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Also, "Ex-CIA official: Snowden probably questioned by Russians “The likelihood that there’s either been no conversation with him or they haven’t downloaded stu

Also, "Ex-CIA official: Snowden probably questioned by Russians “The likelihood that there’s either been no conversation with him or they haven’t downloaded stuff from his electronic gear is about zero,” Philip Mudd, a former CIA deputy director of counterterrorism, told Matt Lauer." http://www.today.com/news/ex-cia-official-snowden-probably-questioned-russians-6C10435404 http://www.today.com/news/ex-cia-official-snowden-probably-q... In other words, considering how US has promised to treat him, Snowden has almost no options. The Russians hold all the cards and know how to play them well. USA should have advised his family to hire a lawyer for him and issue a pardon while he was in HK, before spilling all the other info he has. Well done, morons!

deleted 13y ago
[deleted]
- throwaway10001 13y ago
  If there's a will, there's a way. Maybe drop charges and enter a binding non-prosecution agreement?
- csbrooks 13y ago
  I don't think that's correct. Gerald Ford pardoned Richard Nixon before he was indicted or impeached: http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/ford.htm http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/ford.htm
  - themstheones 13y ago
    Wow that's so crooked. On the other hand, Nixon looks like a saint by today's standards.
- miles 13y ago
  Sure you can: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Ford#Pardon_of_Nixon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Ford#Pardon_of_Nixon
frozenport 13y ago
Perhaps he was a moron for running to Russia? Also while in HK the same thing could have happened.
mikeyouse 13y ago
>In other words, considering how US has promised to treat him You mean the promises to arrest him for releasing confidential information? I'm honestly confused why people don't think he should be arrested. If he had released weapons designs instead of NSA documents, would you support his galavanting across HK and Russia? The question, "Is the NSA program unconstitutional?" is a far different one than "Should those who release confidential documents be arrested?" Unless you think that there should be no state secrets, it makes absolute sense to arrest and prosecute Snowden. I'm grateful that he shed some light on a very troubling program, but that doesn't just grant him immunity from prosecution. It would be far more honorable to accept responsibility rather than to continue this mess.
- throwaway10001 13y ago
  You mean the promises to arrest him for releasing confidential information? Arrest, a fair trial and humane treatment is different from what Bradley Manning suffered. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/11/stripped-naked-bradley-manning-prison http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/11/stripped-naked-b... Also, need I remind you all the statements made against him by politicians?
- skynorth 13y ago
  Didn't you just answer your own question? Because many people consider him to be a whistle-blower. If he truly believes that he is exposing a large and direct illegal activity, he should be protected under law.
- tymekpavel 13y ago
  > If he had released weapons designs instead of NSA documents, would you support his galavanting across HK and Russia? I think you're missing the point. The fact is he didn't release weapons designs; he released information pointing to surveillance programs that violate the 4th amendment. > The question, "Is the NSA program unconstitutional?" is a far different one than "Should those who release confidential documents be arrested?" The two questions you ask are not mutually exclusive, because whistleblowers need protection when surfacing evidence of illegal behavior. You seem to be taking arguments to their absolute extremes rather than considering the fact that there are instances where there is a reasonable expectation that individuals should be protected. That doesn't mean there should be no state secrets, it means there should be protections for individuals who reveal state secrets that demonstrate the government is not acting in accordance with the law. Furthermore, I would argue that state secrets that hide evidence of wrongdoing from the public should most certainly be leaked.

deleted 13y ago

[deleted]

throwaway10001 13y ago
If there's a will, there's a way. Maybe drop charges and enter a binding non-prosecution agreement?
csbrooks 13y ago
I don't think that's correct. Gerald Ford pardoned Richard Nixon before he was indicted or impeached: http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/ford.htm http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/ford.htm
- themstheones 13y ago
  Wow that's so crooked. On the other hand, Nixon looks like a saint by today's standards.
miles 13y ago
Sure you can: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Ford#Pardon_of_Nixon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Ford#Pardon_of_Nixon

frozenport 13y ago

Perhaps he was a moron for running to Russia? Also while in HK the same thing could have happened.

mikeyouse 13y ago

>In other words, considering how US has promised to treat him You mean the promises to arrest him for releasing confidential information? I'm honestly confused why people don't think he should be arrested. If he had released weapons designs instead of NSA documents, would you support his galavanting across HK and Russia? The question, "Is the NSA program unconstitutional?" is a far different one than "Should those who release confidential documents be arrested?" Unless you think that there should be no state secrets, it makes absolute sense to arrest and prosecute Snowden. I'm grateful that he shed some light on a very troubling program, but that doesn't just grant him immunity from prosecution. It would be far more honorable to accept responsibility rather than to continue this mess.

throwaway10001 13y ago
You mean the promises to arrest him for releasing confidential information? Arrest, a fair trial and humane treatment is different from what Bradley Manning suffered. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/11/stripped-naked-bradley-manning-prison http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/11/stripped-naked-b... Also, need I remind you all the statements made against him by politicians?
skynorth 13y ago
Didn't you just answer your own question? Because many people consider him to be a whistle-blower. If he truly believes that he is exposing a large and direct illegal activity, he should be protected under law.
tymekpavel 13y ago
> If he had released weapons designs instead of NSA documents, would you support his galavanting across HK and Russia? I think you're missing the point. The fact is he didn't release weapons designs; he released information pointing to surveillance programs that violate the 4th amendment. > The question, "Is the NSA program unconstitutional?" is a far different one than "Should those who release confidential documents be arrested?" The two questions you ask are not mutually exclusive, because whistleblowers need protection when surfacing evidence of illegal behavior. You seem to be taking arguments to their absolute extremes rather than considering the fact that there are instances where there is a reasonable expectation that individuals should be protected. That doesn't mean there should be no state secrets, it means there should be protections for individuals who reveal state secrets that demonstrate the government is not acting in accordance with the law. Furthermore, I would argue that state secrets that hide evidence of wrongdoing from the public should most certainly be leaked.