U.S. presses Russia as mystery over Snowden deepens

Wouldn't be shocked if the Russians, who "have no information about him," are pressuring him to provide secrets. Snowden may regret he set foot in Russia because one way or another, wherever he goes, he could become a pawn and lose control of his own fate.

I wonder if the US would extradite its NSA hackers to face charges in Hong Kong? If not, they should stop whining about Hong Kong allowing Snowden to leave the country. The arrogance of US officials in thinking that every country should do as they say and that US laws apply in every country is breathtaking.

"People may die as a consequence to what this man did"

What a lot of hysterical nonsense. The person most likely to die is Snowden himself, executed by "land of the free" agents without a trial. Meanwhile US drone operators continue to murder civilians in the middle east without facing any punishment whatsoever.

I wonder if the US would extradite its NSA hackers to face charges in Hong Kong? If not, they should stop whining about Hong Kong allowing Snowden to leave the country. The arrogance of US officials in thinking that every country should do as they say and that US laws apply in every country is breathtaking.

Stupid! Snowden violated his contract as an employee of the NSA, if he is a guy that champions freedoms, then why out of all countries in Hell would he go to China or Russia??? These are countries that don't give a fig about human rights or freedoms, let alone Free speech. A bit contradictory, wouldn't you think so?! Based upon his contract violation, YES, they should send him back to stand trail.

What a lot of hysterical nonsense. The person most likely to die is Snowden himself, executed by "land of the free" agents without a trial.

Now that is nonsense! He would get a fair trail, what you are saying is absolutely NOT true. You are just speculating, probably the US would be one of the best places to be. Why, because there are so many liberal loons that would give him Pro Bono! Activists everywhere would come to his aid and most of the liberal press. So you are spouting baseless and false accusations. So the man would get a fair trail.

Meanwhile US drone operators continue to murder civilians in the middle east without facing any punishment whatsoever.

You mean suspected Taliban leaders, again, get it straight, the US is not indiscriminately targeting innocent civilians just for the pleasure of it. Yes, innocent people in wars, in EVERY war get killed, that is just the simple facts of war. Tell me where is your outrage about the brutal atrocities the Taliban commit on a daily basis?!! Poisoning little girls, cutting off women's noses, throwing acid in their faces, shooting little girls in the head for what? Wanting to go to school and then you worry about the US seeking out and trying to kill these monsters?!!!

Here is something for you to digest about the Taliban. I support the drone program 110% I pray that there is minimal casualties in the process, but I want the US to get these guys.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2338979/Taliban-behead-boy-10-friend-16-spying-catching-scavenging-food-families.html

The politicians and bureaucrats are only upset because they all got caught with their pants down.

Could someone explain me why it is bad when China monitors internet traffic and keep an eye on its citizen online life and why it is good when USA do the same?

Go to China and see for yourself.

I wonder if Snowden realizes this story was broken over a year ago.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2150281/REVEALED-Hundreds-words-avoid-using-online-dont-want-government-spying-you.html

Could someone explain me why it is bad when China monitors internet traffic and keep an eye on its citizen online life and why it is good when USA do the same?

If you have to ask that kind of an idiotic question, then you really don't understand Geopolitics!

bass4funk:

Based upon his contract violation, YES, they should send him back to stand trial.

US contract law does not apply in Hong Kong. There is no reason why Hong Kong should send Snowden back to the US for a simple contract violation. However, NSA agents have broken Hong Kong laws by hacking into their computer systems. Do you support the extradition of NSA agents to Hong Kong to face charges for this? If not, why not? Remember that the US expects other countries to extradite their citizens to the US for similar crimes.

He would get a fair trial

Or he might be classified as an "enemy combatant" and be left in Guantanamo for years without trial, to be tortured by his captors.

the US is not indiscriminately targeting innocent civilians just for the pleasure of it

This is a fair point, but the fact is that innocent civilians are being killed by those drones.

You seem to be OK with the fact that the US government can send drones anywhere to kill whoever it likes, without a trial. Presumably then, you would have no objection to other countries sending drones over to the US to kill those they regard as terrorists? If not, why not?

If you have to ask that kind of an idiotic question, For some it maybe idiotic for others may not

@scrote

You seem to be OK with the fact that the US government can send drones anywhere to kill whoever it likes, without a trial.

TERRORISTS, Yes, exactly! I whole-hardly do!

Presumably then, you would have no objection to other countries sending drones over to the US to kill those they regard as terrorists? If not, why not?

Lol, Oh, they can try.

Or he might be classified as an "enemy combatant" and be left in Guantanamo for years without trial, to be tortured by his captors.

Snowden is (sadly) a US citizen and while I would like to see that, the possibility of that ever coming to fruition will probably never happen. As I said, before, he would get a fair trail and probably, you'll have a bunch of liberal loons supporting him, but Guantanamo, nope.

US contract law does not apply in Hong Kong. There is no reason why Hong Kong should send Snowden back to the US for a simple contract violation.

We do a lot of trade with HK, them not turning him over would significantly damage US, HK relations, if they don't return bilateral and economical repercussions would probably ensue.

However, NSA agents have broken Hong Kong laws by hacking into their computer systems. And vice versa.

Do you support the extradition of NSA agents to Hong Kong to face charges for this?

If there were any laws broken and the HK intelligence can prove it, then so be it.

Remember that the US expects other countries to extradite their citizens to the US for similar crimes.

Again, other countries deal with their criminals the way they see fit. Snowden is a criminal and a gutless thug. Violating his contract disclosure and taking it upon himself to be a so called vigilante. I take it personal, because I myself have 2 family members that work for the CIA and this.... put my kin in danger, I want him caught and I do want him to get a fair trail and see him where he belongs, behind bars and an example made out of him, so that this kind of nonsense doesn't ever happen again.

Why ok for USA to evil, bad things, and if USSR and China do same thing, only USA is good?? and only China and USSR bad?? WHY??

" He would get a fair trail, what you are saying is absolutely NOT true."

HA! Does anyone actually believe that line of rot? Ask Manning if he's getting a fair trail and humane treatment.

But the ENRON crook got ten years off his sentence? Oh, campaign donations....

Snowden is now... somewhere... having left HK.... or has he?

Elbunda: Why ok for USA to evil, bad things, and if USSR and China do same thing, only USA is good?? and only China and USSR bad?? WHY??

You live in the US. Stop pretending to be stupid.

Scrote: Do you support the extradition of NSA agents to Hong Kong to face charges for this? If not, why not?

LOL.

Remember that the US expects other countries to extradite their citizens to the US for similar crimes.

LOL.

Seriously, we need a calm debate about the issues. Stop playing games.

The hypocrites in the Empire are blathering about the bogeyman hiding under the beds of the duped.

Kerry made ludicrous comments like "People may die..." Fearmongering to have the m_asses acquiesce.

From Russ Tice, the first NSA whistleblower back in December 2005, is speculating the Snowden first went to the Washington Post or the NYT, and that one of the news organizations contacted the administration right after Snowden contacted them. He says that the manhunt for Snowden started days before he released any information. It would explain why he fled to another country, to all the "smok'em out!" crowd here.

Snowden violated his contract as an employee of the NSA,

OK, and they fired him. The US government violated its contract with the American people, they should be fired too.

if he is a guy that champions freedoms, then why out of all countries in Hell would he go to China or Russia???

Yeah, frightening how low the US has fallen!

You seem to be OK with the fact that the US government can send drones anywhere to kill whoever it likes, without a trial.

bass4funk, I hope you realize that the vast majority of those killed by drones are innocent civilians.

TERRORISTS, Yes, exactly! I whole-hardly do!

Its high time US official start blaming themselves for lack of security monitoring in their NSA rather then blaming Hong Kong, Chna and Russia for not cooperating in handing Snowden over to US. May be the job they should do is to fire the NSA chief.

This guy is a traitor. Exposing US government secrets in a manner that the enemy can obtain said information (i.e. over the internet or at a press conference) is a treasonous act. Accordingly, he should be a fair trial tfor treason and then put to death.

RR

On the other hand, if he can pull off his secret mission--involving a Patriots team owner's Super Bowl ring and the Sharapova-Williams grudge match--then all is forgiven.

Well, after this story dies down, we can fondly reminisce about the days when RR and Bass took a position indistinguishable from Pelosi and Kerry, without once mentioning the support Snowden has been given by libertarians like Rand Paul.

"people may die" Mr. Kerey it doesn't matter. They knew the risks when they took the job.

According to Eric Yaverbaum, the Snowden case has rendered normal distinctions of left and right meaningless. On one side are the pro-secrecy Feinsteins and Peter Kings, while those who tend to be suspicious of authority and prefer transparency, like Michael Moore and Glenn Beck, are calling the guy a hero.

Most bizarre of all, McCain is starting to talk about the Super Bowl ring when he rags on Putin. I was just joking that Snowden could redeem himself by returning the ring, but listening to McCain, I am half convinced that would do the trick!

Physically, yes, Snowden is in Russia, but not juridically. He is now in the transfer zone of Sheremetievo airport and can't set foot to the territory of Russia, he has no visa.

He also doesn't have a passport. It was revoked by Obama, which usually is only done for pedophiles. Oh they must hate him. His name is Edward Snowden.

@blue

OK, and they fired him. The US government violated its contract with the American people, they should be fired too.

You have to admit, what you just said, made absolutely NO sense.

Yeah, frightening how low the US has fallen!

You just ignored my question.

I hope you realize that the vast majority of those killed by drones are innocent civilians

Yes, I know and personally, I would rather they'd send in special forces to surgically get these guys and pick them or detain them and interogate them, that way and you would see the causally rate of innocent people drop substantially, but the Obama admin. Would rather use drones and be done with it, than putting boots on the ground apprehending these guys and throwing them in Guantanamo, for Obama, blasting them to shreds is much easier and in that process, sadly you will have innocent casualties.