China and Russia both gave NSA-whistleblower Edward Snowden safe passage on his way to asylum in Ecuador. This, despite direct American pleas to stop him and turn him over. Russia and China, usually on the receiving end of America’s criticisms for their violations of human rights, can now accuse the U.S. of violating the civil rights of its own citizens by eavesdropping on them. There is also the resentment internationally that foreigners were particularly targeted. At any rate, this whole fiasco of Snowden’s escape amounts to a major diplomatic show of disrespect for the Obama administration.
From Reuters:
Former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden’s whereabouts were a mystery on Monday as Russia defied White House pressure to send him back to the United States and stop him fleeing Moscow on his globe-crossing escape from U.S. prosecution.