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Earlier quoted context omitted.
Both put lives at risk for what has apparently achieved zero gain. I don’t want Snowden to have a pardon, and I think he and Manning both belong in prison.
I wouldn't call revealing the extent of illicit NSA surveillance "zero gain".
The big question is what Russia has to gain from this. Is it just to troll the US?
The more unfaltering facts uncovered about US the better for Russia. They also like to point to US to justify actions within the country: COPM is justified by NSA surveillance. They see Snowden as their guy and protect him.
In this sense, the move could be seen as an investment in future whistleblowers— "If you see something, say something. Then come here if need be."
The big question is what Russia has to gain from this. Is it just to troll the US?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Both put lives at risk for what has apparently achieved zero gain. I don’t want Snowden to have a pardon, and I think he and Manning both belong in prison.
> Both put lives at risk for what has apparently achieved zero gain. So, future impact affects your assessment of the righteousness of an act of conscience? How does that work?
...but if we could get this police state going and everyone would shut up about it we'd all be 100% safe right?
The big question is what Russia has to gain from this. Is it just to troll the US?
It’s an easy PR win. The US behaves like a petulant child, and Russia can come off like the benevolent country protecting freedom. That seems like an extremely easy decision to make.
Not even the most devoted partisan can claim this was a straight face. Russia kills journalists that speak against Putin, poison political opposition, and paint with microwave radiation any diplomat misguided enough to attempt a dialogue.
It's a mafia state, pure and simple.
If granted a pardon by the current or future US president, is there any chance that Russia will not let him return home?
In fact, if they granted him citizenship, then they might prevent him from traveling because he would become their responsibility in case he gets arrested abroad.
Due to the extent of mil intelligence docs stolen, and since the domestic programs deployed were lawful at the time, whistleblower is a disingenuious title for Mr. Snowden. Putting aside domestic disclosures, it's difficult to see how the scope of stolen materials merits praise or euphemistic titles. Snowden is a fugitive. As it pertains to the majority of what was stolen, he is not a whistleblower, but a thief. Had…
If the government wanted anyone outside of natsec or the IC to care about this, they shouldn't have operated a massive unconstitutional dragnet. That would change the tenor of discussion, I promise.
* Which servers in China we are hacking
* Foreign surveillance
* Joint CIA/NSA programs
Damage is ongoing. Relationship with foreign leaders, for instance, has suffered irreparable damage.
Snowden's very existence as a propaganda mouthpiece does align with Putin's long term active measures. His greatest value is in undermining internal confidence in our institutions that protect our freedom.
Something to be thankful. I am sure he would rather come home; but I don't see the that changing with Biden as he hasn't said anything.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Blowing the whistle completely upended his life. Anyone in his shoes would've made the same decision to leave because being tried under the Espionage Act would've yielded a guaranteed life sentence. People have a right to flee tyranny, wherever it is.
Just like Chelsea Manning has and will continue to spend the rest of her life in prison?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
It’s an easy PR win. The US behaves like a petulant child, and Russia can come off like the benevolent country protecting freedom. That seems like an extremely easy decision to make.
> Russia can come off like the benevolent country protecting freedom. Not even the most devoted partisan can claim this was a straight face. Russia kills journalists that speak against Putin, poison political opposition, and paint with microwave radiation any diplomat misguided enough to attempt a dialogue. It's a mafia state, pure and simple.