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As heads explode in Washington DC at 1000 Pennsylvania Ave and in US Congress on Capitol Hill …
Hypocrisy in US foreign policy reaches a new summit as presidents come and go, President Obama has sent two high-ranking officials to Egypt as peace envoys: Obama Sends McCain and Graham to General Sisi.
Snowden granted 1-year asylum in Russia, leaves airport
(RT.com) – NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden has been granted temporary asylum in Russia and is allowed to enter the country’s territory. Snowden’s legal representative Anatoly Kucherena made the statement, with his words later confirmed by Russia’s Federal Migration service.
“I have just handed over to him papers from the Russian Immigration Service. They are what he needs to leave the transit zone.”
Kucherena showed a photocopy of the document to the press. According to it, Snowden is free to stay in Russia until at least July 31, 2014. His asylum status may be extended annually upon request.
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Russia is confident that the latest development in the Snowden case will not affect US President Barack Obama’s upcoming visit to Moscow, presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said.“We are aware of the atmosphere being created in the US over Snowden, but we didn’t get any signals [indicating a possible cancellation of the visit] from American authorities,” he told RIA Novosti.
US ‘evaluating utility’ of summit with Russia after Snowden granted asylum
(RT.com) July 23, 2013 – The White House is re-evaluating whether US President, Barack Obama, needs to participate in the autumn’s summit with Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, after Moscow granted asylum to NSA leaker, Edward Snowden.
Jay Carney stressed the US did not view Edward Snowden, who was granted temporary asylum in Russia on Thursday, as a whistleblower or dissident saying the NSA former contractor is accused of leaking classified information in his home country.
“We see this as an unfortunate development and we are extremely disappointed by it,” Carney said adding the White House was set to contact the Russian authorities.
Carney stated that while no scheduling announcements were being made, the US is inspecting the worth of a summit with Russia. “We are evaluating the utility of the summit in light of this.”
NSA holds emergency hearing to fight off anti-surveillance amendment in Congress
The National Security Agency has invited certain members of Congress to a top secret, invitation only meeting to discuss a proposed amendment that could end the NSA’s ability to conduct dragnet surveillance on millions of Americans.
A letter circulated only to select lawmakers early Tuesday announced that NSA Director General Keith B. Alexander would host a question and answer session with members of Congress in preparation of a vote on Capitol Hill expected to involve an amendment introduced last month by Rep. Justin Amash (R-Michigan).
That amendment, a provision tacked along to a Department of Defense Appropriations Act along with nearly 100 others, aims to greatly diminish the NSA’s domestic spying powers in the wake of disclosures attributed to Edward Snowden, a 30-year-old former employee of Booz Allen Hamilton.