Snowden is snowed in

[maddogairpirate]

Figure I don't comment often here, but when I do, it's often of a political or current events nature

Comments

[mlknchz]

It really all boils down to whether Putin gets more out of letting him go then he does by making him stay. That's the entire equation.

[maddogairpirate]

I don't see much Putin can gain from letting him go. He's a bargaining chip in his lap, and the U.S. isn't about to go to war or enforce boycotts over him. It would look pointedly desperate if it was a non-issue that the U.S. likes to think of it as.

My feeling is Snowden has run out of options and is in a tight spot. It's a rare man who can hold to his principles while being squeezed from every angle.

[jharish]

I'm surprised you thought the "cablegate" was fluff. It led to the Osama bin Laden murder, which was a big deal. It also revealed a great deal of corruption in our embassies. But mostly, I think the world agrees that "Arab Spring" was instigated by these leaks and that was a huge deal since it led to overthrows of dictatorships in Libya and Tunisia

[maddogairpirate]

I tend to find that diplomacy is 'nice doggie' until you can find a rock. As such, cablegate told me very little I didn't expect. But despite the fact I expected it, I know fully well how unnecessary badmouthing and playing to a third party can be pretty hurtful.

I've been a party to it at some time or another.

That said, I don't believe everyone is motivated by money, and I don't believe that Snowden is either. He's now in a position where money won't really help him.

[sonious]

I think this isn't even the worst possible scenerio, and I think the government should be a bit thankful that it was just revealed to the people that their data was being procured. The most dangerous information to the people, is the thing they do not know about

[maddogairpirate]

'Information is a weapon, and I believe should be covered under the second amendment.'

That's an interesting argument, although I don't know if you'd find the court ever recognizing it as such. Interesting idea.