Snowden says 'significant threats' to his life
Source: Chicago Tribune/Reuters
BERLIN (Reuters) - Former U.S. National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden told German TV on Sunday about reports that U.S. government officials want to assassinate him for leaking secret documents about the NSA's collection of telephone records and emails.
In what German public broadcaster ARD said was Snowden's first television interview, Snowden also said he believes the NSA has monitored other top German government officials along with Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Snowden told ARD that he felt there are "significant threats" to his life but he said that he nevertheless sleeps well because he believes he did the right thing by informing the public about the NSA's activities.
"I'm still alive and don't lose sleep for what I did because it was the right thing to do," said Snowden at the start of what ARD said was a six-hour interview that was filmed in a Moscow hotel suite. ARD aired 40 minutes of the six-hour interview.
Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-security-snowden-germany-20140126,0,1904145.story
lamp_shade
(14,826 posts)riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)cstanleytech
(26,280 posts)Furthermore imo I honestly dont think the US government would try it because it would just end up biting it in the ass especially since hes inside the borders of a major foreign power.
riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)Really?
The SS shouldn't worry about the death threats to Obama? Celebrities should just blow it off? Divisive figures like the Dixie Chicks are hyperventilating?
You're absolutely right that a death threat doesn't necessarily mean its a fait d'accomplis.
But to tell the threatened party to blow it off because you dislike that person is pretty shitty imho.
Cause people actually do receive death threats. And are killed.
cstanleytech
(26,280 posts)(which means in my opinion which last time I checked we are still allowed to have here on the DU) I dont believe he has to much to fear from such a thing being carried it out for a number of reasons.
riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)and appear to be saying that just because there's threats doesn't mean he's in danger.
Perhaps I'm misunderstanding you? You appear to be denigrating his concern for his life and safety.
I think death threats against anyone are pretty crappy. I even believe there were death threats against GW Bush and Dick Cheney, who I truly hate, that need swift and immediate response from protective powers. I'd never so cavalierly dismiss death threats against anyone as being ridiculous to "fear"....
cstanleytech
(26,280 posts)Last edited Sun Jan 26, 2014, 10:20 PM - Edit history (2)
After all there are a number of factors to consider from the insurance policy he has with those encrypted files which the government has no clue as to whats in them in the event that anything should happen to him to him being protected inside Russia which is a major global superpower.
All those together are probably more than enough to give just about any government pause including the US.
George II
(67,782 posts)karynnj
(59,501 posts)In it he cites anonymous sources - ok, for a reporter who has built up credibility -- not so much for a person who did media for Glenn Beck.
cantbeserious
(13,039 posts)eom
Demenace
(213 posts)The poster knows that is his or her opinion, he or she did not ask you to validate it!
cantbeserious
(13,039 posts)Hissyspit
(45,788 posts)Many people here don't seem to have a problem with them at all. They're the only reaction to Snowden they have.
reACTIONary
(5,770 posts)PatrynXX
(5,668 posts)to go to North Korea next
cantbeserious
(13,039 posts)eom
Cryptoad
(8,254 posts)treestar
(82,383 posts)He's putting out a daily statement now.
Who would bother with killing him? Nobody has any motive.
cvoogt
(949 posts)/nt
dawn frenzy adams
(429 posts)A big, fat, stinking, running, oozing, boatload full.
another_liberal
(8,821 posts)Isn't everybody?
AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)So, who's full of shit now?
Demeter
(85,373 posts)"lamp shade" evokes the stereotype drunk at a party, plus the dimming of light or "shady business".
Indi Guy
(3,992 posts)TwilightGardener
(46,416 posts)psychological tactic. He probably doesn't sleep all that well.
bemildred
(90,061 posts)I still have not seen any source but Buzzfeed for that. (Other than a few bloviating Congresspersons and the abstract musings of bureaucrats).
Ash_F
(5,861 posts)allinthegame
(132 posts)He is turning into the Paris Hilton of "I have to be in the news"
Must be the weather
last1standing
(11,709 posts)I guess ignorance really is bliss for some.
R. Daneel Olivaw
(12,606 posts)Question: Would the same crowd which reviles that Snowden blew the lid off of the NSA cheer if he was assassinated by a drone/hellfire strike?
last1standing
(11,709 posts)Long answer: With bells on.
blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)O
K
If
A
Democrat
Is
Doing
It
=
IOKIADIDI
last1standing
(11,709 posts)From this point on, I'll support Democrats who support democracy and the people. I will not support anyone merely because they're on Team Blue.
Titonwan
(785 posts)cantbeserious
(13,039 posts)eom
Demenace
(213 posts)cantbeserious
(13,039 posts)eom
Response to cantbeserious (Reply #13)
tofuandbeer This message was self-deleted by its author.
cantbeserious
(13,039 posts)eom
tofuandbeer
(1,314 posts)PatrynXX
(5,668 posts)maybe Miley or Sarah Palin after the Republicans went after her in 2008 I don't think she has all that much reliable loyalty to the Right
WatermelonRat
(340 posts)The genie's already out of the bottle, killing him would only make him into a martyr and make the backlash against them worse. In fact, his death would so extensively be to the NSA's detriment that Snowden should be more worried about third party groups.
bemildred
(90,061 posts)But logic won't take you very far when the subject is politics.
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)How many are going on already? I've lost track.
Ash_F
(5,861 posts)Not everything in politics is realpolitik.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)He is not worth the lead it would take to kill him. If he is sleeping well at night then the death threats is probably just another fictional movie going off only in his head. The Russians will probably be the ones to kill him.
Ed Suspicious
(8,879 posts)Demeter
(85,373 posts)He practically shit in his pants on prime time over Snowden. He disgraced himself. No drama became a has-been.
DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)...that he may have made arrangements for the full release of ALL documents in the event of his untimely death.
- I know that's what I'd do.
K&R
Demenace
(213 posts)Play in the big leagues, expect the big league drop kicks, no?
DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)Laughing Mirror
(4,185 posts)and what you are hearing is the opposite of what Snowden said.
How does Snowden's saying "There are significant threats but I sleep very well" translate into him being "worried about the possibilities"?
dawn frenzy adams
(429 posts)I don't think he has shyte. What has he told us that we didn't already know? If he revealed something of importance about an incident like 9-11, or some intelligence about our elections, perhaps he would be more believable.
DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)That's why he was charged under the Espionage Act. He has nothing.
- Sometimes if you say things out loud first you can avoid embarrassing yourself. Just an idea......
On edit: Oh, so you knew that the NSA was putting backdoors into computers and servers and routers at the plants, did you? Fancy that.
ronnie624
(5,764 posts)that the DEA was using NSA data to prosecute drug crimes, and then retroactively covering its investigative trail, before it was revealed by Snowden? Do tell.
If this doesn't send a chill down everyone's spine, I can't imagine what sort of abuses by authority would.
Demenace
(213 posts)Wait for it, ... coming! So, just going by his reasoning, he would expose National security secrets of a host of countries anytime he wants and decide whose live he puts at risk since there are people who are working loyally for their country out there, whose lives Snowden holds in the palm of his hands but somehow he did not see the possibilities that some nation, some where whose secrets he is exposing weekly will not have a desire to bring this to an end?
I would have thought that would be the first item on my list of issue to take into consideration, right next to knowing how to properly work the asylum process and not traveling east only to be stuck in Siberia while trying to head south like the birds of summer!
Heck, he could have done better visually following the migrating birds to his intended home in south America and this is the dude, people celebrate as some wizard!
blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)msongs
(67,392 posts)blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)I think they expect to be looking for a lot of people in the future. Why??? Only the G0V"T knows ...
onehandle
(51,122 posts)His 15 minutes are up.
Mr.Bill
(24,271 posts)will probably kill him once he is of no value to them.
Titonwan
(785 posts)He's dearly holding onto Snowden to show the world just how hypocritical the U.S. is. And how arrogant a declining empire shows it's vanity.
Ed knew this going in- that his life would be in peril. He didn't just realize this.
His is a tale of bravery and patriotism, personified.
Demeter
(85,373 posts)Hosting a political refugee doesn't get old...it always gives a government street credit with other nations.
In fact, there's a certain nation that used to be famous for providing refuge to the politically persecuted. France sent a statue of Liberty to honor that nation.
Of course, that was before our time....
Zorro
(15,734 posts)I think they're much more inclined to pop off Fast Eddie once they get all the useful intel data out of him they can, and then sit back and watch all the ensuing brouhaha with the US catching the blame.
I seriously doubt that Putin has much respect for him.
randome
(34,845 posts)Snowden is whiny and childish. "Please let me go back to America!"
He threw his entire, unfinished life away to tell us that the NSA spies on other countries. What a waste of everyone's time.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]If you're not committed to anything, you're just taking up space.
Gregory Peck, Mirage (1965)[/center][/font][hr]
Titonwan
(785 posts)the world pays attention. The whole world. You? Me? Not so much.
Edward's revelations are still coming out. You can't stop them. I suggest you get used to your new Edward Snowden world. It's not going away.
Resistance is futile.
SummerSnow
(12,608 posts)dawn frenzy adams
(429 posts)He's a narcissist.
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)DUH!
Comrade Eddie, Media Whore, you plot and plan your way to steal National secrets (whether they be right or wrong), you run off from your girlfriend, family and country to a couple of skeezy countries, yapping your flap none stop (aka, putting a knife in the back of the United States at every chance).
And you might wonder why there are threats?
What a stupid fuck you are.
micraphone
(334 posts)The whole world (ask Angela Merkel) is up in arms about the the industrial strength spying on citizens of the WORLD that Snowden gave us the absolute truth about.
You seem to think this intrusion on you, my and everyone elses privacy is just fine.
There may indeed be "stupid fucks", as you put it, around here - but Ed Snowden is NOT one of them. Welcome to ignore.
4now
(1,596 posts)Among other mental problems.
Maedhros
(10,007 posts)Did you draw it from the hat?
colbertforpresident
(241 posts)Suicided.
StoneCarver
(249 posts)Snowden told us what we already suspected. So now it's up to us to suck up the truth and make the US of A the place we want it to be. I don't know if he's in it for the media attention or not. But he's taken a great risk to show us the facts. Many of you laptop jockeys are ready to throw him under the bus. I'm not. I wish you were as patriotic as you pretend to be. Patriotism is pretty easy when you're sitting in your warm leather chair -Typing a bunch of letters. None of you probably lifted more than a beer for your country and freedom. Go the people! -The USA of Jefferson, Washington, Lincoln, and Roosevelt.
Stonecarver.
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)Ed Suspicious
(8,879 posts)public.
riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)ronnie624
(5,764 posts)another_liberal
(8,821 posts)I want to see him live to receive his Medal of Freedom in person.
snot
(10,520 posts)And I'm pretty sure many 1%'er's would like to wipe him and his genes out of existence.
Whisp
(24,096 posts)LiberalLovinLug
(14,169 posts)If even posters on a so-called liberal website like this want him strung up. The goose-stepping authoritarians in here that are in fear of information, are pathetic and their desperation is showing.
He should be executed by drone or brought back here to face the gallows, and many public figures have said as much
.......
Yet if Snowden himself admits he is in fear of his life from threats....well then its all in his head.
He revealed State secrets, mostly multinationals (with no American loyalties) industrial spying and besides he has embarrassed our dear leader.
......
Yet he revealed nothing new, and no one has died....nothing to look at....move along.
He is an egomaniac and craves to be famous, and this fact negates any "good" he has done in spurring conversion on the NSA
......
Yet it has nothing to do with a 24/7 news media who is the actual vehicle that creates celebrity whether they want it or not. That somehow Snowden himself is directing the world's media to talk about him.
And do you ever notice that in threads like this its usually the first onslaught of posts that are represented by these poor frightened individuals that would trade in their hard fought liberties for the comfort of a warm chain. And then they slowly disappear as the thread grows and they realize they have nothing to stand on. Snowden represents to them someone that they could never have the courage to be themselves. Someone that pokes a hole into their cocoon. And rather than being thankful for that ray of light, they scream and whine and insist the hole be patched up so they cannot see out anymore.
bemildred
(90,061 posts)1.) It has been clear as long as I've been here that this site attracts all sorts, and a variety of paid or unpaid minders who will attempt to get a lick in at the top of the thread in the vain hope that it will color what follows it. This probably works sometimes, people often do not spend the time to read the whole thread before commenting (very often).
1.a) Sounds like a job/hobby guaranteed to turn your brain to mush in short order.
2.) I expect the government would like to try and punish him, make an example of him, so to speak, so as to discourage copycats, not kill him. They would not be freaking out near as much if he was "under control".
2.a) On the other hand, freelancers can be expected in his case, jobs and careers are threatened by his actions. As you note, there are very angry people over this.
Obama's apostasy over cannabis seems to be arousing a similar dynamic in Drug War(tm) LEOs.