraid of what will come next.  Notice that Snowden has released a little at a time, waiting for a bit in between each release.  What is it that they're afraid of?

[French G.]

Idiotic move to cancel a summit. He, he set race relations here back 30 years, why not go global? Anyone remember the re-set button?

[Cliffh]

O might have a war of words with Russia, but that's as far as it would go. 

[charby]

O might have a war of words with Russia, but that's as far as it would go. 

And Putin will trash talk him back

[TommyGunn]

No, Obama will certainly NOT go to war to get Snowden.  Comparison to Iraq is ridiculous.

[AJ Dual]

I thought it was over the new Russian laws banning homosexuality, or saying anything publicly about homosexuality, and the various lawmakers who've been spouting off that any Olympic athletes, coaches, or staff from other countries who are openly gay could be arrested etc...

At least that's what I thought I overheard in the car on my way to Harbor Freight to give some money to the PLA.

[Perd Hapley]

I think the correct question is, will the Democrats rattle the saber to shift attention away from their 8 zillion scandals, and look tough on foreign policy?

Well, at this point, I think they'd settle for looking competent on foreign policy.

Idiotic move to cancel a summit. He, he set race relations here back 30 years, why not go global? Anyone remember the re-set button?

Exactly. The guy who was going to repair our relations with the world has been so successful, he just had to close 20 embassies.

[Balog]

“@iowahawkblog: Coming up on Worldwide Wrasslin': it's Vladimir the Bear-Strangling KGB Bond Supervillain vs Gradschool McMomjeans.”

If you're not on the twitters, Iowahawkblog is worth the price of admission.

[roo_ster]

“@iowahawkblog: Coming up on Worldwide Wrasslin': it's Vladimir the Bear-Strangling KGB Bond Supervillain vs Gradschool McMomjeans.”

If you're not on the twitters, Iowahawkblog is worth the price of admission.

That encapsulates just how out of his depth BHO is.

[HankB]

There won't be a shooting war between Russia and the USA - in fact, I don't expect the war of words to go TOO far, since we need Russia to put people on the ISS, having lost our own manned space flight capability under Obama.

It's no secret that Putin views Obama with contempt (who doesn't?) and Obama's cancellation of the summit denies Putin an opportunity to snub or lecture The Anointed One in front of cameras.

I doubt that Obama will go into full retard mode ala Jimmy Carter and prohibit US athletes from competing in the next Olympics, scheduled for Russia . . . but that's always a possibility, if Obama sees it as another opportunity to hurt the USA.

[brimic]

It's no secret that Putin views Obama with contempt (who doesn't?) and Obama's cancellation of the summit denies Putin an opportunity to snub or lecture The Anointed One in front of cameras.

I wonder how many Americans, if given the choice, would rather have Putin as their President?
Lets face it, he's the Chuck Norris of the East, an has a firmer grasp of capitalism than Obama, and certainly isn't any more dangerous to America.

[zahc]

In Soviet Russia, Snowden go to war with you!

[Perd Hapley]

...if Obama sees it as another opportunity to hurt the USA.

This. The Democrats have worked hard to make that the most reliable predictive model for their actions.

[Scout26]

I wonder how many Americans, if given the choice, would rather have Putin as their President?
Lets face it, he's the Chuck Norris of the East, an has a firmer grasp of capitalism than Obama, and certainly isn't any more dangerous to America.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/115525721835415/?ref=ts&fref=ts   

[Waitone]

Obama was looking for an excuse to cancel.  Last visit Putin owned him and it showed.

[HankB]

Obama was looking for an excuse to cancel.  Last visit Putin owned him and it showed.

I would have loved to see Obama's reaction when the IRS told him they couldn't audit Putin . . . 

[brimic]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/115525721835415/?ref=ts&fref=ts   

That.is.awesome.
I need to start using facebook more.

[gunsmith]

Exactly. The guy who was going to repair our relations with the world has been so successful, he just had to close 20 embassies.

I AM STEALING THAT LINE FOR FACEBOOK!! THANKS!!

[Levant]

My question was rhetorical and I know he's not going to attack Russia to get Snowden.  But how far is he willing to push?  How much pushing does it take to destroy what little relationship there is?  And as the relationship spins out of control, how much closer do we get to war?  The journey of a thousand miles starts with one step.  Yes, war is a long way away from asylum but...

Even worse, as respect and even fear of the US dissolves all over the world, it is only the rifle behind every blade of grass that keeps us from being attacked.  As our nuclear arsenal ages and disintegrates, and Obama at the helm, neither Russia nor China fear us at all.  They could attack anywhere in the world and have no fear of our response. Japan and Taiwan could be gone in hours. 

These are the problems we face when a president takes a strong stand on things of little importance but no stand on things that matter.  No respect.  No fear.

[Perd Hapley]

These are the problems we face when a president takes a strong stand on things of little importance but no stand on things that matter.  No respect.  No fear.

Said well.

I AM STEALING THAT LINE FOR FACEBOOK!! THANKS!!

I'm not worried about you stealing it. You can't access Facebook. 

[MicroBalrog]

So Putin outright faking the elections, that was okay.

Putin banning adoptions from the US on the absurd claim it is better to be in a Russian orphanage than in a foster family in the US, and that US authorities would not properly investigate murder of Russian children, stopping ongoing adoptions from dozens of families - that was okay.

The state-sponsored anti-gay violence, that was fine.

But shelter a guy who reveals some NSA secret - oh, that's a bridge too far, there.

[Perd Hapley]

I thought teh gay was his excuse, but I could be wrong about that.

[Levant]

So Putin outright faking the elections, that was okay.

Putin banning adoptions from the US on the absurd claim it is better to be in a Russian orphanage than in a foster family in the US, and that US authorities would not properly investigate murder of Russian children, stopping ongoing adoptions from dozens of families - that was okay.

The state-sponsored anti-gay violence, that was fine.

But shelter a guy who reveals some NSA secret - oh, that's a bridge too far, there.

I don't think any of those require any response by the US government.

[MicroBalrog]

I don't think any of those require any response by the US government.

Require - no, the Constitution is quite clear.

But to think the latter is a moral outrage but others are not, that is a fascinating view.

[RevDisk]

So Putin outright faking the elections, that was okay.

Putin banning adoptions from the US on the absurd claim it is better to be in a Russian orphanage than in a foster family in the US, and that US authorities would not properly investigate murder of Russian children, stopping ongoing adoptions from dozens of families - that was okay.

The state-sponsored anti-gay violence, that was fine.

But shelter a guy who reveals some NSA secret - oh, that's a bridge too far, there.

Repubs and Dems are more likely to take notes.

That's honestly 100% within Russia's call. Stupid, but perfectly within their sovereign responsibilities.

Obviously, that's bad.

Obviously, that's good.


Snowden must have something impressive for the US government to lean on the UK and other governments as hard as they have. The US government has really pulled out the stops and done a lot of interesting things, officially and unofficially, about the Snowden leaks. It's a noticeable and huge leap beyond their response to Wikileaks.