Think of it from Snowdens perspective. You get to choose: either be tortured for the rest of your life, or chill in Russia and pretend Putin is a nice guy. I know what I’d pick.
He is not simply pretending Putin is a nice guy, he is clearly collaborating with russian security services. Just look at his comments on internal US politics. And he also was spreading misinformation that russia wasn’t going to invade Ukraine in Feb 2022.
He might be a hero for many, but if you’re Ukrainian (like I am), he is clearly a piece of shit.
Still it’s 100.0% USAs decisions that pushed him to Russia, it’s not like he went there immediately (2013), he was on the run and in shitty conditions for years before he finally had enough and went to Russia (2022).
USA still wanted to disappear (torture) him, not even allowing him to stay in other NATO or non-NATO countries.
A USA hero is safer in Russia, and Putin had nothing to do with setting that situation up (safe for not deporting him to USA ofc, which otc lol).
Snowden took a flight from Hong Kong to Moscow on June 23, 2013, and he’s been in Russia ever since. Don’t know who told you he went to Russia in '22, he’s been there for a long time.
I totally get it, I live next to that big pain in the ass as well. Luckily, he hasn’t invaded us yet, but I feel it’s only a matter of time. And what Snowden does here certainly doesn’t help.
But he could have just done nothing and lived a very happy life. Instead, he chose to give up his happy life to uncover the NSA scandal, knowing full well that it will absolutely wreck his life.
Personally, I think he did enough for the greater good there. This isn’t his war, and if he has to post some lies to get a bit of normalcy back in his life, I can understand that. I wish it wasn’t that way, but I can understand it.
The issue is that he is supporting russian genocidal imperialism. His messaging clearly aligns with russian propaganda goals.
Is it not reasonable for me to consider him my enemy (he directly supports doing harm to me, my family and my fellow citizens)?
As far I am concerned, I hope Snowden and his family will one day be on the recieving end of russian brutality.
I don’t buy the logic of “he did one good thing, so it’s fine for him to promote russian genocidal imperialism”.
If he can’t stay consistent, he should have never got involved in the NSA issue in the first place.
He clearly enjoys the attention (just look at this post). He could have simply shut up and not worked with russian security services (the russians wouldn’t kill him, they need him alive).
Were you there? Were you privy to the circumstances? It could very well be the case that he was threatened. We don’t know, I just think it’s super sus that he started spewing pro-Russia nonsense only after his importance uncovering US govt documents was waning.
I think it’s highly likely he was pressured to make those statements.
What does me being or not being there have to do with anything?
He did have a choice to not support russian genocidal imperialism. He made a decision to support the russians even though they do terrible things (both in context of violent imperialism and spying on their own citizens).
The tone of his social media posts suggests that he rather enthusiastic about using his fame and social readership to promote an agenda. One that is explicitly aimed at harming those who oppose russian genocidal imperialism.
Think of it from Snowdens perspective. You get to choose: either be tortured for the rest of your life, or chill in Russia and pretend Putin is a nice guy. I know what I’d pick.
He is not simply pretending Putin is a nice guy, he is clearly collaborating with russian security services. Just look at his comments on internal US politics. And he also was spreading misinformation that russia wasn’t going to invade Ukraine in Feb 2022.
He might be a hero for many, but if you’re Ukrainian (like I am), he is clearly a piece of shit.
Still it’s 100.0% USAs decisions that pushed him to Russia, it’s not like he went there immediately (2013), he was on the run and in shitty conditions for years before he finally had enough and went to Russia (2022).
USA still wanted to disappear (torture) him, not even allowing him to stay in other NATO or non-NATO countries.
A USA hero is safer in Russia, and Putin had nothing to do with setting that situation up (safe for not deporting him to USA ofc, which otc lol).
Snowden took a flight from Hong Kong to Moscow on June 23, 2013, and he’s been in Russia ever since. Don’t know who told you he went to Russia in '22, he’s been there for a long time.
And how does this justify Snowden promoting russian genocidal imperialism in Ukraine?
He did a good thing, so now he is an untouchable saint?
I totally get it, I live next to that big pain in the ass as well. Luckily, he hasn’t invaded us yet, but I feel it’s only a matter of time. And what Snowden does here certainly doesn’t help.
But he could have just done nothing and lived a very happy life. Instead, he chose to give up his happy life to uncover the NSA scandal, knowing full well that it will absolutely wreck his life.
Personally, I think he did enough for the greater good there. This isn’t his war, and if he has to post some lies to get a bit of normalcy back in his life, I can understand that. I wish it wasn’t that way, but I can understand it.
The issue is that he is supporting russian genocidal imperialism. His messaging clearly aligns with russian propaganda goals.
Is it not reasonable for me to consider him my enemy (he directly supports doing harm to me, my family and my fellow citizens)?
As far I am concerned, I hope Snowden and his family will one day be on the recieving end of russian brutality.
I don’t buy the logic of “he did one good thing, so it’s fine for him to promote russian genocidal imperialism”.
If he can’t stay consistent, he should have never got involved in the NSA issue in the first place.
He clearly enjoys the attention (just look at this post). He could have simply shut up and not worked with russian security services (the russians wouldn’t kill him, they need him alive).
Well yeah, he’s in Russia. What’s he supposed to do?
He did one good thing. Now he’s in Russia, so ignore pretty much anything he days says that could in some way benefit Russia.
Why do they need him alive? Any information he has is a decade old at this point. He’s only useful to them alive while he has a platform.
No, he had a choice to keep quiet, but instead he chose to support russian genocidal imperialism. That makes him a bad person.
He is a PR win for russia, they are not going to harm him as that would undermine their interests.
Were you there? Were you privy to the circumstances? It could very well be the case that he was threatened. We don’t know, I just think it’s super sus that he started spewing pro-Russia nonsense only after his importance uncovering US govt documents was waning.
I think it’s highly likely he was pressured to make those statements.
What does me being or not being there have to do with anything?
He did have a choice to not support russian genocidal imperialism. He made a decision to support the russians even though they do terrible things (both in context of violent imperialism and spying on their own citizens).
The tone of his social media posts suggests that he rather enthusiastic about using his fame and social readership to promote an agenda. One that is explicitly aimed at harming those who oppose russian genocidal imperialism.