Brian Williams of NBC is the first major network news person to interview Edward Snowden in Moscow. Reviews are mixed so far, but I think it's safe to say that a wider audience isn't going to work out too well for the ultra-spy-in-exile. The more he talks the deeper the hole, so to speak. As this interview was obviously timed to coincide with the release of Glenn Greenwald's book about Snowden, it may not have the boost in sales that they were looking for.
Snowden seems to be jumping the shark, although I'm sure the Libertarian Wikileaks Anonymous crowd will swoon over his sexy snake-oil voice and geek-martyr persona.
Previous Related Posts:
Snowden Can Make Himself "Unrecognizable"
Critics Go To War Over Sourpuss Glenn Greenwald's Book
All Hail the Snowden Pulitzer
Crime or Punishment? Snowden Remains Stuck in Moscow Airport
Snowden: Messages from Moscow
Edward Snowden Releases NSA Secrets
Edward Snowden: Hero or Villain
Selected Quotes from #InsideSnowden
. . . when they say I’m a low-level systems administrator, that I don’t know what I’m talking about, I’d say it’s somewhat misleading.
~~~~~~~ I was trained as a spy in sort of the traditional sense of the word, in that I lived and worked undercover overseas, pretending to work in a job that I'm not, and even being assigned a name that was not mine.
But I am a technical specialist. I am a technical expert. I don't work with people. I don't recruit agents. What I do is I put systems to work for the United States. And I've done that at all levels from, from the bottom on the ground all the way to the top. Now, the government might deny these things, they might frame it in certain ways and say, "Oh well, you know, he's -- he's a low level analyst."
~~~~~~~ I think it's important to remember that people don't set their lives on fire. They don't walk away from their extraordinarily, extraordinarily comfortable lives for no reason.
~~~~~~~ I think the most important idea is to remember that there are times throughout American history where what is right is not the same as what is legal. Sometimes to do the right thing you have to break the law.
~~~~~~~ I have no relationship with the Russian government at all. I've never met the Russian President. I'm not supported by the Russian government. I'm not taking money from the Russian government. I'm not a spy.
I personally am surprised that I ended up here. The reality is I never intended to end up in Russia. I had a flight booked to Cuba onwards to Latin America, and I was stopped because the United States government decided to revoke my passport and trap me in the Moscow airport.
~~~~~~~ If I could go anywhere in the world, that place would be home.
UPDATE: One part of the interview has been debunked today by the NSA:
From the Interview:
Snowden: I actually did go through channels, and that is documented. The NSA has records, they have copies of emails right now to their Office of General Counsel, to their oversight and compliance folks from me raising concerns about the NSA’s interpretations of it – legal authorities. I reported that there were real problems with the way the NSA was interpreting its legal authorities. And I went even further in this, to say that they could be unconstitutional, that they were sort of abrogating our model of government in a way that empowered presidents to override our statutory laws. And this was made very clear. And the response was, more or less, in bureaucratic language, was, ‘You should stop asking questions.’
The U.S. Government Replied today by releasing one email exchange from Snowden, which they say is the only one received asking questions of the General Counsel to the NSA:
Read Snowden's Email and NSA Reply Here
From ABC News:
The NSA said in statement that Snowden’s email “did not raise allegations or concerns about wrongdoing or abuse, but posed a legal question that the Office of General Counsel addressed.”
“There was no additional follow-up noted,” the NSA said. “There are numerous avenues that Mr. Snowden could have used to raise other concerns or whistleblower allegations. We have searched for additional indications of outreach from him in those areas and to date have not discovered any engagements related to his claims.”
Snowden told NBC News that he also raised his concerns with his co-workers and superiors, many of whom he said were “shocked” at the programs he described. In December 2013, Snowden similarly told The Washington Post he brought his misgivings to four supervisors in two departments.
“I asked these people, ‘What do you think the public would do if this was on the front page?’” Snowden told the Post. “How is that not reporting it? How is that not raising it?”
In the Washington Post report, an NSA spokesperson said the agency had not found “any evidence” to support Snowden’s claims about raising concerns internally. Then, the NSA did not note the email it published online today.
Responses to #InsideSnowden
@BBCWorld Not sure who looks the creepiest there, the hideously leering Brian Williams or pallid milquetoast Edward Snowden.
— Elizabeth West (@Limeylizzie) May 28, 2014
Why is Brian Williams making a finger-mustache? #InsideSnowden
— Culture of Truth (@Bobblespeak) May 29, 2014
Cozy! RT @Gus_802 NBC News’s Brian Williams interviews Snowden, Greenwald @NBCNews http://t.co/o1yRfvE3SA pic.twitter.com/NnILGg9Hid
— Kat 4 Obama (@Kat4Obama) May 29, 2014
Rather than interviewing, Brian Williams is just empowering Snowden here. Where's the journalism?
— Lauren Katzenberg (@Lkatzenberg) May 29, 2014
Wait, so "Inside the Mind of Edward Snowden" does NOT involve Brian Williams riding a CGI microsub through blood vessels into his brain?
— James Poniewozik (@poniewozik) May 29, 2014
I get that Brian Williams is NBC"s big news guy, but was it so much to ask to have someone who understood this story interview Snowden
— Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) May 29, 2014
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On Snowden's Persona
Snowden comes across as smarmy and arrogant
— Jay Elliot Coburn (@PlatoBasquiat) May 29, 2014
I’m having a lot of issues with what Snowden is saying, not to mention demeanor.
— Jonathan Capehart (@CapehartJ) May 29, 2014
Watched the Edward Snowden interview and it sounded like he copied Christian Bale's voice in American Psycho.
— Jeffrey M. Smith (@Smithjmcl) May 29, 2014
Snowden's sing-songy voice is driving me BONKERS. #InsideSnowden
— Lauren Weathers (@WeathersLM) May 29, 2014
Can't help but describe Snowden's tone of voice as somewhere between Mansplainer and Neckbeard
— Fred Benenson (@fredbenenson) May 29, 2014
.@morning_joe #Snowden voice patterns like that of Eliot Roger. Like interacting with Siri
— sharon stillson (@stillonline) May 29, 2014
Shorter #InsideSnowden: "I want to be a hero of civil disobedience like MLK or Gandhi or Mandela, but without the icky jail part." #eyeroll
— BPI Squirrel (@bpicampus) May 29, 2014
Traitor says he was willing to die for his country... Flies To Hong Kong/Moscow "Bury me next to Mao or Stalin" Tough Choice. #InsideSnowden
— ElmObamaCarez (@lordxmen2k) May 29, 2014
Snowhole has the Movie of his Life playing, in constant loop, right on the tip of his Consciousness, 24x7.
— Ina (@InaMaziarcz) May 29, 2014
@mitchellreports Snowden supposedly was upset abt Bush 'a WMD lies but interesting he didn't betray the country under the white president.
— LiberalPhenom (@LiberalPhenom) May 29, 2014
I watched the Williams / #Snowden interview and I still can't get a sense of him. Too relaxed, too precise with answers. There's more to it.
— Pat Sanchez (@patlks5757) May 29, 2014
Is it me or is #Snowden like the kid from the old Encyclopedia Britannica ads: "Hey, remember me??" Yes. Now go. . pic.twitter.com/kFiBoJupLn
— Eric Wolfson (@EricWolfson) May 29, 2014
Chuck Toddler analysis: Snowden is confident; has a coolness that seems to back up his contention that he was a well-trained intel operative
— maria lia calvo (@MariaLiaCalvo) May 29, 2014
The monstrosity of Snowden's ego is just a sight to behold
— Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) May 29, 2014
Edward Snowden is a self-consumed asshole. There. I said it.
— Alexandra Matthiesen (@AMatthiesen) May 29, 2014
The more Edward Snowden gets out there and makes his case to the American public, the more people see what a malignant narcissist he is.
— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) May 29, 2014
Jesus H @nbc you give a tougher interview to our POTUS than the sofballs to TRAITOR Snowden.
— Maggy (@Maggyw519) May 29, 2014
RT " @iam_seanbond #OrangeRoom Edward Snowden is a #Traitor To think otherwise is ignorance of the facts pic.twitter.com/JmRaBrYK2L
— Mary Ann Barbero (@marieann66) May 28, 2014
Before you assume that Edward Snowden is like you, consider who the real person is: http://t.co/AVzP9CY4Wp Not so rosy. #InsideSnowden
— Emlyn Addison (@emlynaddison) May 29, 2014
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Russia, With Love
Snowden: "When people ask why I'm in Russia, I say 'Please, ask the State Department.'" #InsideSnowden
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) May 29, 2014
Snowden didn't mean to live in Russia. He meant to flee justice to someplace warmer. Stop being mean to him State Dept.
— Lex (@LuthorCEO) May 28, 2014
A reminder that a) Putin invited Snowden to come to Moscow and offered asylum June 11; b) Snowden's passport was pulled only June 23
— CatherineFitzpatrick (@catfitz) May 29, 2014
I'm putting this out there. Snowden IMO is looking a LOT like an agent for Russia, instead of the dreamy libertarian Jesus y'all want...
— Isaiah L. Carter (@IsaiahLCarter) May 29, 2014
Russia offered Snowden indefinite asylum. His lawyer is an FSB attorney. And yet he has "no relationship" with the RU government. Hilarious.
— Bob Cesca (@bobcesca_go) May 29, 2014
If Snowden said “I had to deal with the Kremlin to get asylum” I would buy it. But to claim he has no relationship with them isnt plausible.
— Max Fisher (@Max_Fisher) May 29, 2014
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Snowden Has Fans - "He's a Patriot!"
Viewers tell NBC that Edward Snowden is a patriot. pic.twitter.com/XMDSDfpFWr
— John Nichols (@NicholsUprising) May 29, 2014
Edward Snowden, "being a patriot means knowing when to protect your country" http://t.co/ldHLhtyhPS pic.twitter.com/UqZPpFWGpR
— KTLA (@KTLA) May 29, 2014
#InsideSnowden a hero, wise beyond his years, patriot, and I'm sorry, but #Snowden is a cutie too.
— Mary Mathieu (@LiberalHDWoman) May 29, 2014
#Snowden Mr. Snowden Is a hero and Patriot. If there were Snowdens in Germany, Nazis would not have come to power
— Joseph Medina (@JosephLMedina) May 29, 2014
#Snowden sacrificed everything for all of us and you call him a #Traitor ? Bunch of #brainwashed #fools #Patriot #InsideSnowden
— OGDarknessboy (@OGDarknessboy) May 29, 2014
The day may well come when Edward #Snowden is universally considered a hero in his homeland: #NSA http://t.co/QBOqsdOcc6 via @NBCNews
— Bob Reid (@rhreid) May 29, 2014
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He's a Spy, Dammit!
#Snowden - Intelligence agencies are so incompetent that they don't know what I took, but by the way they're also omnipotent and evil.
— Devin (@DevinRuic) May 29, 2014
Snowden believes he is "still working for the govt", oh please, give me a break.
— Mark S. Zaid (@MarkSZaidEsq) May 29, 2014
Snowden's incognito pseudonym: Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo.
— Bob Cesca (@bobcesca_go) May 28, 2014
@bobcesca_go he's a Spy In The House of Love. pic.twitter.com/n0DPz8qK86
— anibundel (@anibundel) May 28, 2014
Now he's bragging. #Snowden fans, see the reality. RT @SkyNews: Edward Snowden: 'I Worked As A Spy Overseas' http://t.co/uyq2MbUaLl #Traitor
— Vanessa Robinson (@Vrob125) May 28, 2014
With Edward Snowden's latest boasts about being trained as super-secret undercover spy, there's only one actor for the movie: Tom Cruise.
— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) May 28, 2014
.@Green_Footballs @bobcesca_go @Gus_802 This just amounts to yet another confession of Snowden's OWN illeg misuse of #NSA tech. #KeepTalkin
— Only4RM (@Only4RM) May 27, 2014
THANKS GOD! WE'RE SAFE!! @HuffPostPol Edward Snowden reflects on 9/11: "I take the threat of terrorism seriously" http://t.co/44SzeanvMg
— BWD (@theonlyadult) May 29, 2014
If Snowden was telling the truth about the NSA right now, the Isla Vista shooter would have been arrested after he uploaded his video.
— Matt Murphy (@MattMurph24) May 29, 2014
Shocking existence and use of Keyloggers revealed by Snowden
— Chetter Hummin (@Kilgoar) May 29, 2014
“@Kilgoar: Shocking existence and use of Keyloggers revealed by Snowden” What?! Really?! O M G #topsecret #spystuff
— YancyFaith (@YancyFaith) May 29, 2014
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What about Glenn Greenwald?
Team Greenwald and Poitras in Moscow prepping Snowden for the NBC interview pic.twitter.com/cjAKIApwwV @TheWarRoom_Tom @OsborneInk
— Jeff Gauvin (@JeffersonObama) May 29, 2014
#Snowden’s Enabler-in-Chief, Glenn #Greenwald should bear some criminal responsibility as well.
— CherokeeNative (@CherokeeNative3) May 29, 2014
The worst part of this #Snowden interview was Greenwald popping up to plug his book
— Rahsaan (@Rahlo13) May 29, 2014
But at least we're talking about Snowden and not the horrible, thin skinned, dummy Glenn Greenwald. #InsideSnowden
— Casey (@HammerDialectic) May 29, 2014
I want to go on Record. GG and Snowden will fall out. Mark it down.
— KSK(africa) (@lawalazu) May 29, 2014
@lawalazu No doubt. Greenwald is living the life, selling books and getting movie deals while Lil Eddie's homesick butt is stuck in Russia.
— Mr. NFTG (@Kennymack1971) May 29, 2014
@Kennymack1971 @lawalazu Greenwald walking to Ipanema in his Speedo, Snowden installing dashboard cams in Soviet-era cars at 20 below.
— Leftfielder™ (@DaleMoss2) May 29, 2014
@lawalazu I agree. GG & Snowden may act like alter egos now, but there's too much ego there for one altar.
— Kat 4 Obama (@Kat4Obama) May 29, 2014
@Soxwriter @SnarkAmendment I wonder if that dimwit will ever figure out that his puppet master Greenwald played him like a violin.
— Gina (@redhed67) May 29, 2014
@redhed67 @SnarkAmendment I doubt it. He doesn't even have a high school diploma. We'll see how he likes Siberia.
— Pat (@Soxwriter) May 29, 2014
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John Kerry's Opinion
Kerry: If Snowden is a patriot, he should stay in the US and make his case http://t.co/bordlU3sg9 pic.twitter.com/thunkyHkMN
— Talking Points Memo (@TPM) May 28, 2014
Kerry: "We have evidence that people are in additional danger" b/c of #Snowden revelations. @GMA
— Rick Klein (@rickklein) May 28, 2014
John Kerry to Edward Snowden: "Man up" http://t.co/wuYG7y3v46
— HuffPost Politics (@HuffPostPol) May 29, 2014
John Kerry tells Edward Snowden to "man up." Agree with the sentiment, but this is coming from a guy who can't catch a football.
— Kyle (@kyleraccio) May 29, 2014
John Kerry stomach-punches planet earth by explaining Edward Snowden should 'man up'. http://t.co/rpqnLdttpw pic.twitter.com/aE01rDR6QC
— Mike Mongo (@MikeMongo) May 29, 2014
Edward Snowden: I'm a patriot. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry: No, you're a traitor. http://t.co/4krrSAScQR
— CNN International (@cnni) May 29, 2014
Snowden unlikely to 'man up' in face of Espionage Act, legal adviser says - The Guardian http://t.co/E4RN7uc6GR
— The News Roundup (@TheNewsRoundup) May 29, 2014
Snowden would have every high profile civil liberties atty lining up to rep him pro bono. So pls, stop w/the "no faith in legal system" BS
— scary lawyerguy (@scarylawyerguy) May 29, 2014
#facepalm RT @Mediaite Chuck Todd: White House, Kerry Have 'So Much Rage' at Snowden http://t.co/sRlG3iYsbR (VIDEO)
— Jeanne K. (@SnarkAmendment) May 29, 2014
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What Does Snowden Watch on TV?
Snowden apparently enjoys the Wire -- though not thrilled about the second season #InsideSnowden
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) May 29, 2014
Pretty sure Obama's gonna scramble the drones when he hears that Snowden dissed The Wire.
— Wild Joey Hickok (@60th_Street) May 29, 2014
What's Edward Snowden up to? He's watching "The Wire." "The second season? Not so great."
— David Gura (@davidgura) May 29, 2014
Does Snowden know The Wire is over 5 years old?
— yywhy (@yywhy) May 29, 2014
Sec State John Kerry demands that Snowden return home to face season 5 of THE WIRE
— James Poniewozik (@poniewozik) May 29, 2014
Snowden is having his "sheltered white dude learning about urban culture by watching The Wire" moment?
— Fonseca (@Fonseca_Dave) May 29, 2014
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