Snowden asylum still under review, stays in airport for now • Hacker News Board

Re: Snowden asylum still under review, stays in airport for now

#31

Post by dotcoma » Wed, Jul 24, 2013, 12:40 PM UTC

alan_cx wrote: post #13

tomelders wrote: post #7

Well I think this is more to do with Russia thumbing it's nose at the US rather than protecting an individual from tyranny. But fair play to Snowden, it's good news for him. But If I were Snowden, I'd be quietly sneaking out of Russia very soon lest the political winds change and he suddenly finds he's a very valuable pawn in a very dangerous game that he can't win.

Probably. But can any one name one trust-able perfect country that would give a Snowden type asylum purely on principle, rather than for political reasons? I'll be honest, Im struggling to think of one.

Germany should, as explained here: http://ind.pn/12ix0rD

But unfortunately it won't :-/

Re: Snowden asylum still under review, stays in airport for now

#32

Post by Drakim » Wed, Jul 24, 2013, 12:40 PM UTC

canadiancreed wrote: post #22

Guess relations between Russia and the US aren't as important after all. Always found it odd (possibly ironic?) that he left to countries infamous for not being well known for their love of free speech. Then again as one poster here put it, where else would he go that isn't as restrictive and doesn't have an extradition treaty with the U.S.? Wonder if this will inspire whistle blowers in Russia now?

Snowden is just a guy, he doesn't need to be some flawless saint to point out that the US government is lying and spying on it's citizens.

Re: Snowden asylum still under review, stays in airport for now

#33

Post by gexla » Wed, Jul 24, 2013, 12:40 PM UTC

I wonder how much pay he would get as a sys admin in Russia. He might want to leave that bit about stealing secrets from his employer's client and leaking them to the world off his resume.

Re: Snowden asylum still under review, stays in airport for now

#34

Post by celticninja » Wed, Jul 24, 2013, 12:41 PM UTC

tomelders wrote: post #7

Well I think this is more to do with Russia thumbing it's nose at the US rather than protecting an individual from tyranny. But fair play to Snowden, it's good news for him. But If I were Snowden, I'd be quietly sneaking out of Russia very soon lest the political winds change and he suddenly finds he's a very valuable pawn in a very dangerous game that he can't win.

to be fair sneaking out of russia is probably not that hard given the huge land borders of the country.

Re: Snowden asylum still under review, stays in airport for now

#35

Post by clicks » Wed, Jul 24, 2013, 12:43 PM UTC

kwal0203 wrote: post #23

clicks wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's an over-simplistic view of things and implies that Snowden is perforce the lesser fool. I think it's rather more the reality that Snowden has been quite wise in his planning: he is aware that he is putting Russia in a position where Russia will try its darndest to be on its best behavior in sustaining that "asylum-giving, human-rights protecting" image it has recently gotten.

You can't be serious? wise? You think he planned to be in Russia? Russia protecting human rights? OMFG

No, he probably did not plan on ending up in Russia, but he has been wise in dealing with the situation he was put in with the very limited number of options he had.

That he is still alive, well, mentally sound, able to freely speak to journalists (and American politicians) at free will -- and finally now "free" to leave the airport is evidence that he's been wise in making decisions.

> Russia protecting human rights? OMFG

That is an irrelevant and uninformed statement with regards to Snowden's situation and his decision to seek asylum in Russia. It was very simply one of the few rational options to pursue in order for him to remain a 'free man', as has been made abundantly clear by now.

Re: Snowden asylum still under review, stays in airport for now

#36

Post by falk » Wed, Jul 24, 2013, 12:43 PM UTC

tootie wrote: post #28

kwal0203 wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think He'll be getting any FSB (new KGB) protection. They most likely control him now.

I think I'd rather do 2 years at Club Fed in the US than be under FSB control in Russia. I mean, Putin straight kills journalists.

"I mean, Putin straight kills journalists."

So does the United States of America.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rXPrfnU3G0

The United States government wants to make an example out of Snowden. There's no way he would serve just two years in prison.

Re: Snowden asylum still under review, stays in airport for now

#37

Post by kwal0203 » Wed, Jul 24, 2013, 12:44 PM UTC

dotcoma wrote: post #31

alan_cx wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Probably. But can any one name one trust-able perfect country that would give a Snowden type asylum purely on principle, rather than for political reasons? I'll be honest, Im struggling to think of one.

Germany should, as explained here: http://ind.pn/12ix0rD But unfortunately it won't :-/

Germany was in on the spying act itself. Hypocrites to suggest they have some type of moral superiority over the US.

Re: Snowden asylum still under review, stays in airport for now

#38

Post by madaxe » Wed, Jul 24, 2013, 12:49 PM UTC

celticninja wrote: post #34

tomelders wrote: post #7

Well I think this is more to do with Russia thumbing it's nose at the US rather than protecting an individual from tyranny. But fair play to Snowden, it's good news for him. But If I were Snowden, I'd be quietly sneaking out of Russia very soon lest the political winds change and he suddenly finds he's a very valuable pawn in a very dangerous game that he can't win.

to be fair sneaking out of russia is probably not that hard given the huge land borders of the country.

If you've ever been near a russian land border, you'd know sneaking ain't an option - they're still very much into their 30 foot razor wire fences, and mile wide minefields.

AFAIK, the only borders which aren't demarked as such are those which ramble across incredibly inhospitable desert, which serves the same purpose as razor wire and mines.

Re: Snowden asylum still under review, stays in airport for now

#39

Post by bryanlarsen » Wed, Jul 24, 2013, 12:49 PM UTC

alan_cx wrote: post #13

tomelders wrote: post #7

Well I think this is more to do with Russia thumbing it's nose at the US rather than protecting an individual from tyranny. But fair play to Snowden, it's good news for him. But If I were Snowden, I'd be quietly sneaking out of Russia very soon lest the political winds change and he suddenly finds he's a very valuable pawn in a very dangerous game that he can't win.

Probably. But can any one name one trust-able perfect country that would give a Snowden type asylum purely on principle, rather than for political reasons? I'll be honest, Im struggling to think of one.

He's probably hoping that Iceland offers him asylum. Their bill granting him asylum wasn't denied, it just wasn't allowed to be voted on. So perhaps there's still faint hope for asylum in Iceland.

Re: Snowden asylum still under review, stays in airport for now

#40

Post by IgorPartola » Wed, Jul 24, 2013, 12:50 PM UTC

clamprecht wrote: post #16

tomelders wrote: post #7

Well I think this is more to do with Russia thumbing it's nose at the US rather than protecting an individual from tyranny. But fair play to Snowden, it's good news for him. But If I were Snowden, I'd be quietly sneaking out of Russia very soon lest the political winds change and he suddenly finds he's a very valuable pawn in a very dangerous game that he can't win.

My high school history teacher taught us something that politicians know: "My enemy's enemy is my friend". I'm sure there's a concise Russian saying for this.

"My friend's friend is my friend" ironically enough.