Wikileaks Aiding Snowden - Chinese Social Media Divided - Relations Strained

cold fjord writes "Despite the US cancelling his passport, Edward Snowden continues his travels aided by Wikileaks, and is leaving a trail of strained diplomatic relations in his wake. It appears China gifted the issue to Russia. From Yahoo: 'Lawyer Albert Ho, ... a Hong Kong legislator ... told reporters he was approached by Snowden several days ago, and that the American had sought assurances ... whether he could leave the city freely if he chose to do so... Snowden later told Ho an individual claiming to represent the Hong Kong government had contacted him and indicated he should leave the city, and wouldn't be stopped ... Ho said he believed the middleman was acting on Beijing's orders.' From the NYT: Julian Assange, ...said in an interview ... 'that he had raised Mr. Snowden's case with Ecuador's government and that his group had helped arrange the travel documents.' From WSJ: 'Edward Snowden has generated more than a million posts on one of China's biggest social media platforms... Sina Weibo, a popular Chinese microblogging service, exploded with activity on Sunday as Mr. Snowden left ... Mr. Snowden was hailed as a hero ... last week, but posts on Sunday and Monday were divided... "All crows are black," said a number of users, citing an Chinese old saying, to describe both American and Chinese government's surveillance programs. ... "Snowden has helped China so much. Why did we let him go?" said one ... Some suggested that China should keep Mr. Snowden as a weapon against repeated accusations of China hacking U.S. companies. More extreme users complained that China is "too soft on the U.S." "Russia is a real strong country to accept him," ... Another popular term: "hot potato," reflecting relief that Hong Kong wouldn't have to stand against U.S. efforts to take him into custody. Some users criticized Mr. Snowden for fleeing.' From the Guardian: 'Snowden's escape from Hong Kong infuriated US politicians, while China focused on condemning Washington over his latest disclosures, which suggested the NSA had hacked into Chinese mobile phone companies ... Moscow was also drawn into the controversy after it emerged that Snowden's passport had been revoked before he left Hong Kong and he did not have a visa for Russia. But Russia appeared indifferent to the uproar, with one official saying Snowden was safe from the authorities as long as he remained in the transit lounge at the city's Sheremetyevo airport. Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, said: "I know nothing."' From ABC: Snowden registered for the flight to Havana that leaves Moscow on Monday..."

Comments

He's no more of a hero than...

[Anonymous Coward]

Robert Hanssen or Aldrich Ames.

He has more than likely handed a similar amount of highly classified material to the Russian and Chinese intelligence services, wittingly or otherwise. At least Ames and Hanssen made a ton of money out of their exploits.

Re:He's no more of a hero than...

[K. S. Kyosuke]

more than likely

And you're "more than likely" paid by the US government to write this stuff. Now prove me that I'm wrong.

This is the situation where weasel words come in very handy.

We should go get him

[onyxruby]

The man is a traitor and an attention whore trying to inflict maximum damage on his country. If he were honestly a simple consciousness objector as claimed he would have never fled to begin with.

History has a proud tradition of actual consciousness objectors willingly going to prison when they feel they need to make a point and stand up for something. More than a few such objectors later became judged by history as heroes (MLK etc).

Re:We should go get him

[elucido]

The man is a traitor and an attention whore trying to inflict maximum damage on his country. If he were honestly a simple consciousness objector as claimed he would have never fled to begin with.

History has a proud tradition of actual consciousness objectors willingly going to prison when they feel they need to make a point and stand up for something. More than a few such objectors later became judged by history as heroes (MLK etc).

I agree with you. If you truly feel you're doing something which is in the best interest of your country and or the world then you should be prepared to go to prison. Snowden would rather basically snitch out all his people and his entire country than go to prison. He might have got 10 years, now he's never going to be able to return to the US and will be made to fight against the US troops by foreign intelligence. He was a former soldier himself so that makes his actions particularly bad.

I think he's unwitting, because he believes what he's doing is morally right. He's brainwashed into believing he's on the right side while he helps other governments gain the ability to do what the US government does because he's giving them the knowledge to do it. The fact that he's now their possession means he can't stop them from getting every bit of knowledge he has.

Re:We should go get him

[benjfowler]

Vote parent up.

If Snowden has already spilled the beans and is doing this on principle, why is he running away from the law, leaking damaging secrets along the way?

Likely, he's like Julian Assange: just a mindless vandal intent on doing as much damage to his country and people as humanly possible, betraying the people who raised, fed and clothed him and gave him opportunity.

Re: Done us all a favor

[elucido]

ok nsa fucker agent #5454656575765

cite your fake ass accusations.

go back to your low paid nsa job

This is all you got? Everyone who disagrees with you on Snowden or Assange is the NSA? You're a paranoid nutcase. Probably on some domestic terrorist watchlist.

Re:Done us all a favor

[noh8rz10]

It's the nsa's job to spy on foreign frenemies. For an American to expose this is treason. What moral excuse could there possibly be?