POLL: Should Edward Snowden
Be Allowed Back Into The U.S.?
He blew wide open the NSA’s secret surveillance plans and has spent the past few years hiding out in Russia. Now, former NSA contractor Edward Snowden is talking with lawyers in hopes of being allowed to return home to the U.S.
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According to Snowden’s Russian lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena, he would love to come back home to his former life, but only if he is guaranteed a “fair and impartial trial.” Although Snowden has stated this same demand of a fair trial in several interviews, it seems unlikely he will be granted his wish. Kucherena says U.S. lawyers have promised Snowden that he won’t be executed for treason if he returns, but he was quick to point out they don’t have the legal authority to make that deal.
The former analyst’s leaks have had a huge global impact and, some say, has put U.S. national security in grave danger. His leaks pushed tech companies like Apple to rely more heavily on encrypting consumer data. It also prompted countries like China to pursue similar data mining tactics, which made U.S. government officials angry.
During a recent installment of “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” on HBO, Snowden and Oliver squared-off over the leaks that exposed the NSA’s extensive surveillance programs. Oliver traveled to Russia to conduct the interview and (like his former boss, Jon Steward of “The Daily Show”) showed an uncanny knack for using comedy to transform complicated issues of the day.
When asked by Oliver if he was aware of the data he leaked and the damage it could potentially cause the U.S., Snowden said, “I have evaluated all of the documents that are in the archive.” When Oliver pressed him on whether he actually read each document, Snowden provided a non-answer, saying that he does “understand” what he handed over.
Oliver pounced, saying there’s a “difference between understanding what’s in the documents and reading what’s in the documents.” He went on to argue that actually reading the documents is important, given the significance of the material that Snowden leaked.
“Well, in my defense, I’m not handling anything anymore,” Snowden argued. Oliver pressed on, saying that Snowden should take responsibility for handing over any documents “that could be harmful.”
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After Oliver successfully made Snowden squirm for five minutes or more, Snowden eventually acknowledged that the information he leaked could be harmful “if people act in bad faith” or if the information is handled — as Oliver described it — with “incompetence.” Oliver specifically pointed to an improperly redacted document published by The New York Times that allowed anyone to see how the US government was combating al-Qaeda operatives in Mosul, Iraq. Snowden acknowledged that the redaction issue was indeed a “problem.”
Oliver then retreated back to his comedic skills, showing Snowden videos of people on the streets who were asked if they knew who Edward Snowden was. Nearly all of them guessed incorrectly, with many identifying him as the man behind Julian Assange’s WikiLeaks.
In typical fashion, Oliver was able to illustrate a point through his comedy. He argued that Americans generally don’t care as much about NSA surveillance — especially foreign spying — as Snowden would prefer.
After Edward Snowden leaked information that the NSA was spying on Americans, he was called a hero. Then, when it became public knowledge that many of the documents he released were intercepted by foreign governments, putting United States national security at risk, many considered him a traitor. Now, Snowden wants to return home to the U.S. and be treated as if nothing ever happened.
Is Edward Snowden a hero or a traitor? Should he be allowed back into the U.S.? Should he be given a fair trial, or immediately imprisoned or even executed for treason?
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"Now, Snowden wants to return home to the U.S. and be treated as if nothing ever happened."
Yes, well good luck with that. And I'm not suprised that he wants to come home now.
However, whether one considers him a "hero" or a "traitor" I don't think there's any way he returns here without having to face some serious consequnces for his actions.
And I admit that I'm still not sure how I view him (?)
While I view him as neither a "hero" nor a "traitor, " I do think it rather cowardly of him to leak such highly sensitive, and secretive, National Security information while high-tailing it to another country to avoid being taken into U.S. custody.
If he truly believes what he did was right..then, IMO..he should have stayed in the U.S. and fought to make his case.