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In reply to the discussion: A reminder...Snowden had NO ALTERNATIVE but to go to Russia. [View all]Cha
(306,945 posts)47. Excellent analysis, MADem!
"Greenwald and Poitras could have met him ANYWHERE. There was no "rule" that they had to meet in HK. Hell, South America would have been far more convenient for GG.
He went to China because it was a hop, skip and a jump from Russia, because he knew he could get a room at the Russian consulate, and he could get help leaving and hiding out in the once-and-perhaps-future USSR. No doubt the room he had at that high end hotel had been swept for bugs--and maybe even bugged anew--by his Russian friends. Who knows, maybe they even rented it for him.
Going to HK (and then saying "Gee, I wanna go to Iceland...no, South America!!"
gave Russia cover, as though they had no role in the mess until, oh, alas, alack, poor Ed got "stuck" in Russia (of course, his stay at the Russian consulate kinda screwed that plausible deniability)."
He went to China because it was a hop, skip and a jump from Russia, because he knew he could get a room at the Russian consulate, and he could get help leaving and hiding out in the once-and-perhaps-future USSR. No doubt the room he had at that high end hotel had been swept for bugs--and maybe even bugged anew--by his Russian friends. Who knows, maybe they even rented it for him.
Going to HK (and then saying "Gee, I wanna go to Iceland...no, South America!!"

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Snowden wouldn't have been treated like Drake. Chelsea Manning's ordeal proves that. n/t.
Ken Burch
Apr 2014
#2
The problem with that argument is that, if you accept surveillance in those cases,
Ken Burch
May 2014
#31
Yes, the government is capable of abusing its power. Good thing we don't have single payer, then?
Recursion
May 2014
#32
In the reality-based community, crackpot conspiracy theories don't become facts
struggle4progress
Apr 2014
#13
Portugal had notified Morales a day or two before his departure from Moscow that
struggle4progress
May 2014
#50
What actual evidence exists of any US involvement in that event at all?
struggle4progress
May 2014
#65
He DID have the alternative to only collect and release information about US internal surveillance.
pnwmom
May 2014
#34
He most certainly DID have one. He was either stupid, or he's everywhere he wants to be.
MADem
May 2014
#36
Yes. I have to say, the more he pipes up, the more he makes the pronouncements about
MADem
May 2014
#51
Nothing leaked about Putin is a really good point, seems everyone else has been on the list except h
uponit7771
May 2014
#92
So Snowden wasn't stuck in an airport? WOW!! This Snowden thing seems more rapped around Russia
uponit7771
May 2014
#95
Yes! Any idiot can see that a layover in Hong Kong on a flight from Hawaii to Moscow
Maedhros
May 2014
#110
Perhaps, but if he had half a brain he would have located himself in a country of his choice before
lostincalifornia
May 2014
#59
The pearl clutching over Snowden being stranded in Russia is just a distraction.
Obnoxious_One
May 2014
#61
Sowden is a dirty traitor and I wish cancer on him and any children he ever has. n/t
leeroysphitz
May 2014
#63
Snowden did NOT want to go to Russia. The US Govt forced him to remain there when they
sabrina 1
May 2014
#71
You can post all the words and links you want, but the FACT IS, Snowden WAS NOT HEADED FOR RUSSIA.
sabrina 1
May 2014
#73
Those are NOT the facts, even if he wasn't headed for Russia why the lie about being "stuck" in an
uponit7771
May 2014
#97
If he wanted to go to South America, why didn't he go there, instead of Hong Kong?
Adrahil
May 2014
#88
That has been explained over and over again. He was absolutely correct to choose a route that
sabrina 1
May 2014
#100
New taking points don't facts. Snowden was headed for SA When the US Govt forced
sabrina 1
May 2014
#117
And now to correct that erroneous statement from you. First, the US GOVT forced Snowden to REMAIN
sabrina 1
May 2014
#118
Life in Russia may be better for as long as Putin needs him to remain as a patsy.
Thinkingabout
May 2014
#84
Not if---as was reported early on--they were "on" to him and his security clearance was about to be
MADem
May 2014
#108
1. Most of the 'secrets' Snowden revealed have to do with international spying.
randome
May 2014
#89