By By Anne Sewell Jun 27, 2013 in World Quito - Ecuador is facing heavy criticism in the US media for potentially granting political asylum to NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. Ecuador's President Rafael Correa has responded with scalding online remarks. "Washington Post accused Ecuador of double standard. Do you realize the power of the international press?" Correa asked. “They’ve managed to focus attention on Snowden and on the ‘wicked’ countries that ‘support’ him, making us forget the terrible things against the US people and the whole world that he denounced.” “The world order isn’t only unjust, it’s immoral,” he added. The Washington Post blog accused Correa of double standards in the whistleblower case, by considering offering Snowden asylum and protection from prosecution over US espionage charges. The post further lashed out against legislation recently adopted in Ecuador, stating that it diminishes freedom of press. It further stated that Ecuador is profiting from duty-free trade with the US, all the while criticizing the policies of Washington. "I wonder if Snowden chose Russia or China for assistance because they are such bastions of Internet freedom," Kerry said sarcastically. Punishment for bad behavior: Senator Robert Menendez, heading the Foreign Relations Committee in the Senate, has already said such a move would hurt Ecuador’s international trade, which he says is highly dependent on export to the US. "Our government will not reward countries for bad behavior," Menendez said, warning that he would target two trade programs with Ecuador for accepting the NSA leaker. Menendez further said he would lead the effort to prevent renewal of Ecuador's duty-free access to US markets under the Generalized System of Preferences program and that he would block renewal of the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA). It seems that both programs expire at the end of July 2013. Correa responded on Wednesday to a Washington Post editorial which appeared on Tuesday, by saying:"Washington Post accused Ecuador of double standard. Do you realize the power of the international press?" Correa asked.“They’ve managed to focus attention on Snowden and on the ‘wicked’ countries that ‘support’ him, making us forget the terrible things against the US people and the whole world that he denounced.”“The world order isn’t only unjust, it’s immoral,” he added.The Washington Post blog accused Correa of double standards in the whistleblower case, by considering offering Snowden asylum and protection from prosecution over US espionage charges. The blog referred to the Ecuadoran president as "the autocratic leader of a tiny, impoverished" country with an ambition to replace the late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez as “the hemisphere’s preeminent anti-US demagogue."The post further lashed out against legislation recently adopted in Ecuador, stating that it diminishes freedom of press. It further stated that Ecuador is profiting from duty-free trade with the US, all the while criticizing the policies of Washington. Similar rhetoric was heard earlier in the week from US Secretary of State John Kerry, who admonished China and Russia for failing to apprehend Snowden and extradite him for trial in America."I wonder if Snowden chose Russia or China for assistance because they are such bastions of Internet freedom," Kerry said sarcastically. It turns out there is a cost to non-compliance to US demands, as US officials are now mounting pressure on Ecuador over its stand with Snowden.Senator Robert Menendez, heading the Foreign Relations Committee in the Senate, has already said such a move would hurt Ecuador’s international trade, which he says is highly dependent on export to the US."Our government will not reward countries for bad behavior," Menendez said, warning that he would target two trade programs with Ecuador for accepting the NSA leaker.Menendez further said he would lead the effort to prevent renewal of Ecuador's duty-free access to US markets under the Generalized System of Preferences program and that he would block renewal of the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA). It seems that both programs expire at the end of July 2013. More about Ecuador, Rafael Correa, edward snowden, snowden, nsa whistleblower More news from Ecuador Rafael Correa edward snowden snowden nsa whistleblower Washington post Blog Editorial