Snowden declares 'mission accomplished' on leaks

Of course, he's still stuck in Russia, and his former countrymen are still after him, and will be until they have him in custody. The U.S. is anything but forgiving on matters like this, indeed, obsessive and vindictive. For the sake of his future, and that of his family, I hope I'm wrong.

'mission accomplished'

This statement is a period at end of sentence like. It will not help Snowden at all. I guess he has been working to get a deal for safe return to US... Well, I am sorry both the Demo and the Rep members have already expressed there will be no amnesty for him.

Agencies like the NSA need to focus on cybercriminals that do harm to Americans rather than spy on their own countrymen.

Cases in point: The recent 40 million credit card accounts stolen from Target and the increasingly frequent cyberlockers and ransomware criminals and similar pirates infesting the net.

Snowden did Americans a service by alerting them to the misplaced priorities of our "security" agencies.

“I am not trying to bring down the NSA, I am working to improve the NSA,” he said. “I am still working for the NSA right now. They are the only ones who don’t realize it.”

By telling China how we spy on them?

Thanks Ed and wishing you a Merry Xmas!

From the beginning, when first hearing that Edward Snowden was a "former" CIA agent, I have been wondering about what Homeland brought up. There is no such thing as a "former" CIA agent. It is said: "Once in intelligence, always in intelligence." Maybe the NSA was asserting too much independence from the CIA. But such speculation is endless.

I also wonder if the Target hacking could have been done by a rogue element (or not, as in: planned by those in authority) in the NSA or the like. If Edward Snowden could do what he did for what may be considered benevolent purposes couldn't another US intelligence agent also do similar hacking for malevolent purposes? After all, there was that word used in regards to the NSA hacks on foreign leaders. The surprising word was in reference to the information garnered as being "lucrative." The definition of lucrative is: "Producing wealth. Profitable."

Because he is an American Edward Snowden must be considered innocent of anything like treason until proven guilty in a fair trial and so judged by a jury of his peers. To repeat: He is innocent until proven guilty. That is the American way. Same goes for the presumed innocent Lee Harvey Oswald. The US has no use for secret "Star Chambers" or Warren-type government-commission-style adjudications of a US citizen's guilt.

umiosoDec. 25, 2013 - 12:19AM JST

Agencies like the NSA need to focus on cybercriminals that do harm to Americans rather than spy on their own countrymen.

Cases in point: The recent 40 million credit card accounts stolen from Target and the increasingly frequent cyberlockers and ransomware criminals and similar pirates infesting the net.

And thousands are already victims, many class actions against target stores are coming up, the first class action was just filed yesterday in California. The hacker investigation is still on the way by the US Justice Department, their early investigation has revealed that the hacker is from the SE Asia, possibly by a Chinese criminal syndicate.

Snowden did Americans a service by alerting them to the misplaced priorities of our "security" agencies.

Good point. Also we need to recognize the system already prevented many terrorist actions living USA. One of them is from Denver, Colorado. The security issue is the top priority.

homleandDec. 25, 2013 - 12:22AM JST

Snowden will come home and quietly have all charges against him dropped. Then he'll resume his work at a private security firm.

No, this question was already raised to Susan Rice last week. She strongly denied such rumors. In addition, both the Demo, and the Rep are on the same page refusing to deal with Snowden. He can always come back, but he needs to accept a criminal charge against the US government.

Great Job, Snowden and Merry Christmas!

viking68Dec. 25, 2013 - 07:05AM JST

He only revealed an update to what the NSA has been doing. The NSA is known to have had the authority since the 1970's to collect information on U.S. citizens who have contact with foreign nationals. The information age has since made the NSA's job easier.

No, NSA was officially created by W after the 9/11. You may be mixing it up with CIA.

Sure, make the NSA better and stronger!

But realize that the NSA can't do everything, so if something bad gonna happen, don't expect the NSA to be your god saviour. With limited powers come limited responsibilities.

I don't mind the NSA spying on the "Americans" that come here as sleeper moles for a terrorist organization (both domestic and abroad), or Americans that participate in criminal organizations like M13s or Triads, and other Mafioso type groups. Anything beyond that is just a waste of time and money....

Yeah, well, Snowden is no hero. Mandella, King, Ghandi. These men were heroes.

They were not afraid to confront injustice. And pay the price for doing doing so.

Snowden ran away, to Russia of all places.

Snowden has accomplished more good on the global scale than anyone else in 2013. And the revealed documents so far are mere shavings off the iceberg!

Snowden: man of the year. Well done.

Traitor!! Who knows what he's been telling the Russians and Chinese!!

Hmm....so this guy is just a mole?? So NSA is just using him to see what the Chinese, Russians etc..would do??

He only revealed an update to what the NSA has been doing. The NSA is known to have had the authority since the 1970's to collect information on U.S. citizens who have contact with foreign nationals. The information age has since made the NSA's job easier.

Some of the disturbing things from the last week was the court that ruled that the NSA's collection of U.S. citizen's communications was a violation of the 1st and 4th amendments, and the executive branch attempting to prevent the court from issuing its ruling, which is a violation of the separation of powers.

@globalwatcher Susan Rice is WAY below the pay grade of the decision makers here. She's just saying what she's been told to say.

That part about the NSA being created after 9/11 isn't helping your case.

homleandDec. 26, 2013 - 06:58AM JST

@globalwatcher Susan Rice is WAY below the pay grade of the decision makers here.

To my understanding, she is occupying "Henry's room" (Henry Kissinger) sitting right next to the President. She goes to a daily meeting at the Oval office. She reports to John Kerry. She is heavily involved in decision making process. She is a powerful woman.

Al Qaida thanks you, Snowden.

He is a hero of the first order and I am going to be always grateful to him for revealing that parts of the US Governenmt under the current idiot president who is the worst we have ever had, has become worse than the Gestapo of Nazi Germany. I am very sad to see the vindictive and petty attitude of the White house trying to blame the one honest man in the entire NSA for revealing the terrible invasion of the privacy of millions world wide, not just in America and the White House has the affrontery to try to make petty moves to placate the justifiably outraged public in the US about being violated by their own government. There is NO justification and a Federal Judge has ruled the same already. Time for some big changes.

I am still working for the NSA right now.

Still on payroll?

By telling China how we spy on them?

No, SuperLib, by feeding them HUGE amounts of misinformation. You realise nothing Snowden said was true, right? This is a plant, designed to spew misinformation to parties such as China. Snowden will come home and quietly have all charges against him dropped. Then he'll resume his work at a private security firm.

@globalwatcher Everyone you named in that comment is below the decision makers.