4 ms·

Maybe a silly question, but is there any reason he couldn't have flown to Moscow in the first place?

by jere 13y ago

avar 13y ago
Snowden himself answered this here, the question is about Iceland but the answer is applicable to Moscow too: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/17/edward-snowden-nsa-files-whistleblower#block-51bf2793e4b05a46aeeb319a http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/17/edward-snowden-n...
quackerhacker 13y ago
Every decision Snowden has made has been very well thought out.... 1. He pushed US media (WaPo) to publish by going to UK media (TheGuardian). 2. He released with reservation and regard to security, not all docs were published. 3. He voluntarily disclosed his identity for protection...if the public knows him, it'll be awkward, if he just disappeared. 4. [my opinon] He went to Hong Kong (specifically HK, not China), because it is still somewhat it's own country, yet a formidable adversary to the US through China's protection. Also, it's unbeknownst to us, if he released more information while in HK. 5. Russia recently had captured a CIA agent (although I thought it more comical then serious), and no extradition to the US. Again, another formidable adversary to the US, and it may have been a red flag for an intel agent to go to Russia. By formidable, I imply that the US will not send a seal team in to these territories that have the military capability to strike back (I won't say the name - but Pakistan is what I'm implying here).
- Nrsolis 13y ago
  Uh, someone should learn the difference between "clandestine" and "covert". The USA is most definitely capable of undertaking operations in "denied areas." edit: typo.
  - pointernil 13y ago
    No way to know this today, right? Any pointers to cladestine operations in russia since 1990 available? Those could help to debunk the claims that certain kind of those "cladestine every think is possible" ops are just marketing.
    - deweerdt 13y ago
      http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2324303/Russia-seizes-CIA-agent-Moscow-US-diplomat-arrested-suspicion-spying.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2324303/Russia-seize...
    - Nrsolis 13y ago
      There is a great and current book describing our current posture. Check out "Dirty Wars" for a wonderful intro to our secret wars all over the world. JSOC is operating in many, many countries where we do not have active wars going. And, dear reader, JSOC is not the CIA.
pdq 13y ago
The NSA has to be given advance notice of international travel. There's no way they are going to grant him going on a vacation to Moscow. Instead, he claimed Hong Kong had a treatment available for his epilepsy, which he used as cover to get NSA approval there. From there he knew he could buy time to figure out a full plan to get to his final destination, Iceland. It looks like Venezuela may be another interim country before he gets there.
- jere 13y ago
  >Instead, he claimed Hong Kong had a treatment available for his epilepsy, which he used as cover to get NSA approval there. Oh, that is the first I've heard of that. He never mentioned it in his Q&A.

Maybe a silly question, but is there any reason he couldn't have flown to Moscow in the first place?

by jere 13y ago

Maybe a silly question, but is there any reason he couldn't have flown to Moscow in the first place?

avar 13y ago

Snowden himself answered this here, the question is about Iceland but the answer is applicable to Moscow too: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/17/edward-snowden-nsa-files-whistleblower#block-51bf2793e4b05a46aeeb319a http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/17/edward-snowden-n...

quackerhacker 13y ago

Every decision Snowden has made has been very well thought out.... 1. He pushed US media (WaPo) to publish by going to UK media (TheGuardian). 2. He released with reservation and regard to security, not all docs were published. 3. He voluntarily disclosed his identity for protection...if the public knows him, it'll be awkward, if he just disappeared. 4. [my opinon] He went to Hong Kong (specifically HK, not China), because it is still somewhat it's own country, yet a formidable adversary to the US through China's protection. Also, it's unbeknownst to us, if he released more information while in HK. 5. Russia recently had captured a CIA agent (although I thought it more comical then serious), and no extradition to the US. Again, another formidable adversary to the US, and it may have been a red flag for an intel agent to go to Russia. By formidable, I imply that the US will not send a seal team in to these territories that have the military capability to strike back (I won't say the name - but Pakistan is what I'm implying here).

Nrsolis 13y ago
Uh, someone should learn the difference between "clandestine" and "covert". The USA is most definitely capable of undertaking operations in "denied areas." edit: typo.
- pointernil 13y ago
  No way to know this today, right? Any pointers to cladestine operations in russia since 1990 available? Those could help to debunk the claims that certain kind of those "cladestine every think is possible" ops are just marketing.
  - deweerdt 13y ago
    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2324303/Russia-seizes-CIA-agent-Moscow-US-diplomat-arrested-suspicion-spying.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2324303/Russia-seize...
  - Nrsolis 13y ago
    There is a great and current book describing our current posture. Check out "Dirty Wars" for a wonderful intro to our secret wars all over the world. JSOC is operating in many, many countries where we do not have active wars going. And, dear reader, JSOC is not the CIA.

pdq 13y ago

The NSA has to be given advance notice of international travel. There's no way they are going to grant him going on a vacation to Moscow. Instead, he claimed Hong Kong had a treatment available for his epilepsy, which he used as cover to get NSA approval there. From there he knew he could buy time to figure out a full plan to get to his final destination, Iceland. It looks like Venezuela may be another interim country before he gets there.

jere 13y ago
>Instead, he claimed Hong Kong had a treatment available for his epilepsy, which he used as cover to get NSA approval there. Oh, that is the first I've heard of that. He never mentioned it in his Q&A.