Wikileaks has released a statement from Edward Snowden

[Catherina]

Last edited Mon Jul 1, 2013, 06:16 PM - Edit history (2)

WikiLeaks ?@wikileaks 12m

Standby for a statement from Edward Snowden in Moscow. #snowden #prism #nsa #wikileaks

Also, earlier today, President Evo Morales publicly stated on RT live that Bolivia would give Snowden asylum if he requested it. UNASUR has been in meetings about Snowden's case.

President Morales and President Maduro are in Russia for a 2-day Oil summit right now.

I don't know about Morales but Maduro flew in on his Presidential jet, an Airbus A319CJ Presidential jet which has an air range of 6300 nautical miles, unless they modified it to have more. The air distance from Caracas to Moscow is 5367 nautical miles.

Speculation about Maduro flying Snowden back on the jet began a few days ago...

I don't think the statement is in any way related to that but I thought I'd throw that in.

19 hours ago, Wikileaks had already told its twitter followers

WikiLeaks ?@wikileaks 19h

MONDAY: We will issue several important announcements during the day.
Details

[hr]

Here is the validated statement:

Statement from Edward Snowden in Moscow
Monday July 1, 21:40 UTC

One week ago I left Hong Kong after it became clear that my freedom and safety were under threat for revealing the truth. My continued liberty has been owed to the efforts of friends new and old, family, and others who I have never met and probably never will. I trusted them with my life and they returned that trust with a faith in me for which I will always be thankful.

On Thursday, President Obama declared before the world that he would not permit any diplomatic "wheeling and dealing" over my case. Yet now it is being reported that after promising not to do so, the President ordered his Vice President to pressure the leaders of nations from which I have requested protection to deny my asylum petitions.

This kind of deception from a world leader is not justice, and neither is the extralegal penalty of exile. These are the old, bad tools of political aggression. Their purpose is to frighten, not me, but those who would come after me.

For decades the United States of America have been one of the strongest defenders of the human right to seek asylum. Sadly, this right, laid out and voted for by the U.S. in Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is now being rejected by the current government of my country. The Obama administration has now adopted the strategy of using citizenship as a weapon. Although I am convicted of nothing, it has unilaterally revoked my passport, leaving me a stateless person. Without any judicial order, the administration now seeks to stop me exercising a basic right. A right that belongs to everybody. The right to seek asylum.

In the end the Obama administration is not afraid of whistleblowers like me, Bradley Manning or Thomas Drake. We are stateless, imprisoned, or powerless. No, the Obama administration is afraid of you. It is afraid of an informed, angry public demanding the constitutional government it was promised — and it should be.

I am unbowed in my convictions and impressed at the efforts taken by so many.

Edward Joseph Snowden

Monday 1st July 2013

http://wikileaks.org/Statement-from-Edward-Snowden-in.html?snow

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Interesting

[quinnox]

2. As another duer has been posting, Snowden is like Paul Revere

warning us as a patriotic American of trouble. I am firmly on his side!

[Catherina]

3. There is also this from Reuters "Edward Snowden breaks silence to threaten new U.S. disclosures"

Edward Snowden breaks silence to threaten new U.S. disclosures
Mon, Jul 01 16:55 PM EDT

LONDON (Reuters) - Former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden has broken his silence for the first time since he fled to Moscow eight days ago to say he remains free to make new disclosures about U.S. spying activity.

In a letter to Ecuador seen by Reuters, Snowden said the United States was illegally persecuting him for revealing its electronic surveillance program, PRISM. He also thanked Ecuador for helping him get to Russia and for examining his asylum request.

http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSBRE96017M20130701?irpc=932

Me too. Firmly.

If George Bush and Cheney are on one side, you can count on me to be on the totally opposite side.

[kentuck]

6. Me three.

I didn't trust the program under Bush and I don't trust it now.

Those that say he could have went to Congress or the Oversight Committee if he wanted the American people to know what our government was doing are full of crap. Congress was sworn to secrecy and they would have done nothing except to have told him to zip it because it was top secret and in our national security interest. Period.

[Catherina]

9. Thomas Drake went through all the channels and got zilch, ignored, rebuffed

and his life destroyed. The same for Binney. When Snowden had that short online Q&A, he specifically fingered Pelosi and the rest of the Gang of Eight as being complicit.

Period. What you said.

[MrMickeysMom]

77. In fact...

How can anyone believe that about Congress. This is the same congress with such a high approval and trust rating. What do they think people are willing to believe at this point?

[MrMickeysMom]

75. Me four

[Catherina]

4. (not from wiki or validated) Edward Snowden Praises Ecuador For Considering Political Asylum Request

Last edited Mon Jul 1, 2013, 06:06 PM - Edit history (2)

This just out:

Edward Snowden Praises Ecuador For Considering Political Asylum Request

The Huffington Post UK/PA | Posted: 01/07/2013 22:25 BST | Updated: 01/07/2013 22:27 BST

Intelligence whistleblower Edward Snowden has written to the president of Ecuador praising his country's "bravery" in considering his request for political asylum, it has been revealed.

...

He is still believed to be in Russia but has not been seen in public.

His disclosures over the surveillance activities of the UK's GCHQ and its American counterpart, the National Security Agency, have caused huge controversy.

His letter to president Rafael Correa, written in Spanish, was leaked to the Press Association by sources in the Ecuadorian capital Quito.

...

The letter reads:

There are few world leaders who would risk standing for the human rights of an individual against the most powerful government on earth, and the bravery of Ecuador and its people is an example to the world.

I must express my deep respect for your principles and sincere thanks for your government's action in considering my request for political asylum.

The government of the United States of America has built the world's largest system of surveillance. This global system affects every human life touched by technology; recording, analysing, and passing secret judgment over each member of the international public.

It is a grave violation of our universal human rights when a political system perpetuates automatic, pervasive and unwarranted spying against innocent people.

In accordance with this belief, I revealed this programme to my country and the world. While the public has cried out support of my shining a light on this secret system of injustice, the government of the United States of America responded with an extrajudicial man-hunt costing me my family, my freedom to travel and my right to live peacefully without fear of illegal aggression.

As I face this persecution, there has been silence from governments afraid of the United States government and their threats. Ecuador however, rose to stand and defend the human right to seek asylum.

The decisive action of your consul in London, Fidel Narvaez, guaranteed my rights would be protected upon departing Hong Kong - I could never have risked travel without that. Now, as a result, and through the continued support of your government, I remain free and able to publish information that serves the public interest.

No matter how many more days my life contains, I remain dedicated to the fight for justice in this unequal world. If any of those days ahead realise a contribution to the common good, the world will have the principles of Ecuador to thank.

Please accept my gratitude on behalf of your government and the people of the Republic of Ecuador, as well as my great personal admiration of your commitment to doing what is right rather than what is rewarding.

Edward Joseph Snowden.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/07/01/edward-snowden-seeks-political-asylum-ecuador_n_3530542.html

Hmmmmm. When did Snowden start spelling "program" with the preferred British spelling "programme?"

[sabrina 1]

16. I wouldn't be surprised if Correa and all the leaders of the South American version of NATO are

talking together so that one nation doesn't do this alone. They were very wise, thanks to Chavez, to form that union against any more of the West's Imperial interference with their affairs.

[KoKo]

43. Seriously...Taking Charge of Own Destiny...not relying on USA who sold them down river

for Decades....

People (populations of countries with boundaries) need to be aware of their OWN Surroundings..before signing up to "Outsiders." imho

[Catherina]

47. I have the same impression. Patina tweeted that UNASUR needed to discuss this

but without any detail that I know of.

[MrMickeysMom]

78. With Monday's news that the NSA didn't limit spying, but included French embassy ...

not just limited to the old "cold war" Russians, I'm pretty certain we have everyone's attention to what will come of this dialogue.

[siligut]

46. The translator was British?

His letter to president Rafael Correa, written in Spanish, was leaked to the Press Association by sources in the Ecuadorian capital Quito.

Snowden probably would have used programa if writing in Spanish.

[Catherina]

48. Good point. I missed the part about it being a translation n/t

[sheshe2]

79. Uh Oh, Catherina

Snowden just got tossed under the bus!!!!!
By Josh Marshall

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023145896

[kentuck]

5. Very interesting.

Venezuela has oil and is not beholden to the US for its survival. The US has not had a good relationship with Venezuela since Chavez took power years ago.

[Catherina]

7. I don't think the statement is about that but when I heard Maduro was flying in

I wondered and checked the travel mode and nautical miles. I just wanted to throw that out, just in case lol, but I don't think the statement is about that. It's probably the letter Reuters just leaked lol.

However, if Maduro or Morales would fly him back with them, I would be ecstatic.

[kentuck]

8. I don't think they would be that bold.

Although I would not disapprove. I think he could fly back on another plane, perhaps, if he got approved for asylum. Also, he could do it in secret? Then, all three countries could say they have no idea where he is??

[Catherina]

10. That's the sobering reality. I hope but am not holding my breath on that scenario

I've paid really close attention to the word parsing coming from Putin and Correa. They both left holes big enough to make a fishing net out of lol.

Check this one out:

When asked about speculation that Snowden might leave with one of the delegations to the conference, whose guests included the presidents of Venezuela and Bolivia, Putin said (he) did not know of such plans.

www.thestar.com.my/News/World/2013/07/02/Putin-says-Snowden-should-stop-harming-our-American-partners.aspx

[KoKo]

44. Indeed! It would be good news for sure. (eom)

[Hell Hath No Fury]

11. Statement is up -

http://wikileaks.org/Statement-from-Edward-Snowden-in.html?snow

Monday July 1, 21:40 UTC

One week ago I left Hong Kong after it became clear that my freedom and safety were under threat for revealing the truth. My continued liberty has been owed to the efforts of friends new and old, family, and others who I have never met and probably never will. I trusted them with my life and they returned that trust with a faith in me for which I will always be thankful.

On Thursday, President Obama declared before the world that he would not permit any diplomatic "wheeling and dealing" over my case. Yet now it is being reported that after promising not to do so, the President ordered his Vice President to pressure the leaders of nations from which I have requested protection to deny my asylum petitions.

This kind of deception from a world leader is not justice, and neither is the extralegal penalty of exile. These are the old, bad tools of political aggression. Their purpose is to frighten, not me, but those who would come after me.

For decades the United States of America have been one of the strongest defenders of the human right to seek asylum. Sadly, this right, laid out and voted for by the U.S. in Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is now being rejected by the current government of my country. The Obama administration has now adopted the strategy of using citizenship as a weapon. Although I am convicted of nothing, it has unilaterally revoked my passport, leaving me a stateless person. Without any judicial order, the administration now seeks to stop me exercising a basic right. A right that belongs to everybody. The right to seek asylum.

In the end the Obama administration is not afraid of whistleblowers like me, Bradley Manning or Thomas Drake. We are stateless, imprisoned, or powerless. No, the Obama administration is afraid of you. It is afraid of an informed, angry public demanding the constitutional government it was promised — and it should be.

I am unbowed in my convictions and impressed at the efforts taken by so many.

Edward Joseph Snowden

Monday 1st July 2013

[Catherina]

12. Yes indeed it is!

WikiLeaks ?@wikileaks 5m

STATEMENT: by Edward Snowden from Moscow http://wikileaks.org/Statement-from-Edward-Snowden-in.html?snow … #snowden #wikileaks #nsa #prism
Expand

[Catherina]

13. Validated. Posted on Wiki's site and tweeted as per content of post #11 n/t

[kentuck]

14. "Their purpose is to frighten, not me, but those who would come after me. "

I think that is probably true.

[woo me with science]

19. +1000000

[leftstreet]

61. +1

[MrMickeysMom]

80. And with that...

I can hope THE WORLD IS WATCHING.

Jesus, Is there any hope for coming out of this without some kind of civil disobedience?

Will people pay attention to this?

[Zorra]

92. Terrorize ~verb~ To coerce by intimidation or fear. See Synonyms at frighten.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/terrorize

[KoKo]

45. I think what Snowdon says would resonate with American Sentiment back to American

Revolution.

I can't find fault with what he says at this point. And he and his parents are ALL AMERICANS!

[woo me with science]

15. K&R

[Progressive dog]

17. Revoking a passport because you are fleeing

prosecution is not the same as revoking citizenship.

In the end the Obama administration is not afraid of whistleblowers like me, Bradley Manning or Thomas Drake.

So they're not going to kill Snowden, they have no reason to, by his own admission.

[zeemike]

59. There is two reasons to kill someone

To shut them up or to punish them...it is to late to shut him up...but punishment by it's nature serves to shut up others that might be thinking of doing the same.

[Progressive dog]

62. I'm impressed that you have figured out reasons to kill someone

I don't think our government has bumped a lot of leakers off. I keep seeing the names of those former NSA CIA State Dept. employees coming forth to explain why Snowden was right to leak. Amazingly they are al still alive.

[zeemike]

65. Well don't be

Cause I would not value your being impressed by me at all.

Not sarcasm.

[Progressive dog]

66. Thank you

[struggle4progress]

18. Since when is Mr Snowden "stateless"? Has he renounced his citizenship?

[kentuck]

21. His passport was revoked.

He cannot travel anywhere under those conditions - not even back to the US. Unless he offered protection by another country, he is indeed "stateless".

[treestar]

22. That is not true

He cannot claim the victimhood "stateless." There are people who are really stateless and for Snowden to claim it is shameful.

[woo me with science]

25. His passport was revoked.

Just clarifying that your headline refers to your personal negative opinions about Snowden, not the fact that the US government revoked his passport.

[JaneyVee]

28. He is not stateless, he can return to the U.S anytime he chooses.

[kentuck]

30. Only if another country extradites him.

He cannot return to the US or anywhere else "anytime he chooses".

[DesMoinesDem]

38. Yes, he is stateless. Research de facto stateless.

[sabrina 1]

71. Sure he can, if he wants to be hidden away in some gulag and tortured like Bradly Manning. No

Whistle Blower will take that chance again until this country restores the rule of law. Binney, Drake both of whom followed all the procedures but had their lives and careers destroyed anyhow. This is not a place where much justice can be found. See Guantamo, Abu Ghraib (no prosecutions of the main criminals) and the rest of our 'secret sites' around the world. We will see more Americans seeking asylum in democratic states from now on.

[treestar]

29. That does not mean citizenship is revoked

He is still a citizen.

There are people who never even applied for passports. They are still citizens. It is documentation of the status. The law provides to revoke passports of fugitives from justice so that they have nowhere to go but back to the US, where they are citizens and thus have to be admitted.

[MrMickeysMom]

81. Just what do you think would happen, should he return, treestar?

What's your opinion about that?

[treestar]

84. He'll be indicted and get a trial

[RetroLounge]

73. shameful

RL

[struggle4progress]

23. I rather doubt the airlines would absolutely refuse him passage back to the US

[treestar]

31. Right, the reason for the passport revocation is that

other countries will require a passport for a foreigner to enter that country. But we can go back to the country of which we are a citizen, since there is no reason to control our entry. We don't need visas to come back home after a trip to Europe. So the whole idea is to make it harder for a fugitive to be able to go anywhere other than home.

[kentuck]

35. If Putin says, "Stay."

He goes nowhere.

[treestar]

37. That's not because of not having a passport

and not due to being stateless, which he is not. That's for entering a foreign country - we all take that risk any time we go to a foreign country. You can be arrested in that country for violating their laws, which we may not agree with, and be subject to their system, which we may find lacks due process. One who wants total safety from that needs to stay home.

He went to Russia without papers and they aren't admitting him. The very fact that Putin can "make him" stay shows Russia is no due process, by the law place.

[SidDithers]

24. No. He's passportless...

He's still an American citizen.

Unless, of course, he's renounced his citizenship.

Sid

[kentuck]

26. He was unable to leave the Moscow airport.

Why?

[struggle4progress]

33. It seems that almost nowhere, that he can get easily from Moscow, is willing to guarantee him entry

if the US has declared him a fugitive with a cancelled passport

And if the airlines carry him somewhere that refuses him entry, the airlines are likely to be forced to carry him back whence he came at their own expense

So for most destinations, he's shizz-out-of-luck for the moment

[SidDithers]

34. Because he doesn't have travel documents...

Are you suggesting nobody is an American citizen unless they have a passport?

http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppi/stats/stats_890.html

In 2012, only ~ 113 million Americans had passports. Does that mean the other 200 million are stateless persons?

Sid

[kentuck]

40. Silly argument.

Maybe 200 million didn't travel and didn't need a passport?

He will leave Russia when Putin says he can leave Russia. In effect, he is "stateless" because when his passport was revoked, so was his freedom to travel to whatever country he wanted. That is why he is stuck in the Moscow airport.

Come home to prison and be a citizen, Citizen.

[great white snark]

90. Holy F@&K Sid.

I just noticed your sig line and nearly laughed myself into a stroke!

[SidDithers]

91. Hehehe...

Sid

[SidDithers]

20. Conference call in 15 minutes...

Snowden is Asher Heimermann.

Sid

[treestar]

32. LOL

Asher is over 21 by now!

[MineralMan]

53. We are all Asher Heimermann now.

Whatever our age.

[JaneyVee]

27. Snowden is NOT Stateless, he can return to the U.S. anytime he chooses.

[Number23]

39. As much as the OP discusses/boasts/endlessly comments on his/her ignore list

I'm willing to bet you $5 that she can't see you.

[Gravitycollapse]

36. Snowden is not legally stateless. But, for all practical purposes, he is.

[quinnox]

41. Yep, I don't blame him. He might fear being thrown into Gitmo, or taken to an undisclosed location

to face "enhanced" interrogation techniques, the way things are going here lately in the supposed Land of Freedom.

[FirstLight]

55. +10000!!

I wouldn't want to travel anywhere without asylum or some kind of protection...who knows who could be tailing you and then help you meet with an accident in the plane bathroom?

[KoKo]

42. Not sure what to think...will wait and see.. Thanks, Catherina! (eom)

[CakeGrrl]

49. Now we get to his REAL beef

[Catherina]

50. Your post is right up the alley of the Military JAG. Pathetic how they're all over the net

making fools of themselves isn't it? Typical but pathetic nonetheless.

There's nothing like those sucking off the teat of the MIC to come so pathetically to its defense.

And they wonder why people ignore them. Lol.

Just reading posts like your last one are wasted and lost time.

Bye sweetums

[CakeGrrl]

57. So long!

Can someone relay this to the OP since she can't see me anymore?

[backscatter712]

64. She's doing what I've been doing...

...and what I'm doing to you.

*PLONK*

Have fun talking to yourself.

[sibelian]

51. OK. I think I've spent enough attention on the "spying is cuddly" brigade.

PLONK.

[CakeGrrl]

60. Way to miss the point!

But enjoy the reverb in the echo chamber.

[Number23]

68. Am I the only one sick of the "I'M PUTTING YOU ON IGNORE" crowd??

Do you think that people do that to get attention or do you think that they truly believe that anyone here gives a shit if they put them on ignore? Didn't somebody make a song/poem about this crowd a long time ago?

And the fact that so many of them have wide open blaring transparency pages on top of that. Such a special little crowd, indeed. Screaming about authoritarians in their little echo chambers of 12 posters.

[CakeGrrl]

69. The maturity level of the site seems to be dropping

as is the tolerance for dissenting opinion. Apparently it's too much for some people to even SEE the posts of people who don't share the same view.

[Number23]

70. It must be trying to keep up with the IQ level.

Edit: Oh my God! I found it!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x6915718

CLASSIC. And even more true in 2013 than when it was written. And this verse sums this thread up to a tee:

I asked your opinion
But it wasn't like mine
I'm putting you on Ignore

[CakeGrrl]

85. Hilarious - and so true.

Apparently "PLONK" is the new soul-crushing ignore indicator.

What grade is everybody in?

[Bobbie Jo]

72. Put me in the

Don't give a shit camp.

Public pouting is for 5 year olds, adults suck it up and move on.

To some of the more dramatic among us, apparently the term "authoritarian" refers to the adults in the room. It kind of reminds me of a teenager slamming doors throughout the house.

PLONK - SLAM, etc...

[Number23]

74. ...

Google images has a boatload of images with which to mock the more delicate amongst us. Apparently, this is a common theme out there in the "I post on anonymous message boards to discuss POLITICS but can't handle differing opinions" world.

But nothing compares to that poem by HiFructose. That is just grade A classic.

[bravenak]

82. My husband was playing Xbox live when I played this and all of his friends were cracking up!

So funny!

[MjolnirTime]

52. What a fucking clown!

I could hear anthemic music playing in the background as I read that steaming pile.

[Vietnameravet]

54. I never realized how many here actually agree with Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin and

Michelle Bachmann and the rest of the right wing..that Obama is not one of us and hates American values and cant be believed or trusted..

Who would have though that? Sure surprises me..

[sibelian]

63. Perhaps the way to look at it

is that the political class have their own values which occasionally mesh with those of the populace they represent. It needn't be the case that Obama is "one" of anything - being a man with his own views. He's an excellent politician and has acheived much. But he can't represent everyone.

I don't think that means that left wing people opposing his positions are politically congruent with Michelle Bachmann and Glenn Beck.

[MrMickeysMom]

83. Really good point...

Because of this absolute blundering move on behalf of the Obama administration, this doesn't color the other things done under same administration with the same hue.

But, we are a nation that must hold true to the founding documents of who we are, so when there is an argument larger than the politics of party, what the hell can you do but argue this vehemently?

[sibelian]

89. Yes, that's it exactly.

It's the wider political context than "Demcorat vs Republican" that's under discussion.

[MrMickeysMom]

94. Is that what you see?

.. then, it's a really, narrow, myopic pair of glasses you're putting on here.

This isn't an "all or none" philosophy over what this president versus the last several ones have allowed. It encompasses the basic freedoms allowed that if left unchecked, or unchallenged, mark whether we have become a corporately run nation/nations/world.

[Vietnameravet]

95. Of course we are a corporate state

I merely point out that the attitude of many here is just like that of Glenn Beck...They obviously have a distrust of Obama and government in general... and their attitude is also like the NRA who sees their freedoms ended because they are being asked to register their guns... I see a dangerous world out there and the need for spying and I know that not all can be revealed and that sometime an innocent person will have his email opened.. Thats just what happens during an investigation and I am willing to accept that.
There is a need for trust here and I happen to trust Obama and I think talk of our having "lost our freedom!" and being just like Russia or some other dictatorship is just way over the top..

[MrMickeysMom]

96. It's not a very big leap for you to question others "attitude"...

... but you see there is a need for Obama's administration to be trusted, even though it steps on civil liberties? That's pretty much the package you're willing to take.

Didn't you learn by now, Vietnam Era Veteran?

[xiamiam]

56. k and r..nt

[arely staircase]

58. this guy clearly isn't too bright

for such a computer wiz, he doesn't even seem to have bothered to Google "extradition treaties with US" or "layovers between Moscow and South America." and now it looks like he didn't even know that fugitives get their passports revoked. With his return to the US looking more and more likely, he now appears to be planning on committing as many extra felonies as he can before his inevitable return to HIS country (yes he still has one.)

[Segami]

67. K&R

[Rex]

76. Then why not flee to Canada or Mexico?

Why not stop off in London and have a cup with MI? Snowden is running on stupid. Not a very good grade.

[davidn3600]

86. Those countries would extradite him

[reusrename]

87. Viva Morales!

[michigandem58]

88. A Paul supporter with an agenda against President Obama

Clear as day now.

[warrprayer]

93. I am Edward Snowden n/t