Edward Snowden ‘fears for his life,’ according to Russian state-run media

[Cali_Democrat]

By Agence France-Presse
Tuesday, January 21, 2014 12:14 EST

The Russian lawyer of Edward Snowden said Tuesday that the fugitive US intelligence leaker has feared for his life since reading of explicit threats against him by unnamed Pentagon officials.

“There are real threats to his life out there that actually do exist,” Snowden’s lawyer Anatoly Kucherena told Russia’s state-run Vesti 24 rolling news channel.

“These statements call for physical reprisal against Edward Snowden,” Kucherena said.

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/01/21/edward-snowden-fears-for-his-life-according-to-russian-state-run-media/

[onehandle]

1. Putin will kill him the minute he becomes an inconvenience. nt

[Pholus]

2. “In a world where I would not be restricted from killing an American,

I personally would go and kill him myself,” a current NSA analyst was further quoted as saying.

So much for the vaunted professionalism of their service. All base thugs sound alike when frustrated, it seems.

That might be unfair of course. After all, the term "analyst" generally implies a skill set for a person they don't trust with pointy objects.

[Tarheel_Dem]

3. Now, is this fear legit, or courtesy of his KGB lawyer to divert from some things?

[RobertEarl]

35. Of course it is legit

He was a spy who cracked their game in two and exposed them for fools.

The real problem is: Where will the next spy come from who steals NSA info? That is what Americans should be worried about. All our info is just sitting there waiting to be stolen by a real crook... like maybe another bush or cheney.

Do you support that collection of info just sitting there waiting to be plucked like Snowden did?

Did you know the info on the Jewish people in Nazi Germany was how they so easily rounded them up?

[Tarheel_Dem]

100. !!!

[MannyGoldstein]

4. Baseless nonsense from a traitorous whiner

He's never seen his name on the President's secret kill list, so what right does he have to complain?

Take it to the President's Secret Court, Snowden - they'll tell you that you have NO standing because you can't show that you're on the secret kill list!

Regards,

TWM

[ProSense]

5. "He's never seen his name on the President's secret kill list"

You think President Obama is trying to "kill" Snowden?

[MannyGoldstein]

6. Forcing down the plane of a sovereign head of state

ain't exactly chopped liver. That's not done unless someone's pretty @#$%ing serious.

But, who knows? It's a *secret* kill list.

[ProSense]

7. You think President Obama is trying to "kill" Snowden? n/t

[msanthrope]

10. oh yeah....

http://m.

&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DK8E_zMLCRNg

[MannyGoldstein]

11. Which part of "I don't know?" do you have difficulty understanding

I can try explaining it differently, if it might help?

[ProSense]

13. So you think there is a possibility that President Obama is trying to "kill" Snowden?

You "don't know"?

[MannyGoldstein]

15. Sure.

Probably not - Snowden's in Russia and the President wouldn't want to start a row with them, plus Obama's not known to extrajudicially-execute people who "look like Americans"... but since Snowden is doling out our most important national secrets (or whatever the kids are calling it these days), there's certainly a possibility.

When was the last time a President forces down the planes of sovereign head of state? Unheard of! He's gotta be hella-angry.

[treestar]

18. There is no evidence the President had anything to do with that

Funny how he you are willing to assume him guilty of that.

[Whisp]

26. nah, he's backing off. I can smell the flop sweat.

just took a bit too big of a chew this time.

[MannyGoldstein]

52. OK... why did Evo Morales' plane land in Austria last July?

Thanks in advance.

[treestar]

72. I recall it was debated here at length

It wasn't even the US. ODS is a strange thing; it appears to get worse over time.

[MannyGoldstein]

80. I'll take that as your acknowledgement of being checkmated in three more moves.

At least be a gracious loser.

[treestar]

87. Uh no

look below for some refresher. Obama did not do anything to Evo's plane. Nor did the US.

[ProSense]

19. "Sure. Probably not -"? n/t

[MannyGoldstein]

22. What was the question you asked? nt

[ProSense]

23. You can see it. What was the question you tried to answer?

Let me ask it again: Do you think there is a possiblity that the President is trying to "kill" Snowden?

Yes or no?

[Vattel]

40. Is it really that hard to understand?

Sure = Yes, it is possible that Obama is trying to kill him. Probably not = It is unlikely that Obama is trying to kill him. These are not contradictory claims.

[ProSense]

46. It makes no friggin sense. It's a trying-to-have-it both ways response

after implying something beyond absurd.

Still, I'm glad you "understand" it.

[Vattel]

47. wow

[ProSense]

48. LOL! n/t

[MannyGoldstein]

53. You and I seem to have a strange understanding of the English language

Must be the "reefer" I "toked" in high school.

[ProSense]

56. "Sure. Probably not -"? n/t

[sheshe2]

31. " He's gotta be hella-angry."??? The President?

"When was the last time a President forces down the planes of sovereign head of state? Unheard of! He's gotta be hella-angry."

WOW Manny, just wow.

[jazzimov]

38. Agreed, sheshe2! there is no evidence

that the plane was "forced down" by anyone.

In fact, the evidence is that they were taking advantage of "head-flamers" to justify the change in flight plans.

[sheshe2]

45. Amazing, jazzimov.

Love the spin and the CT.

Wow, I am trying to picture the President in his flightgear, bringing down the plane single handed.

[msanthrope]

20. I wish you had the courage of your convictions to clearly state what you think the President

has done.

[Number23]

85. I think he's a bit busy being shocked and appalled at what a horrible sadistic place the world is

can be, and always has been to lots and lots and lots of people. Must be nice to have lived in such a cushy bubble one's whole life.

[msanthrope]

98. The Ivy education, it must be. He's resorted to replying to me and then deleting in another thread.

You know..the one where the census is a Nazi or something.

[Number23]

101. "The Ivy education" I think you nailed it. Which is why his constant harping and the slew of

clapping seals rushing to K&R every mundane utterance are nothing but constant sources of amusement.

I've been to some damn good schools myself but I'm not the slightest bit protected or naive. Between my upbringing as a black kid in a single parent home in an urban environment to having traveled the world and seeing GUT WRENCHING poverty and/or disenfranchisement, I couldn't pretend naivete if I wanted to. I don't think I've seen anyone that clueless since I hit puberty.

Like I said, must be nice to have lived in such a cushy bubble all of these years. I honestly wouldn't know anything about that.

[msanthrope]

102. A cushy bubble of privilege that gives rise to a rage when people do not act as expected....nt

[sabrina 1]

57. Do you think that the statements of the 'secret' officials who say they would be willing to kill

Snowden are just being hyperbolic? Or is it possible that there are rogue elements, right wingers of course left over from the old Bush/Cheney years, who might be willing to kill anyone who threatens Bush's Private Security Corps money flow?

Frankly I have no problem believing that Bush/Cheney operatives STILL running our 'security' would stop at nothing to keep the money flowing. Call me a cynic, but the killed over one million human beings already so maybe I'm not so much cynical as logical.

It's all about 'patriotism' of course. Like it was way back when Bush/Cheney were caught spying on the American people who we all know, are the REAL enemy.

[ProSense]

59. How the hell would I know? What does that have to do with my question? n/t

[sabrina 1]

64. Why are you angry at ME, I'm just trying to figure out what the hell is going on in this country?

Shouldn't these people who are threatening to kill a Whistle Blower at least be ferreted out and charged with something? He has not been convicted of anything and if you or I were to threaten murder we would certainly be subject to charges.

Is anyone interested in tracking them down and charging them with something? Seems like free for all to me, once again confirming that we have abandoned the rule of law. But what do I know, I'm just an observer of all these events.

[ProSense]

66. And you think asking me if some "secret officials" are "being hyperbolic" is going to help?

That has nothing to do with my question.

[sabrina 1]

69. What was your question again? I know that there has been a threat to Snowden's life. I'm wondering

why nothing has been done to try to find the Perpetrators. I worry about these things.

[ProSense]

71. Go back and check. It had nothing to do with "secret officials," and

it was directed to a specific poster.

[sabrina 1]

73. Okay!

[msanthrope]

8. Wait...is President Obama trying to kill Emo Morales, too??? nt

[Whisp]

14. that plane was 'downed' by Obama

don't you remember?

yeh, it sounded as sinister as it was intended. Downed. Meaning, brought down and not on a landing strip.

lol, the comedy and tragedy of DU

[msanthrope]

16. ODS....in spades. nt

[SidDithers]

103. Yup. He's still sad that Obama won in 2008...

This is always a good thread to read through, to remind yourself of where Manny's coming from:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x761367

Sid

[msanthrope]

104. Makes my Soul Itch.....nt

[struggle4progress]

54. Actually, there's no evidence whatsoever that anyone "forced down" Morales' plane

There was a statement from the Portuguese that they had notified the Bolivians, at leadst twenty-four hours before the plane left Moscow, that refueling at the Lisbon airport would be impossible due to problems at the airport, and the Bolivian pilot therefore refiled his flight plan to show no stop at Lisbon but instead a refueling in Gran Canaria. But once enroute, the plane contacted the Portuguese again and sought permission for an emergency refueling stop at Lisbon. The plane had just started to traverse the Alps and was instructed to return to the nearest airport, perhaps because at one point the pilot said they seemed to be low on fuel and suggested possible equipment failure. A request for an emergency landing in Austria was granted, where the plane refueled

[VanillaRhapsody]

32. "forcing"?

and so you "guess" is that right?

[struggle4progress]

37. Actually, there's no evidence whatsoever that anyone "forced down" Morales' plane

There was a statement from the Portuguese that they had notified the Bolivians, at leadst twenty-four hours before the plane left Moscow, that refueling at the Lisbon airport would be impossible due to problems at the airport, and the Bolivian pilot therefore refiled his flight plan to show no stop at Lisbon but instead a refueling in Gran Canaria. But once enroute, the plane contacted the Portuguese again and sought permission for an emergency refueling stop at Lisbon. The plane had just started to traverse the Alps and was instructed to return to the nearest airport, perhaps because at one point the pilot said they seemed to be low on fuel and suggested possible equipment failure. A request for an emergency landing in Austria was granted, where the plane refueled

[Number23]

83. When has anything like evidence EVER made a difference with some of this crowd?

Of all of the "Obama BAAADD!" stories that cover this web site like ticks on a hound, this has got to be one of the laziest, stupidest and most easily disproven. And the fact that someone keeps flinging it around speaks volumes about where their interests truly lie.

[mindwalker_i]

9. I hope he doesn't read DU

There have been some opinions, shall we say, about what sort of fate he should meet.

[Bobbie Jo]

28. Right?

Leakers should be “shot in the balls”
Snowden may have leaned libertarian on some issues, but he also exhibited strong support for America's security state apparatus. He didn't just work for it as a quiet dissident. Four years before he would leak the country's secrets, Snowden was cheering its actions and insisting that it needed healthy funding. To anyone who questioned US actions in his favored online hangout, he could be derisive.

Livid about the across-the-board defense cuts that were planned under Obama, Snowden acidly joked that "aybe we could just outsource our defense needs to india."

Worse yet, during a remarkable January 2009 chat, Snowden wrote that Obama had "appointed a fucking politician to run the CIA." In that same conversation, he vented his rage over reading a New York Times article about US actions in Iran, which was based on confidential leaks.

< TheTrueHOOHA> HOLY SHIT

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/washington/11iran.html?_r=1&hp

< TheTrueHOOHA> WTF NYTIMES
< TheTrueHOOHA> Are they TRYING to start a war?
Jesus christ
they're like wikileaks
< User19> they're just reporting, dude.
< TheTrueHOOHA> They're reporting classified shit
< User19> shrugs
< TheTrueHOOHA> about an unpopular country surrounded by enemies already engaged in a war
and about our interactions with said country regarding planning sovereignity violations of another country
you don't put that shit in the NEWSPAPER
< User19> meh
< TheTrueHOOHA> moreover, who the fuck are the anonymous sources telling them this?
< TheTrueHOOHA> those people should be shot in the balls.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023102239

[mindwalker_i]

51. From that post, it looks like Snowden's view evolved

I would say that he was initially wrong. Maybe he got into the NSA and changed his mind once he knew what was going on, or perhaps he said that as cover. Regardless, I disagree with him on that statement.

When someone leaks information on what the government is doing that's illegal, I'm thankful. This includes leaks about torture and domestic spying. Possibly it includes leaks about non-domestic spying, if that violates treaties.

What pisses me off are people who condemn Snowden for telling us about ow we're are being fucked over. It seems like they don't even want to know that we are becoming (or have become) a police and/or surveilance state, what I think is a really bad thing.

[struggle4progress]

60. Or maybe his views haven't evolved in any substantive way: he still seems an ideologue

who advocates vigilante action

Back then he thought it would be OK to shoot people who didn't share his views, and now he thinks it's OK to hand intelligence information to the Chinese and Russians in order to undermine a President he doesn't like

[randome]

70. Right. He changed his mind because of all the things he said he saw.

But he won't ever tell us what he saw. Just amorphous claims of nefarious doings followed by the 'revelation' of metadata collection that we've known about since 2007 and followed by the 'revelation' that the NSA spies on other countries.

He didn't change his mind about anything and that's the problem. He is a loner who never finished anything in his life, including high school, and who dreamed of being a hero.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]"There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in."
Leonard Cohen, Anthem (1992)[/center][/font][hr]

[treestar]

76. and as usual they exaggerate about "police states" and "spying" on everyone

provably untrue stuff of Eddie's delusions and then we get people believing in Eddie's delusions.

[Bobbie Jo]

77. The problem I have with

the whole thing is that by the time everyone has attached their own narrative to the story, we have crackpots talking about Obama forcing down planes, constructing "secret kill lists," or pulling up your 7th grade diary to use against you when applying for a mortgage.

No, there are numerous agendas attached to this particular "truth telling," and to turn a blind eye to the motivations involved is incredibly naive. As always, the actual truth is buried beneath layer upon layer of bullshit.

[Number23]

84. "we have crackpots talking about Obama forcing down planes"

The HELL you say!! Where??!

[pinboy3niner]

12. "The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers."

--Wm. Shakespeare

[msanthrope]

21. Hey!!! nt

[1StrongBlackMan]

55. What about lawyers that no longer practice? ...

Do I get a pass?

[pinboy3niner]

58. I asked the Pope, and he said we can give you a Special Dispensation

[1StrongBlackMan]

62. "Praise The Lord"!!! n/t

[treestar]

74. Haven't you heard - in context it's a compliment!

No lawyers, no law.

[pinboy3niner]

78. It's a funny line

But personaly, I have a lot of respect for lawyers.

And when I was volunteering for Kerry in Ohio, it was a bunch of young civil rights lawyers who gave me a ticket and took me to see Springstein, Forgerty, R.E.M. and Bright Eyes in a Vote for Change concert.

LAWYERS ROCK!

[U4ikLefty]

88. Those folks in the National Lawyers Guild are pretty cool as well.

They have taught me a lot & trained me to be a legal observer during Occupy.

Good people.

Hey niner!!! How are ya?

[pinboy3niner]

91. Right on!

Man, I missed you. Was hoping to have a chance to be together in the streets again. But I know that will happen.

Wishing the best for you and your family...

Love & Peace,
pinboy3niner

[treestar]

17. Julian II

Nobody is out to kill him. What a loser.

[pinboy3niner]

24. Interesting how anything Snowden does now, or anyone connected with him does, is attacked

As if that discredits his exposure of illegal acts.

[VanillaRhapsody]

34. He is a "discredit" to his country...

[pinboy3niner]

36. You realize, of course, that there are differing opinions about that--even here

There are no defnitive, declarative statements. Only opinions.

[VanillaRhapsody]

42. Yes I do...however...some people have a very low threshold for hero worship too.

[pinboy3niner]

49. Funny that you'd mention an attack that also was leveled at Daniel Ellsberg

[VanillaRhapsody]

50. what "attack"?

you have a very low threshold for "attack" apparently.


And Ellsberg didn't run away and hide behind Putin did he?

[pinboy3niner]

92. Call it what you want, Ellsberg was smeared to discredit the info he released

That's a fact, Jack.

[VanillaRhapsody]

93. smeared is different than having the truth told about you isn't it?

and THAT's a fact JACK!

[pinboy3niner]

94. So a claim that "he fears for his life" is a fact?

And one that somehow is relevant to hs document release? And proves that "He is a 'discredit' to his country"? THOSE are the kinds of "facts" that matter? Seriously?

[VanillaRhapsody]

95. How would anyone know...he is so prone to hyperbole!

[pinboy3niner]

96. Still, how does this prove "He is a 'discredit' to his country"?

You dismiss taking any meaning from this as ridiculous because it's "hyperbole". Yet you pronounce a conclusion.

[VanillaRhapsody]

97. because he ran away!

to not one but 2 far more invasive than the U.S. ....it makes him look like a kook!

[jazzimov]

41. It doesn't bother you, even a LITTLE

it doesn't bother you even in the LEAST that he claimed to "represent Free Speech" and defected to the 2 countries LEAST known for free speech?

Of all the countries in the world he could have gone to and made his point, he went to CHINA who eventually kicked him out and so he had to go to Russia... who didn't exactly welcome him with open arms?

I mean.. WTF?

[Luminous Animal]

61. He's never defected and he left China on his own volition

Russia was a stop over to central or South America. He was in transit but unable to leave because the state department yanked his passport.

But of course you knew all this.

[wildbilln864]

65. was he headed for China...

or was he just forced to land & stay there for some reason?
I've heard differing accounts.

[treestar]

75. What was illegal? They had a FISA warrant?

And he skipped the Whistleblower Protections. And could have put CIA agents in danger, or all of us. He's the one so delusional he's claiming they are spying on us all, when he didn't find any such thing.

[U4ikLefty]

90. Attack the messenger.

Much easier than admitting the reality.

[Thinkingabout]

25. Oh, poor Snowden, he is all alone, doesn't matter if he may have placed others in danger.

Did he consider he might have been putting his life in danger? Why would the US gov't want to enhance Snowden to hero? He might be in danger of losing his life from within his group, he has only been a patsy and in effort to protect their identity they would kill him.

[Whisp]

29. That's right, his own group would more likely prefer that

all for The Noble Cause.

oooh, I can hear the wailing and the banners unfurled and baby boys being named Snowden for months to come.

[jazzimov]

44. And China doesn't want him....

and Russia only took him grudgingly.....

But he's a "hero" of the Left? Well, I'm a Leftist and I don't trust him, either.

[Luminous Animal]

63. He never wanted to stay in Hong Kong from the get go.

And he did not request asylum there.

[HipChick]

27. He trusts Putin?

[davidpdx]

67. Why not?

Putin never kills anyone, never spies on his people, or holds political prisoners.

We all are suppose to blindly trust Putin.

[Historic NY]

30. You mean the Russian Bear isn't protecting him...sheesh.

[HipChick]

33. Maybe he should of thought about that when he was leaking..

[BluegrassDem]

39. ooh poor, little baby! Bless his little heart!!

He should've taken that in consideration before he became a traitor. He's toast and he knows it. It's just a matter of time before justice comes to him.

[Vattel]

43. I would be scared too. The pentagon kills a lot of people. They are good at it.

The fugitive’s lawyer said Snowden was especially concerned by comments from a US Army intelligence officer that outlined a specific scenario under which the leaker could be discreetly poisoned.

The unnamed army officer told BuzzFeed that Snowden could be “poked” on his way home from buying groceries by a passerby who is actually a US agent.

Snowden “thinks nothing of it at the time (and soon) starts to feel a little woozy,” the US intelligence officer is quoted as saying.

“And the next thing you know he dies in the shower.”

[Pretzel_Warrior]

68. yes, the dude is an extreme paranoid

there can be no doubt. lunatic.

[Number23]

86. Did you read the comments from NSA and Pentagon officials in the Buzzfeed article?

That dude has EVERY SINGLE RIGHT to be scared as hell. If that's what people will say to a news outlet knowing full well that its' going to be published, then God only knows what they are saying behind closed doors.

[nilesobek]

79. .0001%

chance of Obama mounting a snatch and grab operation inside Russia.

[Union Scribe]

81. Oh is this where it was going from.

I thought I heard a swarm in GD.

[Number23]

82. I read that piece on Buzzfeed.

If I was Snowden I'd be fearing for my life too.

To have a large groups of ANYONE wanting you dead would be problematic, but having groups of people that specialize in weapons, covert operations and tactical maneuvering wanting you dead would be beyond horrible. He sure as hell pissed off the wrong group of people.

[msanthrope]

99. Coupled with his adult-onset "seizure disorder," I'd say Snowden is genuinely

afraid. He should be...


http://en.ria.ru/sochi2014/20140110/186391282/FBI-Sends-Dozens-of-Agents-to-Help-Guard-Sochi-Olympics.html

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

89. How silly. Our peaceloving, honest, honorable, government has never killed anyone.

Except for the millions we have killed.