Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Edward Snowden, after months of NSA revelations, says his mission’s accomplished

m.washingtonpost.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 213 posts

Re: Edward Snowden, after months of NSA revelations, says his mission’s accomplished

#11

Post by jessedhillon »

jliechti1 wrote: post #7

If the "terrorists" are following this whole story, wouldn't now be a prime time for another attack? This could have the effect of validating the NSA's activities in many Americans' eyes ("see, the NSA is unable to its job without invading our privacy") and we would see a whole new round of new laws capitalizing on Americans' fears of terrorists (which means their terrorism succeeded).

Assumption #1 in your comment: NSA activities have not and are unable to stop arbitrary terror attacks at all.

Assumption #2: That successful attacks in this scenario would lead (reasonable or otherwise) people to demand less surveillance.

Assumption #3: Terrorists want to the NSA programs ended, which would not make sense if #1 is true.

So I'm not sure why this would be a good strategy for anyone.

Re: Edward Snowden, after months of NSA revelations, says his mission’s accomplished

#12

Post by Zigurd »

tokenadult wrote: post #4

I wish Snowden would roll up his sleeves and start working on the same problem in Russia, where he now lives, and in China, where he stayed briefly on his way to Russia. His mission has hardly begun.

If you feel so strongly, you do it.

Re: Edward Snowden, after months of NSA revelations, says his mission’s accomplished

#13

Post by visakanv »

jessedhillon wrote: post #11
jliechti1 wrote: post #7

If the "terrorists" are following this whole story, wouldn't now be a prime time for another attack? This could have the effect of validating the NSA's activities in many Americans' eyes ("see, the NSA is unable to its job without invading our privacy") and we would see a whole new round of new laws capitalizing on Americans' fears of terrorists (which means their terrorism succeeded).

Assumption #1 in your comment: NSA activities have not and are unable to stop arbitrary terror attacks at all. Assumption #2: That successful attacks in this scenario would lead (reasonable or otherwise) people to demand less surveillance. Assumption #3: Terrorists want to the NSA programs ended, which would not make sense if #1 is true. So I'm not sure why this would be a good strategy for anyone.

I think you misinterpreted the comment. It's arguing that now would be the optimal time for terrorists to strike, validating the NSA.

Re: Edward Snowden, after months of NSA revelations, says his mission’s accomplished

#14

Post by acgourley »

jessedhillon wrote: post #11
jliechti1 wrote: post #7

If the "terrorists" are following this whole story, wouldn't now be a prime time for another attack? This could have the effect of validating the NSA's activities in many Americans' eyes ("see, the NSA is unable to its job without invading our privacy") and we would see a whole new round of new laws capitalizing on Americans' fears of terrorists (which means their terrorism succeeded).

Assumption #1 in your comment: NSA activities have not and are unable to stop arbitrary terror attacks at all. Assumption #2: That successful attacks in this scenario would lead (reasonable or otherwise) people to demand less surveillance. Assumption #3: Terrorists want to the NSA programs ended, which would not make sense if #1 is true. So I'm not sure why this would be a good strategy for anyone.

I think you have #3 wrong - parent is saying terrorists want NSA programs expanded.

Re: Edward Snowden, after months of NSA revelations, says his mission’s accomplished

#15

Post by pavanred »

jliechti1 wrote: post #7

If the "terrorists" are following this whole story, wouldn't now be a prime time for another attack? This could have the effect of validating the NSA's activities in many Americans' eyes ("see, the NSA is unable to its job without invading our privacy") and we would see a whole new round of new laws capitalizing on Americans' fears of terrorists (which means their terrorism succeeded).

Or perhaps time for a compelling "wag the dog" attack!

Re: Edward Snowden, after months of NSA revelations, says his mission’s accomplished

#16

Post by mattkrea »

quesera wrote: post #5

> “If I defected at all,” Snowden said, “I defected from the government to the public.” He can't run til 2020, but I'll cast an early vote now.

If that isn't a quotable quote I don't know what is.

I second that vote.

Re: Edward Snowden, after months of NSA revelations, says his mission’s accomplished

#17

Post by beedogs »

aggie wrote: post #3
cabbeer wrote: post #2

This came to mind when I read the title: http://i.imgur.com/bPn53M1.jpg?1

Ok, but did you read the article? Snowden is talking about the mission of starting the conversation, which he has done. “'For me, in terms of personal satisfaction, the mission’s already accomplished,' he said. 'I already won. As soon as the journalists were able to work, everything that I had been trying to do was validated. Because, remember, I didn’t want to change society. I wanted to give society a chance to det…

This was basically his stated goal when he started this whole thing: getting the public informed and starting the conversation about how much government intrusion into our private lives is too much.

Re: Edward Snowden, after months of NSA revelations, says his mission’s accomplished

#18

Post by woah »

jessedhillon wrote: post #11
jliechti1 wrote: post #7

If the "terrorists" are following this whole story, wouldn't now be a prime time for another attack? This could have the effect of validating the NSA's activities in many Americans' eyes ("see, the NSA is unable to its job without invading our privacy") and we would see a whole new round of new laws capitalizing on Americans' fears of terrorists (which means their terrorism succeeded).

Assumption #1 in your comment: NSA activities have not and are unable to stop arbitrary terror attacks at all. Assumption #2: That successful attacks in this scenario would lead (reasonable or otherwise) people to demand less surveillance. Assumption #3: Terrorists want to the NSA programs ended, which would not make sense if #1 is true. So I'm not sure why this would be a good strategy for anyone.

In your post:

Assumption #1: What is good for terrorists is bad for the NSA.

I think you will find that terrorist's successes have a very beneficial effect on the power and budget of the NSA. Look at what 9/11 did for them.

Re: Edward Snowden, after months of NSA revelations, says his mission’s accomplished

#19

Post by woah »

tokenadult wrote: post #4

I wish Snowden would roll up his sleeves and start working on the same problem in Russia, where he now lives, and in China, where he stayed briefly on his way to Russia. His mission has hardly begun.

The whole argument about Russia being way worse than the US, and Snowden staying there is ridiculous. He isn't staying there as some sort of celebrity endorsement for the tourism program. He's staying there because it is the only place he was able to reach in time, as Russia is one of the few countries too big to be invaded by the US military.

Re: Edward Snowden, after months of NSA revelations, says his mission’s accomplished

#20

Post by mc32 »

tokenadult wrote: post #4

I wish Snowden would roll up his sleeves and start working on the same problem in Russia, where he now lives, and in China, where he stayed briefly on his way to Russia. His mission has hardly begun.

The real problem with that wish is that neither of those gov'ts would trust him with any of their methods or secrets. The best you can hope for is that people in analogous positions within those countries' surveillance agencies are moved by his example and follow it.

In any event, he's mixed up in realpolitik but that was his only choice, if he wanted to avoid the domestic repercussions of his actions.

Post reply on HN