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This is what US wanted. To corner him into taking asylum in a country like Russia. This turns Snowden into a spy in minds of many Americans than a whistleblower
by salimmadjd 13y ago
This is what US wanted. To corner him into taking asylum in a country like Russia. This turns Snowden into a spy in minds of many Americans than a whistleblower (or I like to call public informant).
The stories on media will focus more on, "Spy or whistleblower" instead of domestic spying by NSA. Future whistleblowers are discouraged and the nature of spying is off the front page. Mission accomplished!
- euroclydon 13y agoWell, it's effective. If the end result of Snowden's choice to take 3-4 NSA laptops into the two largest strategic competitor nations of the United States is nothing more than exposing the domestic surveillance, then an argument can be made for him being a noble whistle blower, but if the Russians and Chinese image those laptops and it costs lives, then Snowden's choice not to remain in the U.S. and blow the whistle will be viewed as cowardice.
- JonSkeptic 13y agoSomething to consider as well: if Russian or Chinese intelligence agencies image those laptops and it does not cost lives, but causes the failure of many ongoing operations, is he still a coward?
- mtgx 13y agoAre you asking if it would be a bad thing if spying operations that should've never happened, get ended?
- theorique 13y agoDepends on what operations. Domestic: hero Foreign: traitor
- mcantelon 13y agoThe operations of an organization sketchy enough to lie to congress and ignore the Constitution might be operations that really should fail.
- antocv 13y agoIf he wanted to do damage he could, you have to look at the intent of peoples actions. He was forced by the intent of US government to be where he is now, that is cowardice by the US government to withdraw his passport, force a president on the ground and search his plane, all for giving a few powerpoint presentations to journalists! Had the US governemnt and NSA/CIA cowards not acted like the Stalinists the are, Snowden could still have been in USA, but thats not a place where he can talk freely, thats not a place where he can feel safe and if you believe otherwise you must have your head up in the sand for the last few months. He needs the laptops/the information, thats the only thing keeping him from a good dose of polonium.
- lordCarbonFiber 13y agoThe problem is by taking those laptops Snowden moved from being a whistleblower (a status that can be protected by laws and at least gives him a case in court) to an explict lawbreaker in the fact that US has strict export control laws governing protected data. Now, by means of either niavaty, cowardance, or ignorance, Snowden cannot avoid jail time in the US even assuming he isn't procecuted for leaking the information to The Guardian. Publicly leaking the information while going on trial in the US would have lead to people actually talking about the leaked information instead of focusing on the man as well as giving him a legal platform to stand on. I can't speak for Snowden's motivations be it cowardice, stupidity, or some disillusionment, but by leaving the country he hamstrung his own legitimacy and made it very difficult for the relevant information to be acted upon or even fully exposed.
- antocv 13y agoBy leaving the country he is still alive, in freedom and able to see the sun. Do you honestly really think he would have received a fair trial that would have begun now and not after 2-3 years of solitary confinement, only having the memory of a day? A fair trail. USA is not the freedom country you so highly think of, these events should be enough for you to reevaluate it. He still hasnt leaked any damaging information mind you, no matter what is on those laptops and if its safe or not, he has so far made interviews and given a powerpoint to newspapers. USA and most western democracies are countries where you cannot avoid jail if the government wants you there, you too are a criminal - copyright infrigement, and what no, they'll always find something, which is kind of the problem, you're a criminal but those who are elite criminals dont face jail. When will NSA chief face a trail for lying to congress and breaking 4th amandement? When will NSA employee face a trial and jail time for going above his clearance and snooping on other peoples lives?
- mcantelon 13y ago>If the end result of Snowden's choice to take 3-4 NSA laptops into the two largest strategic competitor nations of the United States is nothing more than exposing the domestic surveillance There's been nothing to suggest he has any intention other than exposing the NSA's illegal mass surveillance.
- deleted 13y ago[deleted]
- andrewljohnson 13y agoThe US wants him in custody, and they think he's a criminal. I don't credit the administration for a devious plot here. The political staff may be agonizing over talking points, but the real chess game is about catching the king. I don't think Obama and Putin were chatting about smearing Snowden, but rather about what the US will give Russia if Snowden is sent home, or prevented from going to South America.
- ianhawes 13y agoExactly. And as evident by the US/Russian spy swap in 2010 [1] a transfer isn't out of the question. In the coming months, we may even see several undercover SVR operatives rounded up in the United States as bargaining chips. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegals_Program http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegals_Program
- notahacker 13y agoIs Snowden really that valuable to the US? Prosecuting him isn't going to be a PR coup in the way killing Osama Bin Laden or prosecuting war criminals is (quite the opposite in fact; it can only be damaging to the US govt image inone way or another), he doesn't know anything the US doesn't already know, and the "don't give away our secrets unless you want to rot in Russia" message is well and truly sent.
- voidlogic 13y ago>Prosecuting him isn't going to be a PR coup in the way killing Osama Bin Laden or prosecuting war criminals is This; ironically prosecuting Snowden hurts the administrations relationship with subsections of both parties.
- devcpp 13y agoIt's not a PR coup, they want to discourage possible whistleblowers by telling them: "if you reveal big stuff about us, we'll hunt you anywhere you go and eventually we'll find you and you'll pay".
- 13y ago
- MatthewPhillips 13y ago> The stories on media will focus more on, "Spy or whistleblower" instead of domestic spying by NSA. Future whistleblowers are discouraged and the nature of spying is off the front page. Mission accomplished! That's already happened. I haven't heard much more than a peep about NSA spying since the Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego story took over.
- mark_l_watson 13y agoMatthew, that is true for news in the USA but if you browse international news stories there is LOTS of coverage about the leaks, how that affects other counties, business, etc.
- mcantelon 13y agoFocusing on Snowden's flight is how domestic media can appear to cover the issue without actually educatng people. Foreign media isn't havning any difficulty continuing to talk about the underlying issues.
- brown9-2 13y agoHow did they force him to take a one-way flight to Moscow?
- lrei 13y agoMoscow was not his destination. Just the connection. He had to stay in Moscow because the US revoked his passport before he could board the next plane.
- brown9-2 13y agoMy point is that he could have chosen to fly through a dozen other countries not named Russia. No one forced him to choose that connection (or to participate in the fake flight to Havana).
- baby 13y ago> This is what US wanted. To corner him into taking asylum in a country like Russia I really doubt it. This is not at all a best case scenario for the US. Still better than China though.
- achughes 13y agoIt really discredits any political position he was/is trying to take. Thats the real advantage of having him in Russia.