Ex-NSA Chief: Edward Snowden Being Manipulated by Russian Intelligence

[big_dog]

Former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, who revealed the U.S. government’s data collection programs, is now likely under the control of Russian intelligence agencies, according to former NSA Director, General Keith Alexander. Alexander, who retired on March 31, made the comments in an interview with The Australian Financial Review newspaper to be published on Thursday, a transcript of which was made available to Reuters ahead of publication.

Civil libertarians in the United States and Washington’s allies in Europe were shocked by the extent of U.S. surveillance revealed by Snowden, and a handful of U.S. congressmen have alleged that he was acting at the behest of a foreign government. Snowden, who fled to Moscow last year, has dismissed the allegations. He expects his temporary asylum status in Russia to be renewed before it expires in summer, according to his lawyer.

“I think he is now being manipulated by Russian intelligence. I just don’t know when that exactly started or how deep it runs,” Alexander said. “Understand as well that they’re only going to let him do those things that benefit Russia, or stand to help improve Snowden’s credibility. They’re not going to do things that would hurt themselves. And they’re not going to allow him to do it.”

In the interview, Alexander described a traditional global security order that has been disrupted by rapid developments in offensive cyber technology, with the potential for unintended consequences rising as a result.

[blm]

1. I've actually wondered what Snowden and Greenwald may have learned about Russia's intel efforts

via their interception of ours and other nations' intel operations. And, China, too, for that matter. It's not like China and Russia have ever proven to have boundaries they won't cross.

[GeorgeGist]

2. Go play StarWars Keith ...

[truth2power]

9. Yes. Exactly what I was going to say....

All this puffery from the guy who turned his office into a Star Wars look-alike.

STFU, Keith. And go away.

[nilesobek]

17. Is that real? No satire?

[Maedhros]

3. I'm sure Keith Alexander has no ulterior motive in suggesting that Snowden

is being "manipulated" by Russian Intelligence.

I'm also sure that he has no actual evidence of this, either.

[brush]

4. Ahhh . . . Putty certainly isn't letting Snowden stay there without a quid pro quo.

Let's not be naive.

[Maedhros]

6. Without proof, it's only conjecture.

We don't know anything for certain with regard to Snowden's situation in Russia.

If the United States suspected, much less was "certain," that Snowden would be manipulated by Putin then it was monumentally stupid of the United States to revoke Snowden's passport while he was in Moscow.

[brush]

7. As I said, let's not be naive.

Putty already called him a "fellow spy" in that Q&A farce.

That's called "game recognizing game."

[Maedhros]

8. Get back to me when you have any evidence whatsoever that Snowden has passed intel

to the Russians.

Until then, I will continue to watch the situation develop and not lend credence to Internet conjecture.

[Control-Z]

10. I don't normally get into many Snowden-NSA discussions.

However, there is not a single reason to believe that Putin doesn't have every last bit of info Snowden had, whatever Snowden's original intentions were. Not a single reason. None. Period.

[Maedhros]

12. I don't engage in "belief." I prefer evidence.

It is very unlikely that Putin has "every last bit of info that Snowden had", since he didn't take any of his data with him when he went to Russia. Any information Putin potentially obtained would only be what Snowden could remember.

You are assuming with 100% certainty that Snowden gave intel to Putin. This is indeed possible, but far from guaranteed. Without actual evidence that such a transfer occurred, your assertion is simply conjecture.

[brush]

11. Keep those blinders on. You look good in them. nt

[xocet]

5. Could you please provide a link to the source? n/t

[Blue_Tires]

13. I have a growing belief that Snowden has been manipulated this entire time

Because even though I think he was outraged and truly wanted to right a wrong, he is a naive sort and I refuse to believe he acted independently and of his own accord...

I think some person or group of people -- Possibly either from the anarchist hacking community (who he was already sympathetic to) or one of the usual suspects from his extended "circle" seduced him with fairytales of worldwide fame and gave him a wishlist of specific files to steal...I think this person or group wanted certain things exposed (while keeping other things hidden) for reasons having nothing to do with oversight, whistleblowing, transparency, the people's right to know, etc...But it has been critical to publicly maintain the official narrative of Snowden being this crusading hero of civil disobedience, alone and on the run from CIA assassins or whatever, because he is indispensable as the public 'face'...He even looks the part of "Information Age Hero" to a 'T', straight out of central casting -- Glasses, humble, unremarkable background, handsome, nerdy but not too nerdy, intelligent but not the type who only talks above his audience in high-tech jargon, and most importantly, at the age of 30 he's still young enough to connect with the prime demographic while being just old enough to be seen as credible...

I also think this person or group has acted this entire time with their own interests in mind and not Snowden's, as evidenced by the gross underestimation of Washington's reaction and that hastily planned, half-assed escape from Hong Kong and right into the hands of the FSB...From there I think this person or group left Snowden up shit creek and Russian intelligence conveniently took the reins from that point until now...I guess you can debate whether this person or group *deliberately* steered him towards Moscow, but I think this leans more towards idiocy rather than malicious intent...

[bemildred]

14. Self-serving speculation. nt

[sendero]

15. Maybe ...

... y'all should have let him go to Ecuador or Iceland like he wanted to. Anything that happens because he is stranded in Russia is ON YOU.

ASSHOLE.