Are the Russians testing the US by granting asylum to Edward Snowden?

I sure hope so. Many of our ideas and apparent national goals are in great need of challenge, and since we citizens aren’t doing such a great job of that, it’s a good thing that the Russians are stepping up to the plate.

I wouldn’t characterize it as testing the US. That suggests a level of conscious prodding in a planned way. That might be true, but more likely not.

Russia is doing this because it has always gone its own way in foreign policy, except for a little while when Gorbachev wanted to be friends with the west. I think that the Snowden thing is another example of Putin deciding he doesn’t want to play the good-neighbor game, and this is way of doing so,

In other words, Russia is just being Russia. I don’t think it’s a “test” of the US, just normal Russian action.

By the way, I’m 100% behind Putin on this. I think that if Snowden gets to the US, he will either be “accidentally” killed, or he will be shipped to Guantanamo to rot. I don’t think he will ever get a trial in the US.

@elbanditoroso I suggest that if Snowden got to the USA, he could be seen as a Lee Harvey Oswald , there might be a Jack Ruby. In Putin’s care he could die a strange radiation death.

No, I don’t think so. Just a chance to punch us in the eye.

@Tropical_Willie – true, I don’t see Snowden having a long life, no matter where he resides.

Hopefully Snowden’s actions will create a SnowdenBall Effect.

The NSA is not letting up. In the face of controversy, they snub their nose at privacy rights and continue to butcher the constitution.

According to CNET, two inside sources claim the NSA has asked companies such as AOL, Facebook, Yahoo!, and Verizon to hand over their users’ passwords.

“In addition to passwords, the NSA has also asked for encryption keys and a form of code known as “salt.” A salt is a random line of numbers and letters used to make passwords more difficult to crack.”

“The password requests have seemingly become a line drawn in the sand for internet providers after it was revealed that both Verizon and AT&T had willingly turned over phone records to the NSA.”

Call or write your senator and insist they stop the NSA tyranny before it’s too late.

Aually it is merely one more bargaining chip they can use anytime they want us to do something or want us to stop doing something. We are constantly asking for thier cooperation in Syria or Iran and try to make a stink if they don’t. It’s merely one more thing they have we don’t and they will expect to get something for it. Besides it keeps the whole NSA fiasco on the front page making us look bad in the world view. Putin is not like Obama, he won’t give up something just to be a nice guy.

No, but I think Putin is demonstrating that Russia will not go along with US policy on terrorism, especially since we don’t seem to listen when they give us a solid tip. He needs to demonstrate to his own people that Russia will not be a client state.

Here is another juicy story:
http://www.theverge.com/2013/8/1/4580654/michele-catalano-google-search-pressure-cookers-backpacks-bomb-scare

They brazenly continue to limitlessly spy on people, despite the scandal.

@ragingloli Turns out that was because her husband’s employer reported it, not from NSA spying. The husband did the searches on a company computer, and the IT Admin reported it to the boss, who called the police.

And she is a little bit off to start with.

No, Russia/Putin is just fucking with USA/Obama. No big strategy, just tweek the other side.

Putin is screwing everyone who doesn’t think like him.

Hey, don’t dis Putin! How many world leaders do you know that have a Super Bowl ring

aaaand some more:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NHvcqpBR8w

George Zimmerman shoots Trayvon Martin and goes free. Pussy Riots women mock Putin in a church and get shipped to a penal camp in Siberia. What kind of justice is this?