Iceland Lawmakers Discuss Citizenship for Snowden
Source: Associated Press
Iceland Lawmakers Discuss Citizenship for Snowden
By JENNA GOTTLIEB Associated Press
REYKJAVIK, Iceland July 5, 2013 (AP)
Icelandic lawmakers introduced a proposal in Parliament on Thursday to grant immediate citizenship to National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden, who admits to revealing key details of U.S. surveillance activities.
Ogmundur Jonasson, whose liberal Left-Green Party is backing the proposal along with the Pirate Party and Brighter Future Party, put the issue before the Judicial Affairs Committee, but the idea received minimal support.
Snowden is believed to be stuck in a Moscow airport transit area, seeking asylum from more than a dozen countries. At one point, he told the Guardian newspaper that he was inclined to seek asylum in a country that shared his values and that "the nation that most encompasses this is Iceland."
But to apply for asylum in Iceland, Snowden would have to reach the island nation's soil.
Granting Snowden immediate citizenship would circumvent that issue. The same tactic helped get eccentric chess master Bobby Fischer to Iceland from Japan in 2005 to escape U.S. prosecution for breaking sanctions imposed on the former Yugoslavia.
Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/iceland-lawmakers-discuss-citizenship-snowden-19581843#.UdYLpOoo5kg
Ash_F
(5,861 posts)ReRe
(10,597 posts)Ash_F
(5,861 posts)truebluegreen
(9,033 posts)and their economy recovered faster than anyone's I think.
cheapdate
(3,811 posts)Ash_F
(5,861 posts)cheapdate
(3,811 posts)And anyway, while the NSA surveillance programs may be a matter of legitimate concern, they are, so far as has been shown, within the law. Congress passed and the executive authorized the collection of phone metadata. The program has judicial approval. Doesn't make it right, just legal.
Ash_F
(5,861 posts)We'll see about legal. Seems like some of our lawmakers beg to differ.
cheapdate
(3,811 posts)all private contracts with the NSA cancelled, the salient details of the programs made public, and a serious, meaningful, and productive debate take place in the public and in congress.
But as things stand, I think the courts would probably uphold the laws and the programs, if any challenge somehow managed to get in front of the court.
That's not a personal statement of support for NSA surveillance, it's just my frank opinion of the actual state of affairs.
I support and admire those lawmakers and outside groups such as the ACLU who are working to confront this issue, but I think it looks like they're fighting an uphill battle.
Ash_F
(5,861 posts)Thanks to Snowden, we can start talking about everything you mentioned.
truebluegreen
(9,033 posts)since no one can show standing by claiming harm.
Clever how they worked it.
Forgot10Hiro
(43 posts)caseymoz
(5,763 posts)But you're right. Other countries might give him asylum, take him in, but they're not going to give him a job in the government.
I believe that's actually standing in the way of his getting asylum. Where would he work and who would he work for? The government might provide something, but in a country like Bolivia where the per capital income is $2,000, it's hard to justify to the people.
MrModerate
(9,753 posts)The leadership does whatever it pleases and if you object loudly enough, you disappear.
caseymoz
(5,763 posts)It's not worth that much trouble just to say "thanks." It's far easier to send him a ty-card instead. They may like what he did, but the question is, "What can you do for me."
Forgot10Hiro
(43 posts)He wouldn't need to work, there would be book deals and movie scripts to be written over this Hollywood loves this guy.
caseymoz
(5,763 posts)Just ask Julian Assange about the lucrative book deals he's been offered. He's just living it up on the speaking tour. Or he would be if Amazon would only post anything written by him. There's also the little problem that there's no bank or financial institution that would "cash his check," or as they say today, handle his transactions.
No, maybe in 25 years if things go right in between time. That's a big maybe. He might not live that long.
Wolf Frankula
(3,601 posts)Do you want to piss them off?
Especially as NATO needs Iceland more than Iceland needs Nato?
Wolf
dembotoz
(16,808 posts)snowden in Iceland
he would fit right in
PasadenaTrudy
(3,998 posts)Plucketeer
(12,882 posts)This would serve as the ICING on Obama's cake! Hah! How I feel about Icelanders ---->
vdogg
(1,384 posts)That says the vote failed 63-6. Is that thread accurate or is this a new push?
Judi Lynn
(160,545 posts)Zorro
(15,740 posts)Everyone is aware you're not one to push an agenda...
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)Response to vdogg (Reply #6)
truebluegreen This message was self-deleted by its author.
longship
(40,416 posts)No Iceland for Snowden.
Response to longship (Reply #12)
truebluegreen This message was self-deleted by its author.
DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)~Soldier4Peace~ / July 4, 2013 /
One day before members of the Icelandic Parliament are due to break for summer vacation, leaders of three political parties have submitted a special piece of legislation which would make NSA whistleblower and fugitive, Edward Snowden, a citizen of Iceland.
The issue was raised this morning by MP and former Minister of the Interior Ögmundur Jónasson, which could be decided before the weekend. Some are worried that this bill could be delayed by a piece of fisheries legislation which is also up for vote this Friday.
Although the bill is being backed by three parties, Brighter Future, Piran (Pirate Party) and the Green Party, there is still a possibility that the Snowden bill could be stopped by the current ruling coalition of the Conservative and Moderate parties.
Many will speculate that if such a veto does occur, whether or not Icelands executive would do so under extenuating pressure from Washington DC, who has already been accused my the international community this week of applying political pressure on France and Portugal to deny the Bolivian Presidential Jet access through their airspace over accusations that Ed Snowden was being smuggled on board a move which forced Evo Morales to ground his flight in Vienna in order to reassess his route back to South America.
MORE
- And Judi did you know that all Iceland citizenships come with free ice and heat!?!?!?
Response to DeSwiss (Reply #14)
darkangel218 This message was self-deleted by its author.
Tx4obama
(36,974 posts)Last edited Fri Jul 5, 2013, 03:31 AM - Edit history (1)
the bill to grant Snowden citizenship received limited support Thursday. Six members of minority parties were in favor out of Parliament's 63 members.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/07/04/snowden/2490501/
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023170413
struggle4progress
(118,295 posts)63 MoP, 6 voted for -- and they calculate the vote was 6 pro, 63 con?
Tx4obama
(36,974 posts)darkangel218
(13,985 posts)Dunno why, my sixth sense.