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This is a flimsy, transparent propaganda technique. Decry the person for not "speaking out" about some unrelated issue then act as though that has settled the d
by throwawaylinux 5y ago
This is a flimsy, transparent propaganda technique. Decry the person for not "speaking out" about some unrelated issue then act as though that has settled the debate. Their point is invalid, and anybody questioning that edict must also be a collaborator who supports that unrelated issue (and is therefore similarly invalidated and must not be allowed to speak). Much the same as when Assange was demonized for not "speaking out" exactly the necessary-but-unspecified amount against Republicans when wikileaks published damaging things about the Democrats (after having just spent years exposing Bush's war scandals, among other things).
I'm not accusing you of deliberately spreading propaganda, perhaps just repeating what I suppose must seem like an important and logically sound rebuttal to the enemy, known Russian agent Snowden.
Why would Snowden have anything to say about Russia? Do you think he knows or could say something that has not been said by a thousand others? Do you believe he would have knowledge and experience of the state security apparatus in Russia that would give him a unique and important perspective on things? Do you think he is in a better position to criticize Russia than other people?
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]
- inpdx 5y ago"unrelated issue"? How could it possibly be unrelated?
- throwawaylinux 5y agoYes, the issue in which Snowden is commenting on here and has expertise and a unique position to offer insight into is the US intelligence apparatus, which is unrelated to Russia, France, or Bolivia in this context.
- inpdx 5y agoJust because he has no expertise in it doesn't make it unrelated. If you're living a country that regularly murders journalists, that's relevant to taking positions on journalism in other countries.
- throwawaylinux 5y agoNot being related makes it unrelated though.
- andreskytt 5y agoIndeed, why he would say anything about a place where he lives and that provides him with both income and legal protection. Snowden is not my enemy and I’m not spreading propaganda. All I’m saying is that a person under complete control of one country does not offer a trustworthy perspective of the strategic adversary of said country. He might be right, he might be wrong but you and I will never know if and how deeply he is being influenced.
- throwawaylinux 5y agoThat's the same for everybody, nobody is above suspicion. Snowden exposed the US intelligence apparatus at grave risk to himself before he even knew he would get stuck in Russia. He already has much more credibility than the journalists and news corporations who are being deeply influenced by US government and intelligence agencies. As I said, it's a propaganda technique. Do we screech at US journalists about why aren't they denouncing the US every time they publish a story about Russia? No.