What did you think of the Edward Snowden interview?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 28 May 2014 23:00:31 -0400

So who watched it? What are your thoughts on what he had to say? Do you think is he a patriot or a traitor?

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made May 28 at 2014 11:18 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Wed, 28 May 2014 23:18:50 -0400

to quote Sean Connery's character in "The Rock"

"Personally, I think you're a f--king idiot"

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made May 29 at 2014 7:48 AM

MSG Wade Huffman — Thu, 29 May 2014 07:48:11 -0400

He truly believes himself to be a patriot... that was enough for me, couldn't watch too much more after that. He is, in my opinion, delusional.

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2014 7:55 AM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 29 May 2014 07:55:50 -0400

Edward who? LMFAO!!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2014 3:09 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 29 May 2014 15:09:40 -0400

I watched the interview in its entirety. I came away convinced that Snowden believes what he did was necessary. And, as SGT Baptiste pointed out, the fact that all three branches of government are working on reforming and reigning in the intelligence community since the incident tells me that perhaps his argument has SOME merit. Hell, he may be perfectly correct on every allegation and this information DID need to get out!

I can't, however, get past one simple fact: HE OFFERED TO AID ANOTHER NATION IN COUNTER INTELLIGENCE EFFORTS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES IN EXCHANGE FOR PERMANENT ASYLUM. This is the point at which he gives up all pretense to claims of whistleblower status. He has now become a traitor to this country.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made May 30 at 2014 9:19 AM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Fri, 30 May 2014 09:19:13 -0400

Another good movie quote that expresses my feelings:

De Niro from the completely underrated, "Midnight Run" (one of my favs):

"I only have 2 words for you, shut the f--k up!"

Response by SPC Brian Jones made May 30 at 2014 9:50 AM

SPC Brian Jones — Fri, 30 May 2014 09:50:06 -0400

Alot of people say he is a traitor, I agree what he did was against the "law" and could be claimed as traitorous. But can not the same be said about our founding fathers? Their actions put many people in harms way as Snowden MIGHT have (I have yet to see any evidence to that fact).

The fact is with the Patriots Act and Obama's strengthening of it earlier this year we as Americans have had to shelve our right to privacy because we were scared as a nation. We "gave" it up hoping that OUR government would respect that now foreclosed right. Snowden showed us that they have not respected any of us. Not only do they have the ability, they ARE listening. Big brother is here and not scared to listen in and watch it's own people.

So did Snowden break the law? Yes. Should he have? Yes. Is he a traitor? No!

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made May 30 at 2014 7:29 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 30 May 2014 19:29:15 -0400

I watched a Russian translation, and the title pretty much read "Edward Snowden: I'm a REAL SPY". It was quite comical to me, especially seeing his mousy face paired with a deep Russian voice. I think he's a fink and a jerk.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2016 8:18 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 18 Sep 2016 08:18:22 -0400

SSG Private RallyPoint Member - I watched the entire interview. This guy believes what he did was righteous - and that no individual was harmed by his release of highly classified information (and in quite a few instances NSA ECI (Exceptionally Controlled Information) detailing the scope and reach of sources and methods employed to acquired, process, and analyze intelligence data. While no one has come forward yet with a list of specific individuals who lost their lives - this release has caused a devastating high amount of damage to our ability to employ identified systems to curate the identified information collected by multiple agencies throughout the world. The cost to renovate these systems - the overwhelming majority of which did not even questionably cross any legal bounds - is very high. The disclosures open previously unknown and uncharacterized relationships with foreign agenxies - and form the basis for international efforts to avoid detection, identification, and surveillance by NSA officers and their collaborating organizations. There can be no doubt Snowden disclosed far more highly detailed information than would be necessary to make his case to the general public. Sandy

Response by SFC George Smith made Sep 18 at 2016 1:15 PM

SFC George Smith — Sun, 18 Sep 2016 13:15:35 -0400

the material I watched left me thinking he was acting out to protect the real America and not the Regime in power...
The ideas and the points he made were that He had to come forward because the actions were illegal, and what he was doing against the Citizens of America war Wrong...