Biggest issue for me with Snowden is what he didnt publicly disclose or withheld with the intention of bargaining with the he Chinese and Russian governments.

Biggest issue for me with Snowden is what he didnt publicly disclose or withheld with the intention of bargaining with the he Chinese and Russian governments. It's no coincidence that his escape route took him through the only nations in the world that would not ask how high of the US told them to jump. Were the Chinese and Russians able to obtain significant advantage from whatever privileged info Snowden fed them? Most likely. Just as the America would do if the situation was reversed. What option did Snowden have though? I certainly can't fault him for basing the seriousness of the consequences on what happened to Chelsea Manning or on Assange's situation. Truth is if the US considers you an enemy, spy, traitor etc you no longer have any rights and will be tortured.