Edward Snowden – What Did He Do Wrong?

Edward Snowden told the world that the USA’s security agencies routinely trawled through the social media content of millions and millions of people. Some of these – although the assertion is disputed – may have been US citizens. Most were not, although whether their number includes those resident in the UK and the rest of the EU is not told. But he did not endanger anyone’s life.

Yet, following Snowden’s departure from Hong Kong, where he first made his revelations, all hell has broken loose, and the order has clearly gone out to paint him as the bad guy. In the UK , much of the Fourth Estate has acquiesced because he went to the deeply subversive Guardian, and they are definitely the bad guys for many who scrabble around the dunghill that is Grubstreet.

Secretary of State John Kerry, not normally used to using plain language when verbal complexity serves his cause better, has been unusually forthright: “it would be ‘disappointing’ if Russia and China had helped him evade an attempt to extradite him”, he said after Snowden flew from Hong Kong to Moscow, after the US had tried to get him extradited from HK beforehand.

Kerry said of China (now in charge in HK) allowing Snowden to leave that “There would be without any question some effect and impact on the relationship and consequences”, maybe without thinking who it is who holds enough US debt to do the latter country’s economy serious damage. Then Kerry turned his attention to Russia, where Snowden is still reported to be.

He called on the state now ruled by Vladimir Putin, former KGB man and increasingly less than concerned what anyone thinks of him, especially given the dependence of much of eastern Europe on the natural gas his country produces, to “live by the standards of the law because that's in the interests of everybody”. Vladimir Vladimirovich was unavailable for comment.

That may have been because he was too busy doubled up laughing. Sure, he could have Snowden detained – assuming he’s still in Russia – but then, perhaps the USA would like to make a gesture of his liking on the subject of, oh I dunno, how about Syria? Or would they like to talk about Iran? They wouldn’t? Then they can say dasvidaniyato getting their man on the next plane to NYC.

It’s not just that the influence of the USA has declined over the years – and we in the UK know all about that kind of thing, thanks – but that other countries have their own self-interest at heart first, and any kind of special pleading second. It ain’t going to change the world for the worse to let Edward Snowden get on a plane to somewhere in Central or South America, so he can enjoy a little freedom.

Something to think about for those who represent The Land Of The Free.

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