5 ms·

What do you expect from him? Get sent to Gulag? Or end up in a ditch by pissing on the only country on planet where he could probably remain alive? And for what

What do you expect from him? Get sent to Gulag? Or end up in a ditch by pissing on the only country on planet where he could probably remain alive? And for what? A country that elected Trump? Or a western world for whom Ukraine carnage is crisis but pulling the trigger too many times to obliterate a suspected bad guy along with dozens of confirmed innocents civilian adults and children and call it calculated decision “in the interest of citizens of a white nation”?

bdcravens 5y ago
He could take bold actions against the nation that he lives in and then flee for safety.
- dgellow 5y ago
  What do you mean by “flee for safety”? Do you think he’s in Russia by choice? It’s not the case, he cannot leave the country.
  - blitzar 5y ago
    He is free to leave Russia any time he likes.
    - netsharc 5y ago
      Which of the following would you put money on: 1) that if he goes to the airport and there'll be FSB/police that will refuse him boarding and arrest him; or 2) that he'll be free to board and fly? If you pick 2), which would you put money on: 3) that he'll be free to walk out of the airport at the destination country; or 4) that he'll be met by Interpol agents that'll arrest him and start the process of delivering him to USA?
      - robbedpeter 5y ago
        I bet they'd send marines to recover him and his family if he asked. They'd get disappeared to a US black site and lost to history, but barring that, he's pretty much fenced in. The fog of war and chaos might provide him an opportunity to escape to Europe, and from there to Africa and maybe South America. Whatever regime replaces Putin might end up being friendly to the US and give up Snowden as a gesture. I don't envy Snowden's choices. It could be his last opportunity to escape to someplace where he can raise his kid in peace.
        jonnybgood 5y ago
        > I bet they'd send marines to recover him and his family if he asked. They'd get disappeared to a US black site and lost to history, but barring that, he's pretty much fenced in. Unnecessary hyperbole. There have been several in the US intelligence community’s history who committed much more grave offenses than Snowden. They went to trial and are serving time in a federal prison.
      - blitzar 5y ago
        2) that he'll be free to board and fly? - thus he is free to leave Russia whenever he likes. Freedom to do something does not mean that there will be no consequences to doing that thing. Interpol isnt what you think it is: there are no Interpol agents out there carrying guns, breaking down doors, and arresting suspects, nor does it operate in every country of the world. Nevertheless, depending upon the country he travels to, around 70% of the world, he would be detained. However, as the holder of a shiny new Russian passport there are quite a few destinations he could travel to with no problems.
        netsharc 5y ago
        > 2) that he'll be free to board and fly? - thus he is free to leave Russia whenever he likes. Well, OK, in my books you can get a medal for naivety. Obviously it's your speculation against mine, but I speculate he's sort of a "soft hostage" of Putin's, because Putin could give him up to the US government to trade for something worthwhile. And if Snowden's not always being monitored by FSB/police, then the Putin regime really is incompetent.
        blitzar 5y ago
        What is the 'value' of Snowden to the US? In order to exchange him and trade for something worthwhile he would need to have a value. I suggest that the value of Snowden to the US is negative. Not even 0, but massively massively negative. Putin would love Snowden to get on a plane, land on US soil and be met with the full SWAT squad and cuffed face down on the tarmac infront of the worlds media. They could even have the helicopters following the car down the motorway; cue logo, theme tune and hours back in America clock for the 24 hour rolling news coverage. We can then have a sham show trial and be sentenced to 1000 years or the death penalty for treason. Every document being dragged through the courts, or even better a super secret trial would be one of the biggest propaganda wins for the anti-US part of the world, including but not limited to Russia, in the entire history of mankind. The US doesn't want Snowden back, the whole saga is long forgotten and rehashing it is nothing but bad news. No President with a brain wants the problem, Snowden is literally a third rail, instant death to America. I expect Snowden is well looked after by the FSB and kept safe, but not too comfortable in Russia.
    - gwicks56 5y ago
      "He is free to leave Russia any time he likes." That's not true is it? I thought the state department cancelled his passport?
      - blitzar 5y ago
        He could just use his russian passport.
    - Alekhine 5y ago
      And go where? How many countries do you think will not turn him over to the US?
      - blitzar 5y ago
        Start with all the countries that sanctioned Russian billionaires are flying in and out of on their private jets for a list to start with.
  - bdcravens 5y ago
    So he's incarcerated either way, and his current jail just has better recreational facilities?

bdcravens 5y ago

He could take bold actions against the nation that he lives in and then flee for safety.

dgellow 5y ago
What do you mean by “flee for safety”? Do you think he’s in Russia by choice? It’s not the case, he cannot leave the country.
- blitzar 5y ago
  He is free to leave Russia any time he likes.
  - netsharc 5y ago
    Which of the following would you put money on: 1) that if he goes to the airport and there'll be FSB/police that will refuse him boarding and arrest him; or 2) that he'll be free to board and fly? If you pick 2), which would you put money on: 3) that he'll be free to walk out of the airport at the destination country; or 4) that he'll be met by Interpol agents that'll arrest him and start the process of delivering him to USA?
    - robbedpeter 5y ago
      I bet they'd send marines to recover him and his family if he asked. They'd get disappeared to a US black site and lost to history, but barring that, he's pretty much fenced in. The fog of war and chaos might provide him an opportunity to escape to Europe, and from there to Africa and maybe South America. Whatever regime replaces Putin might end up being friendly to the US and give up Snowden as a gesture. I don't envy Snowden's choices. It could be his last opportunity to escape to someplace where he can raise his kid in peace.
      - jonnybgood 5y ago
        > I bet they'd send marines to recover him and his family if he asked. They'd get disappeared to a US black site and lost to history, but barring that, he's pretty much fenced in. Unnecessary hyperbole. There have been several in the US intelligence community’s history who committed much more grave offenses than Snowden. They went to trial and are serving time in a federal prison.
    - blitzar 5y ago
      2) that he'll be free to board and fly? - thus he is free to leave Russia whenever he likes. Freedom to do something does not mean that there will be no consequences to doing that thing. Interpol isnt what you think it is: there are no Interpol agents out there carrying guns, breaking down doors, and arresting suspects, nor does it operate in every country of the world. Nevertheless, depending upon the country he travels to, around 70% of the world, he would be detained. However, as the holder of a shiny new Russian passport there are quite a few destinations he could travel to with no problems.
      - netsharc 5y ago
        > 2) that he'll be free to board and fly? - thus he is free to leave Russia whenever he likes. Well, OK, in my books you can get a medal for naivety. Obviously it's your speculation against mine, but I speculate he's sort of a "soft hostage" of Putin's, because Putin could give him up to the US government to trade for something worthwhile. And if Snowden's not always being monitored by FSB/police, then the Putin regime really is incompetent.
        blitzar 5y ago
        What is the 'value' of Snowden to the US? In order to exchange him and trade for something worthwhile he would need to have a value. I suggest that the value of Snowden to the US is negative. Not even 0, but massively massively negative. Putin would love Snowden to get on a plane, land on US soil and be met with the full SWAT squad and cuffed face down on the tarmac infront of the worlds media. They could even have the helicopters following the car down the motorway; cue logo, theme tune and hours back in America clock for the 24 hour rolling news coverage. We can then have a sham show trial and be sentenced to 1000 years or the death penalty for treason. Every document being dragged through the courts, or even better a super secret trial would be one of the biggest propaganda wins for the anti-US part of the world, including but not limited to Russia, in the entire history of mankind. The US doesn't want Snowden back, the whole saga is long forgotten and rehashing it is nothing but bad news. No President with a brain wants the problem, Snowden is literally a third rail, instant death to America. I expect Snowden is well looked after by the FSB and kept safe, but not too comfortable in Russia.
  - gwicks56 5y ago
    "He is free to leave Russia any time he likes." That's not true is it? I thought the state department cancelled his passport?
    - blitzar 5y ago
      He could just use his russian passport.
  - Alekhine 5y ago
    And go where? How many countries do you think will not turn him over to the US?
    - blitzar 5y ago
      Start with all the countries that sanctioned Russian billionaires are flying in and out of on their private jets for a list to start with.
- bdcravens 5y ago
  So he's incarcerated either way, and his current jail just has better recreational facilities?