Snowden interview: If you haven't watched it. Watch it.

No politics here.  This is, I believe probably one of the most important interviews in the last 40 years.

http://www.nbcnews.com/watch/nbc-news/inside-the-mind-of-edward-snowden-part-1-269098051619

Swill bin.....

Is it fun being a complete turd?

Some of those answers sent chills up my spine. Jesus.

Dude is a pos traitor and deserves to be hung. I have zero interest in what he says.

The_Dude wrote:Dude is a pos traitor and deserves to be hung.  I have zero interest in what he says.

I thought you were the Dude - wait, are you admitting to being a traitor? I am so confused.

Snowden is just as much a hero as anyone fighting over in Afghanistan. I hope someday we get to see a reunion video of him during the half time of a sporting event.

MSU addict wrote:
I thought you were the Dude - wait, are you admitting to being a traitor?  I am so confused.  

He's adhering to a pretty strict, uh, drug, uh, regimen to keep his mind, you know, uh, limber.

The_Dude wrote:Dude is a pos traitor and deserves to be hung.  I have zero interest in what he says.

I like ya but disagree, he is a true American.

steveschneider wrote:Snowden is just as much a hero as anyone fighting over in Afghanistan. I hope someday we get to see a reunion video of him during the half time of a sporting event.

Bob? Is that you?

I kept only very rough tabs on that whole situation. I knew that he leaked documents and all, but I did some more reading leading up to the interview. Watching the interview, I am convinced he did the right thing. We can never know if some of the things he said are true (particularly thinking about saying that other operatives expressed concern, as well) but man...that guy has 100% conviction in what he's done and I happen to think he is a Patriot in the Patriot v. Traitor debate.

Green Ninja wrote:

I like ya but disagree, he is a true American.

Ummm, revealing top secret info, even top secret info we do not like, makes one a traitor, not a hero or an American.

Going public saying that our government does things we don't like without specifics is one thing. Going public with details that you have to have elevated status to know is criminal and traitorous. Which is why he is hiding out in Soviet Russia................

LoneWolfSparty wrote:


Ummm, revealing top secret info, even top secret info we do not like, makes one a traitor, not a hero or an American.

Going public saying that our government does things we don't like without specifics is one thing. Going public with details that you have to have elevated status to know is criminal and traitorous. Which is why he is hiding out in Soviet Russia................

Guy pointed out legitimate abuses, there's a need for whistle blowers and plenty of examples where a whistle blower has benefited the greater good.

Going public that the US is spying illegally on its own citizens: Good
Leaking documents of legal US spying taking place in other countries: Bad

Frankly, I don't really care what he has to say. Sharing American intelligence secrets with Putin makes you either an enemy of the US, or a complete idiot. Exposing the surveillance of US citizens in the US was a good thing. Everything he's done since is either the result of being an idiot or of actively wanting to bring harm to this country.

LoneWolfSparty wrote:


Ummm, revealing top secret info, even top secret info we do not like, makes one a traitor, not a hero or an American.

Going public saying that our government does things we don't like without specifics is one thing. Going public with details that you have to have elevated status to know is criminal and traitorous. Which is why he is hiding out in Soviet Russia................

You probably think Mark Felt and Daniel Ellsberg were traitors, too, right?

Hip Hop Anonymous wrote:Going public that the US is spying illegally on its own citizens: Good
Leaking documents of legal US spying taking place in other countries: Bad

Frankly, I don't really care what he has to say. Sharing American intelligence secrets with Putin makes you either an enemy of the US, or a complete idiot. Exposing the surveillance of US citizens in the US was a good thing. Everything he's done since is either the result of being an idiot or of actively wanting to bring harm to this country.

You didn't watch, did you? That's okay. Most Amercans are too lazy to pay attention for more than 15 minutes when there aren't explosions or boobs.

Pretty funny that John Kerry is telling Snowden to 'man up' and return to the US.

What a stupid idiot.

I watched the interview. Lacks a bit of depth and Snowden controls nearly the entire interview. Of course though you have to remember that all of these interviews are always cut to shit. If you are looking for more unveiling of "secrets" you'll be disappointed. It's pretty much his personal rationale of What has happened in his life, who he is, what type of classified information is he willing to reveal, As well as what he did in the NSA and why hes doing what he's been doing.

Worth watching if it interests you...

Rocinante wrote:

You didn't watch, did you?  That's okay.  Most Amercans are too lazy to pay attention for more than 15 minutes when there aren't explosions or boobs.

And now you are anti explosions and boobs?!?! You are unAmerican!

Rocinante wrote:

You probably think Mark Felt and Daniel Ellsberg were traitors, too, right?

  I doubt he knows who they are.

Rocinante wrote:

You didn't watch, did you?  That's okay.  Most Amercans are too lazy to pay attention for more than 15 minutes when there aren't explosions or boobs.

I did not. However, I have read plenty about it, watched news stories come out over the last however many months. I've read debates and discussions online about it. I've seen what Greenwald has had to say. I made up my mind, and frankly, we disagree.

Did you watch his interview with Putin?


{edited to add:} Also, I love explosions and boobs. Who doesn't?

The_Dude wrote:Dude is a pos traitor and deserves to be hung.  I have zero interest in what he says.

This aggression will not stand, man.

Nm

Hip Hop Anonymous wrote:

I did not. However, I have read plenty about it, watched news stories come out over the last however many months. I've read debates and discussions online about it. I've seen what Greenwald has had to say. I made up my mind, and frankly, we disagree.

Did you watch his interview with Putin?


{edited to add:} Also, I love explosions and boobs. Who doesn't?

The reason I knew you hadn't is because he specifically addresses your points, so you were talking out of your ass.

NO MORE BIG GUBMENT!

Rocinante wrote:

The reason I knew you hadn't is because he specifically addresses your points, so you were talking out of your ass.

Oh, he addressed my points? Oh, they're totally invalid. Edward Snowden certainly doesn't have any motivation to make himself look good. How silly of me.   And yes, I'm talking out of my ass because I didn't see one interview. There's no other way to find out information than to watch the interview of your choice. All other experience is invalid. My apologies.

I didn't watch the interview cause I don't spend my time at home sitting in front of the TV. Frankly, I don't have 40 minutes to watch a dude justify his actions. Or talk about wanting to watch The Wire. I'll wait till there's a transcript I can read where he "addresses my points."

Then I'll read what other people have to say about it, both supporting him and against him. And I'll reach my own conclusions. You know, critically think.

But in the end, I don't see how what he has to say after the fact will change how I view what he actually did. Actions speak louder than words, and all that.

Ultimately, I don't think he's either a patriot nor a traitor. He did something admirable. He did something I disagree with. Exposing violations of my and other Americans civil liberties in this country is admirable and good. Exposing legal spying that the NSA was doing in other countries against foreign actors is dumb. The US spied on other foreign leaders? WHY OH MY LORD, I NEVER.  

steveschneider wrote:Pretty funny that John Kerry is telling Snowden to 'man up' and return to the US.

What a stupid idiot.  

Yes, Ketchup Boy is an idiot.

Hip Hop Anonymous wrote:Going public that the US is spying illegally on its own citizens: Good
Leaking documents of legal US spying taking place in other countries: Bad

Frankly, I don't really care what he has to say. Sharing American intelligence secrets with Putin makes you either an enemy of the US, or a complete idiot. Exposing the surveillance of US citizens in the US was a good thing. Everything he's done since is either the result of being an idiot or of actively wanting to bring harm to this country.

I watched Part 1. He has not shared any secrets with Putin. I didn't see any boobs, so I haven't watched any other parts yet.

Snowden is an American Hero, exposing how our own government has been violating citizens' rights since 9/11. He's smart not to return to the US to get railroaded in a kangaroo court.

Hip Hop Anonymous wrote:

Oh, he addressed my points? Oh, they're totally invalid.

Correct.  Your point is totally invalid because he specifically said he destroyed all his copies of the data before he left the US he arrived in Russia.  He said it would have made him a huge target.  He never said he did it for any altruistic reason like keeping it our of Russia's hands.

Why do you have to read what other people said about the interview to form your own opinion about it?  

 

Hip Hop Anonymous wrote:Frankly, I don't really care what he has to say. Sharing American intelligence secrets with Putin makes you either an enemy of the US, or a complete idiot. 

Not even if he said he hasn't shared secrets with Putin?

Rocinante wrote:

Correct.  You're point is totally invalid because he specifically said he destroyed all his copies of the data before he left the US.  He said it would have made him a huge target.  He never said he did it for any altruistic reason like keeping it our of Russia's hands.

Why do you have to read what other people said about the interview to form your own opinion about it?  

  

Yes, HIS copies. And what of the copies he sent to others around the world? Is he not responsible for what they do with that information and who they share it with?

Being a history major in college taught me consider multiple views to get the full picture. Obviously my opinion is being formed all along the way. Sorry I see value in considering other viewpoints and not assuming that I know everything there is to know because I watched an interview. Same reason I read opinion pieces from both sides of the aisle, even though I know which side I'll probably agree with beforehand. I find reading people who disagree with me makes my ideas better.

SawGreen wrote:

Not even if he said he hasn't shared secrets with Putin?

Does he say this in the interview? If so, I'll retract the accusation.

Hip Hop Anonymous wrote:

Does he say this in the interview? If so, I'll retract the accusation.

He did. He said he has not talked with anyone from Russian government.

Hip Hop Anonymous wrote:

Yes, HIS copies. And what of the copies he sent to others around the world? Is he not responsible for what they do with that information and who they share it with?

Being a history major in college taught me consider multiple views to get the full picture. Obviously my opinion is being formed all along the way. Sorry I see value in considering other viewpoints and not assuming that I know everything there is to know because I watched an interview. Same reason I read opinion pieces from both sides of the aisle, even though I know which side I'll probably agree with beforehand. I find reading people who disagree with me makes my ideas better.

Being a history major, you'd think you'd, y'know watch the interview... He also specifically talks about the agreements he's had with the journalists he's released the information to about how it will be released and how the U.S. government will have a chance to review what is being planned to be released to demonstrate definitively that it will cause harm to individuals.

You are all kinds of fail. Just watch it, History Major.

Hip Hop Anonymous wrote:
I didn't watch the interview cause I don't spend my time at home sitting in front of the TV. Frankly, I don't have 40 minutes to watch a dude justify his actions. Or talk about wanting to watch The Wire. I'll wait till there's a transcript I can read where he "addresses my points."

Then I'll read what other people have to say about it, both supporting him and against him. And I'll reach my own conclusions. You know, critically think.

But in the end, I don't see how what he has to say after the fact will change how I view what he actually did. Actions speak louder than words, and all that.

Ultimately, I don't think he's either a patriot nor a traitor. He did something admirable. He did something I disagree with. Exposing violations of my and other Americans civil liberties in this country is admirable and good.  Exposing legal spying that the NSA was doing in other countries against foreign actors is dumb. The US spied on other foreign leaders? WHY OH MY LORD, I NEVER.  

You've been talking about the interview for more than 40 minutes though. You don't have time to watch the interview? In the meantime, you're going to reach your own conclusions (and critically think) by not watching it?

dubie7006 wrote:

He did.  He said he has not talked with anyone from Russian government.

Does he say it in the interview though? I mean...do I have to watch it?   

NigelUno wrote:

You've been talking about the interview for more than 40 minutes though.  You don't have time to watch the interview?  In the meantime, you're going to reach your own conclusions (and critically think) by not watching it?  

I will play devils advocate here, maybe he is thinking outside of the box by not caving into the the pressure to watch the video. Plus, there's no explosions or boobs in it. Well, there are a couple of boobs talking to eachother but not the ones he wants to watch.  

NigelUno wrote:

Does he say it in the interview though?   I mean...do I have to watch it?    

I only watched the whole interview, not the part with boobs and explosions, so you'll have to take my word for it...but he did say he has not spoken with Russian Government officials in his NBC interview that originally aired 28 May, 2014 at 10ET/PT.

  

I will say this, he doesn't sound like a raving lunatic.