Snowden's only other option was to go back to the U.S. If you think he was hypocritical for not choosing that, fine -- make that case, and don't neglect to poin

Snowden's only other option was to go back to the U.S. If you think he was hypocritical for not choosing that, fine -- make that case, and don't neglect to point out how everyone with credibility as a whistleblower (Ellsberg, Drake) seems to disagree. But to end up in Russia as his only alternative was obviously not an endorsement of Russian policy. Calling that hypocritical is like criticizing someone for jumping out of a burning building. Did he revoke his own passport? Your other objection has a simple answer too: as Westerners it behooves us to get our own house in order. Suppose I told you "Our house is a mess, let's clean it up," and you became indignant and said, "Where are all the pithy insights about the neighbor down the street? Their living room is a pig sty!" That would be an absurd misdirection.