Edward Snowden Discussion Thread

[Dilange]

He's a coward.

[Death Metal]

He's a coward.

Yes, because cowards stick to the principles even when in doing so means they could face a firing squad.

[Libertarian California]

He's the Paul Revere of our era.

In what ways?

Paul Revere warned us that the British were coming. Snowden warned us that tyrannical espionage is coming.

[Frisivisia]

In what ways?

Paul Revere warned us that the British were coming. Snowden warned us that tyrannical espionage is coming.

THE REPUBLIC IS RISING INFOWARS DOT COM

[Libertarian California]

Paul Revere warned us that the British were coming. Snowden warned us that tyrannical espionage is coming.

THE REPUBLIC IS RISING INFOWARS DOT COM

I don't go to Infowars...

[Frisivisia]

THE REPUBLIC IS RISING INFOWARS DOT COM

I don't go to Infowars...

LIBERTY IS RISING FREEDOM IS RISING PROTECT YOURSELVES FROM TYRANNY INFOWARS DOT COM

Don't ya know?

[Occupied Deutschland]

He's a coward.

I don't know, exposing classified information about US government security and intelligence agencies actions seems like a rather brave act.

Even if you classify it as treason, it means he could very likely be executed. Perhaps the mark of a despicable person (depending on outlook), but hardly a trademark of the coward.

[Lemanrussland]

Anyway, hopefully his sacrifice is not in vain, we need public attention on this program in order to force Congress or SCOTUS to take positive action regarding this.

The NSA is a needed organization, but it must perform it's duties (that is, gathering signals intelligence on foreign threats) in accordance with Consitutional law. There's a reason the Bill of Right is in place, government can be just as much of a security threat as terrorists, if it's powers are not limited

Dragnet surveillance is not in accordance with Constitutional principles.

[Dilange]

He's a coward.

Yes, because cowards stick to the principles even when in doing so means they could face a firing squad.

He wouldnt face a firing squad. He would at most receive a lengthy jail sentence in a military jail (which is bad). Some free information supporters and leakers are calling him a coward because he ran away. He didnt stay to keep the fact that he was helping Americans by revealing information that seemed wrong in the beginning, he ran to Hong Kong and basically made himself look traitorous.

Besides, he escaped to a place which has extradition rights with the United States, unless China cuts in and blocks it (which I highly doubt). He made his situation worse by leaving, imo.

I didnt even care about the information he released. I was more shocked that a man with a GED (no college degree) working with a private contractor had high security clearance to information like that.

[Dilange]

He's a coward.

I don't know, exposing classified information about US government security and intelligence agencies actions seems like a rather brave act.

Even if you classify it as treason, it means he could very likely be executed. Perhaps the mark of a despicable person (depending on outlook), but hardly a trademark of the coward.

I applaud him for his actions, but he ran. He claims to have done it for the American people, but then instead of being a martyr (jailed or executed) for the free information movement...he runs to a place where the U.S. can still arrest him.

[Lemanrussland]

Yes, because cowards stick to the principles even when in doing so means they could face a firing squad.

He wouldnt face a firing squad. He would at most receive a lengthy jail sentence in a military jail (which is bad). Some free information supporters and leakers are calling him a coward because he ran away. He didnt stay to keep the fact that he was helping Americans by revealing information that seemed wrong in the beginning, he ran to Hong Kong and basically made himself look traitorous.

Besides, he escaped to a place which has extradition rights with the United States, unless China cuts in and blocks it (which I highly doubt). He made his situation worse by leaving, imo.

I didnt even care about the information he released. I was more shocked that a man with a GED (no college degree) working with a private contractor had high security clearance to information like that.

He was a sysadmin. He had privileged access on the NSA systems shift were conducting this surveillance.

[Death Metal]

I don't know, exposing classified information about US government security and intelligence agencies actions seems like a rather brave act.

Even if you classify it as treason, it means he could very likely be executed. Perhaps the mark of a despicable person (depending on outlook), but hardly a trademark of the coward.

I applaud him for his actions, but he ran. He claims to have done it for the American people, but then instead of being a martyr (jailed or executed) for the free information movement...he runs to a place where the U.S. can still arrest him.

So you rooted against Harrison Ford in The Fugitive?

[Frisivisia]

I applaud him for his actions, but he ran. He claims to have done it for the American people, but then instead of being a martyr (jailed or executed) for the free information movement...he runs to a place where the U.S. can still arrest him.

So you rooted against Harrison Ford in The Fugitive?

And in Indiana Jones and Star Wars. I wish that Darth Vader could have teamed up with the Nazis and the Aztecs to kick his ass.

[Lemanrussland]

I don't know, exposing classified information about US government security and intelligence agencies actions seems like a rather brave act.

Even if you classify it as treason, it means he could very likely be executed. Perhaps the mark of a despicable person (depending on outlook), but hardly a trademark of the coward.

I applaud him for his actions, but he ran. He claims to have done it for the American people, but then instead of being a martyr (jailed or executed) for the free information movement...he runs to a place where the U.S. can still arrest him.

I don't think he's a coward for running to HK. Most of these leakers attempt to conceal their identity. He was brave enough to reveal it up front and make an appeal to American citizens to not waste his sacrifice. We need to put pressure on Congress to straighten this out, just like we did with the Church Committee.

[Dilange]

He wouldnt face a firing squad. He would at most receive a lengthy jail sentence in a military jail (which is bad). Some free information supporters and leakers are calling him a coward because he ran away. He didnt stay to keep the fact that he was helping Americans by revealing information that seemed wrong in the beginning, he ran to Hong Kong and basically made himself look traitorous.

Besides, he escaped to a place which has extradition rights with the United States, unless China cuts in and blocks it (which I highly doubt). He made his situation worse by leaving, imo.

I didnt even care about the information he released. I was more shocked that a man with a GED (no college degree) working with a private contractor had high security clearance to information like that.

He was a sysadmin. He had privileged access on the NSA systems shift were conducting this surveillance.

He still had access to highly sensitive information in the NSA system while working for Booz Allen, which he only worked there for less than 3 months.

[Dilange]

I applaud him for his actions, but he ran. He claims to have done it for the American people, but then instead of being a martyr (jailed or executed) for the free information movement...he runs to a place where the U.S. can still arrest him.

So you rooted against Harrison Ford in The Fugitive?

Never seen it.

[Dilange]

So you rooted against Harrison Ford in The Fugitive?

And in Indiana Jones and Star Wars. I wish that Darth Vader could have teamed up with the Nazis and the Aztecs to kick his ass.

I still think that Vader should have beat Luke's whiny ass.

[Dilange]

I applaud him for his actions, but he ran. He claims to have done it for the American people, but then instead of being a martyr (jailed or executed) for the free information movement...he runs to a place where the U.S. can still arrest him.

I don't think he's a coward for running to HK. Most of these leakers attempt to conceal their identity. He was brave enough to reveal it up front and make an appeal to American citizens to not waste his sacrifice. We need to put pressure on Congress to straighten this out, just like we did with the Church Committee.

"Hey guys, I have released sensitive information. Use it to your advantage and have Congress straighten this out...while you guys do that I will be hiding in my hotel room in Hong Kong."

[Lemanrussland]

He was a sysadmin. He had privileged access on the NSA systems shift were conducting this surveillance.

He still had access to highly sensitive information in the NSA system while working for Booz Allen, which he only worked there for less than 3 months.

Well, just saying, privileged access is required for the job. The majority of the NSA's systems use RHEL, root is root.

[Occupied Deutschland]

I don't think he's a coward for running to HK. Most of these leakers attempt to conceal their identity. He was brave enough to reveal it up front and make an appeal to American citizens to not waste his sacrifice. We need to put pressure on Congress to straighten this out, just like we did with the Church Committee.

"Hey guys, I have released sensitive information. Use it to your advantage and have Congress straighten this out...while you guys do that I will be hiding in my hotel room in Hong Kong."

It's essentially what other leakers have done and been lionized (Assange, anyone?). I see no reason Snowden is different except for his infinitely more spy-sounding last name.

[Death Metal]

So you rooted against Harrison Ford in The Fugitive?

And in Indiana Jones and Star Wars. I wish that Darth Vader could have teamed up with the Nazis and the Aztecs to kick his ass.

Wasn't the Galactic Empire basically Space Nazis? I mean, the Extended Universe has them as outright speciest.

[Lemanrussland]

I don't think he's a coward for running to HK. Most of these leakers attempt to conceal their identity. He was brave enough to reveal it up front and make an appeal to American citizens to not waste his sacrifice. We need to put pressure on Congress to straighten this out, just like we did with the Church Committee.

"Hey guys, I have released sensitive information. Use it to your advantage and have Congress straighten this out...while you guys do that I will be hiding in my hotel room in Hong Kong."

Quite brave.

What's he gonna do, go Rambo on Fort Meade? He's done what he can.

[Maurepas]

And in Indiana Jones and Star Wars. I wish that Darth Vader could have teamed up with the Nazis and the Aztecs to kick his ass.

Wasn't the Galactic Empire basically Space Nazis? I mean, the Extended Universe has them as outright speciest.

Under Palpatine. Thrawn and later reverse that, especially after Emperor Fel.

[Dilange]

"Hey guys, I have released sensitive information. Use it to your advantage and have Congress straighten this out...while you guys do that I will be hiding in my hotel room in Hong Kong."

It's essentially what other leakers have done and been lionized (Assange, anyone?). I see no reason Snowden is different except for his infinitely more spy-sounding last name.

Maybe not. But usually when Rep. King calls you a "traitor", you've done fucked up (kidding of course). I think we will just have to see how the POTUS and Congress will react, especially the intelligence community. Some actual sensitive information was compromised which may or may not prove to be detrimental to the national security...but I think we should just sit back and watch the future unfold.

[Dilange]

"Hey guys, I have released sensitive information. Use it to your advantage and have Congress straighten this out...while you guys do that I will be hiding in my hotel room in Hong Kong."

Quite brave.

What's he gonna do, go Rambo on Fort Meade? He's done what he can.

How about stay in the US? Instead of running only to be extradited back to the US?