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Was Snowden a Russian Agent?

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Re: Was Snowden a Russian Agent?

#21

No. Next (ridiculous) question please?

It's not really a ridiculous question. The popular narrative of Snowden's actions and motivations doesn't add up when you look at all the available evidence. It's quite reasonable for people to suspiciously probe the mythos built up around him.

Sure it does. His statements about his motivations are consistent with his actions. It's remarkable, actually, just how consistent it all is, and that's part of the reason people admire him.

Re: Was Snowden a Russian Agent?

#22
post #6

> "By pulling back at the end of his book, Epstein tries to have it both ways: weaving conspiracy theories while maintaining plausible deniability and some veneer of evidence-based journalism. But his indulgence in speculation, his treatment of questionable claims as established facts, and his misunderstanding of surveillance combine to undermine his book’s credibility." TLDR - Epstein's book is horse shit and the ac…

[deleted]

Re: Was Snowden a Russian Agent?

#23
No, a Russian agent wouldn't have leaked anything to the western press. A Russian agent would have only disclosed what he knows to his superiors. Russian agents that leak anything to the public usually end up dead pretty quickly.

The reason why he ended up in Russia from Hong Kong is that his passport was voided by US authorities and Russia ended being the only country willing to take him without sending him back to US.

Re: Was Snowden a Russian Agent?

#24
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"it isn't a matter of if Snowden was compromised but when" Strong accusation. I suppose you have solid facts behind your claim? Or do you count the tweet as a fact for anything?? Because it is kind of vague ...

Greenwald knows more about it than either you or I do and I don't see much vagueness in the quote. Who does Snowden need preservation from? The two current options are the US and Russia with the Chinese having temporary influence over him immediately after the leak. The logical conclusion is that some of the information Snowden leaked was done to placate the US, Russia, or China. I think we can rule out the US consid…

" I think there's a difference between what really motivated him to leak & what he's leaked out of self-preservation"

It could also refer to, what he did NOT leaked.

" Who else could he need self-preservation from?"

To not land on a certain list, some people openly joked about wanting to put him on? I also do remember some remarks, how he did not leaked everything he had, so he had some backup(at his lawers/friends) to be leaked, in case he suddendly had a heart attack, car accident or simple explosion.

And in case he actually did give some information to russia out of desparation, why the harsh judgment

"but I don't think it can ever justify them"

without actually knowing what kind of information? Especially considering the good things he did revealing the treachery of the secret services?

Re: Was Snowden a Russian Agent?

#25
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Greenwald knows more about it than either you or I do and I don't see much vagueness in the quote. Who does Snowden need preservation from? The two current options are the US and Russia with the Chinese having temporary influence over him immediately after the leak. The logical conclusion is that some of the information Snowden leaked was done to placate the US, Russia, or China. I think we can rule out the US consid…

" I think there's a difference between what really motivated him to leak & what he's leaked out of self-preservation" It could also refer to, what he did NOT leaked. " Who else could he need self-preservation from?" To not land on a certain list, some people openly joked about wanting to put him on? I also do remember some remarks, how he did not leaked everything he had, so he had some backup(at his lawers/friends)…

>It could also refer to, what he did NOT leaked.

I can see how you would get that impression if you only read the Tweet I highlighted, but Greenwald was responding to a conversation questioning if Snowden's disclosures were in fact whistleblowing. In context Greenwald is clearly referring to what was leaked and not what wasn't leaked.

>To not land on a certain list, some people openly joked about wanting to put him on? I also do remember some remarks, how he did not leaked everything he had, so he had some backup(at his lawers/friends) to be leaked, in case he suddendly had a heart attack, car accident or simple explosion.

This is intertwined with my previous comment. Beyond that, if Snowden was leaking things to gain favor with the US government or intelligence communities he would have to be leaking something that puts them in a positive light. I haven't seen really anything Snowden leaked that would counteract the negatives he leaked about the US intelligence community.

>And in case he actually did give some information to russia out of desparation, why the harsh judgment "but I don't think it can ever justify them" without actually knowing what kind of information? Especially considering the good things he did revealing the treachery of the secret services?

That isn't the way the law works. You can't do "good things" and use that as currency to payoff your crimes, especially if those "good things" appeared to have occurred before the most serious and potentially treasonous crimes even occurred (EDIT: I'm talking about cooperating with the Russians and not stealing the data in the first place which is a much lesser and pardonable crime in my opinion).

Re: Was Snowden a Russian Agent?

#27
post #11

>I think there's a difference between what really motivated him to leak & what he's leaked out of self-preservation Glenn Greenwald - https://twitter.com/ggreenwald/status/352213748917874688 I always come back to this Tweet when this subject comes up. Like the article suggests, it isn't a matter of if Snowden was compromised but when . I would like to think it was after he was stranded in Russia with no hope. That mi…

"it isn't a matter of if Snowden was compromised but when" Strong accusation. I suppose you have solid facts behind your claim? Or do you count the tweet as a fact for anything?? Because it is kind of vague ...

There will never be any sure facts about any spy stuff. But his role as a figurehead of "look what happens in us, democracy is broken, don't blame us" message from Russia is just too golden. Stuff like that simply does not happen by accident in Russia and without fsb being involved.

Re: Was Snowden a Russian Agent?

#28
post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

" I think there's a difference between what really motivated him to leak & what he's leaked out of self-preservation" It could also refer to, what he did NOT leaked. " Who else could he need self-preservation from?" To not land on a certain list, some people openly joked about wanting to put him on? I also do remember some remarks, how he did not leaked everything he had, so he had some backup(at his lawers/friends)…

>It could also refer to, what he did NOT leaked. I can see how you would get that impression if you only read the Tweet I highlighted, but Greenwald was responding to a conversation questioning if Snowden's disclosures were in fact whistleblowing. In context Greenwald is clearly referring to what was leaked and not what wasn't leaked. >To not land on a certain list, some people openly joked about wanting to put him o…

"I can see how you would get that impression if you only read the Tweet I highlighted, but Greenwald was responding to a conversation questioning if Snowden's disclosures were in fact whistleblowin"

Hm, I read a bit of that conversation before, but didn't got that impression. I will read deeper into.

" to gain favor with the US government or intelligence communities he would have to be leaking something that puts them in a positive light."

Or ... he choosed not to leak some other dark secrets, he learned about. But still has them as a life insurance ...

"That isn't the way the law works."

Erm, first of all, I thought we were talking about your opinion on the matter and afaik, you are not the law. And secondly, yes you can indeed negate crimes, if you did something good ... if the "crimes" were the only way to do the good. That's the whole concept of whistleblowing - it is a crime to reveal secrets, if you agreed not to. But you are allowed if you show, that the persons you work for, were (at least partial) criminal in the first place. And this is what Snowden did.

And if he later after revealing, was left of no choice, than to go to the russians - because nobody in the US-Government said, "ah good, you showed the people the truth, now come home, we work things out for the better" - I could understand that, to give then the russians minor secrets, if forced to. What else could he have done? But this is only speculation and far from being a fact. And I don't think, the russians did pushed him in such a way, because of public opinion ...

Re: Was Snowden a Russian Agent?

#29
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"it isn't a matter of if Snowden was compromised but when" Strong accusation. I suppose you have solid facts behind your claim? Or do you count the tweet as a fact for anything?? Because it is kind of vague ...

There will never be any sure facts about any spy stuff. But his role as a figurehead of "look what happens in us, democracy is broken, don't blame us" message from Russia is just too golden. Stuff like that simply does not happen by accident in Russia and without fsb being involved.

Well ... it didn't happened in russia, but in Hong Kong.

Re: Was Snowden a Russian Agent?

#30
post #11

>I think there's a difference between what really motivated him to leak & what he's leaked out of self-preservation Glenn Greenwald - https://twitter.com/ggreenwald/status/352213748917874688 I always come back to this Tweet when this subject comes up. Like the article suggests, it isn't a matter of if Snowden was compromised but when . I would like to think it was after he was stranded in Russia with no hope. That mi…

"it isn't a matter of if Snowden was compromised but when" Strong accusation. I suppose you have solid facts behind your claim? Or do you count the tweet as a fact for anything?? Because it is kind of vague ...

I'm not sure what is being referenced either but perhaps it's not self-preservation from Russia but from China, e.g. the fact that Snowden leaked to the South China Morning Post (while in Hong Kong?) the documentary evidence that the US was spying on them (http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1266777/exclusive...) ?
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