Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

flamingdem

(39,300 posts)
Mon Jul 1, 2013, 04:28 PM Jul 2013

Edward Snowden jumps the shark in Moscow - Jonathan Capehart

** Wonder what Ellsberg will say about this request by Snowden. I'd guess his primary advisor is Julian Assange

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2013/07/01/edward-snowden-jumps-the-shark-in-moscow/

Last month, I pleaded for an end to the breathless comparisons between Edward Snowden and Daniel Ellsberg. News that the present-day intelligence leaker has asked the Russians for asylum should put it to rest. Sure, Snowden made the same request of other nations. But flirting with Moscow is a credibility killer.

I’m all for whistleblowers revealing what government is doing, especially if it stretches the bounds of legality or if it’s flat-out illegal. What we know of what Snowden has released of interest to the American public has been known for a while. But what has stuck in my craw from the outset was Snowden fleeing the country.

Snowden earned side eyes from me with his decision to hightail it to Hong Kong (read, China). Then he bolted for Moscow. For a man trying to win public opinion against what he called the vast and illegal overreach of the National Security Agency, heading to Russia wasn’t exactly a smart P.R. move. That nation and Russian President Vladimir Putin aren’t exactly this nation’s best friend. Heck, they barely rise to the level of “frenemy.”

Just in his comments today, Putin said of Snowden, “If he wants to stay here, there is one condition: He has to stop his work aimed at damaging our U.S. partners, no matter how strange this sounds coming from me.” But when it came to President Obama’s entreaties that Snowden be extradited, Putin said, “Russia never extradites anyone anywhere and is not going to extradite anyone.” Great.

41 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Edward Snowden jumps the shark in Moscow - Jonathan Capehart (Original Post) flamingdem Jul 2013 OP
He ran out of options. This article is a bunch of baloney. nt Mojorabbit Jul 2013 #1
You mean he's desperate? That's what I was concluding flamingdem Jul 2013 #2
It is not over yet. Mojorabbit Jul 2013 #3
I doubt that Western Europe is interested flamingdem Jul 2013 #4
'Should' get asylum doesn't mean that it's going to happen. CakeGrrl Jul 2013 #6
They want him to stop leaking to the world -- because they want the advantage pnwmom Jul 2013 #17
No, it's not over yet.. how much more is he gonig to snitch? nm Cha Jul 2013 #20
He'll squeal like a stuck piggie! sheshe2 Jul 2013 #24
Probably Mojorabbit Jul 2013 #23
Ha, you can't stand the facts in the article. Denying Snowden's in Russia Cha Jul 2013 #22
Can you point me to where I said anything of the sort? nt Mojorabbit Jul 2013 #25
Jonathan Capehart seems to be a little mixed up on terms sgtbenobo Jul 2013 #5
Wherever he winds up, I bet they make sure he has no computer access. He's a hacker, and they..... Tarheel_Dem Jul 2013 #12
"Becoming hence"? What does that even mean? Also, the "media machine" and bloggers are having... Hekate Jul 2013 #13
"I am not here to hide from justice." randome Jul 2013 #7
It looks like an error Snowden made to ask Russia for asylum flamingdem Jul 2013 #8
"But flirting with Moscow is a credibility killer". As usual, I agree with JC. Tarheel_Dem Jul 2013 #9
He went to Russia because..? kentuck Jul 2013 #10
Maybe they don't have to extradite him but they could deport him treestar Jul 2013 #11
Snowden's life has taken a Kafkaesque turn from the weird to the VERY weird Hekate Jul 2013 #15
Yes, because Putin is playing word games and the USA has sent flamingdem Jul 2013 #18
Another quisling for the totalitarians usGovOwesUs3Trillion Jul 2013 #14
He's another flack for the administration. NOVA_Dem Jul 2013 #16
If you find a comment by Ellsberg about the Russian aslyum request flamingdem Jul 2013 #19
Ellsberg supports Snowden (this is after he went to Moscow) NOVA_Dem Jul 2013 #41
Ellsberg had documentation, the Pentagon papers themselves. Snowden has... randome Jul 2013 #29
Are you serious? A presentation generated by the NSA isn't legitimate? NOVA_Dem Jul 2013 #37
Godwin is laughing his ass off at you. baldguy Jul 2013 #26
That'd be you usGovOwesUs3Trillion Jul 2013 #28
Do you even know who Godwin is? Do you even know who Quisling is? baldguy Jul 2013 #30
Another collaborator usGovOwesUs3Trillion Jul 2013 #31
You really have no clue who Godwin is, do you. baldguy Jul 2013 #32
That'd be you usGovOwesUs3Trillion Jul 2013 #33
. baldguy Jul 2013 #34
too funny usGovOwesUs3Trillion Jul 2013 #35
Thanks for the educational moment flamingdem Jul 2013 #36
Here we go, Jonathan Capeheart under the bus. JaneyVee Jul 2013 #21
The authoritarians are revealing themselves flamingdem Jul 2013 #27
Not to worry...the WikiLeaks Attorneys will solve this matter presently alcibiades_mystery Jul 2013 #38
I personally don't believe the Russians want anything to do with him Number23 Jul 2013 #39
Desperation makes for strange bedfellows flamingdem Jul 2013 #40

CakeGrrl

(10,611 posts)
6. 'Should' get asylum doesn't mean that it's going to happen.
Mon Jul 1, 2013, 04:47 PM
Jul 2013

He has negated whatever credibility he had by claiming to steal secrets for the sake of freedom and peddling them to places where they will do damage.

When Russia basically says 'you can stay as long as you stop leaking information', even they don't trust him.

pnwmom

(108,915 posts)
17. They want him to stop leaking to the world -- because they want the advantage
Mon Jul 1, 2013, 05:29 PM
Jul 2013

of being the only ones who've seen it all.

Except for maybe China.

Mojorabbit

(16,020 posts)
23. Probably
Mon Jul 1, 2013, 05:56 PM
Jul 2013

it says something when someone bucks the system and is left with nowhere to go. It sends a message to other people who want to expose wrongdoing by their govt.

Cha

(295,543 posts)
22. Ha, you can't stand the facts in the article. Denying Snowden's in Russia
Mon Jul 1, 2013, 05:44 PM
Jul 2013

asking for asylum, are ya?

 

sgtbenobo

(327 posts)
5. Jonathan Capehart seems to be a little mixed up on terms
Mon Jul 1, 2013, 04:47 PM
Jul 2013

Jumping the shark is an catch phrase that implies that a notion or product is becoming hence. I believe our USA media machine would love this to go away. It won't. This is just the beginning. We haven't even started. Just wait until everyone of whom we've spied on gets on the same page. Then the show will really begin.

Carry on.

Tarheel_Dem

(31,201 posts)
12. Wherever he winds up, I bet they make sure he has no computer access. He's a hacker, and they.....
Mon Jul 1, 2013, 05:11 PM
Jul 2013

don't want their secrets known. His every move will be orchestrated, and he'll be cut off from the "www".

Hekate

(89,977 posts)
13. "Becoming hence"? What does that even mean? Also, the "media machine" and bloggers are having...
Mon Jul 1, 2013, 05:12 PM
Jul 2013

... the time of their lives. Nobody in those spheres wants it to go away, although I'm sure the government does.

I'm trying to understand your post. "We haven't even started." "Then the show will really begin." Who is WE, exactly? What sort of "show" are you hoping for?

 

randome

(34,845 posts)
7. "I am not here to hide from justice."
Mon Jul 1, 2013, 04:50 PM
Jul 2013

This is galactic level irony.

[hr]
[font color="blue"][center]I'm always right. When I'm wrong I admit it.
So then I'm right about being wrong.
[/center][/font]
[hr]

flamingdem

(39,300 posts)
8. It looks like an error Snowden made to ask Russia for asylum
Mon Jul 1, 2013, 05:02 PM
Jul 2013

It gives Putin an excuse to wait and see what his best deal can be. And Snowden may end up stuck there. Assange is probably pumping the idea of idealistic countries running to his rescue to lighten the doom vibe at the pod hotel.

kentuck

(110,916 posts)
10. He went to Russia because..?
Mon Jul 1, 2013, 05:08 PM
Jul 2013

He felt safe in Hong Kong? The US was not on his trail? Our government wanted to capture him and punish him. Why didn't he just turn himself in and take his medicine? Is that the question?

treestar

(82,383 posts)
11. Maybe they don't have to extradite him but they could deport him
Mon Jul 1, 2013, 05:10 PM
Jul 2013

They have not even given him permission to visit the country. He's in the transit area because they haven't admitted him.

Hekate

(89,977 posts)
15. Snowden's life has taken a Kafkaesque turn from the weird to the VERY weird
Mon Jul 1, 2013, 05:14 PM
Jul 2013

Living in an airport in Moscow... wow

flamingdem

(39,300 posts)
18. Yes, because Putin is playing word games and the USA has sent
Mon Jul 1, 2013, 05:31 PM
Jul 2013

1,700 people back to Russia mostly for criminal warrants.

So his claims are about wordage I could see deportation due to lack of documents perhaps.

NOVA_Dem

(620 posts)
16. He's another flack for the administration.
Mon Jul 1, 2013, 05:20 PM
Jul 2013

Did you notice he said Snowden's no Ellsberg but won't quote Ellsberg opinion of Snowden? I'm glad this has come out b/c it really shows who's an unprincipled phony on MSNBC and on this site.

NOVA_Dem

(620 posts)
41. Ellsberg supports Snowden (this is after he went to Moscow)
Mon Jul 1, 2013, 10:45 PM
Jul 2013


Go to the 4:54 mark.

He also thinks Snowden was correct to NOT go the NSA IG or Congress. He said it was wise to release information outside of the the country.
 

randome

(34,845 posts)
29. Ellsberg had documentation, the Pentagon papers themselves. Snowden has...
Mon Jul 1, 2013, 06:07 PM
Jul 2013

...PowerPoint slides!

There is no comparison between the two.

[hr]
[font color="blue"][center]I'm always right. When I'm wrong I admit it.
So then I'm right about being wrong.
[/center][/font]
[hr]

 

usGovOwesUs3Trillion

(2,022 posts)
33. That'd be you
Mon Jul 1, 2013, 06:27 PM
Jul 2013

No reference to nazis or hitler, just a common reference for a COLLABORATOR, look it up, and stop trying to distract.

flamingdem

(39,300 posts)
27. The authoritarians are revealing themselves
Mon Jul 1, 2013, 06:04 PM
Jul 2013

As bad or worse than Putin!


"I vill drain your laptops, you know dat nyet Mr. Snowdenk"



Number23

(24,544 posts)
39. I personally don't believe the Russians want anything to do with him
Mon Jul 1, 2013, 10:41 PM
Jul 2013

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

And for Snowden to "fear for his life" from the US and then seek asylum from the Russians is the utter height of hypocrisy and ignorance. There are few countries as well known for knowing how to silence dissent and opposition better than the Russians. With damn good reason.

flamingdem

(39,300 posts)
40. Desperation makes for strange bedfellows
Mon Jul 1, 2013, 10:43 PM
Jul 2013

Oh to be a fly on the wall when Assange gets on the speaker phone with Sarah Hastings and Snowden and umm half the Kremlin via wiretapping. They're probably throwing out many obscure country names, Tonga maybe?

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Edward Snowden jumps the ...