ok this is getting weird. last night on phoenix tv I saw the Russian foreign minister say that snowden has not ''passed Russian airspace'' and he's not in Russia! and that Russia has no knowledge of his whereabouts and was NOT involved in his travel plans. he was asked because of the state dept asking for snowden's extradition.
The Snowden Affair
- Thread starter AssassinsMace
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Apparently Snowden is still in the transit area in the airport, so technically he is not 'in' Russia? I guess.
MwRYum
Major
The technicality of it is that if you don't past immigration you're not officially entered the country, vice versa after you passed immigration on departure, that's why there're duty free stores in that zone. Of course the details is far more mind bogging.
Actually, they can...stuff like withdraw HK from its list of no-visa entry scheme, or launch some serious reviews here and there including possible money laundering haven, or trigger a small cyber attack to crash HKEx servers so shut down a whole afternoon of trading....
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These fellows & organizations are now classified as "Whistle-blowers, Hackers, Leakers etc., as their actions are recognized by several quarters as done for the good of national & the global societies. However, if they revealed military & national secrets, they are without question "Traitors" to their countries. It boggles the mind what truly made these modern betrayers do these actions - I suspect they also want to be in the "lime-light" and yearn for "recognition" by their social activist admirers world-wide, which they often lacked in their ordinary lives. These fellows committed their dubious acts quite easily, as unfortunately ineffective and poor security safeguards were in place. They easily downloaded these highly sensitive/security information, then scoot to a "friendly" country, and justify their actions to the world media. Obviously they must have the support of friends and beneficiaries (including countries) who will somehow protect them. But, can they live with the thought of being branded as "Traitors" by their countries? They will forever be unable to step in their dear homelands without the risk of being arrested. Those who are filled with glee now with Snowden's episode need to also realize that these acts could be directed to their specific countries by some others in future. These Stories Never End!
broadsword
Brigadier
The NSA and the UK GCHQ have been unrestrained in their collection of secrets, from friends and foes alike. Obama, Hillary had not been spared. Billions of calls passed through the NSA. Invasion of privacy done against their laws. They are not living in a communist system and that's why they don't put up with the hypocrisy. To say they want the "lime-light" and "recognition" is condescending, questioning his sanity and sensibility. It takes a lot of courage for people like him, Manning and Assange to come out in the open and expose the system. Many people are now thankful to Snowden, who could have instead stayed with system and collect his handsome remuneration. But he has his own beliefs just like people who join opposition parties even though they lack the majority support.
Unless America change their laws and permit snooping, many Americans are not going to tolerate it.
antiterror13
Brigadier
So, it seems most (if not all) of Snowden' claims are correct ... the US govt is really suck and super hypocrite. The credibility of the US govt is going down the road, nobody would believe what they say 
But ... heyyyy the US is the only superpower at the moment
I support multi-polar world, not good only one superpower
But ... heyyyy the US is the only superpower
at the momentI support multi-polar world, not good only one superpower
MwRYum
Major
But when the authorities present to the American people the choice of Big Brother vs "another 9-11", you don't even need to guess which one the Americans pick. Hypocrisy is just embarrassment but it only scratch a bit of paint on the status quo...the worst that can happen is that from now on any POTUS criticizing any other nation for cyber espionage, he/she will need to do so shamelessly - that's child's play for any consummate politician.
Now that the cat is out of the bag, but people will still continue to brag their personal life on Facebook, ranting and insulting each other on forum sites of all sorts, exchanging the most saucy messages thru Whatsapp...why? Because that's the reality of things today. If you really want true privacy like those in our grandparents' time, then the only electronic item on your body should only be the G-Shock watch you wear, live in the middle of nowhere and better, in a cave for the rest of your natural life, no cable no satellite no internet no phone.
I wonder how many city boy can last more than a year of being "totally offline"...
broadsword
Brigadier
No need to quote RT as you could link to the Guardian itself.
A situation that descends beyond either farce or parody.
I just have a image of "activists" being caught trying to smuggle copies of the Guardian onto a Military base and finding themselves on a fast plane to "Gitmo"
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