DoJ to Snowden: Hope your 15 minutes were worth it, pal

[merithyn]

Talking heads are wondering why the State Department didn't suspend his visa, so he would be forced to stay put wherever he was.

You'd think that would be SOP.

edit: passport, not visa.

NPR is claiming that Snowdon's traveling on a suspended passport. Not sure what kind of fallout that's going to have for Russia and wherever Snowdon ends up.

[HVC]

Do you have to have a passport to enter a country? I know a country can any you entry without one (or a visa as the case may be) but is there any international law stating you need one to enter a country?

[garbon]

From what I recall he had to get the ok for vacation destinations a few months in advance. Picking HK seemed less suspicious then a non-extradition country

Well wiki has that he said he got permission to leave to get his epilepsy treated.

[Admiral Yi]

Do you have to have a passport to enter a country? I know a country can any you entry without one (or a visa as the case may be) but is there any international law stating you need one to enter a country?

I'm pretty sure there are no treaties about who you can and cannot any entry to.

Mono: how are you feeling about the independence of HK's courts right now?  How are you feeling about HK's commitments to treaties it has signed?

[The Brain]

Do you have to have a passport to enter a country? I know a country can any you entry without one (or a visa as the case may be) but is there any international law stating you need one to enter a country?

No.

[Monoriu]

Do you have to have a passport to enter a country? I know a country can any you entry without one (or a visa as the case may be) but is there any international law stating you need one to enter a country?

I'm pretty sure there are no treaties about who you can and cannot any entry to.

Mono: how are you feeling about the independence of HK's courts right now?  How are you feeling about HK's commitments to treaties it has signed?

HK courts are not involved in this at all.  Nobody went to the courts, but the option to go to them was always available to Mr Snowden.  I understand that he assembled a legal team for that purpose. 

I don't think this should affect HK's committments to international treaties.  Yeah, we got ourselves out on a technicality.  But the main purpose of the extradiction treaty has always been about dealing with everyday criminals.  There is very clearly a clause in the treaty that treats political offenses differently.  I think there should be broad agreement that Snowden's case *may* be caught by that clause.  He isn't a drug lord or a murderer. 

[Admiral Yi]

You're contending that it can plausibly be argued that Snowden is being prosecuted for his political beliefs?

[garbon]

He isn't a drug lord or a murderer. 

Just a thief.

[Monoriu]

You're contending that it can plausibly be argued that Snowden is being prosecuted for his political beliefs?

Yes.  I think his is clearly a special case.  If the US want us to arrest murderers or drug dealers that have escaped to HK tomorrow, I'm sure we'll try our best to comply, as we have done so in the past.

[CountDeMoney]

You're contending that it can plausibly be argued that Snowden is being prosecuted for his political beliefs?

Yes.  I think his is clearly a special case. 

That's fucked up, yo.

[Legbiter]

He's going to Ecuador? Damn, prison might be better than that.

[Legbiter]

You're contending that it can plausibly be argued that Snowden is being prosecuted for his political beliefs?

Yes.  I think his is clearly a special case.

[Eddie Teach]

He's going to Ecuador? Damn, prison might be better than that.

They do have mountains.

[Admiral Yi]

Okay Mono.  Thought about it and seeing it as a political case is not as laughable as I had first thought.

Doesn't get HK off the hook for making up the bullshit excuse though.

[alfred russel]

Talking heads are wondering why the State Department didn't suspend his visa, so he would be forced to stay put wherever he was.

You'd think that would be SOP.

edit: passport, not visa.

NPR is claiming that Snowdon's traveling on a suspended passport. Not sure what kind of fallout that's going to have for Russia and wherever Snowdon ends up.

I don't see why it would have fallout for Russia. Hell, I wouldn't be shocked if Russia gave him one of their passports.