WikiLeaks Just Blew A Big Hole In The Snowden Narrative

[ProSense]

WikiLeaks Just Blew A Big Hole In The Snowden Narrative

Michael Kelley

<...>

Up to this point, Snowden and his closest supporters have contended that the 30-year-old American left Hong Kong for Moscow with the intention of flying to Latin America.

"I was traveling with him on our way to Latin America when the United States revoked his passport, stranding him in Russia," said Sarah Harrison, the WikiLeaks adviser who met Snowden in Hong Kong and accompanied him to Moscow on June 23.

And now WikiLeaks, in response to Germany's refusal to host Snowden for a surveillance hearing, seems to have acknowledged that the story was never true.

WikiLeaks ✔ @wikileaks
Follow
Germany blocks #Snowden - why we advised #Snowden to take Russia. Not safe elsewhere: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/01/germany-edward-snowden-nsa-inquiry … donate: http://freesnowden.is/
9:39 AM - 1 May 2014

Germany blocks Edward Snowden from testifying in person in NSA inquiry

Officials say a personal invitation for US whistleblower to attend hearing would put 'grave strain' on US-German relations
The Guardian@guardian
151 Retweets 71 favorites

The first indication that the Latin America story was disingenuous came in December when Assange told Janet Reitman of Rolling Stone magazine that he had advised Snowden against going to Latin America because "he would be physically safest in Russia."

- more -

http://www.businessinsider.com/wikileaks-told-snowden-to-stay-in-russia-2014-5

[Estrella Fugaz]

1. Your title implies that someone at Wikileaks is somehow mad at Snowden

So i went and saw what Wikileaks is currently saying about Snowden, and...
Wikileaks is encouraging donations to a pro-Snowden cause: https://twitter.com/wikileaks/status/461862504243953664

[ProSense]

2. The OP isn't a Wikileaks press release.

Welcome to DU.

[pnwmom]

4. I don't think the title implies intent -- just effect. n/t

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

5. That's one of the DU quirks that trips me up still too.

You can't easily tell when someone is making up the title of their post, and when they're merely using the title of one of the linked sources in what they write unless you click on the link that leads to the exact same title somewhere else.

The 'blockquote' function is fairly subtle too, only merely indenting the text, not offsetting it in a way that makes it simple to tell at a glance that something is actually a reprint from elsewhere, such as putting it in italics or in a different font colour or background. I like the way this poster used the coloured background version to make it more obvious.

[Ichingcarpenter]

14. Dramatic self serving misinformation OP

Well I don't know about

self serving...... the self is another question.

Change the dialogue , opinions and conversations on DU

Misdirection of a magician, I await the 'prestige'

[ProSense]

18. Leave Snowden alone. n/t

[Ichingcarpenter]

20. Leave Clapper, Alexander and the NSA alone. n/t

Nicely played for kicking your thread.

[ProSense]

21. LOL!

"Leave Clapper, Alexander and the NSA alone."

I don't give a shit about them, but clearly criticism of Snowden is upsetting to you.

[Scuba]

75. Wow, you don't care about Clapper lying to Congress? But you'll smear Snowden anytime. Weird.

[GoneFishin]

79. Clapper has a magic name placard on his desk that gives him lying super-powers.

Clapper is off limits.

[Historic NY]

78. Must be getting expensive

with Assange hold up in England and Eddie's banishment to Russia. At this point there isn't any sign of them going any where.

[BenzoDia]

80. No it doesn't. Just read the words w/o the team a vs team b drama projections.

In fact, there's a Snowden donation link right there in the OP.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

3. That's an interesting assertion by BI.

But it looks more like one possibility than fact.

Nothing they actually wrote in the article (or in that first link) shows it to be fact, rather than speculation.

I get advice all the time, but I don't always follow it. I would imagine Mr Snowden, like every other human, does the same.

Sounds more like a 'complication' or 'nuance' than a 'big hole', but then, writing about nuance doesn't pull in the eyes that making claims of 'big holes' does.

[ProSense]

6. It's not

"That's an interesting assertion by BI...I get advice all the time, but I don't always follow it. I would imagine Mr Snowden, like every other human, does the same."

...simply an "assertion." Snowden may not have wanted to go to Russia as claimed, but the fact is that, as stated in the OP, Wikileaks' Sarah Harrison escorted him there. The group also paid for his accommodations and flight.

Fugitive National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden is now traveling and lodging at the expense of WikiLeaks, according to the group’s founder, Julian Assange—a move that lawyers say could expose the whistleblowing organization to new legal charges.

WikiLeaks paid for Snowden’s travel from Hong Kong to Moscow, his lodging, and also his legal counsel, Assange said on a call with reporters Monday in response to a question from The Daily Beast.

“It is correct we paid for those arrangements,” said Assange, who declined to specify Snowden’s current whereabouts. “No government or other organization assisted."

- more -

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/06/24/wikileaks-foots-the-bill-for-snowden-s-global-escapades.html

From the Rolling Stone piece mentioned in the OP:

Greenwald has a complicated relationship with WikiLeaks and Assange, whom he considers an ally, though given Assange's controversial reputation in the United States, he admits that "Julian stepping forward and being the face of the story wasn't great for Snowden." But he credits Assange with having helped save Snowden from almost certain extradition to the U.S. Snowden, however, never wanted to go to Russia, which Assange acknowledges. "Snowden believed that in order to most effectively push for reform in the U.S., Latin America would be the better option," Assange tells me. "He did not want to invite a political attack that he'd 'defected.'"

Assange, however, disagrees. "While Venezuela and Ecuador could protect him in the short term, over the long term there could be a change in government. In Russia, he's safe, he's well-regarded, and that is not likely to change. That was my advice to Snowden, that he would be physically safest in Russia." Assange also claims that Snowden has proved "you can blow the whistle about national security and not only survive, but thrive."

But how much Snowden is thriving in Russia is unknown. According to his Russian lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena, he has been learning the language and reading Russian literature. (He recently finished Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment.) Snowden also reportedly took a job not long ago at a Russian Internet company. Greenwald, who says he talks with Snowden regularly via encrypted chat, maintains that he knows very few details of Snowden's daily life. "For both his and my own protection, there are questions I stay away from," he says. Radack and Drake recently visited Snowden as part of a whistle-blower delegation; they were whisked to a secret meeting and dinner with him at a stately mansion in or near Moscow. That they were taken in a van with darkened windows, at night, meant they had no idea where they were going. Radack nevertheless insists that Snowden is not being controlled by the Russian intelligence service, the FSB, nor has he become a Russian spy. "Russia treats its spies much better than leaving them trapped in the Sheremetyevo transit zone for over a month," Radack recalled Snowden darkly joking to her.

- more -

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/snowden-and-greenwald-the-men-who-leaked-the-secrets-20131204

Frankly, some of the details are still murky.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

9. I agree that it's murky, but I'll pull out an excerpt.

Snowden, however, never wanted to go to Russia, which Assange acknowledges. "Snowden believed that in order to most effectively push for reform in the U.S., Latin America would be the better option," Assange tells me. "He did not want to invite a political attack that he'd 'defected.'"

BI seems to be claiming Russia was always Snowden's destination endpoint. The quoted BI links suggest that WikiLeaks, or at least Assange, (who did indeed pay for his travel) felt that Russia would be a good endpoint. But that excerpt, pulled from your own quoted Rolling stones story, shows that Snowden was nowhere near keen on stopping when he hit Russia. If I wanted to speculate, as BI is doing, I would suggest that WikiLeaks sold Snowden on flights that went through Russia with hopes that he might agree to end there. But again, no proof has been put forward by anyone (as far as I've seen yet) that Snowden came around to Assange's point of view, and wasn't still simply 'stuck' in Russia when his passport got yanked.

So yeah, it's still murky.

[ProSense]

12. Again,

I agree that it's murky, but I'll pull out an excerpt.

Snowden, however, never wanted to go to Russia, which Assange acknowledges. "Snowden believed that in order to most effectively push for reform in the U.S., Latin America would be the better option," Assange tells me. "He did not want to invite a political attack that he'd 'defected.'"

BI seems to be claiming Russia was always Snowden's destination endpoint....

...Snowden may not have wanted to go to Russia as claimed, but the fact is that, as stated in the OP, Wikileaks' Sarah Harrison escorted him there.

Assange, however, disagrees. "While Venezuela and Ecuador could protect him in the short term, over the long term there could be a change in government. In Russia, he's safe, he's well-regarded, and that is not likely to change. That was my advice to Snowden, that he would be physically safest in Russia." Assange also claims that Snowden has proved "you can blow the whistle about national security and not only survive, but thrive."

IOW, he likely had no choice since the group paid for his accommodations and flight. http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024896931#post6

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

15. I'm heading out.

I've got something to do in RL. Besides, I'm completely confused now. I've read what you've written, but I don't see how it backstops what I seem to be saying as BI claims. If you're saying that WikiLeaks pulled a fast one on Snowden to dump him in Russia, I didn't really see that as what BI was saying.

[bvar22]

56. That is the purpose.... to confuse.

The goal is not to convince anyone of anything.

"It is to thoroughly hijack, pollute and therefore eliminate public spaces where real discussion and organization can occur. Occupy is disbanded with clubs and pepper spray. Dissent and organization online are disrupted with surveillance and propaganda.

It is no accident that propaganda brigades post new threads on discussion boards far out of proportion to their presence in the community, and that they nearly *always* demand the last word in any interchange.

The goal is to disrupt the important public space for liberal thought, discussion, and organization that these boards offer, and to keep the participants busy instead batting off the corporate lies and talking points."

woo me with science Sun Jul 28, 2013
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023359801

I agree with you.
No "holes" were blasted in anything.
This just adds another layer of speculation.

[ProSense]

63. Your "purpose" is analysis of DU threads and comments?

And your analysis is based on quoting another DUer?

I agree with you.
No "holes" were blasted in anything.
This just adds another layer of speculation.

So after your claim that the point is to "confuse," you're simply disagreeing with the point you claim not to understand?

Well, I disagree with you. LOL!

Again, from the OP:

WikiLeaks ✔ @wikileaks
Follow
Germany blocks #Snowden - why we advised #Snowden to take Russia. Not safe elsewhere: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/01/germany-edward-snowden-nsa-inquiry … donate: http://freesnowden.is/
9:39 AM - 1 May 2014

That's a much different claim from implying that he was forced to go there and they were simply escorting him. Snowden may not have wanted to go to Russia as claimed, but the fact is that he appears not to have had a choice since the group that paid for his accommodations and flight "advised" him to go to Russia.

Assange, however, disagrees. "While Venezuela and Ecuador could protect him in the short term, over the long term there could be a change in government. In Russia, he's safe, he's well-regarded, and that is not likely to change. That was my advice to Snowden, that he would be physically safest in Russia." Assange also claims that Snowden has proved "you can blow the whistle about national security and not only survive, but thrive."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024896931#post6

And as pointed out in another comment, Snowden was entertained at the Russian embassy in Hong Kong.

MOSCOW—President Vladimir Putin conceded that Edward Snowden contacted Russian diplomats in Hong Kong a few days before boarding a plane to Moscow, but said that no agreement was reached to shelter him and that the former U.S. National Security Agency contractor decided on his own to come to Russia.

Mr. Putin had previously said that Mr. Snowden's arrival at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport on June 23 was a "complete surprise."

But in an interview with Russia's Channel One and the Associated Press, released on Wednesday, he acknowledged that he had some prior knowledge that the fugitive might be headed Russia's way.

"Mr. Snowden first appeared in Hong Kong and met with our diplomatic representatives," Mr. Putin said. "It was reported to me that there was such an employee, an employee of the security services. I asked, 'What does he want?' He fights for human rights, for freedom of information and challenges violations of human rights and violations of the law in the United States. I said, 'So what?' "

- more -

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887323623304579054890606102138

Castro labels libelous report Cuba blocked Snowden travel

(Reuters) - Retired Cuban president Fidel Castro blasted on Wednesday a report in a Russian newspaper that his country buckled to U.S. pressure and blocked former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden from traveling through Cuba to exile in Latin America.

- more -

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/28/us-usa-security-snowden-cuba-idUSBRE97R0JJ20130828

[Luminous Animal]

7. Cherry pick much? Even Assange acknowledges that Snowden wanted to go to South America

From the Rolling Stone article:

But (Greewald) he credits Assange with having helped save Snowden from almost certain extradition to the U.S. Snowden, however, never wanted to go to Russia, which Assange acknowledges. "Snowden believed that in order to most effectively push for reform in the U.S., Latin America would be the better option," Assange tells me. "He did not want to invite a political attack that he'd 'defected.'"

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/snowden-and-greenwald-the-men-who-leaked-the-secrets-20131204page=6#ixzz30UqckK3q
Follow us: @rollingstone on Twitter | RollingStone on Facebook

Nothing has been blown. Oh well, back to the drawing board.

[ProSense]

8. Bogus accusation much?

"Cherry pick much? Even Assange acknowledges that Snowden wanted to go to South America"

Where the hell did I "cherry pick" from the OP article? What the hell does whether or not he wanted to go have to do with the point?

Details: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024896931#post6

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

11. So what actually was the point?

I thought the 'point' behind the 'blowing a hole' claim by BI was that Snowden intended to end up in Russia.

Now you say that 'whether or not he wanted to go' has nothing to do with the 'point'.

Between the article and the comments, I can't figure out what the point is. So I guess I have to ask, what, actually is the point, then?

[ProSense]

16. Oh brother.

"I thought the 'point' behind the 'blowing a hole' claim by BI was that Snowden intended to end up in Russia. "

From the OP:

WikiLeaks ✔ @wikileaks
Follow
Germany blocks #Snowden - why we advised #Snowden to take Russia. Not safe elsewhere: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/01/germany-edward-snowden-nsa-inquiry … donate: http://freesnowden.is/
9:39 AM - 1 May 2014

That's much different claim from implying that he was forced to go there and they were simply escorting him.

Snowden may not have wanted to go to Russia as claimed, but the fact is that he appears not to have had a choice since the group that paid for his accommodations and flight "advised" him to go to Russia.

Assange, however, disagrees. "While Venezuela and Ecuador could protect him in the short term, over the long term there could be a change in government. In Russia, he's safe, he's well-regarded, and that is not likely to change. That was my advice to Snowden, that he would be physically safest in Russia." Assange also claims that Snowden has proved "you can blow the whistle about national security and not only survive, but thrive."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024896931#post6

[msanthrope]

19. But Assange picked Russia and Snowden agreed.....

Assange, however, disagrees. "While Venezuela and Ecuador could protect him in the short term, over the long term there could be a change in government. In Russia, he's safe, he's well-regarded, and that is not likely to change. That was my advice to Snowden, that he would be physically safest in Russia." Assange also claims that Snowden has proved "you can blow the whistle about national security and not only survive, but thrive."

IOW, he likely had no choice since the group paid for his accommodations and flight.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024896931#post6

[ProSense]

22. I found this statement interesting:

"In Russia, he's safe, he's well-regarded, and that is not likely to change."

Why did Assange believe Snowden was "well-regarded" and would be "safe" in Russia?

[msanthrope]

27. Assange has many contacts in Russia through the anti-semite Israel Shamir....

Don't forget this wikileaks/Belarus/Ecuador travesty...

http://m.aljazeera.com/story/20129410312450511

This is Assange's man in Russia....
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Shamir

[ProSense]

30. Thank for the links. The "well-regarded" point is still strange. n/t

[msanthrope]

34. I think Snowden was in contact with Wikileaks, who prepped the Russian

ground..Snowden's 30th birthday party in the Russian Embassy in HK was no accident...this was a trip to Russia all along.

http://www.businessinsider.com/snowden-spoke-with-russia-in-hong-kong-2013-8

[grasswire]

17. well played nt

[840high]

54. Indeed.

[Cha]

64. actually it was stupidly "played".

[WillyT]

23. ROFLMAO !!!

[DesMoinesDem]

24. It's rude to joke about a persons occupation.

[reddread]

25. who's joking?

[ProSense]

28. Wonder how this little clique

is going to feel when someone says the same about Snowden during his attempt to plea bargain?

I know, someone may never get the chance, as he appears ready to stay in Russia.

Former NSA contractor Snowden expects to remain in Russia

(Reuters) - Former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, who fled to Moscow last year after revealing details of massive U.S. intelligence-gathering programs, expects his asylum status in Russia to be renewed before it expires this summer, his lawyer said on Wednesday.

<...>

Jesselyn Radack, an attorney for Snowden, said his temporary asylum in Russia will expire at the end of June but that "prospects are good" for it to be renewed. "... he misses America and would like to be able to come home," she said. "We just don't see that happening in the near future."

<...>

He was charged last year in the United States with theft of government property, unauthorized communication of national defense information and willful communication of classified intelligence to an unauthorized person. Radack said the Justice Department has not wavered on the charges.

"If the Justice Department would like to talk, we'd be glad to," she said. "He's not going to come here to be prosecuted for espionage."

- more -

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/30/us-usa-snowden-idUSBREA3T12R20140430

Snowden's lawyers screw up his NSA challenge
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024871696

[hootinholler]

26. You win the thread! n/t

[Comrade Grumpy]

31. Hear, hear.

[Mojorabbit]

32. LOL! perfect response! nt

[whatchamacallit]

37. With a zeal that would remove the chrome from a trailer hitch

[ProSense]

39. It's amazing that you don't find that comment "troubling"

[Blue_Tires]

13. I'm waiting to see how many

more of the inconsistencies with the official story I pointed out months ago (and there are at least a dozen huge, glaring ones off the top of my head) are eventually proven to be correct...

[ProSense]

36. One of

"I'm waiting to see how many more of the inconsistencies with the official story I pointed out months ago (and there are at least a dozen huge, glaring ones off the top of my head) are eventually proven to be correct..."

...my favorites is this changing story:

Snowden's lawyers screw up his NSA challenge
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024871696

[Blue_Tires]

45. Yeah, that one was obvious...

Last edited Thu May 1, 2014, 08:50 PM - Edit history (1)

the NSA inspector general wouldn't have been so vocal in saying Snowden never came to his office if there was even a chance in a million that Snowden could instantly produce some e-mail proof and prove him wrong...

One of my long-term projects was to create some master list of every correction/contradiction/revision/outright lie from the stories for easy reference...But since half of DU has me on ignore anyway, it's moot...

[Tarheel_Dem]

29. I've been saying all along, this was no accident. Don't believe me? Google it!

[gratuitous]

35. What further need have we of witnesses?

Q to the E to the D.

[whatchamacallit]

33. Your unhealthy obsession

is troubling.

[ProSense]

38. It appears

"Your unhealthy obsession is troubling."

...what's "troubling" you is that you don't like to see criticism of Snowden.

LOL!

[whatchamacallit]

41. Criticism?

try daily evisceration...

Go get him, Pro!

[ProSense]

43. Go ahead

"try daily evisceration... "

...get it off your chest: Leave Snowden alone.

LOL!

[whatchamacallit]

44. Nah, go for it

you only hurt yourself.

[ProSense]

48. There it is

"Nah, go for it you only hurt yourself. "

...again: Leave Snowden alone under the guise of silliness.

[Tarheel_Dem]

49. Do you post that response to the DU'er who is "obsessed" with every prize/award Comrade gets?

You know the one I mean, right? And as far as "hurting" onself? Taking advice from Wikileaks on ANYTHING is a death knell.

[whatchamacallit]

50. Don't have to

your ilk invariably show up in those threads to express your kill-the-messenger derangement.

[Tarheel_Dem]

53. I think you just pulled that out of your whatchamacallit.

[whatchamacallit]

58. Good one!

[Tarheel_Dem]

40. And your "unhealthy" need to respond everytime is equally "troubling".

[whatchamacallit]

42. I respond to maybe 1 out of 20 of these posts

like I said, obsession.

[Tarheel_Dem]

47. Uh huh!

[840high]

55. Not only troubling but annoying, too.

[ProSense]

61. There are ways to make it less "annoying" for you.

1) Ignore the thread.

2) Don't take criticism of Snowden personal.

3) See the first two points.

[Tarheel_Dem]

74. !!!

[progressoid]

46. HUGE HOLE!!11

Er, wait. So he got advice from Wikileaks and took it.

And?

.

.

.

.

.

[ProSense]

51. "And?"

"Er, wait. So he got advice from Wikileaks and took it.

And?"

And that's a much different claim from implying that he was forced to go there and they were simply escorting him.

From the OP:

WikiLeaks ✔ @wikileaks
Follow
Germany blocks #Snowden - why we advised #Snowden to take Russia. Not safe elsewhere: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/01/germany-edward-snowden-nsa-inquiry … donate: http://freesnowden.is/
9:39 AM - 1 May 2014

Snowden may not have wanted to go to Russia as claimed, but the fact is that he appears not to have had a choice since the group that paid for his accommodations and flight "advised" him to go to Russia.

Assange, however, disagrees. "While Venezuela and Ecuador could protect him in the short term, over the long term there could be a change in government. In Russia, he's safe, he's well-regarded, and that is not likely to change. That was my advice to Snowden, that he would be physically safest in Russia." Assange also claims that Snowden has proved "you can blow the whistle about national security and not only survive, but thrive."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024896931#post6

And as pointed out above, Snowden was entertained at the Russian embassy in Hong Kong.

MOSCOW—President Vladimir Putin conceded that Edward Snowden contacted Russian diplomats in Hong Kong a few days before boarding a plane to Moscow, but said that no agreement was reached to shelter him and that the former U.S. National Security Agency contractor decided on his own to come to Russia.

Mr. Putin had previously said that Mr. Snowden's arrival at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport on June 23 was a "complete surprise."

But in an interview with Russia's Channel One and the Associated Press, released on Wednesday, he acknowledged that he had some prior knowledge that the fugitive might be headed Russia's way.

"Mr. Snowden first appeared in Hong Kong and met with our diplomatic representatives," Mr. Putin said. "It was reported to me that there was such an employee, an employee of the security services. I asked, 'What does he want?' He fights for human rights, for freedom of information and challenges violations of human rights and violations of the law in the United States. I said, 'So what?' "

- more -

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887323623304579054890606102138

Castro labels libelous report Cuba blocked Snowden travel

(Reuters) - Retired Cuban president Fidel Castro blasted on Wednesday a report in a Russian newspaper that his country buckled to U.S. pressure and blocked former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden from traveling through Cuba to exile in Latin America.

- more -

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/28/us-usa-security-snowden-cuba-idUSBRE97R0JJ20130828

[Thinkingabout]

52. Let him stay in Russia, cheaper for the US.

Too many lies, integrity has been lost, he has found new use as Putin's patsy.
The

[JackRiddler]

57. So this is some kind of contest?

Push something even dumber and more irrelevant than the latest Republican talking point about Benghazi as though it shows anything, when obviously it does not.

Very meta!

[AngryAmish]

59. What is your deal?

Just.....jeez...cmon...

[ProSense]

60. Are you in the right thread? n/t

[Cha]

62. What is your deal?

[JackRiddler]

65. What is your deal?

[Cha]

67. What is your deal?

[Cha]

66. WikiLeaks has not explained why it believes Russia was the only place in the world that Snowden

could go but it's noteworthy that WikiLeaks and the Kremlin share a bizarre alliance.

April 17, 2012: Government-funded Russian TV station RT gives [WikiLeaks founder] Julian Assange his own talk show

Bizarre alliance

someday this rat's nest will be unraveled.

[ProSense]

68. Remember the fake documents Assange used

Assange stands by Edward Snowden as Ecuador's Correa reprimands consul

WikiLeaks founder says 'there is no stopping the publishing process' as NSA leaker remains stuck in Moscow airport

Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks founder, has warned the US government that no matter what it does to try and apprehend Edward Snowden, the revelations he has unearthed on secret digital surveillance of American citizens will see the light of day.

<...>

Speaking to This Week on ABC news from the Ecuadorean embassy in London, where he is fighting extradition to Sweden to face sexual assault allegations, Assange would not go into details. But he added: "Great care has been taken to make sure Mr Snowden cannot be pressured by any state to stop the publishing process."

<...>

The Ecuadorean president, Rafael Correa, told the Associated Press on Sunday that Snowden was "in the care of the Russian authorities" and would not be able to leave Moscow's international airport without his US passport. In a comment that indicated the cautious response of Ecuador to the case, Correa reprimanded Ecuador's consul for issuing Snowden with a letter of safe passage that he is believed to have used to travel from Hong Kong to Russia.

To have done that without consulting the central Ecuadorean government was a "serious error", Correa said. In comments that will not encourage Snowden or his supporters, the Ecuadorean leader added that if Snowden had broken US laws he would have to assume responsibility, adding that the case was "not in Ecuador's hands".

- more -

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2013/jun/30/assange-snowden-ecuador-reprimands-consul

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023134665

Ecuador cools on Edward Snowden asylum as Assange frustration grows

President Correa revokes Snowden's temporary travel document amid concerns WikiLeaks founder is 'running the show'

Rory Carroll in Quito and Amanda Holpuch in New York

The plan to spirit the surveillance whistleblower Edward Snowden to sanctuary in Latin America appears to be unravelling amid tension between Ecuador's government and Julian Assange...President Rafael Correa halted an effort to help Snowden leave Russia amid concern Assange was usurping the role of the Ecuadoran government, according to leaked diplomatic correspondence published on Friday.

Amid signs Quito was cooling with Snowden and irritated with Assange, Correa declared invalid a temporary travel document which could have helped extract Snowden from his reported location in Moscow.

<...>

In a message attributed to Assange sent to Ecuador's foreign minister, Ricardo Patiño, and other top officials, the WikiLeaks founder apologised "if we have unwittingly (caused) Ecuador discomfort in the Snowden matter." The note continued: "There is a fog of war due to the rapid nature of events. If similar events arise you can be assured that they do not originate in any lack of respect or concern for Ecuador or its government."

Assange appears to have had a strong role in obtaining the travel document for Snowden, dated 22 June which bore the printed name, but not signature, of the London consul, Fidel Narvaez, a confidante. By mid-week Narvaez was reportedly in Moscow.

- more -

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/28/edward-snowden-ecuador-julian-assange

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023119831

[Cha]

73. "To have done that without consulting the central Ecuadorean government was a "serious error"

Not the only "serious error" ol assange has committed I'm wagering.

"Correa reprimanded Ecuador's consul for issuing Snowden with a letter of safe passage that he is believed to have used to travel from Hong Kong to Russia."

"In comments that will not encourage Snowden or his supporters, the Ecuadorean leader added that if Snowden had broken US laws he would have to assume responsibility, adding that the case was "not in Ecuador's hands"."

Comrade Eddie "assume responsibility".. nah, he rather hide out with his pal putin.

[pscot]

69. By your allusive standards of proof, the Repulicans have caught the administration

in a Benghazi cover-up. GOP blows a big hole in Whitehouse Benghazi story.

[ProSense]

70. Bizarre. You're equating Wikileaks to the GOP?

[pscot]

71. No. I'm equating your post

to the way the GOP argues it's case for a Benghazi cover up.

[ProSense]

72. IOW,

"No. I'm equating your post to the way the GOP argues it's case for a Benghazi cover up."

...in an attempt to deny the facts, you're invoking "Benghazi."

Seems like projection. LOL!

[Scuba]

76. Well that settles it. The NSA has never spied on any Americans. Hoooray!

[Pholus]

77. President Obama just blew a hole in DU apologists' narratives!

http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/25/politics/white-house-nsa/index.html

"No evidence of abuse has been found involving surveillance programs, but changes are needed in response to legitimate privacy concerns that have been raised, Obama said.

We'll overlook the President's willfull ignorance of the LOVEINT abuses for the moment which convincingly demonstrate that the NSA database is in a form that ALLOWS easy abuses and the system is set up so that INDIVIDUALS can abuse it and the monitoring is such that OVERSIGHT IS LIMITED.

And concentrate on the words "legitimate privacy concerns" which says it all right there.

Haha that puts paid on every "if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear" claim, every "it's just metadata" and certainly those screens upon screens of breathless worries about boxes and pole dancers and Comrade Eddie's deep dark motivations.

You have spent a year of industrial-rate cut-and-paste posting to suppress "legitimate privacy concerns." Way to be on the right side of an issue!

Anyway, you can go back to your obsessing about Comrade Eddie's purity now. After all, actually discussing "legitimate privacy concerns" is difficult as opposed to Heathering and deflecting...I can understand why you fear doing it.

[randome]

82. Every law enforcement agency in the history of the world has had rule-breakers.

For the LOVEINT scandal, the perpetrators were discovered and disciplined. I believe some fired. Do you really think the NSA hasn't taken steps to ensure it doesn't happen again?

You may as well blame Obama for Benghazi!
[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]

[Pholus]

87. Must....Deflect.....Blargh blargh blargh Benghazi...

The statement from President Obama was flatly that NO evidence of abuse has been found. Unless LOVEINT is a feature, not a bug, it was an abuse that WAS documented. An abuse that shows insufficient oversight, easy abuse and overly broad individual access to data.

But as I said, I am generously willing to forgive that "mistake." After all, in the same breath the President admits that "legitimate privacy concerns" have been raised.

That is certainly more than the NSA pom-pom squad on DU was willing to give last summer!

The President's vindication makes it ALL worthwhile! Yay!

Now, while you want Benghazi to enter the discussion though it is apropos of nothing, I do find something uniquely Rethuglican in your writings....

Something about rule-breakers always being in an organization?

Sounds like a rerun, but I can't exactly place where.....wait a minute....

Oh yeah, you're actually going to double down with Rummy's "A few bad apples" defense?

Ummmmm. Okay! Let's play that game then!

Are you actually claiming that Rummy had some kind of point there?

[BenzoDia]

81. I think he's better off (physically) in Russia. So it makes sense for him to stay there.

He'd be very accessible in Latin America.

[Rex]

83. Michael Kelley?

[Generic Other]

84. Who thought he was going to Latin America?

I would suggest he had no idea where he might go and was weighing options when the US grounded Morales' plane. Whatever he hoped to do was thwarted. We painted him into that corner. The Wikileaks folks aren't running his show.

Where the hell was Assange "planning" to go? I would bet not sanctuary in an embassy!

Each choice narrowed some options and opened up others. Acting like there was always some big master plan seems silly. Who would plan to be left in limbo as Assange and Snowden have been?

Silly OP. Only meant to smear Snowden further.

[SidDithers]

85. DU Rec...nt

Sid

[Generic Other]

86. DU unrec...nt

GO