He had to do this to control that conversation. Otherwise if he tried anonymous leaks, the first time we heard his name it would be on a news report based on gov sources going something like 'high school drop out and suspected drug user ed showdown is on the run from the FBI, after stealing classified government information vital to the fight against terrorism, and has fled to the protection of comminist china. We're unsure as yet which rogue state or terrorist organisations he plans to sell the data to. Is he the worst traitor and terrorist sympathiser the world has ever known or is he simply a confused data janitor? You decide, after the break.'

As it is the discussion from the likes of brooks or cnn hasn't risen much above that level. I agree no conspiracy though - its fairly easy for the gov to guide the conversation by controlling what info they release, but he has turned this technique against them.

So I completely understand why he wanted to get in front of that story with a cogent statement of his beliefs and background, though I hope he has saved some more pertinent information to leak in order to steer the conversation back to where it should go - onto the NSA and their abuse of the powers they have been given, including lying to their oversight committee, and the secret laws and secret courts which have facilitated that.