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Kerry tells Snowden to 'man up' and come home to stand trial

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Too cold for comrade Snowden? For once I couldn't agree more with Kerry he did the crime, come back, stand trail and do the time, if he doesn't want to face justice and get a fair trail, then stay in Russia and eat Borscht for the rest of your miserable life. He does have a choice, it's up to him how he wants this to play out. But he only has two options.

-26 ( +3 / -29 )

What Kerry and others always conveniently overlook is that the USA government was the one breaking the law. Snowden just exposed it. So perhaps Kerry and Co should "man up" and report to the prosecutors office to be charged for their crimes. I mean, it's the decent thing to do. Isn't it?

27 ( +28 / -1 )

Before Mr Snowden goes back to the USA for a show trial, how about the US prosecutes those whom Snowden exposed as breaking the law? After all, everyone is equal under the law, aren't they?

22 ( +23 / -1 )

John Kerry has suffered some kind of brain damage form being under the blow dry hair dryer too long This man up business sounds like a teenage hooligan not a statesman. Fortunately America dodged having Kerry be President and now he is just Obama's flunky. there is no way Snowden will get a fair trial in the US. He is no traitor but a great patriot who exposed the evil snooping by Kerry,m Obama Bush and their ilk in the CIA, NSA and a bunch of other spy agencies with various initials. These officious officials are the mask of evil in America who spy on friend and foe without cause and without legal justification because they can get away with it. The FISA court rubber stamps the few times they bother to get a warrant. Snowden at risk of life and limb exposed this unconstitutional and evil spying and apparently there is another blockbuster to come which is getting Kerry and Company antsy. Imagine Snowden had to go to Russia for asylum. Who would have thought? Someday Snowden will be honored for his valor and heroism in the face of assassins and thugs who roam the corridors of power in the US. He is a great young man the best of the best America has to offer the world. His revelations have sparked the kind of outcry he hoped for to rein in spying and offer everyone in the US the kind of privacy guaranteed by the constitution. The illegal and immoral Supreme Court not withstanding,.

16 ( +19 / -3 )

Before Mr Snowden goes back to the USA for a show trial, how about the US prosecutes those whom Snowden exposed as breaking the law? After all, everyone is equal under the law, aren't they?

Start with Snowden first.

-19 ( +3 / -22 )

Kerry is an absolute fool for allowing himself to be used as a front man for the obama circus. As if Snowden who is a hero, could or would get fair treatment in the US, not any chance of that. I am so glad he had the courage to expose the massive abuse of the people of the world's pirvacy. It boggles the mind how they got away with it for so long and how they blame HIM for their own crimes against us all.

12 ( +15 / -3 )

Snowden was not needed this week. The White House exposed its top Afghan guy working for the CIA. Now, his life is in danger and USA lost a very valuable asset.

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

lKerry is an absolute fool for allowing himself to be used as a front man for the obama circus. As if Snowden who is a hero, could or would get fair treatment in the US, not any chance of that. I am so glad he had the courage to expose the massive abuse of the people of the world's pirvacy. It boggles the mind how they got away with it for so long and how they blame HIM for their own crimes against us all.

If Snowden WERE a real hero, he could've lawyered up, set the process in motion to talk to the media, discuss his options and then go on record, I would never have had a problem with that. However, he stole vital info from the U.S. And ran off to all places China and Russia, why on Earth would he go there of all places and to the enemy. Snowden has No right to throw a bitch fit! Instead of whining on Brian Williams's shoulders, he should do the honorable thing ( as if he ever did ) and give himself up, he can still get a fair trail and hopefully he gets convicted and spends the rest of his pathetic life.

-12 ( +3 / -15 )

Anyone who thinks Snowden would get a fair trial, or any trial at all for that matter, is laughably naive. He'd disappear to an anonymous gulag within minutes of stepping off the plane.

13 ( +17 / -4 )

Anyone who thinks Snowden would get a fair trial, or any trial at all for that matter, is laughably naive. He'd disappear to an anonymous gulag within minutes of stepping off the plane.

BS! Snowden would get a fair trail, probably because of his notoriety it would be as big as OJ, there is NO way, he would come to the U.S. And disappear and what, make a Martyr out of him? All the media from the world would be present, nope, not buying it. The government would never want that to happen.

-15 ( +2 / -17 )

This guy wants to be an All American Hero. He claims he served his country and now wants a parade in New York. He is delusional. He was never trained as a CIA-NSA spy just as Elvis Presley was never allowed to be an under cover agent for the FBI. Albert, CIA K-9 (Ret.) is a better trained than this guy, and he is a dog. This coward cut and ran to the USSR-Putinville. Stay there. He deserve the same treatment as American Army lieutenant Philip Nolan - a man without a country.

-11 ( +3 / -14 )

This guy wants to be an All American Hero. He claims he served his country and now wants a parade in New York. He is delusional. He was never trained as a CIA-NSA spy just as Elvis Presley was never allowed to be an under cover agent for the FBI. Albert, CIA K-9 (Ret.) is a better trained than this guy, and he is a dog. This coward cut and ran to the USSR-Putinville. Stay there. He deserve the same treatment as American Army lieutenant Philip Nolan - a man without a country.

That's right, but as I said before, the U.S. Government is not that dumb, were he to give himself up and if he were to die by some bizarre circumstances, the fallout would be too great and at this point, killing him would serve absolutely NO purpose. I'd rather see him locked up at least 50 years at the bear minimum.

-14 ( +0 / -14 )

"BS! Snowden would get a fair trial." "I'd rather see him locked up at least 50 years." "Come back, stand trial, and do the time."

Once again the irony of your words astounds me. What is a "fair trial" when you've already made up your mind?

13 ( +13 / -0 )

P.S. In one case of a UK spy (suspected of something); he was found dead in a zipped-up bag in the bath, with a number of torture marks and lethal wounds; the UK spy agency did not look for him for weeks (and did not admit he discovered who ordered the killings of Anti-Iraq war WMD expert Dr Kelly and MP Robin Cook); and in that case Police claimed he tortured himself, killed himself three times, and while dead climbed into the sportsbag and zipped it up.

No; you cannot trust the authorities in National security cases. As JFK would testify if he were alive, or at least his brother would.

Kissinger much?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Lol, It is Kerry who needs to "man up" and do the "patriotic thing" Snowden has already done both.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Man up? Seems all US politicians are regressing to the level of George W Bush. Next they'll threaten to "smoke him out".

He did "man up" already when he sacrificed a comfortable lifestyle and well paid job to do the right thing.

Not surprised he prefers asylum in Russia to solitary confinement in a US jail (and that would start before the trial even).

9 ( +9 / -0 )

LOL! Bass4funk apparently thinks the man who - in Bass's own words - "had the courage to expose the massive abuse of the people of the world's pirvacy", the scale of which "boggles the mind how they got away with it for so long" - is the bad guy.

Conservative logic tanks yet again. :-)

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Snowden took an oath and gave up his right as a normal civilian once he worked for the NSA. Those duties come with responsibilites. He went rouge, now he must pay for what he did.

Having said that (and I mean it), hopefully this will never happen again. But with the lattest fiasco with the VA and Gen Shinseki, dont count on it. The internal checks and balances (IG) seemed to have failed miserably.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

@max

Once again the irony of your words astounds me. What is a "fair trial" when you've already made up your mind?

Then you can make that argument about everything, not going to fly. He comes back, gets processed, goes through the legal system and he should get time, if he were a real man, he would take his medicine, but I'm not surprised that the libertarian flower power loons would think otherwise, now that's astounding! If he wants to come back, do it, be a man and let the chips fall where they may, if he really believes he is truly innocent in the word, come back and show your supporters you are a responsible person, but he's not. He doesn't care about outing people working in the field, jeopardizing their lives, but wants to save his own hide??? The guy should stay and eat his caviar and enjoy the cold for the rest of his days.

@dave

Man up? Seems all US politicians are regressing to the level of George W Bush. Next they'll threaten to "smoke him out".

Well, he didn't man up, he's not back in the U.S. Now is he? Kerry is right.....for once.

He did "man up" already when he sacrificed a comfortable lifestyle and well paid job to do the right thing.

Then he shouldn't complain, he should be happy to live in such a wonderful country that believes in human rights and the rule of law on every level and holds democracy dear to their hearts.

Not surprised he prefers asylum in Russia to solitary confinement in a US jail (and that would start before the trial even).

Then let him rot there. Maybe that would be better.

@sushi

apparently thinks the man who - in Bass's own words - "had the courage to expose the massive abuse of the people of the world's pirvacy", the scale of which "boggles the mind how they got away with it for so long" - is the bad guy.

For breaking the law and exposing agents out in the field, compromising our national security, YES, I do. Bad is an understatement.

Conservative logic tanks yet again. :-)

More like liberals, don't care about the rule of law, unless it applies to them and serves their narrative.

-10 ( +0 / -10 )

How do you expose the wrongdoings of government? Well, you dont )

Anyway, I agree with Kerry. The U.S. is a forgiving place, just look at Kerry and his shenanigans during Vietnam. Now he is SECSTATE. The time is right for Snowden to return. Once he gets old, what he knows will be irrelevant and he cant use it as leverage at his trial. Someday, Snowden will tire as life as a fugitive. There was a guy in Cuba who is a fugitive from the U.S.; now he is trying to appeal to Obama to return. Same thing will happen to Snowden as he gets old. Some, however, like the strange Jenkins fella in Sado, seem to like it )

From what Snowden knows, Im sure he could get a sweet plea bargain deal, probably not even serve time. It would have to be a solid deal though, otherwise they will let him off on some charges, only to hit him hard latter. If it can be proven he was indirectly responsible for putting somebody in harms way, he will probably do some time.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Bass, you're getting funnier by the minute. :-)

First, you said, Snowdon "had the courage to expose the massive abuse of the people of the world's privacy," then no sooner had the paint dried on that comment you say, "I'd rather see him locked up at least 50 years at the bear minimum." (and that should be 'bare,' not 'bear.')

Before that you said, "hopefully he gets convicted and spends the rest of his pathetic life," then you gloat, "if he were a real man, he would take his medicine."

Excuse me? Take his medicine? 

Take his medicine for exposing the government's massive program of spying on its own people that was started in the emotionally charged aftermath of 9-11 via the Patriot Act and other huge mistakes like invading the wrong freaking country???

You claim Snowdon has broken the law.

Q: If the Government passed a law allowing massive corporations to write their own laws that may affect the lives of millions, would you moan if someone exposed that - for the same reason?

He's done you and your countryfolk a huge favor, and your government - led by your president - have even changed laws and surveillance regulations because of Snowdon's actions.

If he didn't act, people in your government might be reading your e-mails and scanning your phone records right now without you having the slightest awareness.

(They probably are anyway, but that's beside the point.)

10 ( +10 / -0 )

It always baffled me as to why these Mannings and Snowdens were allowed to have a TS clearance anyway. Most of us cant even get a secret let alone a TS. You have a guy (manning) who is a crossdresser, not even an adult and he is allowed to have a TS? You can take one look at Snowden and see he is green. You need some years on you to appreciate what your dealing with. Your own beliefs should never infuence your job, if they do, you shouldnt be working for the gov.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Snowden would get a fair trial as long as it is publicly broadcast LIVE to the US public and with the complete access of the press. I saw a PBS broadcast that was talking about a particular program the NSA was using that was at first being regulated by an outside source, and then suddenly by some random NSA official's judgment and the stupidity of the previous president George Bush Jr. took away the power of that regulation. There were other whistleblowers in the NSA on said program, but because of our previous president's decision and the current administrations continuation of that order the wrong people are expecting more power than necessary over the US public without the complete knowledge and consent of the US public. Snowden is a smart man, but if he was smarter he would have had the US government's particular NSA program exposed so far out that there would have been absolutely no recourse except that they had broken the law protecting US citizens constitutional rights.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@sushi

you're getting funnier by the minute. :-)

First, you said, Snowdon "had the courage to expose the massive abuse of the people of the world's privacy," then no sooner had the paint dried on that comment you say, "I'd rather see him locked up at least 50 years at the bear minimum." (and that should be 'bare,' not 'bear.')

Before that you said, "hopefully he gets convicted and spends the rest of his pathetic life," then you gloat, "if he were a real man, he would take his medicine."

Excuse me? Take his medicine?

Take his medicine for exposing the government's massive program of spying on its own people that was started in the emotionally charged aftermath of 9-11 via the Patriot Act and other huge mistakes like invading the wrong freaking country???

I can give you a litany of lists this president has screwed up over the last 5 years, don't think we have that much time.

You claim Snowdon has broken the law.

He did.

Q: If the Government passed a law allowing massive corporations to write their own laws that may affect the lives of millions, would you moan if someone exposed that - for the same reason?

That would depend, but if it is for the benefit of national security, I would not object to it.

He's done you and your countryfolk a huge favor, and your government - led by the president - have even changed laws and surveillance regulations because of Snowdon's actions.

That's not true, Obama ratcheted up the surveillance program double from that what Bush started. So if you call that a favor, I would hate to see him if he has a personal vendetta against the people.

If he didn't act, people in your government might be reading your e-mails and scanning your phone records right now without you having the slightest awareness.

Oh, and you think under Obama that has completely stopped?? Don't be naive, dude.

(They probably are anyway, but that's beside the point.)

So in essence nothing has changed then. Like I said, he is the do nothing, non-engaging president

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

I agree with Honest Dictator,

The Feds have like a 99% conviction rate, and Snowden got caught, two things that dont go well for you if your a gov employee. A closed doors Fed trial, not good unless he has lots of leverage.

The People vs Snowden.....(even if its really US Gov vs Snowden), would be something all together different.

Because there is so much sensitive information involved, a live trial isnt likely

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Conservative logic tanks yet again. :-)

Don't twist things around. Conservatives want smaller government, the right to be left alone and personal freedom. It's consistent for a real conservative to be outraged by the abuse of power that Snowden exposed.

And just to piss off a few more people, what's with calling a Snowden a coward because he chose not to allow himself to be thrown in a dark hole for the rest of his life? By that standard, every defector from the Soviet Union was a coward. If they loved Russia, they should have stayed have and faced what they had coming to them. Of course, he has to choose Russia. There are few countries in the world who can withstand US pressure.

Do Americans really believe that they should give up all of their privacy and most of their rights to be safe? Who, then, will keep them safe from their own government?

6 ( +6 / -0 )

" Man UP " ? Gimmie' a BREAK. FIRST: IF this guy truely believed he was " Doing the Right Thing "; more power to him.

Do I believe he is a TRAITOR; Yes. I will be the first to admit that, HOWEVER:

He has ALREADY SHOWN he has: " Manned Up" by doing what he thinks was RIGHT. "Good Luck with THAT SpongeBob".

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The internal checks and balances (IG) seemed to have failed miserably.

Which is precisely why Snowden is under no obligation to come back and "pay" for anything. The system reneged on promises and assurances to him long before he broke any promises to the system. It's the system that breached contract first, not Snowden.

What's utterly baffling (and not just a little bit ironic) is how many here are insisting Snowden come back to a "fair" trial. while in the very same breath, proclaim him not only guilty, but also deserving of severe punishment.

Newsflash: "Fair trial" and "presumed guilt" have no business being in the same sentence under any circumstance. This isn't how a modern legal system works. You are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Then, and only then, are you sentenced based on the circumstances of the case.

Snowden knew all too well that there was about as much chance for him of a "fair" trial in the U.S. for bringing NSA spying to light as there would have been had he tried to bring the wrongdoing to light through "proper" channels. The near-acrobatic spin the NSA and U.S. government have put on each of his truly disturbing revelations is indication enough of how unwilling the U.S. government would have been to give his allegations serious consideration. Add to that the more than liberal sprinkling of words like "treason," "patriot" and "duty to country" that keep falling from the lips of pundits, and you've got the complete recipe for a government that would have locked Snowden up or discredited him as a crackpot the moment he raised these legitimate issues.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

The NSA and the US Gov. is the traitor to the constitution and the bill of rights. They supersede any political party or president. Some here just don't understand that.

Thank you Mr. Snowden.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

To quote Biff Tannen in "Back to the future II" Imagine his voice saying this.

Oh yeah, sure, right, that's rich, ha ha

Kerry is a numpty.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

The NSA and the US Gov. is the traitor to the constitution and the bill of rights. They supersede any political party or president. Some here just don't understand that.

So you justify bad behavior by encouraging more bad behavior? I fully understand. Snowden is THE worst. I understand if he had a problem with what the government was doing, but there are innocent people that are working covertly in the field and what he did puts a lot of those people's lives in serious jeopardy, but that's ok if their cover is compromised, but soldiers dying in Iraq and Afghanistan is unacceptable, but Benghazi is, can you guys please stop cherry picking who gets a pass and who doesn't!!!!!

-9 ( +0 / -9 )

@Bass4funk, I strongly recommend you watch Frontline's "United States of Secrets" 2 part program. There were many other whistleblowers in the NSA that were either forced to resign, or had their lives "destroyed" (thanks to the arrogance of the people we've entrusted to protect our rights) by trying to do what was right and condemning a specific monitoring system in the NSA. This happened even before Snowden did what he did. It's not as cut and paste as you'd like to believe.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

It's more than a little humorous for a prissy elitist aristocrate like Kerry to ask anyone to "man up".

0 ( +2 / -2 )

One thing is to be a man, another thing is to be stupid.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

So you justify bad behavior by encouraging more bad behavior? I fully understand. Snowden is THE worst. I understand if he had a problem with what the government was doing, but there are innocent people that are working covertly in the field and what he did puts a lot of those people's lives in serious jeopardy, but that's ok if their cover is compromised, but soldiers dying in Iraq and Afghanistan is unacceptable, but Benghazi is, can you guys please stop cherry picking who gets a pass and who doesn't!!!!!

Even if that's so, the one time pain is necessary. As for those people ... well, they worked for the wrong agency. Like the Germans in the Wehrmacht or the Japanese in the IJA. Most of them are not guilty of more than belonging in the organization, but the organization had to be stopped and no one would argue that harm to the lower-tiered individuals is a good reason to not attack.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

then stay in Russia and eat borsht for the end of your miserable life

LOL. In Russia he can eat whatever he wishes. Please, have a time to read about dishes of Russian cuisine, other than that boring "borsht". Anyway, there is much better for Snowden to stay inside a big Rissia than to rot in the US prison's cell, waiting for 'hot squat' or lethal injection.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

LOL. In Russia he can eat whatever he wishes. Please, have a time to read about dishes of Russian cuisine, other than that boring "borsht". Anyway, there is much better for Snowden to stay inside a big Rissia than to rot in the US prison's cell, waiting for 'hot squat' or lethal injection.

I went to Russia twice and I wasn't impressed at all about their cuisine, but that's me. If Snowden really liked it so much, then he wouldn't be itching to come back home and why would he want to stay in that country, but I think for the sanity of others and if he has a smidgen of dignity, then he should stay there, go on RT and leave the rest of us alone. But if he comes back, he should rot in a U.S. Federal prison 23 hours lockdown for the rest of his life and killing him wouldn't undo the damage he did to his country and our allies and agents, not to mention national security, death would be too good for him, he should just be locked up forever.

-8 ( +0 / -8 )

Kerry once has shown that he is a creep. Stand trial for exposing the truth? Stand trial where there is a concentrated government campaign against him. The man has done nothing wrong. He is a hero who exposed the evil and unconstitutional doing of the NSA.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

“Russia…[has] my gratitude and respect for being the first to stand against human rights violations carried out by the powerful rather than the powerless. By refusing to compromise their principles in the face of intimidation, [Russia has] earned the respect of the world.”

— Edward Snowden

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

That Russia has earned respect in this matter highlights the pathetic condition of the US.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I voted for this fool in 2000. But in my defense the only other realistic option was GWB. In fact, I think its more fair to say I voted against GWB rather than for Kerry.

Of course its easy for Kerry to suggest someone else man up since Kerry has all that money he married into, all those contacts, and he never went out on a limb for the American people like Snowden did.

I would like to see Kerry man up and go after all those criminals Snowden exposed. Then man up and get some laws passed that would guarantee a whistle blower get justice. And no, holding an American citizen to some paltry oath to the government is not justice. Loyalty to the United States of America supersedes any oath that obligates you to betray them, obviously.

Its going to take a while for Kerry to get his fat foot out of his big mouth.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Does Kerry really think Snowdon is going to come to the US? Maybe Kerry should man up and start investigating abuses of power in the government that he's a part of.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

“Russia…[has] my gratitude and respect for being the first to stand against human rights violations carried out by the powerful rather than the powerless. By refusing to compromise their principles in the face of intimidation, [Russia has] earned the respect of the world.”

— Edward Snowden

The man is completely delusional to the max! I pray he stays there and never comes back,trash!

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Conservative logic tanks yet again. :-)

Which is why Liberal politicians are basically demanding Snowden's head on a platter? :-) teehee emoticon (am I cool yet?)

4 ( +4 / -0 )

gelendestrasseMay. 30, 2014 - 01:48AM JST

Does Kerry really think Snowdon is going to come to the US? Maybe Kerry should man up and start investigating abuses of power in the government that he's a part of.

Sounds like you are talking about something very specific here. Please elaborate it further, thanks.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Kerry said "man up"? Kerry?!?

I can't... stop... laughing...

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I went to Russia twice and I wasn't impressed at all about their cuisine, but that's me

Thats probably because it didn't come with fries and an extra large Coke. Your bias is showing.

Edward Snowden is a national hero. The only person "man" enough to risk his life and safety for the benefit of his own people. Even ones that are too "patriotic" to see it.

In Russia he can enjoy beautiful skinny girls and a standard of living that is much higher than most of the united states.( never seen places as poor as Michigan)

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Kerry said "man up"? Kerry?!?

I think he meant ketch- up. That's his money word.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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