NSA Leaker Edward Snowden : I'm not Traitor, I'm American
(South China Morning Post) Surveillance whistleblower Edward Snowden has
spoken for the first time since blowing his own cover in an exclusive
interview with the South China Morning Post.
The ex-CIA analyst
has been holed up in secret locations in Hong Kong since fleeing Hawaii
ahead of highly sensitive leaks revealing details of US top-secret phone
and internet surveillance of its citizens.
Snowden's actions have been both praised and condemned globally.
But he told Post reporter Lana Lam: "I'm neither traitor nor hero. I'm an American."
Today, he reveals:
more explosive details on US surveillance targets
his plans for the immediate future
the steps he claims the US has taken since he broke cover in Hong Kong
his fears for his family
The
29-year-old was working for defence contractor Booz Allen Hamilton at
the National Security Agency (NSA), the biggest spy surveillance
organisation in the world, when he leaked information claiming the US
was systematically seizing vast amounts of phone and web data. Snowden
fled to Hong Kong after using Britain's Guardian newspaper to expose the
agency's PRISM program which gives officials easy access to data held
by nine of the world's top internet companies, including Google,
Facebook, Microsoft and Skype.
People who think I made a mistake
in picking HK as a location misunderstand my intentions. I am not here
to hide from justice; I am here to reveal criminality
"People who
think I made a mistake in picking HK as a location misunderstand my
intentions. I am not here to hide from justice; I am here to reveal
criminality," Snowden told the Post earlier today.
He vowed to
fight any extradition attempt by the US government, saying: "My
intention is to ask the courts and people of Hong Kong to decide my
fate. I have been given no reason to doubt your system.''
It is
believed the US is pursuing a criminal investigation, but no extradition
request has yet been filed. Hong Kong has an extradition treaty with
the US, although analysts say any attempts to bring Mr Snowden to
America may take months and could be blocked by Beijing.
His
actions have been both praised and condemned globally, with some hailing
him a hero while others a traitor. Some senators have accused Snowden
of treason.
Edward Snowden is a HERO, I don't care what the "Talking Heads" say! Ron Paul is right, "We live in a bad time, where American citizens don't have rights....." NEVER, in my WILDEST IMAGINATION did I EVER think we would be living in times such as these!!! Then again, what did I expect? "The chickens have come home to roost." (Literally)
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