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Edward Snowden requests asylum from Russia. Have you changed your mind?
Posted on 6/23/13 at 1:11 pm
Posted on 6/23/13 at 1:11 pm
So, Edward Snowden made all kinds of headlines and created all kinds of problems for the US several days ago when he blew the whistle on US surveillance practices and tactics.
Is he a patriotic whistle-blower or a traitor? I say traitor. What sayeth the OTB?
ETA 7/1/13 - So, today Edward Snowdon requests asylum from Russia. Don't yet know if they will grant it. Does this change anyone's mind from their previous opinion? I'm leaning more toward traitor than ever now.
Is he a patriotic whistle-blower or a traitor? I say traitor. What sayeth the OTB?
ETA 7/1/13 - So, today Edward Snowdon requests asylum from Russia. Don't yet know if they will grant it. Does this change anyone's mind from their previous opinion? I'm leaning more toward traitor than ever now.
This post was edited on 7/1/13 at 4:01 pm
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Posted on 6/23/13 at 1:12 pm to semotruman
For anyone who hasn't followed this, he was a security contractor for the NSA with access to a lot of data on how our government collects an uses information. He "unveiled" that the government actively spies by monitoring peoples cell phone and internet activity. They use the info for all kinds of purposes. The NSA has claimed they've foiled numerous terrorist plots and stopped crimes based on the data they've collected. Snowden thought the public deserved to know that they were being spied on. His whistle blowing also included foreign surveillance tactics too - which has left a number of countries in a highly rustled state.
Snowden fled the country with computers than hold all kinds of data - at this point, they don't yet know exactly what all he has. He went to Hong Kong, and we charged him with espionage and requested extradition. Hong King "requested clarification" from us - and he left for Moscow with the assistance of WikiLeaks. He has now requested asylum from Ecuador - not necessarily a friendly country to the US. Hong Kong, meanwhile, has requested more info about how we spy on their country.
Initially, there seemed to be a lot of public sympathy toward him from people who were outraged to "learn" they were being watched. As though this was a surprise. He was hailed as a brave whistle blower, telling on the nefarious actions of the government. Now though, with his flight to China, now Russia, and perhaps Equador, with all his info about our surveillance practices and methods, it's a little different. Those countries will no doubt be eager to get their hands on the info he has with him and all the knowledge he possesses.
Snowden fled the country with computers than hold all kinds of data - at this point, they don't yet know exactly what all he has. He went to Hong Kong, and we charged him with espionage and requested extradition. Hong King "requested clarification" from us - and he left for Moscow with the assistance of WikiLeaks. He has now requested asylum from Ecuador - not necessarily a friendly country to the US. Hong Kong, meanwhile, has requested more info about how we spy on their country.
Initially, there seemed to be a lot of public sympathy toward him from people who were outraged to "learn" they were being watched. As though this was a surprise. He was hailed as a brave whistle blower, telling on the nefarious actions of the government. Now though, with his flight to China, now Russia, and perhaps Equador, with all his info about our surveillance practices and methods, it's a little different. Those countries will no doubt be eager to get their hands on the info he has with him and all the knowledge he possesses.
Posted on 6/23/13 at 1:12 pm to semotruman
Traitor. Off with his head.
Posted on 6/23/13 at 1:12 pm to semotruman
Undetermined at the moment. I believe releasing info that the Gov't was being intrusive on citizens was the right thing to do though.
Posted on 6/23/13 at 1:13 pm to semotruman
Can I just 
because of my employer? 
because of my employer? 
Posted on 6/23/13 at 1:13 pm to semotruman
I'm kind of torn on this tbh. On the one hand I don't like the idea of the Gov't spying on american citizens. But on the other hand, they aren't doing anything lawfully wrong IMO. So idk 
This post was edited on 6/23/13 at 1:23 pm
Posted on 6/23/13 at 1:13 pm to semotruman
Posted on 6/23/13 at 1:14 pm to TbirdSpur2010
quote:
TbirdSpur2010
Designated gov't spy for the SECr
Posted on 6/23/13 at 1:15 pm to UMRealist
quote:
But on the other hand, they aren't doing anything constitutionaly wrong IMO
Outside of the 4th Amendment. Secret courts granting secret surveillance hardly jives with privacy protections of citizens.
Posted on 6/23/13 at 1:15 pm to UMRealist
Posted on 6/23/13 at 1:16 pm to semotruman
Posted on 6/23/13 at 1:19 pm to UMRealist
quote:
I'm kind of torn on this tbh. On the one hand I don't like the idea of the Gov't spying on american citizens. But on the other hand, they aren't doing anything constitutionaly wrong IMO. So idk
Initially, I thought he was a conscientious whistle-blower. I also don't like the idea of the government spying on Americans, But by seeking refuge with our enemies instead of a neutral country like, say, Switzerland? I'm leaning to the traitor side now. He has a lot of valuable info, and he went to China and Russia with it. You know they're trying to get everything they possibly can from him. He could do a lot of damage.
Posted on 6/23/13 at 1:21 pm to Alahunter
quote:
Outside of the 4th Amendment. Secret courts granting secret surveillance hardly jives with privacy protections of citizens.
Poor choice of words for me. I meant lawfully wrong. It's funny because so many people that were so pro-Patriot Act are now outraged that the gov't could possibly spy on them.
If you know the quote, Benjamin Franklin said it best IMO
Posted on 6/23/13 at 1:25 pm to UMRealist
quote:
It's funny because so many people that were so pro-Patriot Act are now outraged that the gov't could possibly spy on them.
This.
And I don't have a problem with the gov't surveiling...........don't do shady shite.
Posted on 6/23/13 at 1:25 pm to UMRealist
Do you know the quote? Why wouldn't you just say it?
Posted on 6/23/13 at 1:25 pm to UMRealist
quote:
It's funny because so many people that were so pro-Patriot Act are now outraged that the gov't could possibly spy on them
From the way back when time machine on TD:
(Posted on 2/25/09 at 11:37 pm to Slinger16)
quote:
Look out for MR. BroadBrush, here. The patriot act should be repealed in its entirety. eavesdropping on foreign nationals outside the US is cool with me, though.
me -
quote:
Sad part is, the same players that violated citizens rights and were responsible for the Ruby Ridge and Waco fiascos are back in place and THEY have the Patriot Act behind them now.
Posted on 6/23/13 at 1:26 pm to semotruman
Patriot. No question.
Posted on 6/23/13 at 1:27 pm to 3xlsugrad
quote:
And for your troubles
Donnie Iris - Ah Leah
I always loved that song!
And correct me if I'm wrong, but the Patriot Act granted a lot of power to the government to make what they're doing "legal". I don't think spying on citizens is necessarily constitutional though.
I keep thinking of Benjamin Franklin. "Those who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Wonder if his opinions would have changed given the dangerous times we live in.
Posted on 6/23/13 at 1:29 pm to CheeseburgerEddie
quote:
Do you know the quote? Why wouldn't you just say it?
I knew the jist of it, just not word for word.
here ya go quote:
“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
Posted on 6/23/13 at 1:29 pm to semotruman
quote:
the Patriot Act granted a lot of power to the government to make what they're doing "legal". I don't think spying on citizens is necessarily constitutional though.
yeah that's why i said poor choice of words so i changed it
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