Venezuela Grants Snowden AsylumStephen Lendman Days earlier, President Nicolas Maduro said asylum would be seriously considered if sought. Snowden deserves a humanitarian medal, he added. If this young man is punished, nobody in the world will ever dare to tell the truth, he stressed. Hes a man of his word. Its official. Maduro granted Snowden asylum. He did so on Venezuelas Day of Independence. On April 10, 1810, the First Republic of Venezuela was established. Venezuelas War of Independence began. On July 5, 1811, Venezuela declared independence. Spanish colonial rule ended. Venezuela was its first American colony to break free. Doing so reflected Bolivars vision. He liberated half of South America. He advocated using national wealth responsibly, equitably and fairly. He fought against what he called the imperial curse to plague Latin America with misery in the name of liberty. Chavez was his modern-day incarnation. Maduro carries his torch. Doing so responsibly matters most. Hopefully hes up to the challenge. Chavez called him Venezuelas most capable administrator and politician. His leadership experience prepared him well. His credentials are impeccable. Venezuelas independence was short-lived. It lasted until July 25, 1812. Chavez restored Bolivarianism. Its institutionalized. It benefits all Venezuelans. It does so equitably and fairly. Americans are cheated. Theyre deprived. Theyre denied. Theyre persecuted. State terror is policy. Police state justice targets challengers. Neoliberal harshness punishes millions. Americans get force-fed austerity, growing poverty, high unemployment, and unaddressed homelessness and hunger. They get government of, by and for wealth, power and privilege alone. Theyre targeted for supporting right over wrong. Venezuelans enjoy government of, by and for everyone. National wealth is equitably shared. On July 5, Maduro acted responsibly, saying: I announce to the friendly governments of the world that we have decided to offer this statute of international humanitarian law to protect the young Snowden from the persecution that has been unleashed from the most powerful empire in the world. Venezuela isnt alone. Bolivia suggested asylum would be granted. On Friday, Nicaraguas Daniel Ortega said hell gladly receive Snowden. We are open, respectful of the right to asylum, and it is clear that if circumstances permit it, we would receive Snowden with pleasure and give him asylum here in Nicaragua, he said. On July 4, USASUR countries adopted the Cochabamba Declaration. Presidents of Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela, as well as delegations from Brazil, Chile and Peru reacted to France, Italy, Portugal and Spain denying Evo Morales airspace and landing rights. Their Declaration states: (2) We reject the actions that clearly violate norms and principles of international law, the inviolability of the heads of state. (3) We call on the governments of France, Portugal, Italy and Spain to explain the reasons for the decision to prevent the presidential plane from the Plurinational State of Bolivia from overflying through its airspace. (5) We support the complaint filed by the Plurinational State of Bolivia to the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for the serious violation of human rights and specific endangerment of the life of President Evo Morales; we also support the right of the Plurinational State of Bolivia to take all actions it deems necessary to the courts and relevant agencies. (6) We agreed to form a monitoring committee, entrusting the task to our foreign ministries to perform the actions necessary to shed light on the facts. Similarly, we call on the United Nations and regional organizations that have not done so yet, to make a pronouncement on this unjustifiable and arbitrary event. Cochabamba, July 4, 2013 On Friday, Maduro accused CIA officials of order(ing) to the air traffic authorities, which gave the alert that Snowden was going in (Morales) plane. He said Washington sent an extradition request. It came while Evo Morales was still in Moscow. Venezuela rejected it. Maduro was blunt and unequivocal saying: Washington has no moral authority to request the extradition of a young man who exposed the illegality under which the Pentagon, the CIA and the power of the US work. I reject any request they are making for extradition. He justifiably wants Luis Posada Carriles extradited. He conspired with Orlando Bosch. Theyre responsible for downing Cubana flight 455. In 1976, all 78 passengers aboard died. Bosch died in April 2011. Carriles remains free in Miami. Hes a former CIA operative. He admitted responsibility for numerous terrorist attacks. Washington protects him. It rejects Venezuelas request for justice. Bolivia got Americas extradition request. Its Foreign Ministry called it strange, illegal and unfounded. At the same time, Morales threatened to expel US diplomats and close Washingtons embassy, saying: Washington unjustifiably claims Snowden unlawfully released classified information and documents to international media outlets. It explained charges against him. They include: Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and $250,000 fine. Snowdens called a fugitive who is currently in Russia. It urged Venezuela to arrest and hold him in custody. It wants items he has seized. Maduro rejected Washingtons charges. He did so responsibly. He exposed lawless NSA spying. He told the truth, Maduro said. He deserves his just reward. Hes free at last. Or is he? Traveling safely to Venezuela wont be easy. His flight routes important. Attempting to overfly EU countries risks trouble. Flying east perhaps avoids it. A potentially safe route might be Moscow to Hong Kong, Beijing or Shanghai, then Caracas. He needs proper travel documents. Without identity papers, he cant cross international borders legally. Russia must approve. So must an airline carrier. Private non-commercial travels simpler. At issue is wholl cover costs either way. Traveling from Moscow to Caracas isnt cheap. Commercial flights are expensive. Cost exceeds $1,000. Wholl pay if Snowden cant? Wherever he goes, hes unsafe. Washingtons long arm threatens him. Obama wants him silenced, imprisoned or dead. Snowden knows and said so. Hell live every free day ahead like his last. Hopefully hell avoid US injustice. He deserves his just reward. Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.His new book is titled How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized Banking, Government Collusion and Class War.Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/ 