We learned from a previous post, agents of the United States government can do what they want, when they want. However, they can’t do it where they want, at least not in Iceland. The leaders of Iceland, who also had the hutzpah to say “no” to their banksters, have expulsed FBI agents who entered Iceland unannounced and were spying on citizens of Iceland.
Is it asking too much of our Canadian leadership to do the same, especially as it regards the residents and citizens of Canada and their banking information?
Russia has rather strict visa laws and normally holders of US passports, such as Edward Snowden, must have a visa to board an aircraft flying to Russia. However, passengers who are transiting via Russia can stay in transit without a visa at the airport terminal for up to 24 hours:
“While waiting for a connecting flight, foreign citizens can stay in Sheremetyevo for 24 hours with no Russian visa issued. The passenger should have a ticket from the airlines for the next flight with the places confirmed.”
http://www.svo.aero/en/transit/int-int/
The BBC video report also mentions the fact that he is in transit and has not been allowed to enter Russia:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23023576
The media outlets today are claiming that Snowden has been bringing data along with him to Russia and China and etc. I guess he works really fast — gives spy info while he is sleeping in Moscow in the Ecuadorean embassy.
@ Tim: Thanks for the FlightAware links and your analysis. Russian RT.com reports the following today:
“Aeroflot flight SU150, leaves Moscow at 14:04 local time (11:04 GMT) and will fly through US airspace a couple of kilometers from the coast of New York on its way to Havana, reported Russian news agency Interfax, citing a source in Sheremetevo airport air traffic control. Snowden has checked in for the flight and there are two seats under his name (17A and 17C), reports the Associated Press, citing Aeroflot.
…
The source added that US air traffic control can legally ground the plane and take Snowden into custody on charges of espionage, theft and conversion of government property. However, the pilot may change the course of the flight so as not to pass through American airspace.
“The pilot of the plane is within his rights to change the course of the flight and there should be enough fuel to do so,” said the source to Interfax.”
If Snowden is indeed on board, I would expect that he will avoid US airspace on this flight. Also, since Aeroflot is 51% owned by the Russian government, forcing it to land could cause a diplomatic incident beyond that involving a privately held airline.
http://rt.com/news/snowden-us-airspace-flight-extradition-145/
Live conference call and media questions on Snowden here…
http://rt.com/on-air/assange-snowden-asylum-ecuador/
US warns Moscow not to let Edward Snowden escape Russia
Confusion surrounds Snowden’s whereabouts as journalists report NSA whistleblower was not on plane bound for Havana
Aeroflot SU flight 150 has left US Airspace enroute Havana for landin in about 20 minutes. Bird’s eye view from Air Canada of entry into Cuban Airspace below(second half of the video clip).
I don’t know where Snowden is but this is kind of funny …
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57590753/reporters-chasing-edward-snowden-stranded-on-cuba-bound-plane/
“The continuing pursuit of elusive Edward Snowden left several journalists stranded at 30,000 feet after they boarded a plane from Moscow bound for Cuba – only to discover an empty seat booked in the NSA leaker’s name.”
NY Times finally picked up the story of the misconceived FBI visit to Iceland in August 2011. From today’s NY Times:
“In June 2011, Ogmundur Jonasson, Iceland’s minister of the interior at the time, received an urgent message from the authorities in the United States. It said that “there was an imminent attack on Icelandic government databases” by hackers, and that the F.B.I. would send agents to investigate, Mr. Jonasson said in a telephone interview.
But when “eight or nine” F.B.I. agents arrived in August, Mr. Jonasson said, he found that they were not investigating an imminent attack, but gathering material on WikiLeaks, the activist group that has been responsible for publishing millions of confidential documents over the past three years, and that has many operatives in Iceland.
Mr. Jonasson asked the agents to leave, he said, because they had misrepresented the purpose of their visit.
The operation in Iceland was part of a wide-ranging investigation into WikiLeaks and its founder, Julian Assange, for their roles in the release of American military and diplomatic documents in 2010. The investigation has been quietly gathering material since at least October 2010, six months after the arrest of Pfc. Bradley Manning, the army enlistee who is accused of providing the bulk of the leaks.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/25/world/europe/wikileaks-back-in-news-never-left-us-radar.html
A Bloomberg/ Businessweek article on the FBI’s video efforts to inform and protect US college students while studying abroad:
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-04-15/f-dot-b-dot-i-dot-movie-warns-american-students-overseas-are-tempting-and-vulnerable-targets-of-chinese-spies
The link to the FBI web page includes:
“What can students do to protect themselves while studying abroad?
– Be skeptical of “money-for-nothing” offers and other opportunities that seem too good to be true, and be cautious of being offered free favors, especially those involving government processes such as obtaining visas, residence permits, and work papers.
– Minimize personal information you reveal about yourself, especially through social media.
– Minimize your contact with people who have questionable government affiliations or who you suspect might be engaged in criminal activity.
– Properly report any money or compensation you received while abroad on tax forms and other financial disclosure documents to ensure compliance with U.S. laws.”
To summarize, US college students shouldn’t talk to strangers while abroad and the money earned while working off-the-books as a shepherd in New Zealand is to be reported to the IRS upon return.