Nsa Contractor Identifies Himself As Source

[wealth]

Hong Kong's official Press release

HKSAR Government issues statement on Edward Snowden
***************************************************

The HKSAR Government today (June 23) issued the following statement on Mr Edward Snowden:

Mr Edward Snowden left Hong Kong today (June 23) on his own accord for a third country through a lawful and normal channel.

The US Government earlier on made a request to the HKSAR Government for the issue of a provisional warrant of arrest against Mr Snowden. Since the documents provided by the US Government did not fully comply with the legal requirements under Hong Kong law, the HKSAR Government has requested the US Government to provide additional information so that the Department of Justice could consider whether the US Government's request can meet the relevant legal conditions. As the HKSAR Government has yet to have sufficient information to process the request for provisional warrant of arrest, there is no legal basis to restrict Mr Snowden from leaving Hong Kong.

The HKSAR Government has already informed the US Government of Mr Snowden's departure.

Meanwhile, the HKSAR Government has formally written to the US Government requesting clarification on earlier reports about the hacking of computer systems in Hong Kong by US government agencies. The HKSAR Government will continue to follow up on the matter so as to protect the legal rights of the people of Hong Kong.

Ends/Sunday, June 23, 2013
Issued at HKT 16:05

NNNN

[wealth]

Michael Schwirtz ‏@mschwirtz20m

RT @RT_com: #Snowden has been examined by doctor from Ecuador embassy at Moscow airport - RT source http://on.rt.com/jqm8cb

[F430murci]

Holy cow, trying to read all of this is . . .

I read through some of blog and talked to "some people" and two things resonated; (1) Snowden has turned this into an attention getting circus and is now very hard to take seriously; (2) He may have split in the fashion he did to cover his tail for other issues; and (3) We are only hearing one side of the story and those "other issues" are the driving force of his legal problems which, if involve matters of national security, we will hear little about any time soon.

Seems like passion, resentment and partisanship is driving a lot of knee jerk reactions and opinions. As much as I hate government intrusion, Snowden perhaps used that to cover his tail for other reasons. I have a feeling he is not simply the benevolent protector of human rights that some are making him out to be and we clearly don't have even a small percentage of all of the facts. Just Snowden's self preservation version.

[F430murci]

the Kremlin hinted that they were willing to give asylum. Maybe the leak from Aeroflot was on purpose to keep him there for a while. Russia is tired of all the unfounded attacks of it's international rights violations. 555. Gotta love the development.

Sure they will change routes now.

He is allegedly escorted by diplomats and wikileaks lawyers.

Uhm, China and Russia monitor our stuff as much as we monitor their stuff.

How much do you know about Russia? Russia cares little about rights of people like Snowden and would only be interested in Snowden if had had something to offer or a WHOLE lot money.

Russia will give him a chance to expose what ever he knows and then, when nothing more to learn from him, will abandon him like a stray mangie mutt with flees.

Edited June 23, 2013 by F430murci

[wealth]

the Kremlin hinted that they were willing to give asylum. Maybe the leak from Aeroflot was on purpose to keep him there for a while. Russia is tired of all the unfounded attacks of it's international rights violations. 555. Gotta love the development.

Sure they will change routes now.

He is allegedly escorted by diplomats and wikileaks lawyers.

Uhm, China and Russia monitor our stuff as much as we monitor their stuff.

How much do you know about Russia? Russia cares little about rights of people like Snowden and would only be interested in Snowden if had had something to offer or a WHOLE lot money.

Russia will give him a chance to expose what ever he knows and then, when nothing more to learn from him, will abandon him like a stray mangie mutt with flees.

Holy cow, trying to read all of this is . . .

I read through some of blog and talked to "some people" and two things resonated; (1) Snowden has turned this into an attention getting circus and is now very hard to take seriously; (2) He may have split in the fashion he did to cover his tail for other issues; and (3) We are only hearing one side of the story and those "other issues" are the driving force of his legal problems which, if involve matters of national security, we will hear little about any time soon.

Seems like passion, resentment and partisanship is driving a lot of knee jerk reactions and opinions. As much as I hate government intrusion, Snowden perhaps used that to cover his tail for other reasons. I have a feeling he is not simply the benevolent protector of human rights that some are making him out to be and we clearly don't have even a small percentage of all of the facts. Just Snowden's self preservation version.

it's not a one man show ...

It's not Snowden who turned it into attention seeking, the situation itself does it.

Obama is not a peace president but a "leave me in peace" president. With this action, the corporate warmongers have been corned, at least for a while before we see some more nasty developments. - Lets hope not though.

I see it as a chance to think over new strategies for real peace development and not for the corporate interests who finance all the mess until Snowden was put in place.

he left the airport in a diplomat car, most likely Ecuadorian corps.

[antfish]

Hong Kong's official Press release

HKSAR Government issues statement on Edward Snowden

***************************************************

...

The HKSAR Government has already informed the US Government of Mr Snowden's departure.

Meanwhile, the HKSAR Government has formally written to the US Government requesting clarification on earlier reports about the hacking of computer systems in Hong Kong by US government agencies. The HKSAR Government will continue to follow up on the matter so as to protect the legal rights of the people of Hong Kong.

Ends/Sunday, June 23, 2013

Issued at HKT 16:05

NNNN

I would like to hear the answer to that too.

The focus should be more concentrated on what Snowden has actually revealed about the machinations of the US American agencies.

[FDog]

the Kremlin hinted that they were willing to give asylum. Maybe the leak from Aeroflot was on purpose to keep him there for a while. Russia is tired of all the unfounded attacks of it's international rights violations. 555. Gotta love the development.

Sure they will change routes now.

He is allegedly escorted by diplomats and wikileaks lawyers.

Uhm, China and Russia monitor our stuff as much as we monitor their stuff.

How much do you know about Russia? Russia cares little about rights of people like Snowden and would only be interested in Snowden if had had something to offer or a WHOLE lot money.

Russia will give him a chance to expose what ever he knows and then, when nothing more to learn from him, will abandon him like a stray mangie mutt with flees.

I don't believe Russia gives a toss about him either way. He is at an embassy, he was only in Russia long enough to get off the plane and to an embassy.

Again, who really cares if Snowden is an attention seeking lunatic or a saint. The issue is what the US has done.

I'm sure listening to little Mary on the phone little Johnny talking about washing the dog is a national security issue, sure. Just getting blanket records of everyone is plain wrong.

[FDog]

Hong Kong's official Press release

HKSAR Government issues statement on Edward Snowden

***************************************************

...

The HKSAR Government has already informed the US Government of Mr Snowden's departure.

Meanwhile, the HKSAR Government has formally written to the US Government requesting clarification on earlier reports about the hacking of computer systems in Hong Kong by US government agencies. The HKSAR Government will continue to follow up on the matter so as to protect the legal rights of the people of Hong Kong.

Ends/Sunday, June 23, 2013

Issued at HKT 16:05

NNNN

I would like to hear the answer to that too.

The focus should be more concentrated on what Snowden has actually revealed about the machinations of the US American agencies.

Because Hong Kong is the hub of terrorist organisations that are a threat to the US

[wealth]

the Kremlin hinted that they were willing to give asylum. Maybe the leak from Aeroflot was on purpose to keep him there for a while. Russia is tired of all the unfounded attacks of it's international rights violations. 555. Gotta love the development.

Sure they will change routes now.

He is allegedly escorted by diplomats and wikileaks lawyers.

Uhm, China and Russia monitor our stuff as much as we monitor their stuff.

How much do you know about Russia? Russia cares little about rights of people like Snowden and would only be interested in Snowden if had had something to offer or a WHOLE lot money.

Russia will give him a chance to expose what ever he knows and then, when nothing more to learn from him, will abandon him like a stray mangie mutt with flees.

I don't believe Russia gives a toss about him either way. He is at an embassy, he was only in Russia long enough to get off the plane and to an embassy.

Again, who really cares if Snowden is an attention seeking lunatic or a saint. The issue is what the US has done.

I'm sure listening to little Mary on the phone little Johnny talking about washing the dog is a national security issue, sure. Just getting blanket records of everyone is plain wrong.

tickets are already booked. the next flight is tomorrow 2pm local time. I think they change schedule now.

[JDGRUEN]

Snowden (supposedly) booked to Venezuela

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/world/356566/snowden-booked-to-venezuela

I think Snowden and his handlers are throwing off chaff - going here - going there - Iceland, Bolivia, Ecuador and now Venezuela - just to keep the U.S. from getting him on the ground somewhere

Edited June 23, 2013 by JDGRUEN

[JDGRUEN]

the Kremlin hinted that they were willing to give asylum. Maybe the leak from Aeroflot was on purpose to keep him there for a while. Russia is tired of all the unfounded attacks of it's international rights violations. 555. Gotta love the development.

Sure they will change routes now.

He is allegedly escorted by diplomats and wikileaks lawyers.

Uhm, China and Russia monitor our stuff as much as we monitor their stuff.

How much do you know about Russia? Russia cares little about rights of people like Snowden and would only be interested in Snowden if had had something to offer or a WHOLE lot money.

Russia will give him a chance to expose what ever he knows and then, when nothing more to learn from him, will abandon him like a stray mangie mutt with flees.

I don't believe Russia gives a toss about him either way. He is at an embassy, he was only in Russia long enough to get off the plane and to an embassy.

Again, who really cares if Snowden is an attention seeking lunatic or a saint. The issue is what the US has done.

I'm sure listening to little Mary on the phone little Johnny talking about washing the dog is a national security issue, sure. Just getting blanket records of everyone is plain wrong.

tickets are already booked. the next flight is tomorrow 2pm local time. I think they change schedule now.

And very frightening is the huge potential to target anyone who would stand in the way of obama's agenda. Justices of the Supreme Court, Republican Governors, Republican Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, possible Presidential opponents to the next Democrat who runs for president, any dissident in his own party ... and this may have already happened .. we have the weakest Republican Speaker of the House on record - kissing up to obama at every turn -- why is that? Snowden's release of information just may prevent a tyrant from becoming a dictator

[chuckd]

Since Snowden has now left the PRC, HKSAR and the PVC, may we assume that any posts relating to those subjects are henceforth and forevermore off topic?

If he ain't there, who cares about their politics?

[FDog]

Ok, so now that the dick measuring competition is finished.

[midas]

New Snowden leak reveals US hacked Chinese cell companies, accessed millions of sms - report

US government has been hacking Chinese mobile operator networks to intercept millions of text messages, as well as the operator of region’s fibre optic cable network, South China Morning Post writes citing Edward Snowden.

http://rt.com/news/snowden-nsa-china-hack-120/

Edited June 23, 2013 by midas

[wealth]

[chuckd]

It's good to know since we no longer need our China expert, we have a Russian expert on hand to help us over the hard times.

Stick around, but I think we need to look for a South American expert pretty soon.

[manarak]

Alas, the point I made was simply that Russia would care little about Snowden's personal issues and will discard once they have everything useful that can get out of him or unless he has a whole lot of money to give to the right people. Funny how you guys challenge me on Russia, but completely ignore the point made.

Pff... he could very well make a deal with them, reveal some details about how the US spy networks work and in exchange get some support in disappearing.

Snowden is so much a nobody for the Russians, that they would probably just fulfill their part of the deal (a new identity is easy and cheap enough) and then forget about him.

[JDGRUEN]

It's good to know since we no longer need our China expert, we have a Russian expert on hand to help us over the hard times.

Stick around, but I think we need to look for a South American expert pretty soon.

I like the idea that Snowden could be incognito in Thailand posing as a Russian ... or is that 'inmagneto' as the Three Stooges use to say

[manarak]

It's good to know since we no longer need our China expert, we have a Russian expert on hand to help us over the hard times.

Stick around, but I think we need to look for a South American expert pretty soon.

I like the idea that Snowden could be incognito in Thailand posing as a Russian ... or is that 'inmagneto' as the Three Stooges use to say

It would be very easy to do.

Plus Thailand is in second position of his list of countries he would like to live in.

And Russia is an ideal place to just vanish.

Snowden's appearance is just identical with that of many Russians and Ukrainians.

Edited June 23, 2013 by manarak

[F430murci]

It's good to know since we no longer need our China expert, we have a Russian expert on hand to help us over the hard times.

Stick around, but I think we need to look for a South American expert pretty soon.

Really Chuck? I wonder what it's like to be a miserable old tool.

Facts is, Russia let him in country without a Visa. Visa process is a pain there so obviously Putin's guys are letting him come in to see what he has got. Why would such a patriotic guy be willing to give Russia what he got?

Perhaps he has nothing useful, but Russia wants to thumb nose at and embarrass US. Perhaps he has something Russia can use.

But again, my point was Russia will drop him like a hot potato once they get what he has or once they believe they have sufficiently thumbed their nose at US. Why not address point rather than attack my personal knowledge of Russia.

[wealth]

It's good to know since we no longer need our China expert, we have a Russian expert on hand to help us over the hard times.

Stick around, but I think we need to look for a South American expert pretty soon.

Really Chuck? I wonder what it's like to be a miserable old tool.

Facts is, Russia let him in country without a Visa. Visa process is a pain there so obviously Putin's guys are letting him come in to see what he has got. Why would such a patriotic guy be willing to give Russia what he got?

Perhaps he has nothing useful, but Russia wants to thumb nose at and embarrass US. Perhaps he has something Russia can use.

But again, my point was Russia will drop him like a hot potato once they get what he has or once they believe they have sufficiently thumbed their nose at US. Why not address point rather than attack my personal knowledge of Russia.

he was escorted by diplomats and probably got for himself a temporary diplomatic status. Everything is possible.

it was also hinted by the Kremlin to give him asylum, - national security - ya know.

Edited June 23, 2013 by wealth

[F430murci]

Alas, the point I made was simply that Russia would care little about Snowden's personal issues and will discard once they have everything useful that can get out of him or unless he has a whole lot of money to give to the right people. Funny how you guys challenge me on Russia, but completely ignore the point made.

Pff... he could very well make a deal with them, reveal some details about how the US spy networks work and in exchange get some support in disappearing.

Snowden is so much a nobody for the Russians, that they would probably just fulfill their part of the deal (a new identity is easy and cheap enough) and then forget about him.

Maybe, but once is utility to Russia is exhausted, why would they risk further tension with US over him? Not worth it at that point so I believe they will cut him lose. The notion that someone like him could obtain a new identity and vanish is pretty silly. He is also not that important to anyone unless he has information to provide much better than US using google and Facebook to spy on its people. He would have to have one really important stuff.

So lets just wait and see how long Russia entertains him and if he really mystically vanishes off radar screen. My bet is he will end up in US as soon as his utility to countries like Russia has expired.

[FDog]

It's good to know since we no longer need our China expert, we have a Russian expert on hand to help us over the hard times.

Stick around, but I think we need to look for a South American expert pretty soon.

Really Chuck? I wonder what it's like to be a miserable old tool.

Facts is, Russia let him in country without a Visa. Visa process is a pain there so obviously Putin's guys are letting him come in to see what he has got. Why would such a patriotic guy be willing to give Russia what he got?

Perhaps he has nothing useful, but Russia wants to thumb nose at and embarrass US. Perhaps he has something Russia can use.

But again, my point was Russia will drop him like a hot potato once they get what he has or once they believe they have sufficiently thumbed their nose at US. Why not address point rather than attack my personal knowledge of Russia.

Who said they granted him a visa.

He was in transit, what happened when he was in transit is anybodies guess.

But I bow to your expert knowledge of all things Russian.

[Publicus]

Absurd.

After the US filed criminal charges against Snowden, and requested Hong Kong to arrest Snowden on a provisional arrest warrant - and stated it intended to seek extradition - Hong Kong got too hot for Snowden to successfully execute his publically stated plan to remain in HKG to seek asylum and to fight extradition. Beijing and the HKSAR wanted Snowden out and communicated that to him. Neither wanted a protracted legal dispute with Washington. Accordingly, Snowden was in Hong Kong yesterday, today he's gone.

How do you know all this? Does this come from your Chinese sources in Hong Kong? Or is this simply your conjecture?

It comes from my Chinese friends in Hong Kong and on the Mainland - I recently lived and worked on the Mainland for three years and spent a lot of my free time in Hong Kong with Chinese from the Mainland who have Hong Kong friends I was introduced to. They all hate the CCP. I've been in contact with a half dozen primarily, and up to as many as eight in both places, young people who hate the CCP because they know it very well. there are others to contact but I can't contact everyone I want to right at this moment. I've been busy making contact with them since the news broke Snowden had fled Hong Kong too.

As for links, for the present you'd have to be able to read Mandarin or have someone who can read it at the various discussion boards in the PRC, which anyway are censored and, at times such as these, heavily censored. Presently, most of the posts about this last several minutes then disappear, i.e., are deleted by censorship systems. Most Hong Kong people use Cantonese and have free and open discussion boards where Cantonese is used but sometimes people also post in English (to show their English and to keep it sharp)..

Links you and I can read in English (my Mandarin - Putonghua - is awful) will become available starting with the morning publication cycle tomorrow and Tuesday, through the rest of the week. Sites such as Politico and many others will have inside stuff on this too.

As for links to main PRChinese discussion boards in Mandarin, which may not be of much help or usefulness, there are weibo.com> sina.com> sohu.com> Baido.com (a search engine with a discussion board one has to know to find) and others. If your pc has a translation function that can help, but translations are very awkward so I'd almost rather deal in the Mandarin (Mandarin transliterated in English is Putonghua). However, as I said, most posts are quickly deleted by censors so the window to find them and struggle through reading them is short. Talking with Chinese friends in English sure beats trying to read the discussion boards on the Mainland or HKG - msn is excellent too, which the CCP strangely allows on the Mainland.

weibo.com is considered by the CCP as particularly toxic so was just recently verbally assaulted by a PLA 3-star general for its criticism of the increasing size of the military and for criticizing an absence of that hate of all CCP hates, Western constitutionalism, among other criticisms.

Meanwhile, Snowden's reported choice to fly to Cuba and Venezuela undermines his whistle-blower claims, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers said on Sunday.

"Everyone of those nations is hostile to the United States, the Michigan Republican said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

"When you think about what he says he wants and what his actions are, it defies logic," said Rogers, who repeated his assertion that Snowden's leaks of secret government surveillance programs had damaged U.S. national security.

Edited June 23, 2013 by Publicus

[F430murci]

It's good to know since we no longer need our China expert, we have a Russian expert on hand to help us over the hard times.

Stick around, but I think we need to look for a South American expert pretty soon.

Really Chuck? I wonder what it's like to be a miserable old tool.

Facts is, Russia let him in country without a Visa. Visa process is a pain there so obviously Putin's guys are letting him come in to see what he has got. Why would such a patriotic guy be willing to give Russia what he got?

Perhaps he has nothing useful, but Russia wants to thumb nose at and embarrass US. Perhaps he has something Russia can use.

But again, my point was Russia will drop him like a hot potato once they get what he has or once they believe they have sufficiently thumbed their nose at US. Why not address point rather than attack my personal knowledge of Russia.

he was escorted by diplomats and probably got for himself a temporary diplomatic status. Everything is possible.

it was also hinted by the Kremlin to give him asylum.

Exactly my point. He could not get on Aeroflight without Visa unless Putin regime says so. For Putin regime to say so, he has to offering: (1) Some information much more useful than we know about; (2) Putin is just letting him in temporary to embarrass Obama administration; or (3) He has a whole lot of money to pay key people.

Under 1 and 2, Russia will quickly lose interest in him and use him nothing more a pawn for publicity. They won't protect him.

[antfish]

It's good to know since we no longer need our China expert, we have a Russian expert on hand to help us over the hard times.

Stick around, but I think we need to look for a South American expert pretty soon.

Really Chuck? I wonder what it's like to be a miserable old tool.

Facts is, Russia let him in country without a Visa. Visa process is a pain there so obviously Putin's guys are letting him come in to see what he has got. Why would such a patriotic guy be willing to give Russia what he got?

Perhaps he has nothing useful, but Russia wants to thumb nose at and embarrass US. Perhaps he has something Russia can use.

But again, my point was Russia will drop him like a hot potato once they get what he has or once they believe they have sufficiently thumbed their nose at US. Why not address point rather than attack my personal knowledge of Russia.

he is on transit. he isn't in russia.

[FDog]

Absurd.

After the US filed criminal charges against Snowden, and requested Hong Kong to arrest Snowden on a provisional arrest warrant - and stated it intended to seek extradition - Hong Kong got too hot for Snowden to successfully execute his publically stated plan to remain in HKG to seek asylum and to fight extradition. Beijing and the HKSAR wanted Snowden out and communicated that to him. Neither wanted a protracted legal dispute with Washington. Accordingly, Snowden was in Hong Kong yesterday, today he's gone.

How do you know all this? Does this come from your Chinese sources in Hong Kong? Or is this simply your conjecture?

It comes from my Chinese friends in Hong Kong and on the Mainland - I recently lived and worked on the Mainland for three years and spent a lot of my free time in Hong Kong with Chinese from the Mainland who have Hong Kong friends I was introduced to. They all hate the CCP. I've been in contact with a half dozen primarily, and up to as many as eight in both places, young people who hate the CCP because they know it very well. there are others to contact but I can't contact everyone I want to right at this moment. I've been busy making contact with them since the news broke Snowden had fled Hong Kong too.

As for links, for the present you'd have to be able to read Mandarin or have someone who can read it at the various discussion boards in the PRC, which anyway are censored and, at times such as these, heavily censored. Presently, most of the posts about this last several minutes then disappear, i.e., are deleted by censorship systems. Most Hong Kong people use Cantonese and have free and open discussion boards where Cantonese is used but sometimes people also post in English (to show their English and to keep it sharp)..

Links you and I can read in English (my Mandarin - Putonghua - is awful) will become available starting with the morning publication cycle tomorrow and Tuesday, through the rest of the week. Sites such as Politico and many others will have inside stuff on this too.

As for links to main PRChinese discussion boards, which may not be of much help or usefulness, there are sina.com> sohu.com> Baido.com (a search engine with a discussion board one has to know to find) and others. If your pc has a translation function that can help, but translations are very awkward so I'd almost rather deal in the Mandarin (transliterated in English as Putonghua). However, as I said, most posts are quickly deleted by censors so the window to find them and struggle through reading them is short. Talking with friends in English sure beats trying to read the discussion boards on the Mainland or HLG - msn is excellent too, which the CCP strangely allows on the Mainland.

A mainland forum for expats in the PRC, in English, is <chinaforum.com>. The site is not censored due to the sensitivity of censorship among Western peoples, however, discussion of religion and politics is officially discouraged by the CCP (most contracts in the PRC expressly prohibit discussion of religion or politics, for English teachers in particular, which anyway never stopped me or a number of uni students). A similar forum in Hong Kong, not censored, is ForumHongkong.com> under the topic name "Debates".

Meanwhile, Snowden's reported choice to fly to Cuba and Venezuela undermines his whistle-blower claims, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers said on Sunday.

"Everyone of those nations is hostile to the United States, the Michigan Republican said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

"When you think about what he says he wants and what his actions are, it defies logic," said Rogers, who repeated his assertion that Snowden's leaks of secret government surveillance programs had damaged U.S. national security.

Well he would go to a country that is hostile to the US, that would be logical. Only a moron would go to a US friendly country to be extradited.

Take off that tin foil hat.

Edit: Now we know why you hate the Chinese govt. Because all your friends told you they hated them. Now, back on topic.

Edited June 23, 2013 by FDog

[manarak]

It's good to know since we no longer need our China expert, we have a Russian expert on hand to help us over the hard times.

Stick around, but I think we need to look for a South American expert pretty soon.

Really Chuck? I wonder what it's like to be a miserable old tool.

Facts is, Russia let him in country without a Visa. Visa process is a pain there so obviously Putin's guys are letting him come in to see what he has got. Why would such a patriotic guy be willing to give Russia what he got?

Perhaps he has nothing useful, but Russia wants to thumb nose at and embarrass US. Perhaps he has something Russia can use.

But again, my point was Russia will drop him like a hot potato once they get what he has or once they believe they have sufficiently thumbed their nose at US. Why not address point rather than attack my personal knowledge of Russia.

he was escorted by diplomats and probably got for himself a temporary diplomatic status. Everything is possible.

it was also hinted by the Kremlin to give him asylum.

Exactly my point. He could not get on Aeroflight without Visa unless Putin regime says so. For Putin regime to say so, he has to offering: (1) Some information much more useful than we know about; (2) Putin is just letting him in temporary to embarrass Obama administration; or (3) He has a whole lot of money to pay key people.

Under 1 and 2, Russia will quickly lose interest in him and use him nothing more a pawn for publicity. They won't protect him.

let's see how the story unfolds and let's be surprised.

And by the way, real eastern european passports are available from private sources also... not expensive. totally deniable.

Edited June 23, 2013 by manarak

[F430murci]

It's good to know since we no longer need our China expert, we have a Russian expert on hand to help us over the hard times.

Stick around, but I think we need to look for a South American expert pretty soon.

Really Chuck? I wonder what it's like to be a miserable old tool.

Facts is, Russia let him in country without a Visa. Visa process is a pain there so obviously Putin's guys are letting him come in to see what he has got. Why would such a patriotic guy be willing to give Russia what he got?

Perhaps he has nothing useful, but Russia wants to thumb nose at and embarrass US. Perhaps he has something Russia can use.

But again, my point was Russia will drop him like a hot potato once they get what he has or once they believe they have sufficiently thumbed their nose at US. Why not address point rather than attack my personal knowledge of Russia.

he is on transit. he isn't in russia.

Meaning??? Russian Visa is not like Thailand Visa where you just jump on an airplane, arrive at terminal they stamp your passport.

Both my 20 month old daughter with Russian mom and I had to receive an invitation from mother-in-law in Russia, that was notarized and on special forms. The forms initially were notarized, but not on the correct special forms and got rejected. We had a very difficult time finding a notary with correct forms and ended, as usual, paying someone off to get it done correctly. This was for a 3 year multi entry so maybe tourist is not as difficult, but I imagine the process is the same for shorter tourist visa.

Candidly, I have never been through such a pain in the butt process and expensive process just to get a Visa.

[NeverSure]

IIRC, when someone lands at an airport, if he stays in the secure area, he isn't considered to have entered the country. He doesn't have to show a passport or visa, for instance. He's just passing through a secured area. If he leaves that area, then the reverse is true. Otherwise, people would need a visa every time they changed planes in a routine stop in any random country.

So I'm not sure (don't think) that his stop in Russia was officially entering the country as a matter of practicality. I don't think that he or you or I would have to prove anything or grease any palms to make a change of planes in virtually any country as we all often do when we travel. I'm not sure that his passport is even needed except when he boards originally (Hong Kong) and then ends his trip to go through customs at his final destination.

I could be wrong because I'm only going on personal experience of having passed through a lot of countries and airports en-route to somewhere else.