Lawmakers Dispute Snowden's Declaration Of Victory

[DonViejo]

Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS @ TPM

KEVIN FREKING – DECEMBER 29, 2013, 4:26 PM EST
WASHINGTON (AP) — Members of Congress said Sunday they weren't impressed with Edward Snowden's recent publicity blitz calling for an end to mass surveillance and declaring that he's already accomplished his mission.

Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff of California acknowledged that Snowden has kindled an important public debate, but he said the former National Security Agency leaker should have stayed in the United States to demonstrate the courage of his convictions.

Republican Rep. Mike Rogers of Michigan, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said Snowden's release of classified documents jeopardized the safety of troops in Afghanistan and gave nations such as China and Russia valuable insight into how America's intelligence services operate. "That's who the messenger is," Rogers said.

The two, speaking on "Fox News Sunday," were responding to Snowden's recent comments from Russia in a 14-hour interview with The Washington Post that he was working to make the NSA better, not tear it down. Snowden also made remarks in a video provided to a television station in the United Kingdom.

:::snip:::

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/snowden-victory-lawmakers-dispute

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

1. should have stayed in the United States...

What a miraculous thing to say given that Ms Manning is in jail: wrongly convicted as a traitor after exposing US wrongdoing.

I somehow see what Snowden has done as a act of self preservation to keep himself safe while continuing to tell the story of US domestic spying and corruption.

It is strange that the present administration talks about transparency while prosecuting whistle blowers wholesale.

So, yes I find in incredible that the Democratic rep could say that with a straight face.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/16/obama-whistleblower-prosecutions-press_n_3091137.html

[christx30]

2. Kind of hard to keep the conversation about unconstitutional, unwarrented spying

going if you are locked in solitary confinement inside a federal prison. And anyone that still trusts the US justice system to do the right thing is an idiot. The best thing to do is to hide from it before it can get you.

[onwardsand upwards]

3. He's in exile from his homeland.

This is, something that revolutionary heroes have to do when faced with oppressive regimes at home.

Choosing Russia as a safe haven is laced with irony, though ...

[riderinthestorm]

4. He didn't "choose" to stay there. The US stranded him there when they suspended his passport.

The US government "chose" to force him to be there.

He was trying to get to South America.

[onwardsand upwards]

5. Okay, delete the word "Choosing"

He's still in exile ...