The statement
made yesterday by Mr. Edward Snowden at the Moscow airport included this paragraph:
“Yet
even in the face of this historically disproportionate aggression, countries
around the world have offered support and asylum. These nations, including
Russia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Ecuador have my gratitude and
respect for being the first to stand against human rights violations carried
out by the powerful rather than the powerless. By refusing to compromise their
principles in the face of intimidation, they have earned the respect of the
world. It is my intention to travel to each of these countries to extend my
personal thanks to their people and leaders”.
I will not
comment on his personal decision, which I respect and for which he should be
willing to “face the music” at home, but just on the paragraph above. I think
that the decision to offer asylum to Snowden by Venezuela, Nicaragua and
Bolivia has little or nothing to do with principles, as claimed by Snowden. In
the case of these three countries what we see is a clear case of political
manipulation for ideological reasons, not by reasons of principles. Some might
think that ideology and principles are one and the same. But they are not. The
ideological structure of the three governments cited by Snowden have much more
to do with prejudice, fanatical beliefs, resentment and an overriding desire to irritate the “empire”,
than with principles, with values. The
proof lies with the manner in which these three countries conduct their
policies. They are, to a greater (Venezuela) or lesser degree (Bolivia), characterized
by repression, social exclusion of the middle class, alignment with rogue
countries and terrorist groups and significant bureaucratic corruption. Mr.
Snowden has no idea of the type of military, fascistic, authoritarian
governments he is calling principled. He might find out the hard way. When he
gets to Venezuela, if he ever does, he will realize that he is not in Kansas
anymore.
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