# NSA whistleblower interviewed!
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nsa-whistleblower-interviewed/660583
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [June 9, 2013, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nsa-whistleblower-interviewed/660583 "2013-06-09T20:20:51Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [June 10, 2013, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nsa-whistleblower-interviewed/660583/21 "2013-06-10T18:03:00Z")
Great minds think alike. He’s checked out of his hotel and presumably left Hong Kong. Iceland seems the likely refuge for him. I’m puzzled why he didn’t give the interview and immediately boarded a plane afterward. I would have my flight arranged and tickets purchased ahead of time.
> [@coremelt](#):
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> I really hope he was smart enough to leave Hong Kong for another third party country before he allowed the guardian to publish those pieces .
> [@](#):
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> He would be free to live in Iceland while immigration authorities decide his case, which could take more than a year, according to Helga Vala Helgadottir, a lawyer specialising in asylum cases.
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> ‘The government is perceived as being less welcoming to asylum seekers,’ said Helgadottir. While the decision rests with immigration authorities, Snowden could appeal to the interior ministry if his application were rejected.
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> Iceland has an extradition treaty with the United States, but it is unclear whether it would cover any crimes that Snowden might be charged with.
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> An Icelandic foundation championing free speech has offered to help him.
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> ‘We have a lawyer, we have everything set up,’ said Smari McCarthy, head of the International
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> Modern Media Institute and a member of the Pirate Party, a movement that promotes Internet freedom and holds three seats in Iceland’s 63-seat parliament.
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> Read more: [NSA whistle-blower Edward Snowden reveals how he lines the door with pillows for fear of eavesdroppers | Daily Mail Online](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2338817/NSA-whistle-blower-Edward-Snowden-reveals-lines-door-pillows-fear-eavesdroppers.html#ixzz2VpzohpPg)
> Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
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### Author:  [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)
#### Post date: [June 10, 2013, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nsa-whistleblower-interviewed/660583/22 "2013-06-10T18:05:34Z")
> [@samclem](#):
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> There is no such clearance. If you can give a cite, I’ll be surprised. Your usual BS.
Well, he could tell you, but…
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### Author:  [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)
#### Post date: [June 10, 2013, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nsa-whistleblower-interviewed/660583/23 "2013-06-10T19:30:06Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#):
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> My own clearance was of this nature … did I leave out ultra secret or do I have to prove it with a cite.
You also left out _mega ultimate triple infinity billion_ secret. Obviously you don’t know nearly as much as you thought you did.
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### Author:  [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)
#### Post date: [June 10, 2013, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nsa-whistleblower-interviewed/660583/24 "2013-06-10T19:42:34Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#):
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> By the way did you notice the whistleblower’s eye’s during his online interview?
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> They were shifting to the side as he was talking … what does this trait mean?
On its own, nothing. Probably doesn’t mean much in context, but even this “which way are your eyes going when you talk” crap depends on your handedness and which direction you look. If you’re recalling memories, one direction is supposed to indicate constructed memories, another remembered memories, and then there’s visual vs auditory and stuff like that. Not that I would give that much credence to that, anyway.
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [June 11, 2013, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nsa-whistleblower-interviewed/660583/25 "2013-06-11T09:55:46Z")
Whistle Blower walked away from a 4 year relationship with a former trained ballerina/model. Gorgeous woman.
> **[EXCLUSIVE: The beautiful ballerina girlfriend whistleblower Ed Snowden was...](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2339202/Lindsay-Mills-Edward-Snowden-set-wed-fled-Hong-Kong-leak-NSA-secrets.html)**
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> Edward Snowden left Lindsay Mills at the couple's home in Hawaii weeks ago when he leaked classified information about PRISM, a secret government phone surveillance program, to the press.
Right or wrong this guy must have felt a urgent need to reveal what the NSA is doing. Knowing he’d have to walk away from a nice life in Hawaii with a good paying job and gf. He’s already sacrificed a lot for his principles.
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### Author:  [@Noodles\_Fellicini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noodles_Fellicini)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2013, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nsa-whistleblower-interviewed/660583/26 "2013-06-13T02:20:56Z")
In an interview he said, “I don’t want to live in a world where everything I saw and do would be recorded.” He may end up in just that scenario in jail.
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### Author:  [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2013, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nsa-whistleblower-interviewed/660583/27 "2013-06-13T08:25:04Z")
> [@Noodles\_Fellicini](#):
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> In an interview he said, “I don’t want to live in a world where everything I saw and do would be recorded.” He may end up in just that scenario in jail.
Supermax, hopefully. It’s merciful compared to what traitors used to get.
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### Author:  [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2013, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nsa-whistleblower-interviewed/660583/28 "2013-06-13T09:03:08Z")
> [@Merneith](#):
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> On the other hand - Honey, does your Mommy let you leave the house all by yourself?
> [@BlankSlate](#):
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> What a phenomenally stupid human being.
> [@BlankSlate](#):
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> Supermax, hopefully. It’s merciful compared to what traitors used to get.
I don’t get it. I thought the outcry was because people were against this kind of monitoring, yet these statements seem to be made against him? Shouldn’t people be praising him? I understand every point of view has its supporters, but this can’t be that common.
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### Author:  [@JoseB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseB)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2013, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nsa-whistleblower-interviewed/660583/29 "2013-06-13T10:11:24Z")
> [@AaronX](#):
>
> I don’t get it. I thought the outcry was because people were against this kind of monitoring, yet these statements seem to be made against him? Shouldn’t people be praising him? I understand every point of view has its supporters, but this can’t be that common.
I don’t particularly praise him. He just made public something that will not change (there was a [very similar scandal back in 2006](http://yahoo.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-05-10-nsa_x.htm?csp=1), with the NSA getting phone records from the companies), which will still be done, and which every country on the planet, in one form or another, is doing.
His actions won’t change a thing. The only thing he has managed to do is to paint a gigantic target on his back. Either he will end up basically spending the rest of his life in jail, or he will experience a drastically shortened lifespan.
It is not fair. It is not what should happen. But it is what happens, and it will never change. One can be for or against this type of monitoring, but one thing --and only one thing-- is extremely clear: This type of monitoring will not go away. No matter who is in power, no matter what happens, no matter what country you live in.
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### Author:  [@WisdomofLife](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WisdomofLife)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2013, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nsa-whistleblower-interviewed/660583/30 "2013-06-13T10:21:39Z")
I still hmmm…OK what the big deal on this whole NSA thing :dubious:. I can understand the points of Snowden blowing the lid off of NSA activities. The NSA can read, calculate, and analyze (in theory) all electronic communications of every person in U.S. If you were wanting to destroy political opposition or a company who wants to destroy another, Snowden claims that you can trace the backlogs on every interaction you made on a computer with internet capabilities and phone lines. Then evil politician or company can use information to smear or manipulate the public to opposite who they see as a threat to their power. Or in a worst case scenario, arrest dissents and killing them.
Why I am going hmmm on this is that it is not exactly a shocking revelation on how U.S. intelligence works or how companies get our personal information. Just log on to [amazon.com](http://amazon.com), buy a game, and then have amazon give you junk email advertise on products similar to that game. Also we haven’t seen people dragged out of their homes and arrested/killed over "I hate Obama"at least not yet. There would have to be a radical social or political change that would have to cause US society to become increasing anti-democracy. I believe this will be caused by either global war, or an economic collapse causing a major downturn in standard of living.
I think the worst possible case scenario out this scandal is Obama having used NSA database to commit a Watergate–spying on opponents to give himself an advantage in the election or discredit Republicans. Now if you think I am anti-Democrat or Tea Toller, I voted for Obama in 2012. IRS was caught spying or manipulated tax status of the Tea Party during 2012. Who do you think would benefit from discrediting them. It does not take a genius to figure this out. If the most powerful man had the services of NSA, I think I would use the data if I wanted to harm my opponents. Of course, I can be completely wrong in thinking of the worst possible solution and willing gladly eat humble pie :D.
Other possibility that China or Russia will give money to Snowden or torture him for it; thus undermining US security.
I think Snowden sounds very intelligent and I think he generally knows what he is going with great understanding. However, I have the feeling he is the type of person who wants to “start a revolution to overthrew Amerika” for s9\*&s and giggles and to smooth his ego of becoming the next Che of wannabe coffee shop revolutionists. He looks like some of ()\*hats (hipsters) at university I went to who thought they were cool for dreaming overthrowing a problematic but still overall decent country. I give him credit for doing what he believes, but his life is going to be problematic at least to say.
Finally, sorry about the too long to read comment I made. I’m kind of a coffeehouse idealist pipe dreamer expect more narcly 😃
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### Author:  [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2013, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nsa-whistleblower-interviewed/660583/31 "2013-06-13T12:03:08Z")
> [@AaronX](#):
>
> I don’t get it. I thought the outcry was because people were against this kind of monitoring, yet these statements seem to be made against him? Shouldn’t people be praising him? I understand every point of view has its supporters, but this can’t be that common.
There are a whole lot of ways to look at this thing … and then twist and turn and look at it differently… and then ignore everything you might have thought about things five years ago and look at it differently.
I don’t think it’s all that uncommon, though, to think that individual citizens don’t have the right to do illegal things without being held accountable no matter what the cause.
If the government actions were illegal then he’s a whistle-blower… if they weren’t, he’s, among other things, an idiot.
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### Author:  [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2013, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nsa-whistleblower-interviewed/660583/32 "2013-06-19T13:33:34Z")
Seems like I’m frequently the last poster in a thread …
Could be it’s partly because I’m often late to a thread… or I post things that are less than coherent.
…but I’d like to think that every once and a while it’s because I’m spot on and have said everything there is to be said 😉
… or maybe it’s because I use too many dots alot !!
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