General Discussion

babylonsister

(172,764 posts) Thu Apr 17, 2014, 09:24 AM Apr 2014

Can anyone tell me what Snowden is trying to accomplish? [View all]

I really would like to know what the point of this might be.

April 17, 2014, 08:48 am
Snowden calls Putin to talk NSA

By Julian Hattem

Edward Snowden called into a Russian state television program on Thursday and asked President Vladimir Putin about whether Moscow has surveillance programs similar to those exposed by the former government contractor.

The exchange between Putin and Snowden appeared to be a piece of theater crafted by the Kremlin and designed to embarrass the Obama administration amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Russia over Ukraine.

“I’ve seen little public discussion of Russia’s own involvement in the policies of mass surveillance,” Snowden, a former government contractor facing espionage charges in the U.S., told Putin via video message.

“So I’d like to ask you: Does Russia intercept, store or analyze in any way the communications of millions of individuals? And do you believe that simply increasing the effectiveness of intelligence or law enforcement investigations can justify placing societies, rather than subjects, under surveillance?”

In response, Putin said that bulk collection programs “cannot exist’ under Russian law.

more...

http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/203748-in-response-to-snowden-putin-denies-nsa-like-spying

70 replies

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Highlight:

Can anyone tell me what Snowden is trying to accomplish? [View all] babylonsister Apr 2014 OP

Justice... leeroysphitz Apr 2014 #1

Embarrassing our country...you call it justice? babylonsister Apr 2014 #2

In order for our country to be embarrassed, we had to have done something wrong. So, ChisolmTrailDem Apr 2014 #8

By this action he's shown that he is Russia's puppet. And that's despicable. n/t pnwmom Apr 2014 #33

Sometimes the country needs to be embarrassed sister. Jesus Malverde Apr 2014 #11

^^ Agree. TBF Apr 2014 #19

Its a side show and a distraction to keep us looking forward. Jesus Malverde Apr 2014 #20

I hear ya. TBF Apr 2014 #23

this country has plenty to be embarrassed about. RandoLoodie Apr 2014 #51

Our country deserves to be embarrassed. Vashta Nerada Apr 2014 #63

Snap! L0oniX Apr 2014 #3

How could that embarrass anyone but Eddie and Vlad? treestar Apr 2014 #4

Asking the question was not theatre any more than call-in shows are theatre here. JimDandy Apr 2014 #70

He's probably trying to keep the Russians happy given his precarious position el_bryanto Apr 2014 #5

+1. bemildred Apr 2014 #17

Or maybe he's been a Russian spy all along. n/t pnwmom Apr 2014 #34

I think he ended up being a cog in someone else's wheel from the very beginning. KittyWampus Apr 2014 #6

I agree with you. leftyladyfrommo Apr 2014 #24

Yep, he's now a cog, and probably a cog with limited options, so it would appear either RKP5637 Apr 2014 #58

put down the spy novels....nt grasswire Apr 2014 #28

We don't need them when they're going on in real life right in front of us. n/t pnwmom Apr 2014 #36

Your knee-jerk reflex is one of the goals. GeorgeGist Apr 2014 #7

stop projecting. KittyWampus Apr 2014 #10

He flipped, and given Russia's stranglehold, it JaneyVee Apr 2014 #9

you mean....Obama forced him to stay in Russia... grasswire Apr 2014 #31

He is at Putin's mercy - Snowden has to perform when ordered to. nt hack89 Apr 2014 #12

Someone should have asked what law is that? randome Apr 2014 #13

(Yakov Smirnof accent): In Russia whistle blows YOU. KurtNYC Apr 2014 #14

earning his pay nt arely staircase Apr 2014 #15

Who is paying him? Polito Vega Apr 2014 #16

use your inferencing skills nt arely staircase Apr 2014 #18

"piece of theater crafted by the Kremlin" Orangepeel Apr 2014 #21

Putin is the Shitz: Whisp Apr 2014 #22

Im curious to know what Snowden thought of being called a spy. bunnies Apr 2014 #25

I wondered about that, too. n/t leftyladyfrommo Apr 2014 #67

I think he wants to destroy this nation. MohRokTah Apr 2014 #26

"people like him"? grasswire Apr 2014 #30

Spies. eom MohRokTah Apr 2014 #32

I know this probably never crossed your mind nadinbrzezinski Apr 2014 #27

I don't think he had much of a choice LittleBlue Apr 2014 #29

+1, n/t RKP5637 Apr 2014 #59

Putin said essentially the same thing that Obama and the NSA said. Tierra_y_Libertad Apr 2014 #35

It may be his way of pointing out that all nations say (and therefore do) the same things. GliderGuider Apr 2014 #37

Exactly! Any nation that does not, does not have long term survival in mind. It's been RKP5637 Apr 2014 #60

To me it is pretty obvious. Putin is now on the record, once anything else documented comes out Jefferson23 Apr 2014 #38

When someone with the intellect of Snowden is put up against Putin and his people... NCTraveler Apr 2014 #39

I really am laughing out loud. grasswire Apr 2014 #40

Yes, and if he had done this in the Bush administration, he would be universally lauded here. alarimer Apr 2014 #41

Way too much of it is about the man. NCTraveler Apr 2014 #43

KnR to read thread later. >shaking my head< Hekate Apr 2014 #42

In his own words: muriel_volestrangler Apr 2014 #44

Snowden, yawn. . B Calm Apr 2014 #45

Three words: EARNING HIS KEEP stevenleser Apr 2014 #46

Snowden got stranded in.. sendero Apr 2014 #47

So you think this is acceptable. I don't. nt babylonsister Apr 2014 #48

I think.. sendero Apr 2014 #49

Putin could fly him anywhere his itty bitty heart desired. randome Apr 2014 #50

He's a smart one all right...smarted himself right into a corner BeyondGeography Apr 2014 #53

As soon as you have the guts. sendero Apr 2014 #54

Haha, yeah...guts BeyondGeography Apr 2014 #57

spot-on n/t ProdigalJunkMail Apr 2014 #68

You don't have to be so insulting to get your opinion across, ya know. babylonsister Apr 2014 #65

He's smart like this guy. randome Apr 2014 #55

I think that is unfair to Wile E. stevenleser Apr 2014 #69

Have to disagree. He got "stranded" because of his stupidity. What an intelligent person would lostincalifornia Apr 2014 #56

He is trying to accomplish something he could never do before. randome Apr 2014 #52

Sounds like he is pissing people off that already hated his guts for exposing the NSA. Rex Apr 2014 #61

Not even god knows... Blue_Tires Apr 2014 #62

He's the 'Carl Sagan' of intelligence matters. randome Apr 2014 #64

Hey sister, If exposing the largest most comprehensive surveillance state Jesus Malverde Apr 2014 #66