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Snowden Seeks Assurance from Norway It Won’t Extradite Him

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Re: Snowden Seeks Assurance from Norway It Won’t Extradite Him

#51

Post by woodman »

pmalynin wrote: post #48
woodman wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> ...face the music. I've never heard that phrase used but to describe the consequences of a malevolent action. I'm interested to hear a rational explanation for why anyone would think that Snowden's whistleblowing was anything but altruistic. Some may say that the good intentions were misguided, but again - I've never heard the phrase used that way. The man wearing full plate armor, while trying to save a horse caug…

Facing the music. I think the expression has something to do with "Paying the piper" who of course plays music. I like it. But I don't think that Snowden should indeed face it.

Well that answers my question about rationale, proponents for the music option are immediately distracted with the thought of a man in green tights dancing around with a pan flute. Oh and if I remember the story correctly, the piper was unpaid for ridding the city of rats - so he drowned all the children. So who are the rats, children and murderous flautist in the current context?

Re: Snowden Seeks Assurance from Norway It Won’t Extradite Him

#55

Post by mercurial »

How hard does the US government want him back, now that the cat is out of the bag? Obviously, the US don't want to appear "soft" on the matter - the interest of the administration is to avoid future whistleblowers by having a tough posture.

But Snowden has a pretty massive following worldwide, on a scale that Assange and Chelsea Manning don't have. Wouldn't a trial be a terrible PR move, on top of raising embarrassing question about the activities of the NSA and their legality?

Re: Snowden Seeks Assurance from Norway It Won’t Extradite Him

#56

Post by rl3 »

woodman wrote: post #45
karmacondon wrote: post #43

The US government isn't going to kidnap Edward Snowden at any point. He's too high profile and the press would eventually find out. And I don't think Putin will let him leave Russia unless it would hurt the US in some way. If Snowden really wants to leave, he can probably leave. But the Russian government won't make it easy for him. Snowden should just come home and face the music. He'll probably get a pro bono all-s…

> ...face the music. I've never heard that phrase used but to describe the consequences of a malevolent action. I'm interested to hear a rational explanation for why anyone would think that Snowden's whistleblowing was anything but altruistic. Some may say that the good intentions were misguided, but again - I've never heard the phrase used that way. The man wearing full plate armor, while trying to save a horse caug…

>I've never heard that phrase used but to describe the consequences of a malevolent action.

It also applies to the consequences of reckless or negligent behavior.

Of course, "facing the music" would pretty much guarantee a life sentenced served at ADX Florence, so he'd be insane to even try it.

>I'm interested to hear a rational explanation for why anyone would think that Snowden's whistleblowing was anything but altruistic.

It could very well be narcissism masquerading as altruism. There's a small chance he's even been been working for a foreign intelligence agency the entire time.

Regardless of his intentions or motivations, the end result was massive damage to U.S. foreign policy.

Snowden facilitated the release of classified methods, capabilities and operations that fell squarely under the NSA's charter of gathering foreign intelligence. A significant portion of the operational details released didn't even relate to operations within other western democracies, but to nations or groups with questionable human rights records.

While Snowden's actions did spark a large media frenzy and subsequent debate—if only because of the dramatic circumstances surrounding the leaks, and the fact he had document proof—the revelations themselves were largely nothing new.

Numerous highly credible whistleblowers (e.g. Binney, Tice) had been advancing far more shocking revelations related to domestic wiretapping for approximately a decade prior. Despite having their careers ruined and weathering some even nastier retaliation attempts, they're still free today.

Re: Snowden Seeks Assurance from Norway It Won’t Extradite Him

#58

Post by wildmusings »

woodman wrote: post #45
karmacondon wrote: post #43

The US government isn't going to kidnap Edward Snowden at any point. He's too high profile and the press would eventually find out. And I don't think Putin will let him leave Russia unless it would hurt the US in some way. If Snowden really wants to leave, he can probably leave. But the Russian government won't make it easy for him. Snowden should just come home and face the music. He'll probably get a pro bono all-s…

> ...face the music. I've never heard that phrase used but to describe the consequences of a malevolent action. I'm interested to hear a rational explanation for why anyone would think that Snowden's whistleblowing was anything but altruistic. Some may say that the good intentions were misguided, but again - I've never heard the phrase used that way. The man wearing full plate armor, while trying to save a horse caug…

>I'm interested to hear a rational explanation for why anyone would think that Snowden's whistleblowing was anything but altruistic.

He divulged a lot of information about America's foreign intelligence operations as well. Spying on other countries is the original and core mission of the intelligence services. There's no question as to its legal legitimacy and he directly undermined it by revealing the nature and extent of our capabilities. It also caused serious diplomatic and political problems, with Germany for example.

Re: Snowden Seeks Assurance from Norway It Won’t Extradite Him

#59

Post by neverminder »

Roritharr wrote: post #54
PlzSnow wrote: post #52

If he's so courageous then why doesn't he ever criticise the corrupt totalitarian state of Russia? I really can't imagine why...

Because you pick your battles. One evil superpower at a time.

He who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day.
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