Snowdon, assured that he’s a “hero” for what he’s done, brays through Wikileaks [it’s all about HIM, you know]:
Statement from Edward Snowden in Moscow
Monday July 1, 21:40 UTCOne week ago I left Hong Kong after it became clear that my freedom and safety were under threat for revealing the truth. My continued liberty has been owed to the efforts of friends new and old, family, and others who I have never met and probably never will. I trusted them with my life and they returned that trust with a faith in me for which I will always be thankful.
On Thursday, President Obama declared before the world that he would not permit any diplomatic “wheeling and dealing” over my case. Yet now it is being reported that after promising not to do so, the President ordered his Vice President to pressure the leaders of nations from which I have requested protection to deny my asylum petitions.
This kind of deception from a world leader is not justice, and neither is the extralegal penalty of exile*. These are the old, bad tools of political aggression. Their purpose is to frighten, not me, but those who would come after me.
[* note: a quaint term for being on the run from felony charges]
For decades the United States of America has been one of the strongest defenders of the human right to seek asylum. Sadly, this right, laid out and voted for by the U.S. in Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is now being rejected by the current government of my country*. The Obama administration has now adopted the strategy of using citizenship as a weapon. Although I am convicted of nothing, it has unilaterally revoked my passport**, leaving me a stateless person. Without any judicial order, the administration now seeks to stop me exercising a basic right. A right that belongs to everybody. The right to seek asylum.
[** note: unlike EVERY OTHER accused felon on the run from an arrest warrant, validly obtained. Yeah. Right. Sure. What kind of fantasy world is this self-worshipping narcissist living in?]
[* note: breaking the law and skipping the country is now termed “seeking asylum”? I think he must mean “mental asylum.” Right Butch Cassidy?]
In the end the Obama administration is not afraid of whistleblowers like me, Bradley Manning or Thomas Drake. We are stateless, imprisoned, or powerless. No, the Obama administration is afraid of you. It is afraid of an informed, angry public demanding the constitutional government it was promised — and it should be.
[* note: shameless “heroism” by association. A fallacy.]
I am unbowed in my convictions and impressed at the efforts taken by so many*.
[* note: I think the implicit sentence end is “to help ME!“]
Edward Joseph Snowden
Monday 1st July 2013
Too bad he has no clue how “civil disobedience” works. And, as for his “unbowed convictions,” one earnestly hopes that his convictions will c0me soon enough. Why?
Because when you set yourself up as above all social consensus (as expressed by congress and the president and the courts), then you need to have the courage of your convictions (soon to come).
Just like Snowden isn’t
But, when you decide to knowingly break the law AND take it on the lam to foreign governments, carrying several hard drives’ worth of classified information as bargaining chips to obtain asylum, you’re not being civilly disobedient. You’re being an outlaw, and USING your criminal gains to obtain the most favorable treatment you can get.
This isn’t principled. This isn’t “civil disobedience.” This isn’t being a “whistleblower.” It’s being a crook. Or being a spy.
Let’s call it “snivel disobedience.”
Either way, the only allegiance that Edward Snowden has, seemingly, is to himself.
And, while I AM concerned and have BEEN concerned for a long time about America’s burgeoning spookocracy, Snowden isn’t the cure for it: he’s the symptom. He’s the fellow who hacks into your bank account and empties it, hacks into your email and finds blackmail material and uses your identity for his own personal ends.
I DO look forward to his personal convictions.
Or pals with Julian Assange, evidently
At least ten years I’m hoping.
And, Julian Assange is, increasingly, in the same boat as I observe things.
If you’ve got the balls to break an unjust law (which I have been known to do) at least have the balls to take the consequences — which you knew going in.
Or don’t call yourself a hero. Use the precise term: crook.
Courage.
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A writer, published author, novelist, literary critic and political observer for a quarter of a quarter-century more than a quarter-century, Hart Williams has lived in the American West for his entire life. Having grown up in Wyoming, Kansas and New Mexico, a survivor of Texas and a veteran of Hollywood, Mr. Williams currently lives in Oregon, along with an astonishing amount of pollen. He has a lively blog His Vorpal Sword. This is cross-posted from his blog.
A writer, published author, novelist, literary critic and political observer for a quarter of a quarter-century more than a quarter-century, Hart Williams has lived in the American West for his entire life. Having grown up in Wyoming, Kansas and New Mexico, a survivor of Texas and a veteran of Hollywood, Mr. Williams currently lives in Oregon, along with an astonishing amount of pollen. He has a lively blog, His Vorpal Sword (no spaces) dot com.