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So all of this postulating is based on the opinions of a KGB double agent dinosaur from the Cold War (Gordievsky)? We know what happens when news agencies start
by pvnick 13y ago
So all of this postulating is based on the opinions of a KGB double agent dinosaur from the Cold War (Gordievsky)? We know what happens when news agencies start spouting innuendo based on shaky claims by third parties [1]:
>In lieu of any evidence, the NYT circulated this obviously significant assertion by quoting what it called "two Western intelligence experts" who "worked for major government spy agencies". Those "experts" were not identified. The article then stated that these experts "said they believed that the Chinese government had managed to drain the contents of the four laptops that Mr. Snowden said he brought to Hong Kong"
This is the story now that's being put forth to try and discredit Snowden, that the information on his 4 laptops (media: "That's a lot of data!" groan), previously known only to the US government, has now found its way into the hands of either Chinese or Russian intelligence. Until I see some _actual_ evidence supporting that assertion, I'm not even going to entertain that possibility.
[1] http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jul/10/snowden-denies-information-russia-china http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jul/10/snowden-...
- brown9-2 13y agoI think it is highly disingenuous of Greenwald to be angry that a news organization is quoting anonymous sources for their opinion as 1) the original NYT article makes it very clear that it was just an opinion and 2) anonymous sources has very often been the bedrock of his own reporting (as in the original Verizon FISA story).
- Amadou 13y agoI think that is to confuse the form of something with the meaning of something. Anonymous sources for reports that are at odds with the powerful are anonymous for fear of retaliation if found out. Anonymous sources for reports that validate the powerful are anonymous for fear of discrediting "the message" if found out.
- pessimizer 13y agoWould you accept the opinion of the NYT about the NYT's use of anonymous sources, or would it be disingenuous of them to be upset about it? http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/22/opinion/22pubed.html?_r=0 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/22/opinion/22pubed.html?_r=0
- petegrif 13y agoI don't know why you are groaning. 4 laptops has to be a 'lot of data' surely? It stands to reason. It's four times as much as one laptop and that can be a lot these days. <double groan>