Post: #26

I wouldn't recommend for him to seek an asylum in Iceland. He could end up with a false rape allegation just like Assange did. If he could stay in Hong Kong, that would be the best for him.

Post: #27

This dude needs to write a book detailing exactly how PRISM and the surveillance apparatus in general works. That would be his best revenge against the NSA/CIA/FBI/etc since it would force them to declassify large parts of these surveillance programs. Plus, he would make some extra money off this fiasco since such a book would easily sell millions of copies. A win-win.

Post: #28

I'm interested in seeing if this pick of Hong Kong ends up being a wise choice for Snowden. The decision is either brilliant or very naive. I probably wouldn't have gone there. There aren't many, if any, nice places where an American can go if on the run from the government since most countries have extradition treaties with the US. Even for the ones that don't, like China, improving or maintaining good relations with the US government is often an important priority. In light of the Chinese Premier's visit to the US, I find it unlikely that China, which has de facto veto power over decisions in Hong Kong (a place that has an extradition treaty with the US), would stick its neck out for this guy, since improving relations is a key purpose of the trip.

Below is a map of countries that have extradition treaties with the US government (shown in blue). Even for the countries that don't have extradition treaties, many of them have good relations with the US government and strategic military, economic and political ties, and may choose to extradite an American citizen on the run; they often do.

Post: #29

His bigger problem right now is that he is running out of money. He needs to quickly find a wealthy benefactor who will pay for his living expenses in exchange for information about the US surveillance state. China or Russia could pay him for detailed info on how to hack these programs.

Post: #30

brave man, he has principles. he can see the onset of an orwellian dystopia when he sees it and wouldn't be cowed into silence.

Post: #31

Andorra doesn't have an extradition agreement, then again, its landlocked and contains no airport, and to gain permanent residency you have to invest $400,000 into real estate. I'm also not completely sure if since the country is protected equally by Spain and France if those countries' extradition agreements are applied.

Post: #32

(06-09-2013 11:31 PM)calidude Wrote:  I decided to get an idea what the average liberal American thinks about the leak and it's only disgusting. These people are saying what Snowden did is treason and he's just trying to discredit Obama. Reaidng the commennts on the HufPo are infuriating, I honestly think that this country is lost. Hers's the article http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/09...12245.html

The top favored comment

Quote:Some may applaud this man's actions.

But it wasn't his decision to make, which secrets we keep, which we make public.

That is the president's call, since the beginning of the Republic, with influence by both Congress and the Judicial system

Presidents are accountable to the American people in ways that low end CIA people are not. Instead, they are accountable to the president.

This man failed his president and his nation, by judging his own views more than the elected president of the United States.

He should pay the price for releasing secrets. That is part of civil disobedience.

[/quote]

Where were these trolls when Bush started the ball rolling on this stuff? Obama just sped up the pace but this ideology trolls are fools for even thinking this is partisan.

Americans don't know about the NSA because it's only around to spy on them. It was purged decades of its original mandate and has simply been a data miner and scrubber now for the past 20years.

The NSA and Google share a tight relationship. Googles approaches to data concilidation and access are mirrored or nearly the same to what happens at the NSA. Many people say that the relatinshisp is so close, and its sonhard to divide what they do it ends up that Google IS the NSA.

I was warning people about his stuff 4 years ago and now it's reached the "mainstream" and lately i've stopped trying to blast the warning horns for Americans. I'm not sure what will be the event or instance that gets Americans to wake up and take action, but it's long overdue and needs to happen soon.


Your money, guns, and freedoms are all actively now trying to be taking away. The end game is a totalitarian government with men in the crosshairs.

Post: #33

(06-10-2013 10:08 AM)kosko Wrote:  Where were these trolls when Bush started the ball rolling on this stuff? Obama just sped up the pace but this ideology trolls are fools for even thinking this is partisan.

Americans don't know about the NSA because it's only around to spy on them. It was purged decades of its original mandate and has simply been a data miner and scrubber now for the past 20years.

The NSA and Google share a tight relationship. Googles approaches to data concilidation and access are mirrored or nearly the same to what happens at the NSA. Many people say that the relatinshisp is so close, and its sonhard to divide what they do it ends up that Google IS the NSA.

I was warning people about his stuff 4 years ago and now it's reached the "mainstream" and lately i've stopped trying to blast the warning horns for Americans. I'm not sure what will be the event or instance that gets Americans to wake up and take action, but it's long overdue and needs to happen soon.


Your money, guns, and freedoms are all actively now trying to be taking away. The end game is a totalitarian government with men in the crosshairs.

Post: #34

Doesn't surprise me. The thought that you may at least be partially accountable for your own security is anathema to your common liberal, so of course they're going to think Big Brother is a good thing.

Post: #35

Quote: but on economic issues they suck to me. They don't care about things like affordable health care or the rising gap between the haves and have-nots.

Better than nanny-government redistributionists who think you can solve all the worlds problems with higher taxes and more wasteful social programs.

Post: #36

(06-10-2013 08:45 AM)Hencredible Casanova Wrote:  I'm interested in seeing if this pick of Hong Kong ends up being a wise choice for Snowden. The decision is either brilliant or very naive. I probably wouldn't have gone there. There aren't many, if any, nice places where an American can go if on the run from the government since most countries have extradition treaties with the US. Even for the ones that don't, like China, improving or maintaining good relations with the US government is often an important priority. In light of the Chinese Premier's visit to the US, I find it unlikely that China, which has de facto veto power over decisions in Hong Kong (a place that has an extradition treaty with the US), would stick its neck out for this guy, since improving relations is a key purpose of the trip.

Below is a map of countries that have extradition treaties with the US government (shown in blue). Even for the countries that don't have extradition treaties, many of them have good relations with the US government and strategic military, economic and political ties, and may choose to extradite an American citizen on the run; they often do.

He should head to Russia. Good chance of finding a benefactor there. Plus with nothing but cold relations with the USA for the foreseeable future it's unlikely that he'll ever be handed over. And it'll also be a huge DHV with Russian women.

Post: #37

(06-10-2013 11:24 AM)speakeasy Wrote:  

(06-10-2013 08:45 AM)Hencredible Casanova Wrote:  I'm interested in seeing if this pick of Hong Kong ends up being a wise choice for Snowden. The decision is either brilliant or very naive. I probably wouldn't have gone there. There aren't many, if any, nice places where an American can go if on the run from the government since most countries have extradition treaties with the US. Even for the ones that don't, like China, improving or maintaining good relations with the US government is often an important priority. In light of the Chinese Premier's visit to the US, I find it unlikely that China, which has de facto veto power over decisions in Hong Kong (a place that has an extradition treaty with the US), would stick its neck out for this guy, since improving relations is a key purpose of the trip.

Below is a map of countries that have extradition treaties with the US government (shown in blue). Even for the countries that don't have extradition treaties, many of them have good relations with the US government and strategic military, economic and political ties, and may choose to extradite an American citizen on the run; they often do.

He should head to Russia. Good chance of finding a benefactor there. Plus with nothing but cold relations with the USA for the foreseeable future it's unlikely that he'll ever be handed over. And it'll also be a huge DHV with Russian women.

He would be prime target for the KGB, or maybe not let in at all. In this situation being a prime intelligence target and going to a nation that does no have easy relations is a double edged sword. Your either targeted as a possible infiltrator or they will try to protect you in hopes you can be recruited by them.

Post: #38

Mr Snowden deserves a statue erected in his honour.

Fuck government entirely. Who the fuck do they think they are to tell people what to do? The whole system is fucking ridiculous. Any man should be able to challenge the decisions of the government. There is nothing they can possibly do, that will benefit a population larger than their own office - or anyone that isn't a part of that office, for that matter.

Which chimp governs whether other chimps are allowed to throw their shit at each other? Or says that some chimps can't throw their shit, and ones that do will either be locked on a cage, or have shit thrown at them, should they persist? Which chimp says that chimps aren't allowed to throw shit in public?

None of them do.

Have the chimps thrown so much shit at each other that they've managed to wipe their species out?

No.

Have the chimps got a complex governmental system that keeps them from doing so?

No.

Have humans, at any point in history, thrown so much shit at each other that the species has died out?

No.

Society has been capable of solving society's problems for so many millenia. Why in the name of jesus fucking christ do we need some stupid cunt, projected into our retinas from the flattest screen we can find, to tell us what we can and can't do now? We're not fucking retards. We are capable of looking after ourselves. We don't need a government - especially one that does nothing but oppress our speech and thought - controlling us. As far as I'm concerned, every last politician should be burnt. They're fucking scum.

Post: #39

When injustice becomes law, Resistance becomes duty

- Thomas Jefferson -

I think this applies here.

Post: #40

(06-09-2013 11:53 PM)speakeasy Wrote:  Unfortunately the only alternative political options are Tea Party/Libertarian types. They may be good on personal freedom matters, but on economic issues they suck to me. They don't care about things like affordable health care or the rising gap between the haves and have-nots.

Sad but true. However the tea party has become a joke now due it being hijacked by greedy idiot fundamental Christian opportunists (Palin, Bachman, and Glen Beck). The Libertarian Party seems like a good choice but some of their candidates are pathetic.
NYC Libertarian Party candidate for Controller, Kristen Davis. She looks like a low class Las Vegas hooker, she was a pimp in a sex scandal, and she's a self described feminist.
There were some other mental candidates but I couldn't be bothered to find them. I like there concept but they need more professional candidates running for office. Once they get serious like UKIP in the UK then they'll most likely have my full support.

Post: #41

I don't know shit about Hong Kong.

But if I was running from the gov't, I wouldn't choose a metropolitan area. Before blowing the whistle, I'd set up logistics somewhere in South America. Maybe a farm or fishing village in Chile, somewhere way out in the fucking middle of nowhere with no internet access and no points of interest. Grow my hair and beard out, introduce myself as "Diego" to the locals, and start a new life.

Post: #42

I'd move into the National Archives Building in DC and pitch a tent right next to the display of the Constitution.


No one would ever find me.

Post: #43

(06-10-2013 04:04 PM)thedude3737 Wrote:  I don't know shit about Hong Kong.

But if I was running from the gov't, I wouldn't choose a metropolitan area. Before blowing the whistle, I'd set up logistics somewhere in South America. Maybe a farm or fishing village in Chile, somewhere way out in the fucking middle of nowhere with no internet access and no points of interest. Grow my hair and beard out, introduce myself as "Diego" to the locals, and start a new life.

South America is a no go. No tradition of strong rule of law - but just the opposite: coups, revolutions, separatists, human rights violations, etc....

Hong Kong is perfect:
1. Extremely strong rule of law - individual/human rights - even better than ours at this point.
2. Extremely rich: i.e. cannot be bribed - they have plenty.
3. Ethnically Chinese: i.e. extremely proud in self/culture: no willingness to kiss 'the (white) man's' ass.
4. Chinese territory: NO WAY - will the Chinese allow US intelligence to pursue an op to get this guy on their soil after going there seeking refuge: to do so will be seen a weak and a loss of face.
-very important to Asians.

This move was well chosen.

Post: #44

Jezebel chimes in.

http://jezebel.com/mothers-dont-let-your...-512266500

"But other people can talk about how awesome Snowden is for doing what he did, and if that's what you're interested in hashing and rehashing and double super rehashing, there are plenty of places to do that today. Right now, I'm kind of worried about his girlfriend. You know, the one who thought he was on a work trip only to find out that he was actually basically Jean Valjean and that she'd probably never ever see him again. Is it worse if your partner goes out for cigarettes never to return, or if he goes out to sacrifice himself in the name of preserving the constitution? Either way, you still have to go through the humiliating exercise of changing your Facebook status to SINGLE."

Post: #45

Snowden is trying to save America and Jezebel worries about his girlfriend's feelings.

Can't say I"m surprised.

Post: #46

Fuck his girlfriend. If she was worth it he would have taken her with him. Dude is 29 and if he doesn't get caught women will be throwing themselves at him.

Post: #47

(06-10-2013 06:43 PM)aphelion Wrote:  Jezebel chimes in.

http://jezebel.com/mothers-dont-let-your...-512266500

"But other people can talk about how awesome Snowden is for doing what he did, and if that's what you're interested in hashing and rehashing and double super rehashing, there are plenty of places to do that today. Right now, I'm kind of worried about his girlfriend. You know, the one who thought he was on a work trip only to find out that he was actually basically Jean Valjean and that she'd probably never ever see him again. Is it worse if your partner goes out for cigarettes never to return, or if he goes out to sacrifice himself in the name of preserving the constitution? Either way, you still have to go through the humiliating exercise of changing your Facebook status to SINGLE."

Post: #48

(06-10-2013 07:00 PM)Gmac Wrote:  Fuck his girlfriend. If she was worth it he would have taken her with him. Dude is 29 and if he doesn't get caught women will be throwing themselves at him.

http://www.salon.com/2013/06/10/twitter_...singleton/

Quote:Yes, the NSA whistleblower is Twitter’s dreamboat du jour, and his attractiveness (deemed “geek chic” by many) is currently the subject of a dedicated Tumblr and an ongoing Internet conversation about whether or not people would let him “blow their whistle,” if you catch my drift.

Post: #49

It depends how much this affects other NSA contractors like myself. If it doesn't affect me, then cool.

If it does.....fuck him.

Post: #50

(06-10-2013 07:14 PM)UrbanNerd Wrote:  It depends how much this affects other NSA contractors like myself. If it doesn't affect me, then cool.

If it does.....fuck him.

You better start mining some data from the NSA. From the reactions on twitter, it seems like Whistle Blower game might be a solid niche to fill.