Three down, two to go...

Good evening reader,

Okay, I promise I won't be writing about Snowden every day, but I have been doing a lot of thinking on the subject this evening...

It seems to me, the Obama Administration has gone and upset almost every continent in a very short space of time. Since Edward Snowden leaked classified NSA information that proved it was regularly collecting phone and internet data from private users worldwide, America has done little to try and ease tensions with those countries affected. Making demands, throwing insults and failing to provide an adequate explanation to any of the countries it hacked into, has done little to garner sympathy with the country and has instead given Snowden greater credence than he might otherwise have done.

Let's begin with China. Now, I think it is fairly safe to say, if I was running a country I would definitely not try to pick a fight with China. I still can't fathom why Snowden chose Hong Kong as his hide out, however I have my suspicions (see previous post) but the clever cookie went to the Asian giant well prepared.

After releasing information about indiscriminate snooping, Snowden then went on to curry favour with the Chinese by releasing information that Tsinghua University, part of the backbone of the Chinese technological infrastructure though which millions of data about citizens pass through daily, was targeted by the National Security Agency as recently as January of this year. This may have been somewhat galling to hear considering the Obama administration has spent the last two years condemning Chinese cyber-spying. With the U.S-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue taking place next month which will focus heavily on cyber-relations between the two countries, I imagine there will be a room will be filled with smug men and red faces.

Attempting to sound like an authoritative parent, a Department of Justice spokesman told the world that America was 'dissappointed' with China and have repeatedly issued statements that they 'expect' Russia to extradite the whistle blower 'without delay'. Neither country have bent to these harsh, intimidating words. It is all to easy to imagine President Putin smile at America's attempt to flex it's muscles like a ten year old child, a lot of vim but not much substance.

It is clear that America feels as though they are untouchable; the strongest most valuable nation on the planet,  and seem to have forgotten they are dealing with Russia and China, countries with a fair amount of clout themselves. So whilst America attempts to sound like an authoritative parent to two of the most powerful countries in the world, they actually come across more like the hapless supply teacher at the end of term.

On top of this, the president of the European Parliament has demanded a full explanation relating to  allegations, supposedly made by Edward Snowden, that European embassies in the U.S had been bugged and computer networks had been hacked. Hmmm, you would think that in issues of bugging, America would have learned their lesson by now... 

As for Ecuador, what a wonderful stroke President Correa made in rejecting the renewal of trade benefits declaring valiantly that Ecuador does not accept blackmail and coercion from anyone. That the deal was unlikely to have been renewed prior to Snowden's asylum request in the Latin American country is besides the point. It was a master political move in my opinion, and, all we need now is for Snowden to join the ranks of Julian Assange and be approved political asylum, then Ecuador will be firmly on the humanitarian map. The champion of whistle blowers worldwide.

So that's Asia, Europe and of South America who are all pretty peeved with America's actions lately and you can really understand why. It's hardly surprising that a trip to Africa (coincidently, a continent that China is also pretty interested in) has involved touching moments such as visiting Nelson Mandela's prison cell or speaking with the ailing ex-president's family. It appears America is trying to win favour in Africa, a place Obama has called the 'next economic success story'. Perhaps they are trying to make stronger allies with the emerging continent because at this rate, America needs all the allies it can get.

One thing that has become apparent since Snowden came forward a month ago, is that America has been put on a platform and it's quite clear to all that America isn't as strong as it would like us to think it is. It's muscles are weak, pumped full of pomp and air.

American power is waning.

Lora

P.S. Come back and see me tomorrow when I will be writing about the political and social turmoil that is causing Egyptian upheaval a mere year after Mohamed Morsi took up the mantel of Presidency.