Edward Snowden (1983 - )

Tue Jun 21, 1983

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Image: Edward Snowden speaks about the NSA leaks in an interview with reporter Glenn Greenwald at the hotel The Mira Hong Kong. [Wikipedia]


Edward Snowden, born on this day in 1983, is an American whistleblower who leaked highly classified information from the NSA in 2013 when he was working as a CIA employee, exposing multiple governments’ widespread surveillance programs.

Snowden’s disclosures revealed numerous global surveillance programs, many run by the NSA and the Five Eyes Intelligence Alliance with the cooperation of telecommunication companies and European governments, prompting a cultural discussion about national security and individual privacy.

In 2013, the United States Department of Justice unsealed charges against Snowden of two counts of violating the Espionage Act of 1917 and theft of government property, revoking his passport. Two days later, he flew into a Moscow Airport, where Russian authorities noted that his U.S. passport had been canceled, and he could not leave the airport terminal for over one month.

Russia later granted Snowden the right of asylum with an initial visa for residence for one year, and he continues to reside there on extension today.

“Being called a traitor by Dick Cheney is the highest honor you can give to an American.”

- Edward Snowden


  • UsernameHere@lemy.lol
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    1 month ago

    “Snowden is not a traitor,” said Putin. “He did not betray the interests of his country, nor did he transfer any information to any other country that would damage his own people,” said Putin.

    Snowden had the right to act in the way he did however, said Putin, who said he agreed that U.S. surveillance had become too intrusive, while praising his own country’s intelligence services for operating within the law.

    The Russian president also stressed Mr Snowden “is not our agent and does not co-operate with us”, and Russian secret services “never worked with him and are not working with him now”.

    You’re obviously trying to make a strawman argument about Chelsea Manning working for Russia because I never mentioned it as a possibility.

    Or maybe your reading comprehension is just really bad because this is the definition of espionage:

    noun: espionage the practice of spying or of using spies, typically by governments to obtain political and military information.

    You’ve proven you are willing to either lie or speak with confidence about things you don’t even know the definition of.

    Being charged with espionage does not mean you are a spy.

    Here is a quote from Obama:

    Mr Snowden, we understand, has travelled there without a valid passport and legal papers. And we are hopeful the Russian government makes decisions based on the normal procedures regarding international travel and the normal interactions law enforcement have.

    He points out that Russia is not treating Snowden the same as they do with anyone else. Which is what I’ve said also. This is called common sense not conspiracy, but you probably don’t know the definition of either.

    • pjwestin@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      “He shouldn’t have done it (leaked secrets). My view is that what he did was wrong,” Putin told Stone.

      I like how you quoted around the part that didn’t support your argument.

      Anyway, I think I’m done here. I was paying attention in 2013, so I actually followed the reporting on the Snowden leaks. You clearly didn’t, but staked the position, “Putin = bad, therefore Snowden = Bad,” without knowing what the fuck you’re talking about, and now you’re talking out your ass to try and back that position.

      You desperately want to prove that Snowden is a spy because he was charged under the Espionage Act, but had you been paying attention during the Obama administration, you’d know he was the first President to bring espionage charges against leakers and whistleblowers instead of spies; he actually used it more than every other president combined. But you’re blissfully unaware of this, just like you’re unaware of the differences between Hong Kong and mainland China, or that Snowden didn’t intend to stay in Russia, or that Chelsea Manning was never suspected of being a spy.

      I mean, Jesus Chirst, you’re quoting Obama talking about Snowden traveling without proper documentation without acknowledging that Obama canceled the documentation so he would be forced to stay in Russia. And you think that’s proof that he’s being treated differently than a normal American? Normal Americans don’t get their passports canceled mid-flight.

      Also, do you know how long it took Snowden to leave the airport? Let’s be honest, of course you don’t, but I do: 40 days. He lived in an airport for 40 days before he even got temporary asylum. That’s definitely how you treat one of your valued spies, huh?

      Anyway, this is a waste of my time. I can’t keep listening to you make shit up and then desperately search for a cherry-picked, misinterpreted fact to justify it. Next time, just admit you’re wrong, or at the very least, stop talking.

      • UsernameHere@lemy.lol
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        1 month ago

        I like how you quoted around the part that didn’t support your argument.

        You asked me to share statements that Russia made that you mirrored. So I did.

        Nice try changing the subject instead of acknowledging that you’re parroting Kremlin talking points.

        Remember when he said he supported Kamala Harris when he was accused of election interference in the US?

        Anyway, I think I’m done here. I was paying attention in 2013, so I actually followed the reporting on the Snowden leaks.

        You were done when you revealed that you don’t even know the meaning of espionage.

        Your whole argument is: -“Snowden threw away his life because he is such a nice guy.”

        -“Snowden chose flights that land in Russia but it’s Americas fault he’s there!”

        -“How could Snowden possibly know that his passport would be cancelled after committing espionage and fleeing the country.”

        But you’re blissfully unaware of this, just like you’re unaware of the differences between Hong Kong and mainland China

        You’ve been repeating Russian propaganda this whole time. I wanted to see if you would call Hong Kong China or repeat Chinese propaganda too.

        Chelsea Manning was never suspected of being a spy

        Again, Chelsea Manning plead guilty to espionage (being a spy). You’re trying to reject reality and replace it with your revisionism.

        I mean, Jesus Chirst, you’re quoting Obama talking about Snowden traveling without proper documentation without acknowledging that Obama canceled the documentation so he would be forced to stay in Russia. And you think that’s proof that he’s being treated differently than a normal American? Normal Americans don’t get their passports canceled mid-flight.

        “hOw CoUlD sNoWdEn KnOw HiS pAsSpOrT wOuLd Be CaNcElEd AfTeR cOmItTiNg EsPiOnAgE aNd FlEeInG tHe CoUnTrY?!”

        Normal Americans don’t commit espionage and flee the country and then expect their passports to stay valid. This has to be the dumbest of all your arguments.

        Like you couldn’t possibly forecast that a country would cancel a passport over espionage. I’m crying laughing at how stupid that is.

        Also, do you know how long it took Snowden to leave the airport? Let’s be honest, of course you don’t, but I do: 40 days. He lived in an airport for 40 days before he even got temporary asylum. That’s definitely how you treat one of your valued spies, huh?

        Lmao, you’re going with “spies can’t sleep in airports”! I bet you think dogs can’t look up also…

        • pjwestin@lemmy.world
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          1 month ago

          Anyway, this is a waste of my time. I can’t keep listening to you make shit up and then desperately search for a cherry-picked, misinterpreted fact to justify it. Next time, just admit you’re wrong, or at the very least, stop talking.

          • UsernameHere@lemy.lol
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            1 month ago

            I can’t keep listening to you

            This is called reading not listening. Maybe you’re hearing yourself struggle to sound out each word.

            • pjwestin@lemmy.world
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              1 month ago

              Anyway, this is a waste of my time. I can’t keep listening to you make shit up and then desperately search for a cherry-picked, misinterpreted fact to justify it. Next time, just admit you’re wrong, or at the very least, stop talking.

              • UsernameHere@lemy.lol
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                1 month ago

                Looks like you don’t have any response to the facts.

                I like how you pretend this is a waste of time so you have an excuse to not respond. But if that were true you just wouldn’t respond.

                So your copy and paste reply is proof you can’t admit you are wrong.

                • pjwestin@lemmy.world
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                  1 month ago

                  Anyway, this is a waste of my time. I can’t keep listening to you make shit up and then desperately search for a cherry-picked, misinterpreted fact to justify it. Next time, just admit you’re wrong, or at the very least, stop talking.

                  • UsernameHere@lemy.lol
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                    1 month ago

                    Remember that time you were wrong about Snowden but you couldn’t admit it so you just kept reposting the same comment?

                    That was funny