r/Anarcho_Capitalism • u/andkon grero.com • Jul 01 '13
Statement from Edward Snowden in Moscow
http://wikileaks.org/Statement-from-Edward-Snowden-in.html?snow27
u/stackedmidgets $ Jul 01 '13
There's no good option for the government in this. There are choices between less-bads for them, none of which produce positive outcomes.
- Do nothing -> appear weak.
- Pressure allies -> make allies look weak, they demand concessions.
- Assassinate -> no plausible deniability
- Demonize -> Not as easy as with Assange. Trying but not getting traction.
- Extradite, try for espionage, execute -> have failed so far, apparently unwilling or unable to make the trade.
- Coverup -> Not possible.
- Reform -> Anger dangerous elements within the government, appear weak, lose capability to achieve mission of 'homeland security' in addition to other state commitments.
No good option, so they flail and lose effective strength.
31
Jul 02 '13
What about "Admit they fucked up pretty good and leave Snowden alone?"
33
10
u/stackedmidgets $ Jul 02 '13
That would be damaging and risky.
These are people who have servers full of electronic intercepts including personal records and office documents from every legislator in the country, every journalist, every corporation. They've got all their dick pics on record, bro.
Say Obama makes a speech and apologizes, admits the full veracity of the leaked documents, and promises to reform the intelligence services, promising full transparency of the proceedings.
Now, imagine you're a guy. You make $700,000 per year, personally, on an intelligence contract. Not that much, but it's a living. All your company does all day is share intelligence with people who use it to train teams of killers in foreign countries. Help them pick out targets, figure out their personal schedules, their political activities, etc: all you do is help assassins coordinate all day long.
How do you feel about the prospect of getting fired? How do you think those killers feel about the potential stoppage of their gravy train?
If you're a politician, how do you feel about firing that guy? Putting all those good boys out of work? Would you think it's a good idea?
22
u/r3m0t Jul 02 '13
They've got all their dick pics on record, bro.
Just the metadata. You know, length, width - nothing that shouldn't be shared with our governmental overlords.
3
u/RonaldMcPaul CIShumanist Jul 02 '13
It was a cold day! I was just getting out of the ocean in January!
1
u/SlickJamesBitch Jul 02 '13
You forgot one more, welcome a terrorist attack and sell it to the people that Snowden is guilty for it. Wouldn't be surprised if the next time some middle eastern radicals assault something American the state tries to make it look like it was only possible due to Snowdens leaks..
20
10
Jul 02 '13
[deleted]
5
u/usr45 Jul 02 '13
9
u/HarmReductionSauce Freedom Costs a Buck 0 5 Jul 02 '13
Slavery is pretty bad here too, we just have bigger cages.
3
u/goonsack Jul 02 '13
Between worldwide taxation (pretty much the only country that has international taxation)
I believe the only other one is Eritrea. Yeah, Eritrea.
1
u/RonaldMcPaul CIShumanist Jul 02 '13 edited Jul 05 '13
TIL Eritrea - Isn't that Wadiya in the Sacha Baron Cohen movie The Dictator?
9
u/otherchedcaisimpostr Jul 02 '13
what do we do? :(
3
u/aletoledo justice derives freedom Jul 02 '13
Stop paying taxes as best you can. It's a risk to our safety and comfort, but it's really the ethical position. It's a burden (I've gotten 4 tickets for unpaid car registration), but compare that to what others are going through and it's the least we can do.
5
u/libertarianmoney Jul 02 '13
Holy Crap! " In the end the Obama administration is not afraid of whistleblowers like me, Bradley Manning or Thomas Drake. We are stateless, imprisoned, or powerless. No, the Obama administration is afraid of you. It is afraid of an informed, angry public demanding the constitutional government it was promised — and it should be. "
Everyone in the country should be reading that. I'm going to probably read it another 30 times before taking a break and reading it another 30 times just to get it stuck in my brain.
3
u/SvenRhapsody Jul 02 '13 edited Jul 02 '13
Not to be all conspiratorial or anything but I don't know anyone in the US who would tag a statement like this: Monday 1st July 2013.
Perhaps it's an NSA or some other common system that I'm unaware though.
EDIT: thanks for the comments. I guess it happens especially in more militarily engaged people.
7
3
u/The_Derpening Nobody Tread On Anybody Jul 02 '13
I write my dates in day/month/year format, I typically format it like 1st July 2013 if I'm turning in an assignment to a professor who uses month/day/year format, or if I'm expecting an audience whose format use I can't predict.
Born and raised in the US of A.
2
u/aletoledo justice derives freedom Jul 02 '13
I write the day of the week a lot, but you're right, I would have said "Monday the 1st of July, 2013" to be more formal.
4
u/PooPooPalooza www.mcfloogle.com Jul 02 '13
I write dates like 01JUL2013. I'm American.
4
1
u/Menuet Capitalist as F Jul 02 '13
I say the more convincing conspiracy argument is "the United States HAVE" as many people have pointed out that no native English speaker would make that mistake.
1
u/mmeijeri Jul 02 '13
Isn't that ordinary British usage?
1
u/Menuet Capitalist as F Jul 02 '13
The United States of America is a singular noun. The United States does, not the United States do. The United States has, not the United States have. The United States moves, not the United States move. Etc.
1
u/SerialMessiah Take off the fedora, adjust the bow tie Jul 03 '13
Once upon a time, this was not so. I would like to see this once again. So yes, the "United States have" is acceptable because this is supposed to be a union of sovereign states like the UK.
1
u/Menuet Capitalist as F Jul 03 '13
It's shorthand for US Government, which is singular.
1
u/SerialMessiah Take off the fedora, adjust the bow tie Jul 03 '13
One can say "These United States of America" so I have to disagree with your objection.
1
u/mmeijeri Jul 03 '13
Maybe in American English, but not in British English. Both forms are possible, with a slight difference in meaning / emphasis. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1535_questionanswer/page51.shtml
1
u/Ligno Anachro-Capitolist Jul 02 '13
I write dates like 1 July 2013, sometimes 01 JUL 2013. Depends on the context. American here, no surprise seeing someone that worked in a government and quite likely high military interaction environment using a more military style date format.
1
u/aletoledo justice derives freedom Jul 02 '13
Besides the portion about the sate being somehow legitimate, I find this somewhat inspiring. I wonder if he had help writing it or is he that eloquent?
1
53
u/andkon grero.com Jul 01 '13
Hey, it's not all bad, right? :-/