General Discussion

karynnj

(60,990 posts)

22. Exactly what did the government do or say that can remotely

Mon Jul 15, 2013, 10:44 AM

Jul 2013

be called character assassination? Everything they have said has dealt with ACTIONS that no one disputes Snowden has taken. He had a job where he had a high security clearance and he VIOLATED that -- and he took sensitive information to both China and Russia. As a computer expert, he has to know that if those laptops are taken away - something he can not prevent - any encryption can be broken.

It is ONLY his actions that have created his image - that is actually true for both those who support him and those who think what he did was dangerous.

The media did try to get out everything they could about his past - but there is nothing to suggest the government had anything to do with that. In fact, ANY questionable past would be harmful to the government itself as it would mean that they never should have given him clearance. FOR THIS REASON, IT IS NOT IN THE GOVERNMENT'S INTEREST TO DO ANY CHARACTER ASSASSINATION IN HIS CASE.

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...um...psssst...the US government is not going to assassinate Edward Snowden... [View all] WilliamPitt Jul 2013 OP

Well one thing--Edward Snowden is not Matt Damon. trumad Jul 2013 #1

But he sure is cute. nt raccoon Jul 2013 #32

uhhh...right. no. the mole looks like a weasel. Pretzel_Warrior Jul 2013 #74

The president has a kill list. DesMoinesDem Jul 2013 #2

At this point, it'd be impolitic to kill Snowden - too much blowback. backscatter712 Jul 2013 #4

They have killers like bin Laden on their kill list; and Snowden's not a killer. n/t pnwmom Jul 2013 #12

The kill list is just an example of the government having no problem with assassinations. DesMoinesDem Jul 2013 #16

Please don't get the "We should have gone easier on Bin Laden" crowd started. AllINeedIsCoffee Jul 2013 #30

Where does he keep this "kill list" liberal N proud Jul 2013 #27

Under his bed? In his stock drawer? You'll need to ask him. DesMoinesDem Jul 2013 #56

I vote for jock strap liberal N proud Jul 2013 #61

Why do I get the feeling you have no knowledge at all of Obama's kill list? DesMoinesDem Jul 2013 #66

Because I live in the real world? liberal N proud Jul 2013 #67

You live in a world of ignorance. DesMoinesDem Jul 2013 #69

Some cannot tolerate when others do not agree with them... liberal N proud Jul 2013 #73

LOL. What? This isn't about disagreeing. This is about you denying the reality of a kill list. DesMoinesDem Jul 2013 #75

From my read of the various papers madokie Jul 2013 #3

8th Day Wonder... KharmaTrain Jul 2013 #5

On the contrary, the government is assassinating Edward Snowden's snappyturtle Jul 2013 #6

Very true! Just watch the posts here on DU! n/t backscatter712 Jul 2013 #9

Eddie committed character suicide, Progressive dog Jul 2013 #11

Too bad it isn't about "character," isn't it? Pholus Jul 2013 #13

Great article. Hope everyone reads it. nt snappyturtle Jul 2013 #60

If you mean he put himself on the line for supporting and defending snappyturtle Jul 2013 #14

No I mean that he chose to committ character suicide Progressive dog Jul 2013 #15

How do we know he has exaggerated his claims? Who among us here at DU snappyturtle Jul 2013 #20

Well the looking at all the President's phone calls Progressive dog Jul 2013 #21

Yep....that's right we haven't seen them which is my point. nt snappyturtle Jul 2013 #57

Not much of a point nt Progressive dog Jul 2013 #64

We know because what he "revealed" has been printed in mainstream news years ago. KittyWampus Jul 2013 #26

We know he exaggerated his claims because what he revealed has snappyturtle Jul 2013 #58

Bingo! liberal N proud Jul 2013 #28

Exactly what did the government do or say that can remotely karynnj Jul 2013 #22

The government isn't telling us anything more than what Snowden has readily snappyturtle Jul 2013 #24

Feinstein is not speaking for the Obama administration karynnj Jul 2013 #33

A few points: snappyturtle Jul 2013 #40

Few points for you karynnj Jul 2013 #77

The Snowden supporters are digging in deeper with fabrications. liberal N proud Jul 2013 #29

it would be extraordinary Enrique Jul 2013 #7

"Extraordinary" is one way of putting it Art_from_Ark Jul 2013 #8

Obama has assassinated a few Americans so far. morningfog Jul 2013 #35

You sure? Greenwald would never ever embellish purely for personal benefit. great white snark Jul 2013 #10

Probably not, they will stick with killing kids with drones. But if they do, sure some folks will The Straight Story Jul 2013 #17

Yes. Scurrilous Jul 2013 #43

where do you get off posting crap like this? hardcover Jul 2013 #76

Oooops. Scurrilous Jul 2013 #81

Some here may be very disappointed to learn this. nt Zorra Jul 2013 #18

It's not assassination when a sub-contractor does it. Octafish Jul 2013 #19

Snowden assasination plots aside the outsourcing of war think Jul 2013 #54

"...and anyone who thinks they will has read too many Jason Bourne novels." Blackford Jul 2013 #23

Most likely the latter liberal N proud Jul 2013 #31

YOU"RE AN AUTHORITARIAN APOLOGIST NAZI! KittyWampus Jul 2013 #25

I don't think so, at least at this point. morningfog Jul 2013 #34

"I could also see the US causing his death in their pursuit of him." WilliamPitt Jul 2013 #38

As long as he stays in the Moscow airport morningfog Jul 2013 #39

+1 nt snappyturtle Jul 2013 #41

"In case I disappear" Enrique Jul 2013 #36

That was about getting jailed. WilliamPitt Jul 2013 #37

Didn't sound like just jail. TeeYiYi Jul 2013 #42

That was 2006 and a different administration. ucrdem Jul 2013 #44

Trust me. WilliamPitt Jul 2013 #48

Yes, you wrote it, and "stay off small planes" still means the same. Snowden should be more worried chimpymustgo Jul 2013 #70

Good catch! - nt HardTimes99 Jul 2013 #52

If the US government ever gets its hands on him, ronnie624 Jul 2013 #45

I agree with you. avaistheone1 Jul 2013 #46

Yeah, they haven't assassinated Bradley Manning... polichick Jul 2013 #47

Exactly whatchamacallit Jul 2013 #68

Will you trust the official version of his demise? Orsino Jul 2013 #49

I respect your writing too much in general to attack you for this. So I will instead HardTimes99 Jul 2013 #50

If I may, it's much more likely that the "rogue elements" are sponsoring Mr Snowball ucrdem Jul 2013 #51

I had not paused to consider that possibility. So, your hypothesis would HardTimes99 Jul 2013 #53

Yes, but it's not just my hypothesis. ucrdem Jul 2013 #55

That's an interesting alternate hypothesis and one to which I shall have to HardTimes99 Jul 2013 #63

Those are really good questions! ucrdem Jul 2013 #71

What incentive does a rogue element have to kill him? Hippo_Tron Jul 2013 #82

Any portion of the security apparatus that feels its budget and\or existence HardTimes99 Jul 2013 #83

I don't think they read the books olddots Jul 2013 #59

Well, I tend to agree, but he should avoid palm trees and Mercedes just to be safe. Safetykitten Jul 2013 #62

David Kelly. Nicola Caligari. The Palestine Hotel. WinkyDink Jul 2013 #65

I'm not sure how you got that information Will Hydra Jul 2013 #72

Ellsberg: "I hope that he finds a haven, as safe as possible from kidnapping or assassination deurbano Jul 2013 #78

Ellsberg is reading too many Bourne books Enrique Jul 2013 #79

The U.S. won't. Thanks to Greenwald our enemies might kill him to harm us. DevonRex Jul 2013 #80