Snowden Does Not Deserve the Threat He Faces

Re:Snowden Does Not Deserve the Threat He Faces by devoply on Wednesday January 18, 2017 @05:26PM (#13430960)

I don't know how he could really do much more damage at this point. What would killing him achieve. And also can't they get him in Russia too? I mean in a country like that with all the mafia, etc. A few million would go a long way. I wonder how much Russia is protecting him from a CIA hit. In Russia he's much more of a threat as Putin's useful idiot than he would be on American soil. I am not saying he's a useful idiot, I am saying he's a useful idiot to Putin and that's why Putin has given him protection. Also I don't think that you hand over a chip like Snowden without serious concessions from the US. But could happen under Trump.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Snowden Does Not Deserve the Threat He Faces by Arizhel on Wednesday January 18, 2017 @05:47PM (#13431155)

Assassinating someone on Russian soil is a great way to start a war. You seem to be assuming that it could be covered up successfully. History proves otherwise; all too often, the truth comes out eventually. And if he were assassinated, the party responsible would be fairly obvious early on, because there's only one country that would have the motivation to finance that operation.

Putin gives him protection because it lets him thumb his nose at the US.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Snowden Does Not Deserve the Threat He Faces by Normal_gaussian on Wednesday January 18, 2017 @05:37PM (#13431050)

Killing somebody on foreign soil opens you up to a whole can of worms that killing on your own soil doesn't, so regardless of whether or not he is being actively protected there is significant passive protection just by being there.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Snowden Does Not Deserve the Threat He Faces by atmosx on Wednesday January 18, 2017 @05:41PM (#13431089)

So are we to assume that the CIA wants Snowden dead, but they can't get a chance to kill him in Russia? I found that hard to believe. Maybe, there is some kind of commitment to the FSB (don't kill in the US, we won't go on a killing spree in Russian soil kind of deal), but even that I find it hard to believe. I also find very hard to believe the claim the the FSB somehow protects him.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Snowden Does Not Deserve the Threat He Faces by drspacemonkey on Wednesday January 18, 2017 @08:09PM (#13432079)

>So are we to assume that the CIA wants Snowden dead, but they can't get a chance to kill him in Russia?

Not so much can't get a chance as the price would be too high. He's under Russian protection. That protection is political far more than tactical. The CIA could probably pick him up in less than an hour if they knew they could do it without pissing off the Russians. It's the "pissing off the Russians" part that's stopping them, not the logistics.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Snowden Does Not Deserve the Threat He Faces by Normal_gaussian on Thursday January 19, 2017 @09:15AM (#13435874)

It isn't just pissing off the Russians, its pissing off everybody. When you perform an act on foreign soil you open yourself up to scrutiny from everyone. The USA is already largely considered a warmonger state

As for whether the CIA would want Snowden dead - I presume it would only have been useful to them pre-leak, and I doubt murder would have been on the cards then anyway. I don't see retribution as being particularly high on the CIA's list of priorities, and the political entities in the US that are keeping Snowden relevant wouldn't appear to gain anything from his death.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Snowden Does Not Deserve the Threat He Faces by RUG3Y on Wednesday January 18, 2017 @05:57PM (#13431262)

The US Govt kills people on foreign soil often, even in countries that we're not at war with. If we hear about it happening in Pakistan, where does it happen that we don't hear about? Also, you're assuming that the US Govt is rational and doesn't want an excuse to go to war with Russia or anyone else.

[ Parent | on HN ]