Thread: Edward Snowden and his stay in Russia

Email exchange between Edward Snowden and former GOP Senator Gordon Humphrey | Glenn Greenwald | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

Mr. Snowden,

Provided you have not leaked information that would put in harms way any intelligence agent, I believe you have done the right thing in exposing what I regard as massive violation of the United States Constitution.

Having served in the United States Senate for twelve years as a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, the Armed Services Committee and the Judiciary Committee, I think I have a good grounding to reach my conclusion.

I wish you well in your efforts to secure asylum and encourage you to persevere.

Kindly acknowledge this message, so that I will know it reached you.

Regards,
Gordon J. Humphrey
Former United States Senator
New Hampshire

***

Mr. Humphrey,

Thank you for your words of support. I only wish more of our lawmakers shared your principles - the actions I've taken would not have been necessary.

The media has distorted my actions and intentions to distract from the substance of Constitutional violations and instead focus on personalities. It seems they believe every modern narrative requires a bad guy. Perhaps it does. Perhaps, in such times, loving one's country means being hated by its government.

If history proves that be so, I will not shy from that hatred. I will not hesitate to wear those charges of villainy for the rest of my life as a civic duty, allowing those governing few who dared not do so themselves to use me as an excuse to right these wrongs.

My intention, which I outlined when this began, is to inform the public as to that which is done in their name and that which is done against them. I remain committed to that. Though reporters and officials may never believe it, I have not provided any information that would harm our people - agent or not - and I have no intention to do so.

Further, no intelligence service - not even our own - has the capacity to compromise the secrets I continue to protect. While it has not been reported in the media, one of my specializations was to teach our people at DIA how to keep such information from being compromised even in the highest threat counter-intelligence environments (i.e. China).

You may rest easy knowing I cannot be coerced into revealing that information, even under torture.

With my thanks for your service to the nation we both love,

Edward Snowden

That just proves what everyone's been saying. He's a good guy, he even loves his country and he wants to do the right thing, after realising that he's been serving a bad cause for many years.

Now, the USA is going after him as if he was Osama bin Laden or a particularly bad war criminal.
"If you're not for us, your against us". Ed was a guy with inside info, who choose the "wrong" side.

The question is how safe he'd really be in Russia. I think odds that he dies in a car accident, in a mysterious illness or trips in front of the metro train while in the Russia are much higher than for a regular person. Maybe soon, or in 5 years.

Originally Posted by Hanna

Now, the USA is going after him as if he was Osama bin Laden or a particularly bad war criminal.
"If you're not for us, your against us". Ed was a guy with inside info, who choose the "wrong" side.

Not very long ago Osama bin Laden was "a true hero fighting for freedom against communists". And the very same USA was shipping "Stingers" to him to take down Soviet aircrafts and trained mujahideens to kill Soviet soldiers, the same mujahideens who later turned against USA and became "terrorists"
Time changes politics, maybe Snowden will be a hero 30 years from now

It could be as soon as the next election cycle "look what those bad Democrats are doing, elect us Republicans, and we will end this!" Just like what Obama did to get elected. And then not change anything, just more of the same.

I just find it absolutely mind-blowing what Americans can be convinced to believe in.

So they are spied on, like some kind of modern day dissident DDR citizen under Stasi....
This is done completely out of proportion, without targetting people that are actually suspect, completely against the US constitution and illegally.
Somebody becomes aware of this, and decides to enlighten the public, via media (i.e. whistleblowing and freedom of the press, two concepts that America claims to be behind and loudly praises and critisizes countries not adhering...)
The guy, knowing that he'd face the same fate as Bradley Manning, understandably clears out of the country to avoid torture, life in prison or execution (which the Manning case proves is a very realistic risk).

And somehow propaganda media in the USA can turn the whole situation around, into making people believe Snowden is a BAD guy, that spying on regular people for no reason is right, and Russia is somehow guilty despite never even inviting Snowden to come (he went there completely on his own initiative).

The double standard is mindblowing. I repeat what I said elsewhere: Apart from Goebbels, nobody comes close to the propaganda effect of mainstream US media and few other populations are as brainwashe.

Deleted. L.

This is the most intelligent thread I've read about Snowden.
Snowden is free to leave the Transit Area now and enter Russia.
Сноуден получил справку ФМС о разрешении пребывания в
Snowden received a certificate of FMS to be accepted in Russia - source - the Russian newspaper

My opinions: Snowden is very dedicated to politics and that's cool. PRISM did violate the 4th amendment of our Constitution. But it's a useful program.
Since we have the technology to spy on everybody then that's what is happening. And if somebody stopped it, then it could still happen again. So there is really no way to stop it.
Snowden should be very happy that Russia accepted him. It does not help Russia for him to be there but Russia is strong and they are willing to let him stay.
Btw, President Putin is not weak. He is a great man and it's President Obama who looks weak.

About other issues I read in this thread:
America is called the strongest and richest nation on Earth. Does that make it the best? A person can stay home all day and play video games, watch movies, swim, eat, study, and play tennis. But do we need that much?
The "best" nation on Earth is the one they are happy living in and that's not always the one they were born in. So I wonder if Snowden was really happy living in America. There are lots of reasons not to be.
I live in a safe place but I've read about all the crime, race riots, flash mobs, and other things in the news. I've even been to some of the cities and the people there are scary!
When I see some of the worse pictures of Russia, they still look better than the worse pictures of America. Maybe Snowden saw the same pictures.
America is not the best country and Americans are not the best people.
Well, no country is perfect and every country has problems so the only thing that really matters is if somebody is happy living there. And I think Snowden wants a perfection that doesn't exist.
But Russia is an awesome country and I hope he will be happy there. I know I would!

Meanwhile, concerning Snowden:

Snowden awaits asylum decision at Sheremetyevo airport. LIVE REPORT : The Voice of Russia: News, Breaking news, Politics, Economics, Business, Russia, International current events, Expert opinion, podcasts, Video

"Snowden still awaits asylum decision at Sheremetyevo airport. Federal migration service has not issued the documents allowing Edward Snowden to leave the airport yet, there was a misinformation today in the media, said Kucherena."

Snowden’s hopes of leaving Moscow airport dashed | The Raw Story

From the article:

Kucherena confirmed Snowden was staying somewhere in the many corridors and rooms of the transit area between the runway and passport control – an area Russia considers neutral territory – and that he had learned the Russian for “Hi”, “Bye-bye” and “I’ll ring you.”

The 30-year-old had received calls from across Russia, with offers to give him money and a place to stay, and even a suggestion by one woman to adopt him. He said he had enough money to get by for now.

Kucherena said he had brought him fresh underwear and shirts and added that he had given him the novel “Crime and Punishment” by 19th Century writer Fyodor Dostoevsky and short stories by Anton Chekhov.

Well, Edward, if you are a member of this forum learning Russian - we welcome you! LOL

Originally Posted by Deborski

Well, Edward, if you are a member of this forum learning Russian - we welcome you! LOL

And in that case, let's not forget to welcome the NSA here.

Originally Posted by Lampada

And in that case, let's not forget to welcome the NSA here.

Yes! Болшой привет to all the NSA, CIA, FBI, DHS, TSA, IRS, ICE, KGB, CBS, NBC, CNN... wait... did I leave anyone out?

Originally Posted by Deborski

Yes! Болшой привет to all the NSA, CIA, FBI, DHS, TSA, IRS, ICE, KGB, CBS, NBC, CNN... wait... did I leave anyone out?

FOX, ФСБ...

Off topic discussion concerning gay rights in Russia is removed to a separate thread: http://masterrussian.net/f51/controv...87/#post250038

Yay! I was getting really lost about what the OP was, lol!
Even when Snowden gets his certificate to enter Russia, there will still be problems. He's an American civil rights activist. He will need to understand that Russia doesn't need activists for American civil rights issues.
If he can stop his civil rights activities and learn how to just work and live in Russia, then he can get happy and see all the awesome things in Russia! Red Square is amazing at Christmas time and he can see Spasskaya tower, Ivan Velikiy tower, and St. Basil's Cathedral. The Christmas tree last year was massive!
Noland Travels: Moscow - Red Square rocks!

And he could see all the awesome stuff that Russia is doing for the space program! They are working on new launch sites in the Russian borders and the new Prospective Piloted Transport System - a partly re-usable space module that could replace the Soyuz. They also have plans to return to Mars, the moon, and Venus! The space program in Russia is getting really exciting right now.
But I think there should be some caution since Snowden was an intelligence officer for the USA. The spying thing can be complicated so it's probably a good thing to stay safe and not let Snowden see too much.

But I think there should be some caution since Snowden was an intelligence officer for the USA. The spying thing can be complicated so it's probably a good thing to stay safe and not let Snowden see too much.

My cousin was CIA. Shortly after he retired he was in an "accident" which left him brain-damaged. He used to speak fluent Russian, but recently I tried to speak with him in Russian and he could no longer put a sentence together. Trust me on this: Snowden will NEVER be safe from US authorities.

My suggestion for Snowden before he goes "sight-seeing" would be to find a really good plastic surgeon.

Originally Posted by Deborski

My suggestion for Snowden before he goes "sight-seeing" would be to find a really good plastic surgeon.

Second that!!!
Maybe with some plastic surgery, different specs, and a different hairstyle, he could pass himself off as a Canadian or Australian while in Russia. Ideally he should change his name too.

But on the other hand, being open about who he is, might be his best life insurance!

The USA sometimes kidnaps people as well, and ships them to the USA. Don't know how difficult it would be to kidnap somebody from Russia and transport them to the USA. But if they could only get him across a land or sea border to a pro-Nato country they'd be all set up to bring him "home" to stand trial.

I was just thinking how interesting it would have been if Snowden had been Jewish. Anyone who is Jewish at least on their mothers side, gets automatic Israeli citizenship just by asking - it's in the constitution of the country. But Israel is so pro-USA that they would have been in a real spot about what to do: Obey their sugardaddy or follow their own most central part of the constitution.

But as we know, he's not Jewish, so for now he'd better start learning Russian and gearing up for a Russian winter (what a shock to the system, after Hawaii)

Hope he starts a blog about his life in Russia!!!

Go Ed!!!

Originally Posted by Deborski

Yes! Болшой привет to all the NSA, CIA, FBI, DHS, TSA, IRS, ICE, KGB, CBS, NBC, CNN... wait... did I leave anyone out?

Wow, you put CIA, КGВ & CNN on the same list! Seems like you really don't like media

Sigh.... Throwing the toys out of the pram... I hope Russia is cooler than taking notice:

PressTV - US Senate mulling sanctions against Russia over Snowden

One slightly positive thing to come of Snowden's revelations, was a bill put before congress to rein in the NSA's surveillance. The bill did NOT pass, unfortunately. But the closeness of the vote has given hope to the American Civil Liberties Union and others who are trying to take action, that in the future such efforts may result in a change.

I am feeling very pessimistic right now about the NSA ever changing its tactics, but who knows?

http://rt.com/usa/amash-nsa-congress-spy-591/