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I guess I’m one of those easily misled sheep who has been cowed (sheeped?) by government propaganda. Or maybe it’s possible to disapprove of Snowden not as “a

I guess I’m one of those easily misled sheep who has been cowed (sheeped?) by government propaganda. Or maybe it’s possible to disapprove of Snowden not as “a plant or a terrorist” but as an unwitting accomplice or a useful idiot who chose to make classified information public in a way that was extraordinarily favorable to what were obviously (even in 2013) two of the most repressive regimes in the world. Like, don’t flee to China after you supposedly blew the whistle to highlight abuses of government surveillance. And never ever transit through Russia! If Snowden had given 1% as much thought to factors like that as he had to stealing and disseminating classified information, maybe it would be easier for me to believe that his motives were completely pure and/or he hadn’t fallen under the sway of foreign intelligence services. Instead, the most charitable assessment I can give him is that he’s a guy who’s not nearly as bright as he thinks he is who got in way, way over his head. I have a hell of a lot more respect for Chelsea Manning and Reality Winner than I do Snowden.

dijit 3y ago
Firstly; I want to mention how extremely difficult it is to admit that you've been misled. It requires basically removing all stigma from being conceivably wrong then coldly looking at the facts. Most people simply cannot not do this as it triggers the same sections in the brain as a pain response; they will instead simply pick a side (usually the first one they hear) and not alter their opinion much. So if you are able to coldly assess the facts and you come up to the same conclusion - then I applaud you, that's more than most can do. However, some minor facts: 1) He was in Hong Kong when he blew the whistle, which as much China as Puerto Rico is the USA - its a special administrative region, there is a strict border when travelling to Szhenzen. 2) Whats your transit strategy if the US is trying to get you? Finally; that something is nice for an enemy doesn't mean that it shouldn't see the light of day, for example if your favourite fast food owner rapes a bunch of women but the company he represents is basically the only thing standing up to a big chain, well, unfortunately, you have to own up to it; not doing so is worse for everyone, including you as you are now complicit. Frankly: Laws were broken and the governments of the allied countries (colloquially: 5Eyes) should petition the law to be changed if that's what they require and it should go through our democratic system. You cant claim to be a democracy and then not permit your democratically elected leaders oversight or intentionally mislead them under oath, as General Alexander has knowingly proven to have done in the leaks.
- throwaway2990 3y ago
  > its a special administrative region, there is a strict border when travelling to Szhenzen. It /was/ a special…
0xDEF 3y ago
>Reality Winner Interesting how few of Snowden's and Assange's fanboys care about RW. Maybe because her leaks proved Russian meddling in US elections?
mjan22640 3y ago
When the gang you uncovered is going to prosecute you, you take measures to protect yourself.

dijit 3y ago

Firstly; I want to mention how extremely difficult it is to admit that you've been misled. It requires basically removing all stigma from being conceivably wrong then coldly looking at the facts. Most people simply cannot not do this as it triggers the same sections in the brain as a pain response; they will instead simply pick a side (usually the first one they hear) and not alter their opinion much. So if you are able to coldly assess the facts and you come up to the same conclusion - then I applaud you, that's more than most can do. However, some minor facts: 1) He was in Hong Kong when he blew the whistle, which as much China as Puerto Rico is the USA - its a special administrative region, there is a strict border when travelling to Szhenzen. 2) Whats your transit strategy if the US is trying to get you? Finally; that something is nice for an enemy doesn't mean that it shouldn't see the light of day, for example if your favourite fast food owner rapes a bunch of women but the company he represents is basically the only thing standing up to a big chain, well, unfortunately, you have to own up to it; not doing so is worse for everyone, including you as you are now complicit. Frankly: Laws were broken and the governments of the allied countries (colloquially: 5Eyes) should petition the law to be changed if that's what they require and it should go through our democratic system. You cant claim to be a democracy and then not permit your democratically elected leaders oversight or intentionally mislead them under oath, as General Alexander has knowingly proven to have done in the leaks.

throwaway2990 3y ago
> its a special administrative region, there is a strict border when travelling to Szhenzen. It /was/ a special…

0xDEF 3y ago

>Reality Winner Interesting how few of Snowden's and Assange's fanboys care about RW. Maybe because her leaks proved Russian meddling in US elections?

mjan22640 3y ago

When the gang you uncovered is going to prosecute you, you take measures to protect yourself.