Foreign Policy

Government security agencies ban China's Lenovo computers for fear of backdoors. Apparently only NSA is allowed to have backdoors.

This is a great spook story. A CIA agent named Lady kidnaps a guy, does a terrible job of covering his trail,

"His Agency associates proved to be the crew that couldn’t spook straight. They left behind such a traceable trail of five-star-hotel and restaurant bills, charges on false credit cards, and unencrypted cell phone calls that the Italian government tracked them down, identified them, and charged 23 of them, Lady included, with kidnapping."

Then disappears.

"Lady fled Italy, leaving behind a multimillion-dollar villa near Turin meant for his retirement. (It was later confiscated and sold to make restitution payments to Nasr.)"

The CIA must pay really well. He prosecuted in absentia in Italy, and the other day he was captured. The US grabbed him out of Panama, then he disappeared again. Compare that to the plight of NSA whistleblower Snowden.

"Don’t make the mistake, however, of comparing Washington’s positions on Snowden and Lady and labeling the Obama administration’s words and actions "hypocrisy.""

That's because the Obama administration, like all governments, operate out of pure self-interest. They're very consistent that way.

Rumor has it Russian President Putin may grant Snowden at least temporary asylum. AG Holder was probably forced to promise the US would neither torture nor execute Snowden to stop this from happening. Government has turned our world upside-down.

"Russia occupies the high moral ground, helped immeasurably by the behavior of the Bush and Obama administrations, which have squandered the moral advantage the U.S. used to enjoy."

This is what I mean by turning our would upside-down.

There are two fundamental problems with empire. First, can never last. It's impossible to oppress people forever. Eventually, either the oppressor wipes out the oppressee, or the oppressee ousts the oppressor. Second, there's lots of money to be made from looting in the short term. That means no matter how impossible empire is to maintain, looters have great incentive to build empires for personal gain.

"there is a chance we may see Putin take Snowden to asylum in Latin America on his own plane, overflying Austria, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and Panama en route."

I doubt Putin would want to embarrass the US that badly. That could sour relations for a generation. But it would be entertaining.