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I don't understand how he ever believes he could get a fair trial. I commend him for the belief in the rule of law that the sentiment represents, but he embarra

by CoreSet 12y ago

I don't understand how he ever believes he could get a fair trial. I commend him for the belief in the rule of law that the sentiment represents, but he embarrassed the world's most powerful intelligence establishment - you know, the people responsible for killing people who want to kill us in secretive ways. There's nothing I'd consider out of bounds for possible retaliation, not even a "heart attack" or "engine problems."

moe 12y ago
not even a "heart attack" or "engine problems." At this point, what would anyone gain from that?
- guard-of-terra 12y ago
  There is this idea that some people just have to retaliate, regardless of whether it is in their interest. They have to show they're still in the game - more important than near objectives in the said game. This may or may not apply to the situation.
- flurpitude 12y ago
  Revenge. http://www.buzzfeed.com/bennyjohnson/americas-spies-want-edward-snowden-dead http://www.buzzfeed.com/bennyjohnson/americas-spies-want-edw...
  - CoreSet 12y ago
    “I would love to put a bullet in his head,” one Pentagon official, a former special forces officer, said bluntly. “I do not take pleasure in taking another human beings life, having to do it in uniform, but he is single-handedly the greatest traitor in American history.” Chilling
    - bhayden 12y ago
      Also love how they are completely ignoring the people who have literally assassinated a president.
    - wtbob 12y ago
      It's not chilling; it's what Snowden deserves: a fair trial and a humane execution. He's a despicable traitor, having violated his oath and aided our enemies in wartime. He's not a hero; he's a villain.
      - rmxt 12y ago
        Taking potshots and calling for his head isn't going to convince anyone of your stance. Since when is America at war with China or Russia? What evidence is there that "enemies" were aided by anything Snowden released, blustery, "cover-our-asses" reports from intelligence officials aside?
    - CoreSet 12y ago
      Haha, I was wondering where the downvote came from. Flag away, good sir. I'm more than happy to disagree with you.
- CoreSet 12y ago
  I don't think anyone would gain - certainly I think the debate would suffer - and it would be even further evidence that the NSA et al are above the law. It would be a huge scandal, maybe even lead to the restructuring of the American intelligence establishment itself. But I don't think it's impossible. He's done more damage to one of the most powerful organizations in the world than anyone in modern history. Spooks are vindictive types.
- sliverstorm 12y ago
  Making an example of him for other prospective whistleblowers.
- fnordfnordfnord 12y ago
  Deterrence. They don't want any more Snowdens.
simonster 12y ago
He could get a fair trial in the U.S. for the same reason he's safe in Russia: because the whole world is watching (e.g. in the Reddit AMA he said: "If I show up with broken fingers, everybody will know what happened"). That's not a guarantee, but it does a lot for him. It's a lot harder to "disappear" a public figure.
- icehawk219 12y ago
  But lets say he does show up with broken fingers, what then? Nothing can, or will, be done about it so if anything it just adds to the NSA's overarching goal of turning him into an example.
- aluhut 12y ago
  If the whole leak showed something, than that the Agencies just continue to work as they did. No matter what.
- r00fus 12y ago
  Accidents happen. From a government apparatus that's blithely accepting of "parallel construction", and given such a high profile "enemy of the state", he could easily be done away with and the truth mis-reported across all major networks. I say this as someone who others might declare as a "card carrying liberal" - the current administration and the US intelligence community as a whole are anything but sympathetic towards Snowden. There must be another reason why this is being floated.
rayiner 12y ago
Even at the height of U.S. paranoia during the Cold War, the guy who tried to assassinate the President got a fair trial, and was acquitted by reason of insanity. In fact, he's regularly let out to visit his mother in her home, up to 17 days at a time: http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/20/us/john-hinckley-jr-fast-facts http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/20/us/john-hinckley-jr-fast-facts.
- blackguardx 12y ago
  There has been a huge cultural shift in the US between then and now. If Hinckley were tried now, he probably would get the death penalty.
  - rayiner 12y ago
    A shift in what direction? Use of the death penalty has decreased dramatically since the 1980's.
anigbrowl 12y ago
This is sort of ironic considering that a leading opposition politician in Russia was gunned down within yards of the Kremlin a few days ago.

by CoreSet 12y ago

moe 12y ago

not even a "heart attack" or "engine problems." At this point, what would anyone gain from that?

guard-of-terra 12y ago
There is this idea that some people just have to retaliate, regardless of whether it is in their interest. They have to show they're still in the game - more important than near objectives in the said game. This may or may not apply to the situation.
flurpitude 12y ago
Revenge. http://www.buzzfeed.com/bennyjohnson/americas-spies-want-edward-snowden-dead http://www.buzzfeed.com/bennyjohnson/americas-spies-want-edw...
- CoreSet 12y ago
  “I would love to put a bullet in his head,” one Pentagon official, a former special forces officer, said bluntly. “I do not take pleasure in taking another human beings life, having to do it in uniform, but he is single-handedly the greatest traitor in American history.” Chilling
  - bhayden 12y ago
    Also love how they are completely ignoring the people who have literally assassinated a president.
  - wtbob 12y ago
    It's not chilling; it's what Snowden deserves: a fair trial and a humane execution. He's a despicable traitor, having violated his oath and aided our enemies in wartime. He's not a hero; he's a villain.
    - rmxt 12y ago
      Taking potshots and calling for his head isn't going to convince anyone of your stance. Since when is America at war with China or Russia? What evidence is there that "enemies" were aided by anything Snowden released, blustery, "cover-our-asses" reports from intelligence officials aside?
  - CoreSet 12y ago
    Haha, I was wondering where the downvote came from. Flag away, good sir. I'm more than happy to disagree with you.
CoreSet 12y ago
I don't think anyone would gain - certainly I think the debate would suffer - and it would be even further evidence that the NSA et al are above the law. It would be a huge scandal, maybe even lead to the restructuring of the American intelligence establishment itself. But I don't think it's impossible. He's done more damage to one of the most powerful organizations in the world than anyone in modern history. Spooks are vindictive types.
sliverstorm 12y ago
Making an example of him for other prospective whistleblowers.
fnordfnordfnord 12y ago
Deterrence. They don't want any more Snowdens.

simonster 12y ago

He could get a fair trial in the U.S. for the same reason he's safe in Russia: because the whole world is watching (e.g. in the Reddit AMA he said: "If I show up with broken fingers, everybody will know what happened"). That's not a guarantee, but it does a lot for him. It's a lot harder to "disappear" a public figure.

icehawk219 12y ago
But lets say he does show up with broken fingers, what then? Nothing can, or will, be done about it so if anything it just adds to the NSA's overarching goal of turning him into an example.
aluhut 12y ago
If the whole leak showed something, than that the Agencies just continue to work as they did. No matter what.
r00fus 12y ago
Accidents happen. From a government apparatus that's blithely accepting of "parallel construction", and given such a high profile "enemy of the state", he could easily be done away with and the truth mis-reported across all major networks. I say this as someone who others might declare as a "card carrying liberal" - the current administration and the US intelligence community as a whole are anything but sympathetic towards Snowden. There must be another reason why this is being floated.

rayiner 12y ago

Even at the height of U.S. paranoia during the Cold War, the guy who tried to assassinate the President got a fair trial, and was acquitted by reason of insanity. In fact, he's regularly let out to visit his mother in her home, up to 17 days at a time: http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/20/us/john-hinckley-jr-fast-facts http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/20/us/john-hinckley-jr-fast-facts.

blackguardx 12y ago
There has been a huge cultural shift in the US between then and now. If Hinckley were tried now, he probably would get the death penalty.
- rayiner 12y ago
  A shift in what direction? Use of the death penalty has decreased dramatically since the 1980's.

anigbrowl 12y ago

This is sort of ironic considering that a leading opposition politician in Russia was gunned down within yards of the Kremlin a few days ago.