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enough

(13,770 posts)
2. Worth remembering Ellsberg's statement about why Snowden made his choice
Wed May 28, 2014, 08:47 PM
May 2014

in a completely different world from when Ellsberg did it:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/daniel-ellsberg-nsa-leaker-snowden-made-the-right-call/2013/07/07/0b46d96c-e5b7-11e2-aef3-339619eab080_story.html

Short quotes from the article by Ellsberg>

I hope Snowden’s revelations will spark a movement to rescue our democracy, but he could not be part of that movement had he stayed here. There is zero chance that he would be allowed out on bail if he returned now and close to no chance that, had he not left the country, he would have been granted bail. Instead, he would be in a prison cell like Bradley Manning, incommunicado.

He would almost certainly be confined in total isolation, even longer than the more than eight months Manning suffered during his three years of imprisonment before his trial began recently. The United Nations Special Rapporteur for Torture described Manning’s conditions as “cruel, inhuman and degrading.” (That realistic prospect, by itself, is grounds for most countries granting Snowden asylum, if they could withstand bullying and bribery from the United States.)

snip>

But Snowden’s contribution to the noble cause of restoring the First, Fourth and Fifth amendments to the Constitution is in his documents. It depends in no way on his reputation or estimates of his character or motives — still less, on his presence in a courtroom arguing the current charges, or his living the rest of his life in prison. Nothing worthwhile would be served, in my opinion, by Snowden voluntarily surrendering to U.S. authorities given the current state of the law.

snip>

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0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

You are home, Comrade Eddie...nt SidDithers May 2014 #1
+1 davidpdx May 2014 #13
Worth remembering Ellsberg's statement about why Snowden made his choice enough May 2014 #2
^^^this^^^ eom Purveyor May 2014 #3
This is ProSense May 2014 #4
Welcome home, Eddie. ucrdem May 2014 #5
Walk to the American Embassy dumbass. They'll put you on a plane, special for you. nt msanthrope May 2014 #6
+1 davidpdx May 2014 #12
He should have gone the Whistle Blower way then.. instead of Cha May 2014 #7
But he has always had the power to go home betsuni May 2014 #8
ROFLMAO, Welcome to DU :) Electric Monk May 2014 #9
Thanks! betsuni May 2014 #10
Gasp! Luminous Animal May 2014 #11
Probably wants to be on a tea baggers reelection campaign. B Calm May 2014 #14
Paul / Snowden 2016!!... SidDithers May 2014 #15
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»EXCLUSIVE: Edward Snowden...»Reply #2