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I'm Ready To Help NSA Whistleblower Edward Snowden Seek Asylum

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Re: I'm Ready To Help NSA Whistleblower Edward Snowden Seek Asylum

#11

Post by uvdiv »

untog wrote: post #8

Slightly off-topic question, but why did he not just go to Iceland in the first place? Hong Kong does not seem like the best destination here.

A competing theory is that he is actually spying for the PRC. Hong Kong would be an obvious choice for a wealthy, Western spy seeking Chinese protection. They're semi-autonomous, but military affairs are run by the PRC, and in particular the PRC has control over foreign extradition:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/09/edward-snowden-h...

If this wasn't a priori the best theory, surely the HK part adds some Bayesian weight.

Re: I'm Ready To Help NSA Whistleblower Edward Snowden Seek Asylum

#12

Post by ck2 »

The problem is people always screw up and a decade later they think it's okay to visit the US for a conference or something and don't realize they will never see the light of day again once they step into that airport.

Or some country wants a political favor from the current US president so they turn him over.

Very brave dude but his life is just about as over as Bradley Manning.

Re: I'm Ready To Help NSA Whistleblower Edward Snowden Seek Asylum

#13

Post by mehmehshoe »

lawnchair_larry wrote: post #9
untog wrote: post #8

Slightly off-topic question, but why did he not just go to Iceland in the first place? Hong Kong does not seem like the best destination here.

He has probably considered that and knows more than we do about what his strategy is. He probably hasn't shown his whole hand either. He might not even be in Hong Kong.

This. We are seeing reports that are hours old. How he released the NSA data was thought about long ago. I doubt he is in HongKong.

Re: I'm Ready To Help NSA Whistleblower Edward Snowden Seek Asylum

#14

Post by sliverstorm »

uvdiv wrote: post #11
untog wrote: post #8

Slightly off-topic question, but why did he not just go to Iceland in the first place? Hong Kong does not seem like the best destination here.

A competing theory is that he is actually spying for the PRC. Hong Kong would be an obvious choice for a wealthy, Western spy seeking Chinese protection. They're semi-autonomous, but military affairs are run by the PRC, and in particular the PRC has control over foreign extradition: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/09/edward-snowden-h... If this wasn't a priori the best theory, surely the HK part adds some Ba…

Do you have more information about this theory? The discussion has been so one-sided, I feel obligated to seek other interpretations.

Re: I'm Ready To Help NSA Whistleblower Edward Snowden Seek Asylum

#15

Post by [deleted] »

sliverstorm wrote: post #14
uvdiv wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A competing theory is that he is actually spying for the PRC. Hong Kong would be an obvious choice for a wealthy, Western spy seeking Chinese protection. They're semi-autonomous, but military affairs are run by the PRC, and in particular the PRC has control over foreign extradition: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/09/edward-snowden-h... If this wasn't a priori the best theory, surely the HK part adds some Ba…

Do you have more information about this theory? The discussion has been so one-sided, I feel obligated to seek other interpretations.

[deleted]

Re: I'm Ready To Help NSA Whistleblower Edward Snowden Seek Asylum

#16

Post by untog »

lawnchair_larry wrote: post #9
untog wrote: post #8

Slightly off-topic question, but why did he not just go to Iceland in the first place? Hong Kong does not seem like the best destination here.

He has probably considered that and knows more than we do about what his strategy is. He probably hasn't shown his whole hand either. He might not even be in Hong Kong.

If he lied to The Guardian I would be very surprised. It would be unlikely to help his case.

Re: I'm Ready To Help NSA Whistleblower Edward Snowden Seek Asylum

#17

Post by untog »

ck2 wrote: post #12

The problem is people always screw up and a decade later they think it's okay to visit the US for a conference or something and don't realize they will never see the light of day again once they step into that airport. Or some country wants a political favor from the current US president so they turn him over. Very brave dude but his life is just about as over as Bradley Manning.

Something tells me he will not forget. However, it might suddenly become very difficult for his family to go and visit him, wherever he ends up.

Re: I'm Ready To Help NSA Whistleblower Edward Snowden Seek Asylum

#18

Post by cozeulodorieso »

untog wrote: post #16
lawnchair_larry wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He has probably considered that and knows more than we do about what his strategy is. He probably hasn't shown his whole hand either. He might not even be in Hong Kong.

If he lied to The Guardian I would be very surprised. It would be unlikely to help his case.

I don't think you've been paying attention. Glenn Greenwald (who writes for the Guardian) and Laura Poitras (who's independent, but has had bylines for both the Guardian and WP) interviewed him in his hotel room in Hong Kong. He definitely was in Hong Kong for a while.

Re: I'm Ready To Help NSA Whistleblower Edward Snowden Seek Asylum

#19

Post by samstave »

mehmehshoe wrote: post #13
lawnchair_larry wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He has probably considered that and knows more than we do about what his strategy is. He probably hasn't shown his whole hand either. He might not even be in Hong Kong.

This. We are seeing reports that are hours old. How he released the NSA data was thought about long ago. I doubt he is in HongKong.

Totally - welcome to the farking cyberpunk future we all dreamed about in the 80s.

THis is amazing.

Re: I'm Ready To Help NSA Whistleblower Edward Snowden Seek Asylum

#20

Post by untog »

cozeulodorieso wrote: post #18
untog wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If he lied to The Guardian I would be very surprised. It would be unlikely to help his case.

I don't think you've been paying attention. Glenn Greenwald (who writes for the Guardian) and Laura Poitras (who's independent, but has had bylines for both the Guardian and WP) interviewed him in his hotel room in Hong Kong. He definitely was in Hong Kong for a while.

That was kind of my point. I wasn't the one who said "he might not even be in Hong Kong."
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