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JUST SIX MONTHS after first leaking National Security Agency secrets in a move that triggered a revaluation of US surveillance policies, Edward Snowden is declaring “mission’s already accomplished”.
Snowden told The Washington Post, in his first in-person interview since his June arrival in Russia, which granted him temporary asylum, that he was satisfied because the public is now informed about the US government’s massive sweep of internet and phone records.
“For me, in terms of personal satisfaction, the mission’s already accomplished,” he said in the interview, published this morning.
“I already won.
“As soon as the journalists were able to work, everything that I had been trying to do was validated,” Snowden said.
“Because, remember, I didn’t want to change society. I wanted to give society a chance to determine if it should change itself.”
The NSA’s collection of communications data has grown dramatically since the September 11, 2001 attacks.
On Friday, President Barack Obama said he welcomed a debate about the NSA’s role as he weighs possible changes to its broad powers amid a public outcry over rights to privacy. The president said he would make a “pretty definitive statement” in January about how the NSA should be overhauled.
A panel of legal and intelligence experts chosen by the White House has recommended curbing the agency’s powers among 46 proposed changes, warning that its sweeps in the war on terror have gone too far.
And a federal judge has warned that the NSA’s routine collection of nearly all Americans’ phone records is probably unconstitutional.
Moscow
Snowden was interviewed in Moscow by Barton Gellman, a Post reporter who has received leaks from the former NSA contractor. The leaker’s first revelations were initially published by the Post and the Guardian in June.
“He was relaxed and animated over two days of nearly unbroken conversation, fueled by burgers, pasta, ice cream and Russian pastry,” Gellman said of Snowden.
Federal prosecutors have filed a criminal complaint against Snowden, charging him with espionage and felony theft of government property.
But the 30-year-old said he was not being disloyal.
“I am not trying to bring down the NSA, I am working to improve the NSA,” he said. “I am still working for the NSA right now. They are the only ones who don’t realise it”.
The leaker said it was lawmakers’ decision to keep the NSA programs hidden and their failure to ask probing questions that entitled him to spill the secrets.
“The system failed comprehensively, and each level of oversight, each level of responsibility that should have addressed this, abdicated their responsibility.”
Snowden’s revelations have outraged civil liberties advocates and even US allies, angered by reports that the United States was monitoring their leaders’ cellphone calls and other virtual communications.
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The man gave up a cushy number in his job to expose the americanos extensive spying on the world and it’s own citizens! Lot of respect has to go to this fella
I find it bizarre and ironic that the US are trying to charge him with espionage!
3 words – Pot. Kettle. Black.
Job well done Edward!
Hero
NSA had a double standard nerve giving out. They crying about stolen information when they were first stealing by illegal taps and pc hacks themselves across America, Europe and more!
…But the White House dont wish that aspect to be noticed…
Snowden did the world a massive favour and at great personal cost. History will remember him kindly. The White House meanwhile is embarressed that they were caught hacking and bugging the rest of the world – including its own people!
So who really is the big bad here? I have my own opinion…
Gellman’s an exceptional reporter. I’ll have to find time to read this.
That tout should be in jail!
Why?
For exposing the Orwellian surveillance world we have to live under?
For showing us how governments & corporations monitor every part of our lives?
Snowdon is a hero.
Only the rather unhinged would think otherwise.
Very funny Tom.
Tom don’t be silly.
Tom should unconstitutional actions by a government organisation not mean jail for the ones guilty and not the person exposing it.
Kevin
What constitution are you referring to and could you just roughly outline the part where the NSA breached it please.
Mitch, what country are you living in?
Yes and whilst you’re at it, you might have a look at the Irish government in all aspects, but the way to do this is not by populistically publicising yet unproven accusations . One has to wonder how much this guy has gained financially by this…..
A lot of uneducated sheep on this..the man is a hero
Look every country watches each other Snowden is a traitor to his country
Daniel
Snowden may in fact with the passing of time be found to be a traitor to his country; however as yet no court has convicted him of that, therefore he is innocent until proven guilty.
However he is a hero for openness and transparency, which is by the way one of the main goals of our Government or so they tell us.
When will they put a bullet in this traitor??
Idiot^^
Mission Accomplished? Only 1% of documents released and mission accomplished, what a nicely played out script, couple of leaks at convenient times to distract people from more important issues that were literally swept under the carpet, just like the Zimmerman trial and Miley Cyrus’ twerking done.
He’s my new hero!
Ye exiled to Russia the home of civil rights abuses, mission accomplished alright!
Odd he should say “mission accomplished.”
Makes me think he was actually given an assignment… To evaluate public response to surveillance activities and to redefine what Government will permit as acceptable. To get a debate going…
have your say