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U.S. scrambles to stop globe-trotting Snowden

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zichi The Russian Foreign Minister has stated that he has not entered Russia.

He is in Moscow , Scheremetyevo airport, transit zone....

(Mr Putin confirmed this )

So technically he is not entered Russia....

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Only criminals run and hide, always. People that believe in truth and justice NEVER run

Not only criminals run and hide. Those that have no faith in the establishment they are facing also run and hide, especially if they believe their life and liberty depends on it.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Funk, what am I afraid of? Nothing. I'm afraid FOR my family and friends. I don't see Snowden's whistle blowing as one specific issue. I see it in a context of the growing intrusion into the private life of citizens, the lack of respect for their privacy, the amount of $$ spent doing it, the lying about it, the MSM talking heads not questing it, the lack of respect shown to the other nations, for what? Control! This is not about terrorism. That's where your emotions are getting the better of you, IMO. Respectively. Too many red flags about 9/11 have convinced me it was a false one.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I think that's what he's trying to stop the US from becoming. Since you trust the US government, police, etc, that's your choice. I don't, and they're becoming too powerful.

So then what are you afraid of, what is it specifically that bothers you about this. This is so perplexing to me. I just don't care. This man has put a lot of people in the field in serious jeopardy. As I have said before, he he felt so strongly about betraying his country, then he should have hired a lawyer, stand trail, have a jury and let the chips fall where they may. But to put peoples lives at risk that are out in the field protecting our country and our allies is just unforgivable. But it seems like you are ok, with China and Russia getting our vital intel and with that intel do what? What do you think they would do with it? How would they use that intel? You think Snowden got into bed with China and Russia because he knows giving them the intel, they will use it responsibly. This is just sheer madness!

I, will choose to support him until I sense something different.

I am surprised that in this stage of the game you do!

If Snowden IS the real deal, and the fact that Obomber is going after whistle blowers like an exterminator at a hoarders house, then it makes perfect sense to go somewhere the US Gubmint can't reach him so easily.

Only criminals run and hide, always. People that believe in truth and justice NEVER run, if they believe in what they are doing is right. Snowden is the real deal, "A coward and a traitor" that's the real deal.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Hey Superlib, If you believe that he's just a front man for the TPTB, then your questions about his motivations are valid. Got any proof?

fantasy police state (US)

I think that's what he's trying to stop the US from becoming. Since you trust the US government, police, etc, that's your choice. I don't, and they're becoming too powerful.

I, will choose to support him until I sense something different. If Snowden IS the real deal, and the fact that Obomber is going after whistle blowers like an exterminator at a hoarders house, then it makes perfect sense to go somewhere the US Gubmint can't reach him so easily.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

@techno

Again, I am waiting for a new Hollywood movie about a heroic actions of SEAL team. :-)))) CGI effects, pretty actors and so on. The problem is Russia is not a Pakistan. Your remotely-controlled killer drones have no a possibility to fly in Russian airspace. As for tough man hunters from SEAL team....They will be arrested or even executed in a harsh and bloody combat shortly after infiltrating.

"Welcome to Reality, mr Anderson!" (C)

You need to stop watching too much TV.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

to nandakandamanda

but Assange is a fugitive from justice, (outstanding rape allegations in Sweden, and jumping bail in the UK)

Snowden on the other hand seems to be a regular clean guy with sincere motives, so far anyway.

Wait a little !

Give some time for CIA guys - they will fabricate a lot of allegations against Snowden

Just wait ...

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Cos: Hero I don't know but whatever you think of his cause. it's a guy that has guts and does what he sincerely believes. Whatever you think about his action, he knew the risks.

He is going from the fantasy police state (US) to a real police state (Cuba). Speaking out against the government will get you jailed. It's just hard to believe that a man who is supposedly motivated by freedom and transparency would accept those terms. His supporters will not be able to reconcile that so it will be ignored.

If he does get caught I think he should be sentenced to 2 weeks in Miami. He can talk to people whose family members were imprisoned or killed by Castro.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

If he ends up in Ecuador with Assange he will probably be seriously disappointed in the guy. Some readers above compare the two, but Assange is a fugitive from justice, (outstanding rape allegations in Sweden, and jumping bail in the UK). Snowden on the other hand seems to be a regular clean guy with sincere motives, so far anyway.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Seriously, Snowden would have been much better off trying to secretly release the information and trying to keep himself anonymous, but he's destroyed his life with his own big mouth and no attempts at keeping himself unidentified. Not like The Guardian and MSM helped much.

While I doubt the US intelligence/security agencies have time to be wasting on listening to the every single person's call, I also doubt the ability of certain people in these types of organizations to avoid doing something illegal that maintains innocent US citizens right to keep their privacy.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Sad fact is, even though he is in the right. No Govt. cannot function if the drones make up their own minds about what is right or not. Thus. The US must prosecute. Even if everyone in the room knows they are wrong to do so.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It is game over. You can send as many US Navy Seals and kill him, but you will prove once again the bully that you are as a nation walking all over the earth doing whatever God damn pleases you. Mr. Snowden has already encrypted the data he took and it's already in hands of other parties, rest assured. I am quite satisfied that one man slapped the bully right in the face. The US government has a total disrespect and disdain for other countries to say the least if things don't go their way. You are an arrogant superpower and your might and abuse has to be challenged.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

US saving face, they probably suggested getting him out of HK in the first place.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

better make that a fictional movie now since most of these SEALs are dead

That's just one unit. They have more SEALs.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Since he's apparently going to Cuba on Aeroflot, I kind of wonder if the U.S. government will try to force the plane down since according to flight tracker, the plane will go through U.S. airspace.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

And now Snowden has not been seen aboard the flight he had supposedly checked in for. Is he already of n Ecuador? Did he actually travel directly to Iceland? Was the trip to Moscow a ruse to confound the Empire? Is it a shell game?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Those of you clamouring for Snowden's imprisonment on the grounds that he has broken US laws should also be arguing for the prosecution of NSA staff for violating the US constitution, but I don't see it.

A federal department carrying out the orders of Congress does not violate the Constitution until and unless the Supreme Court decides otherwise. You may not like it, and that is your right - in due time, no doubt someone will bring it to the Court's attention, and a decision on its Constitutionality will be made, but until then, these NSA acts are perfectly legal.

That this has united the far left and far right is quite true; it also has brought centrists together. The fringes of both parties distrust government deeply; centrists hold on to a "trust but verify" belief. Transparency is good, and more transparency is better - to a point. I can't imagine even fringe players to argue that Washington should disclose all.

Snowden has awakened a needed argument, as even Obama has acknowledged. Good: Let's have this conversation and set parameters that satisfy the majority. In the meantime, leave Constitutionality out of it.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Do you honestly think the government cares about yours or mine conversations? ...Are you nervous, they will knock on your door and arrest you? If so, then they would have done that long, long ago. NO ONE CARES

Are you suggesting that if I am not doing anything wrong, I do not need rights?

The government has absolutely NO authority to do what they are doing. If they feel they can disregard that part of the constitution (and lie about it under oath!), they will certainly disregard other parts. Might as well live under a dictatorship.

Its been quite clear for some time that most, if not all, people officially in power are compromised in one way or another. They are not spying to keep Americans safe, they are spying to keep the powers that be safe from Americans (and others). By spying on everyone, they find people who can be blackmailed; these get promoted and once they have "power", they will do what they are told. Such people can always be outed if they disobey orders or get in the way.

Now if you are a terrorist and want to harm innocent Americans and you are on the phone talking, planning, then I would say, YES, you should be afraid.

Unfortunately, they don't seem to be able to catch any of these terrorists by this spying. They only stop terror plots initiated, funded, guided, and supplied by the FBI.

-22 ( +5 / -27 )

But hey, SEAL Team 6 did a magnificent job and executed a brilliant operation of getting OBL right under the noses of the Pakistanis (next door to the police training academy) so if they really truly think it's game over, I have no doubt that they have something unique planned for him somehow, someway.

Again, I am waiting for a new Hollywood movie about a heroic actions of SEAL team. :-))))**

They are calling for a congressional investigation into the Aug. 6, 2011 helicopter crash in Afghanistan that resulted in 38 deaths, including 7 members of the Afghan National Army, an Afghan interpreter, 15 SEAL Team Six members, 2 members of West Coast SEAL and other U.S. troops. A rocket-propelled grenade struck the helicopter, causing the fatal crash. It was the deadliest day for America in the Afghan war.

--> better make that a fictional movie now since most of these SEALs are dead.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

@El

May I ask, what is your obsession with Cheney and how is he revalent to this discussion? I really want to know, also, you seem to be stuck in a time warp. This is 2013, NOT 2005.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Hero I don't know but whatever you think of his cause. it's a guy that has guts and does what he sincerely believes. Whatever you think about his action, he knew the risks. We live in a world when the huge majority of people would shut it up if they saw something shocking, just for the fear of losing one job.

Was Snowden so naive when he signed up for his NSA job (and undoubtedly signed a non-disclosure agreement)? How complicit was he in espionage before he realised it was all too much for his conscience? I find it impossible to sympathise.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Those of you clamouring for Snowden's imprisonment on the grounds that he has broken US laws should also be arguing for the prosecution of NSA staff for violating the US constitution, but I don't see it. Please explain why it's one law for Snowden and another for the NSA.

Another example of double standards can be found in the US attitude to those who try to hack into their computers. For example, the US tried to extradite Gary McKinnon from the UK, even though he is not a US citizen and has not been to the US. Now we know that the US has been hacking into Chinese computers. Suppose the Hong Kong authorities asked for the extradition of a US citizen, maybe a NSA staff member, to face charges of hacking in Hong Kong: does anyone believe that the US would entertain such a request? Of course they wouldn't. Yet they are already whining about Hong Kong letting Snowden go.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Snowden is very very far from being a hero,

Hero I don't know but whatever you think of his cause. it's a guy that has guts and does what he sincerely believes. Whatever you think about his action, he knew the risks. We live in a world when the huge majority of people would shut it up if they saw something shocking, just for the fear of losing one job.

That alone speaks volumes and should make you think.

When the wise man points at the moon, the fool stares at his finger. I'll never meet Swoden, but the US regime is are increasingly scaring me.

SEAL Team 6 did a magnificent job and executed a brilliant operation of getting OBL right under the noses of the Pakistanis (next door to the police training academy)

That's a way to present things. I'd applaud if "ST6" has just done that without the rest of troops destroying totally Iraq, Afghanistan, damaging peace in the 30 surrounding countries as part of the same operation.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

Ah America. "The land of the free" indeed....

I hope a country that cares more about the privacy of its citizens than security takes him in and keeps him safe despite the American bullies.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Snowden is very very far from being a hero, and he flees to counties that are not exactly shining examples of people's rights and freedoms... That alone speaks volumes and should make you think.

It does make me think. Makes me think that the world lacks a shining example of a country that protects people's rights and freedoms. If such a country existed Snowden would probably already be there.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Sure, ECUADOR is no shinning example of democracy, but now the USA, with crap leaders running Washington DC in the background like DICK Cheney, Rumsfeld etc..they are the ones crapping in their pants if their evil secrets come out after the mess these stupid REPUBLICANS got us into by dragging us into useless parts of the world like Iraq and Afghanistan! The USA should worry more about trying to not only stop the drugs coming in from Mexico but actually giving the poor people a chance to work and live by NOT having to sell and or buy drugs from Colombia etc... The USA does not have a good track record in Latin America, just count how many countries have been attacked, invaded, had their DEMOCRATICALLY leaders killed off and to put a puppet leader who will do what Washington DC orders, but my guess ECUADOR, is not one of the countries that will just let the USA do whatever the hell it wants in that part of the world, my guess old HUGO CHAVEZ is jumping backwards in his grave, laughing his butt off!!

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

@YogiZuna,

You dont mention the illegal activity of the US government though. Its ok if the suits do it right? In addition, if you think he would receive Due Process you are kidding me. I think your point reflects the deterioration of the US because your rights are being taken away day by day.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Yogi, if you know you will be persecuted, why stay? He can speak, reach out and tell his side of the story so long as he is free. Sounds smart to me.

cracaphat. No one every improved the world or challenged a wrong by "not looking for trouble." Sometimes you discover trouble. The brave confront and deal with it. The weak run from it. The sheep pretend it is not there. Snowden did the right thing. Saw the problem and had the courage to face it.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Gheeee.... what's going on in here. US has accused China of Cyber espionage and the NSA is hacking into China mobile phone companies and doing the same. Snowden now becomes the US traitor. That's says a lot for democracy.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Snowden is very very far from being a hero, and he flees to counties that are not exactly shining examples of people's rights and freedoms... That alone speaks volumes and should make you think.

-6 ( +4 / -10 )

Politicians taking the oath of office swear to uphold and protect our Constitution and Bill of Rights to include the 4th Amendment (Privacy). I agree Snowden violated the US laws. But spying on foreign countries violates International laws as well as foreign countries, What Snowden has done is let the public know what the US Politicians in DC are doing secretly behind the backs of the citizens in America. We the public along with the US Govt should be concerned about the safety of our own country, and this means protecting our borders by using our own military. I don't understand why we have military personnel stationed In Jordan, & in a number of countries in Africa. I now understand since Snowden has left HK, politicians are complaining that heads of a few countries are not holding Snowden so he can be sent to the US. I didn't know our politicians in DC had the power over foreign countries officials.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

As others have noted, there is nothing new in the way of suppression of speech in USA. It's as old as USA. The british king that was forced to relinquish control of the colonies tried to suppress speech. Suppression of speech in USA has occurred due to various groups and administrations, from the Hamiltonians, Clay's protege Lincoln who very literally devastated any who opposed him, Wilson(who demanded The Espionage Act), LBJ, and now Obama. Other administrations also suppressed opposition voices to varying degrees.

What Snowden has done is to air Uncle Sam's dirty laundry, "keeping it real", which has embarrassed the gummint for its actions.

Humpty-Dumpty's reputation is tarnished.

Any trial in USA would be a kangaroo tribunal.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

Scrote. If Government put his head for $ 1 Millions and then Ecuadorians will be happy to taken care Snowden. You don't need to send Drone to Ecuador.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Good luck to him. Deserves to spend his days sipping cocktails on a beach in Ecuador rather than in solitary confinement in the US.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

It's a complicated issue. We do need more oversight on things the government does, but there also has to be at least some information that should be kept classified in order for the government to do what we expect them to do. And we also need to have workable espionage laws. Assuming that everything classified is some horrible secret isn't a reasonable approach.

Personally, I don't like Snowden. He's making things much more difficult with his espionage fantasy. He's intentionally trying to whip people into a frenzy with his statements. I don't think he wants to have a reasonable conversation. And the irony of doing it in countries where you get thrown in prison for criticizing the government (no stealing needed) should make people wonder what his convictions really are. It just doesn't add up in my mind.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

But hey, SEAL Team 6 did a magnificent job and executed a brilliant operation of getting OBL right under the noses of the Pakistanis (next door to the police training academy) so if they really truly think it's game over, I have no doubt that they have something unique planned for him somehow, someway.

Again, I am waiting for a new Hollywood movie about a heroic actions of SEAL team. :-)))) CGI effects, pretty actors and so on. The problem is Russia is not a Pakistan. Your remotely-controlled killer drones have no a possibility to fly in Russian airspace. As for tough man hunters from SEAL team....They will be arrested or even executed in a harsh and bloody combat shortly after infiltrating.

"Welcome to Reality, mr Anderson!" (C)

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

JamesBlonde. I think this is a topic where the right and left should be on the same page in the US. And if they are not it is a shame.

The right mistrust the US government for different reasons than the left. But both ends know that any overly powerful government is not a friend of the people but is in fact a threat to their liberty.

The cries from the right to crucify Snowden is because he is not talking about the right buttons to gain right wing support e.g. anti-taxes, anti-foreigner etc... And he is part of the government and not part of some movement on the right.

The left supports him more because we see the big picture threat. And anyone willing to shed light on it is a good thing from our side.

But our collective enemy is the culture of fear that has been created. A paranoid culture where fear of terror outweighs any other concern. WHen in fact people have more reason to fear their bathtubs, dinner, their car, the street in front of their homes and the weather than terror.

We need a sense of priority that is matched to reality. Is terror a worry? Yes. Does it warrant violation of our rights and liberties? The answer is clearly no. We would spend better time saving lives if the government focused upon putting rubber mats in bath tubs, getting people to eat properly, improving road and transportation safety, fixing outdated bridges and roads, paying for a few speed bumps and banning hand guns if we are really all about removing danger from our world and saving lives.

But the real agenda is not about saving lives. It is about control. It is about repression. It is about leveraging fear to gain power. And leveraging fear to pacify the masses. Which is working very much according to plan so far. And time is running out before it is too powerful to reverse.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I believe that anyone with any knowledge of history will know that America certainly does not have "clean hands" when it comes to human rights and basically "doing the right thing". History clearly teaches us this. Mr. Snowden has created more questions than he has provided answers, but one thing is quite clear, the American government continues to covertly push its own agenda nationalist agenda both domestically and internationally.

All those "right wing" groups in the US will only see this as a further example as to why they cannot trust their government and to a certain degree, unfortunately there appear to be correct. The irony in this is, that it is also the right leaning media and politicians who are calling Mr. Snowden's actions espionage and seeking his arrest when they should be looking into the validity and security of the actual program. But no "shoot the messenger".

Despite all the US's rhetoric about China, (and I am certainly NOT a fan of the Chinese Communist Party) it is the US who has clearly been "doing the dirty" a round the world for the last century. The real concern here is NOT ONLY what the US government is doing, but it is the fact that they are doing it so badly, that their "data mining" activities actually threatens and exposes the very people they claim they are trying to protect. Unfortunately, this crucial fact is sadly being over looked.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

A Edward Snowden or a thousand like him will not make one iota of difference in the big picture.

Hey "A Realist", can I borrow your time machine when your finished with it? Ever hear of the "Pentagon Papers?"

0 ( +2 / -2 )

With nearly one in fifty US citizens now privy to classified information, it's actually really astounding that Snowden and Manning are the only members of the information-privileged class to come forward like this. What is particularly alarming about the Snowden case is that shows clearly how the business of a nation's massive national surveillance operations, just as war-waging before it, are being outsourced to private corporate entities.

In layman's terms for US citizens, about one in every 75 people you meet is spying on you. And of course, the range of documentation considered "classified" is just as unprecedented.

Of course national leaders of the global south and BRIC will certainly jockey for their own political gains in the case regardless of their own shady records, but that's beside the point. The only entities Snowden is aiding and abetting are his countryfolk.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Hahahaha! It's amusing to watch the US government panic, spread lies on top of lies, and stretch the laws to make the charges more severe, all the while countries that can help recognize the hero Snowden is and help him elude the US authorities. Here's hoping he arrives safely in Ecuador or Iceland, or stays in Russia, and from there discloses more information that the US illegally obtained, and swore they were not doing so for that matter.

Go Snowden! China is correct in stating that the US is the real threat when it comes to cyber-terrorism and human rights abuses (at least in terms of spying on its own people and racial profiling, etc.). Shame on the US. Therefore, like I said, it's fun to watch them panic!

8 ( +12 / -4 )

A Realist. The protection of liberty cannot always be on a revolutionary scale. It takes place every day in small ways. The whistle blower who sheds light on a compromise of our liberty is helping to protect that liberty. The person who files a case against a breech of our civil liberties is helping to preserve them.

The problem is not Snowden. The problem is a mass public who fail to understand their rights in the first place. A public that puts fear before the protection of their civil and constitutional rights is destined to lose those very rights.

I am a student of history. I have read the many stories of people across the ages who have fought, sacrificed and died to make what we take for granted possible. We easily forget how hard those struggles were because they were out of living memory for most of people. We have not see the other side of the coin when liberty was not available to us and repression was the status quo. And so modern people are now complacent. Happy watching TV and eating rather than thinking about the bigger picture of the political lives they live. If they are even aware at all of their political responsibilities to assure continued liberty.

If we give in to these compromises where does it end? I for one think it ends in repression of the people by the state.

So did Snowden fix the problem with his whistle blowing? No. But he stood up for what is right and constitutional and that makes him a hell of a lot braver than the legions of sheep who are willing to give up those very same liberties for the illusion of safety from terror.

More people die from driving to work than will ever likely die from terrorism. It is time we return to a sense or realistic perspective and come to understand that threats against our liberty far outweigh any threat from any terrorist anywhere.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

@ A Realist,

Stop defending government. Do you need them to babysit you? They have broken countless laws but have the power to protect themselves unlike an individual who will be beaten hung by the corrupt bureaucratic courts.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Interesting how some things never change. Back in the 1960s and 70s, the intelligence agencies of the United State ran amok and had to be reined in. Take a look at the Church Committee -- so named because of its leader, Idaho senator, Frank Church (D). You'll find the same players -- the CIA, the NSA and the FBI -- still at it.

It's said that 9/11 caused the US to "take the gloves off." I supposed that phrase is a euphemism for "ignore all laws that get in the way of getting things done." Another way of putting it is the acceptance of the ultimate evil that the ends justify the means.

To this point, I have not seen anything that Snowden has released that actually harms the United States, besides exposing it to embarrassment for doing things it should not have been doing. For example, while hypocritically pointing the finger at Chinese cyber-espionage, the United States was engaging in the very same activity it was condemning.

In reading more about this issue, I was interested to find something related to the NSA procedures of surveillance called "minimization." I think what that exposes about the NSA is making President Obama out to be either a dupe or a liar when he claims nobody's calls are being listened to. While the NSA is "free" to spy on foreigners, it will often happen that they will collect information on Americans in the process. Therefore, it is a fact that the NSA will end up spying on Americans without a warrant. The minimization procedures are designed to direct the NSA in the handling of that information.

According to some of what Snowden has released, the NSA is supposed to conduct an evaluation of the information they have "inadvertently" collected on American citizens and, if it deemed not relevant by an agent's call, the data is supposed to be destroyed. I was particularly interested to read that if the data is encrypted, the NSA will keep it for five years. There are other criteria for which the NSA will keep data it has captured on Americans without a warrant.

A critical question: Why should this be kept secret from the American people? That, in itself, suggests abuse.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Spy Chief Clapper lied under oath.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

"tkoind2Jun. 24, 2013 - 09:36AM JST

I hope he manages to escape into safety. Despite the wrongs this young man has carried out, he has done us all a favor. Whether you realize it or not.

We cannot allow the government to take away our liberties with impunity."

I am not sure what kind of favor Snowden has done for anybody; I do not realize that he has. All he has done is embarrass the US government, and since they manage to embarrass themselves all the time anyway I cannot see where that is very much of an accomplishment. I suppose you could compare him to Julian Assange and Bradley Manning who did something similar, but can you explain exactly what that accomplished? Has it made anybody's life any better in any way, or has it made us more safe and secure? I think not.

As for "allowing the government to take away our liberties with impunity," they did that progressively some time ago and you never even noticed, and most people don't even care. All Snowden has done is make himself a criminal and a fugitive, and if he manages to avoid prison and find asylum in some third-world country he can look forward to spending the rest of his life looking over his shoulder and living in fear. A Edward Snowden or a thousand like him will not make one iota of difference in the big picture. In the end it is just a story for the media until the next one comes along. But people always need their "heroes," don't they? Nothing like ignoring reality and pinning the hopes of the world on some Don Quixote or Robin Hood wannabe who fancies himself a noble hero.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Who expected that 1984 would be technicolor, fast food, smart phones, facebook, fashionable clothing and all the trappings of modern American society? And yet we all spend most of our days on camera, being tracked and monitored not only by the state but by agencies trying to learn more about us to get us to spend our money.

It is a sad state of affairs. And most of the sheep just think it is the love and concern of our government and corporate fathers looking out for us. It is sad.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

@blue

The government was/is breaking laws, and lying about it when questioned under oath. Snowden had a duty to do what he did.

Do you honestly think the government cares about yours or mine conversations? Really, if so, then why? Are you nervous, they will knock on your door and arrest you? If so, then they would have done that long, long ago. NO ONE CARES! Now if you are a terrorist and want to harm innocent Americans and you are on the phone talking, planning, then I would say, YES, you should be afraid.

Americans should be protesting loudly at what their government has been doing and continues to do.

NOT ONLY in America, the difference is, that America is the only country where liberals think that they can just say anything they want at anytime and hurt anyone or anything without ANY fear of impunity! This is what normal Americans should protest about!

-11 ( +5 / -16 )

Used to be that people fled to the US for protection, particulary from countries that had massive internal spying on their own citizens. Now the US has become as bad or worse than those it used to accuse of imternal spying and wants to punish those who expose that the US government is breaking US law and the US Constitution.

But the saddest thing about this is that you will never get this genie back in the bottle. America has become Big Brother. I suspect the propagander programme will crank up now and before long the US populace will be brainwashed into beliveing that they are proud that their goverment is so powerful and all seeing.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

"See Something, Say Something" unless of course the something is wrongdoing by the government in which case it's "Keep Your Mouth Shut or Be Killed or Tossed into a Black Hole."

3 ( +7 / -4 )

Snowden maybe had a bad encounter with DICK Cheney and Rumsfeld?? Now it is PAYBACK TIME! I am really starting to like this Eric Snowden guy after all! Ecuador?? No winter and many bananas! What a great place to retire to, or Venezuela or Cuba etc..

1 ( +5 / -4 )

The suits in charge are just trying to take the attention off of their crimes. Didnt the NSA Director lie under oath? And not a care in the world by the media or public. Tarnishing Snowdens character is their way of getting the American people to turn on him. The media helps them too. Such horrible people and hypocrisy.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

" The government was/is breaking laws, and lying about it when questioned under oath. Snowden had a duty to do what he did. Americans should be protesting loudly at what their government has been doing and continues to do."

Snowden's FIRST oath was to "support and defend the Constitution against enemies both foreign and domestic." It's no small matter that the biggest enemy to the Constitution is domestic, the Government itself specifically. Those supporting the government's actions, past and present, are no better than those who aided the Nazis or Stalin et al.

7 ( +12 / -4 )

Seems like massive overkill and already the propaganda war is being won by US. Booz Allen name is already fading from the story, the relebntless line of "american and allied lives being endangered by his actions" is gaining audience and credibility and the fact that the US govt. has routinely and only semi-legally been snooping into possibly all of our lives and communications (including maybe JT?) is being accepted as "OK". Really is Big Brother.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

My scumbag government: spy on EVERYONE and charge a whistle-blower who uncovers a gigantic violation of constitutional rights with... espionage. It boggles the mind. I wonder how the weather is up in Washington's ivory towers?

7 ( +10 / -3 )

I have no sympathy for people in the US. You got the government you voted for and deserved. The real victims here are the hundreds of millions of non-US civilians who's right to privacy is being violated by the US government.

Snowden may have broken US laws, but he's defending humanity in general. That's a higher law. The US has to learn that civilians are off limits!! By all means let goverments spy on each other, but leave civilians out of it. That's where the US has crossed the line here.

9 ( +14 / -5 )

If I had to chose between Liberty (Privacy) vs Security, you know I would chose the Liberty as I am liberal, but I have a very mix feeling about this guy. I do not want him to get caught. This is very difficult for me as well.

4 ( +7 / -2 )

But it's ok for Snowden to break government laws???

The government was/is breaking laws, and lying about it when questioned under oath. Snowden had a duty to do what he did. Americans should be protesting loudly at what their government has been doing and continues to do.

-12 ( +18 / -31 )

きっと Quito!

1 ( +4 / -3 )

@Scrote

Snowden had better watch out for the drones coming to murder him. The US government believes it can ignore laws and kill people with impunity.

But it's ok for Snowden to break government laws??? You reap what you sow. If something happens to Snowden, it's Snowden who is ultimately responsible for Snowden, No One else. The NSA didn't force Snowden to talk or to do interviews. Again, the more he keeps talking, I see the sands of time just dwindle more and more until there's nothing left.

-10 ( +7 / -16 )

This certainly isn't a huge "security breach." He's a whistle-blower who alerted the public to a massive violation of Americans' 4th Amendment rights.

10 ( +15 / -4 )

I hope he manages to escape into safety. Despite the wrongs this young man has carried out, he has done us all a favor. Whether you realize it or not.

We cannot allow the government to take away our liberties with impunity. It is a patriot's duty to challenge actions that violate the very principles of our constitution. The American people allowed GWB and the government following 911 to leverage their fear into greatly compromising both our liberty and our freedom. But we have only replaced the threat of terror with the threat of government repression of the people. I desire neither.

We should not grow complacent over the loss of privacy, of liberty, of due process and of freedom from a state that tortures people. If we do, then we deserve the oppression that would undoubtedly follow. Our nation was founded upon the principles of freedom and accountability of the government to the people. The principle that a government should fear its people and not that the people should fear its government.

We need to return to this. The only way we can make our government afraid of the people once again is to be united as a people to protect our own liberty. We should challenge the actions of the state. We should demand protection of our liberties. We should vote for people who share these values. And we should support people who risk everything to reveal violations as whistle blowers who are protecting our liberty.

10 ( +16 / -6 )

Welcome home, mr Snowden Sure, you have a lot of useful information to disclose. 2 North American man hunters : good job, guys. Not sure for your government but Kremlin should definitely give you some state awards. ;-) Anyway, Hollywood will produce another heroic movie where tough special agent catchs the defector on a very early stage of his route.

Home will be a nice cell, hopefully in solitary confinement on a 23 hour lockdown and put some rigging tape of this nuts ***mouth! After what he did and is doing, I am quite sure, people are taking contingency measures to shut this lunatic down or.... Kremlin, state awards??? LOL Yeeeaah, right.. But hey, SEAL Team 6 did a magnificent job and executed a brilliant operation of getting OBL right under the noses of the Pakistanis (next door to the police training academy) so if they really truly think it's game over, I have no doubt that they have something unique planned for him somehow, someway.

Snowden will eventually get imprisoned and who knows what else to avoid embarrassing the people who really dropped the ball as far as security goes. Not that Snowden didn't break his agreement. He did. That said, it certainly wasn't worth all the nonsense that's being brought up against him now.

My exact thoughts precisely!

-20 ( +5 / -24 )

Snowden had better watch out for the drones coming to murder him. The US government believes it can ignore laws and kill people with impunity.

-3 ( +8 / -11 )

Here's some more info on Booz Allen. Not surpring to find out they are owned by the Carlyle Group.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-06-23/visualizing-how-booz-allen-hamilton-swallowed-washington

In the fiscal year ended in March 2013, Booz Allen Hamilton reported $5.76 billion in revenue, 99 percent of which came from government contracts

"Saw "oblivion" Friday night. Love the part about the memory wipe. Of course, we don't really need memory wipes these days since the MSM is doing such a good job.

4 ( +6 / -3 )

Welcome home, mr Snowden Sure, you have a lot of useful information to disclose. 2 North American man hunters : good job, guys. Not sure for your government but Kremlin should definitely give you some state awards. ;-) Anyway, Hollywood will produce another heroic movie where tough special agent catchs the defector on a very early stage of his route.

-11 ( +1 / -12 )

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