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Trump says he is considering pardon for Edward Snowden

reuters.com

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Re: Trump says he is considering pardon for Edward Snowden

#101

Post by duxup »

sneak wrote: post #38

The CIA will instagib Snowden the instant it is physically possible for them to do so. A pardon will never change that. The commander of the CIA states it plainly: https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/39568370275766272... (Remember, we're talking about the same CIA that hacked US congressional computers, because the congress was investigating the CIA’s torture record and they wanted to cover it up. Then the CIA…

If they wanted him dead he would be.

Even when Russia was FAR more closed the US intelligence was able to operate there.

Re: Trump says he is considering pardon for Edward Snowden

#102

Post by Cyph0n »

boomboomsubban wrote: post #94
dx87 wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's debatable whether he should be pardoned for leaking the domestic spying information (I don't think so, he didn't try to bring it up through proper channels first), but he leaked information that had nothing to do with that. For example, he gave the Chinese government information about which computers the NSA had access to. My personal theory is that he just gathered as much information as he could get hi…

>For example, he gave the Chinese government information about which computers the NSA had access to. When did he give them what information exactly? >don't think so, he didn't try to bring it up through proper channels first The two sides disagree whether he attempted this. Snowden say he spent tremendous effort trying to report things through the proper channels.

Besides, the fact that the NSA was operating surveillance programs at that scale implies that the brass had some awareness of what was going on, so I am not sure what the "proper channels" would even look like for Snowden.

Re: Trump says he is considering pardon for Edward Snowden

#103

Post by kgraves »

mindcrime wrote: post #54

I'll be impressed when he actually issues a pardon. I'd say Trump is notorious for "talking about" things without ever delivering anything. Take the issue of 50 state concealed carry reciprocity. Regardless of what you think about this issue yourself, it seems clear that Trump has tried to pander to gun owners and 2A advocates by constantly talking about this. But last I heard, there had been no meaningful action on…

> I'd say Trump is notorious for "talking about" things without ever delivering anything.

He "talked" about doing something about TikTok, then "did" something by signing an executive order on it.

EDIT: Downvotes... OK, so he didn't "talk about" and "do" this? Downvoters care to explain?

Re: Trump says he is considering pardon for Edward Snowden

#104

Post by djsumdog »

I honestly care more about Julian Assange. His own government turned their back on him.

Snowden has been quite the show, enough so that I'm seriously wondering if he's actually a spook. His entire story is weird. He holds a six figure salary as an NSA contractor, suddenly has a moral compass, somehow downloads a bunch of top secret stuff while working remotely from Hawaii, leaks documents that are mostly redacted and missing critical information about compromised hardware, and is believed by the world wide media unilaterally without question. Then his smoking hot girlfriend says she wants to go join him. No one has found him yet while he does video conferencing using Google Hangouts.

By contrast, Julian Assange was trapped in an Ecuadorian embassy for years. He's been though hell and his origination has leaked much more crucial information.

Re: Trump says he is considering pardon for Edward Snowden

#106

Post by SV_BubbleTime »

mindcrime wrote: post #54

I'll be impressed when he actually issues a pardon. I'd say Trump is notorious for "talking about" things without ever delivering anything. Take the issue of 50 state concealed carry reciprocity. Regardless of what you think about this issue yourself, it seems clear that Trump has tried to pander to gun owners and 2A advocates by constantly talking about this. But last I heard, there had been no meaningful action on…

Trump couldn’t do national reciprocity with en EO. Trump can pardon.

As to why national reciprocity didn’t go through, it was because the margins in congress were too low. Republicans in NY IL and CA mostly aren’t into it.

Besides, it’s the same story as ever... “if we give you the thing you want, we can’t campaign on it next time!”.

Re: Trump says he is considering pardon for Edward Snowden

#107

Post by ekianjo »

smt88 wrote: post #61
runawaybottle wrote: post #16

Politically, bringing back Snowden brings back the issue, Obama/Biden era big government spying program Prism. Trump: Remember everyone, Biden used to spy on you. This is similar to when he did a press conference with all of Bill Clinton’s accusers. Just a means to an end for Trump.

Politically, he just says insane things that get headlines, which distract from the real news: Covid killing hundreds of thousands under his care, dismantling of the Post Office, and other highly unpopular consequences of his presidency.

> which distract from the real news: Covid killing hundreds of thousands under his care,

Nevermind that in the states the main actors responsible in times of health crises are the local State authorities not the Federal ones. Your 'under his care' is terribly loaded.

Re: Trump says he is considering pardon for Edward Snowden

#108

Post by 627467 »

I'm not American so my opinion won't matter.

Yet, in my view Snowden actions have been extremely important to set the discussions we are having today: how private do we expect our digital lives to be be it from the state or from megacorps.

I doubt that Facebook/CA affair in 2016 elections would have come to light (or have the same impact) had Snowden leaks not had happened.

I doubt that Europeans would have stoped being 100% subservient to American tech megacorps had those leaks not had happened.

I think alot of people around the world started even considering the importance of who is watching or listening to their digital life because of Snowden. Or at least, because of the conversation that his leaks started.

He wasnt alone in leaking information important to these conversations, but he definitely has become an important advocate of his leaks and his own message.

Re: Trump says he is considering pardon for Edward Snowden

#109

Post by Dolores12 »

djsumdog wrote: post #104

I honestly care more about Julian Assange. His own government turned their back on him. Snowden has been quite the show, enough so that I'm seriously wondering if he's actually a spook. His entire story is weird. He holds a six figure salary as an NSA contractor, suddenly has a moral compass, somehow downloads a bunch of top secret stuff while working remotely from Hawaii, leaks documents that are mostly redacted and…

I hope Trump will do this at the end of his next term.

Re: Trump says he is considering pardon for Edward Snowden

#110

Post by stubish »

duxup wrote: post #66
kgarten wrote: post #58

Is it just me or is the term leaker politically charged in the context. For me, Snowden is a whistle blower not a leaker. There's a reason why he revealed secretes (he also didn't just release them, but was very careful how much he revealed), the secrete programs were unconstitutional -> whistle blower not leaker. edit: typo.

I've seen him refered to as a leaker before, I honestly didn't think much of it. I don't think that term is automatically negative.

Leaking is a common political tool, frequently seen in news, and popularized on shows such as the West Wing and Yes, Minister. It is only a negative when used against you.
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