Snowden.

17A was unoccupied.

It becomes our disagreeable duty to report that journalists trailing Edward Snowden bought tickets on the Moscow to Havana Express and couldn't get off the plane upon discovery that Edward was not "amongst" them. Pencils: would you say hola for me to Pablo "El Poeta?"  He-he-he. Hoo-boy, I bet they're mad.

Havana-bound reporters are the least of the upsets today.

There they are, so casual, so relaxed, so friendly. What was it, just a couple of weeks ago right? In La-la land it was all good. A "reset" in Sino-American relations.

Hmm, cancel the reset. "Exasperated." "Infuriating." "Embarrassment." "Frustration." Those are from one article characterizing how the Obamas feel. The upset seems more directed toward China. "We see this as a setback in terms of efforts to build mutual trust," said Obama spokesman Jay Carney. Setback, not reset. At least there's "set" in common!

Who amongst us cannot validate the Obamas feelings? Well...

This site is on record as feeling Edward Snowden a hero. I didn't want him arrested and prosecuted. With that as "bottom line" I'm not exasperated, infuriated, etc. 

The bottom line isn't the only line.  Here's another line: I wish the US and China, my two countries of interest, to have good relations. That's a line, right? Sure! I like pablum. Here, here, let me give you some too. China doesn't trust the US (And why should it after PRISM?) and thinks Obama is weak. His administration didn't stop Snowden from going to Hong Kong, charged him incorrectly (espionage) and didn't revoke his passport timely, thus giving to Hong Kong (China) a perfect set of circumstances to allow Russia to take him.

Obama should never have tried to arrest Snowden. Obama should have said what Mao Zedong said when Lin Biao defected: "Let him go."