"[Snowden] gave these documents, ultimately, to only three journalists. What he said he wanted was for us to use our own judgment and to make sure that his bias was kept out of it so that we could make our own judgment about what was newsworthy and important for the public to know. And he said we should also consider how to avoid harm.
"Now, in case anyone doubts his intentions, let's consider what he could've done. If Chelsea [aka Bradley] Manning was able to exfiltrate and send to WikiLeaks and publish in whole half a million U.S. government documents, Edward Snowden — who is far, far more capable [and] had far greater access, certainly knows how to transmit documents — he could've sent them to WikiLeaks. He could've set up and mirrored around the Internet in a way that could not have been taken down. All of the documents could be public right now and they're not. ... He told us not to do it."
Whether or not he gave China and Russia those documents or they took them, they've got them. If you think Russia would let an American defector keep classified info to themselves you are extremely naive.
jdsga - Whether or not he gave China and Russia those documents or they took them, they've got them. If you think Russia would let an American defector keep classified info to themselves you are extremely naive.
1. You have no way of knowing that they do and to claim they do, while not out of the realm of possibility, it is as the reporter said "Extremely Unlikely"
2. Even if they did, good luck in decrypting them.
No dude it is extremely likely, to the point of being a certainty. Besides that, all you've got is one reporters word
or, in the real world he could trade those secret documents for favors, like say, political asylum.
if he just openly published it, no country would have any reason to help him out.
jdsga - No dude it is extremely likely, to the point of being a certainty. Besides that, all you've got is one reporters word
What your proof? Stop being a shill and trying to smear the guy. Personally I think there is 0 chance anyone other than who Snowden wanted to have the documents have them, especially Russian or Chinese intelligence sources. Why? If either one of those entities had them there would be significant moves either diplomatically, economically or militarily.
So by admitting he only gave the documents to 3 people, what is to stop the USA from assassinating those 3 people and being done with it? He just admitted there is no redundancy.
It has been reported Snowden created a "dead man's switch" of sorts. The documents are in the hands of many people or somewhere on the net (not just 3 reporters)and were Snowden to die they would be disseminated.
I'm not a shill, whatever that means. Obama is a horrible president and the nsa clearly went to far. Exposing what the nsa did is whistleblowing. Running to Russia and China with classified info is defecting. I agree with him in principle but I disagree with the way he did it.
Thinking Russia doesn't have that Intel is just woefully naive. One way or another, they have it.
"Why? If either one of those entities had them there would be significant moves either diplomatically, economically or militarily."
Uh, how do you know there aren't already significant moves underway?? Do you think the Chinese and Russians would hold a press conference announcing these moves? Do you think that they might make these significant moves surreptitiously so as to lead others to believe that they don't have the information?
It's incredibly naive to think that because YOU haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary that it's evidence they don't have Snowden's info.
Keep in mind that he's not carrying around a bunch of documents in a briefcase and literally handing them to reporters. If that were the case, then sure Russia and China could have them, but it's not.
This is 2013, and he's a computer expert. They're secured on a server somewhere and transmitted electronically to far away countries. Greenwald is in Brazil, fercrisakes.
sside maurice - Keep in mind that he's not carrying around a bunch of documents in a briefcase and literally handing them to reporters. If that were the case, then sure Russia and China could have them, but it's not.
This is 2013, and he's a computer expert. They're secured on a server somewhere and transmitted electronically to far away countries. Greenwald is in Brazil, fercrisakes.
Non tech people don't get this. They think that he is actually travelling with any of the information. They also don't get that there are open source free encryption programs that have yet to be cracked.
Tidbits -sside maurice - Keep in mind that he's not carrying around a bunch of documents in a briefcase and literally handing them to reporters. If that were the case, then sure Russia and China could have them, but it's not.
This is 2013, and he's a computer expert. They're secured on a server somewhere and transmitted electronically to far away countries. Greenwald is in Brazil, fercrisakes.
Non tech people don't get this. They think that he is actually travelling with any of the information. They also don't get that there are open source free encryption programs that have yet to be cracked.
So nothing was on the four laptops he took? He could have terabytes of information. You're reaching a little too far
No, the US and the UK are reaching, like when they detained Greenwald's partner and seized his laptop at the airport, but ultimately had to let him go. These people aren't idiots.
jdsga -Tidbits -sside maurice - Keep in mind that he's not carrying around a bunch of documents in a briefcase and literally handing them to reporters. If that were the case, then sure Russia and China could have them, but it's not.
This is 2013, and he's a computer expert. They're secured on a server somewhere and transmitted electronically to far away countries. Greenwald is in Brazil, fercrisakes.
Non tech people don't get this. They think that he is actually travelling with any of the information. They also don't get that there are open source free encryption programs that have yet to be cracked.
So nothing was on the four laptops he took? He could have terabytes of information. You're reaching a little too far
Honestly, how do you know he had laptops? Because who told you? the government? A reporter? Ever heard of USB/eSATA attached storage? I can get a 1 TB passport drive that is the size of my wallet, what do I need 4 laptops for? No one knows exactly how much he took, but if I recall I read somewhere the estimate was around 400GB of information which basically is 1 laptop HD. Even if he took 4 laptops worth that would be at most about 2TB which is 2 USB passport drives or even 1. I'm guessing, but if there is any truth to the laptop report, they were nothing but decoys. All of the real data resided on encrypted external USB or even eSATA storage.
This is ridiculous. This is nothing but speculation because you want it to be true. The laptops were decoys Jesus Christ
jdsga - This is ridiculous. This is nothing but speculation because you want it to be true. The laptops were decoys Jesus Christ
No more ridiculous than your assertion that
No dude it is extremely likely, to the point of being a certainty. Besides that, all you've got is one reporters word
In fact as an IT professional I think my scenario is far more likely and is what I would have done. BTW I've been in IT for close to 20 years both from a desktop side and sys admin role, and from what I have read about Snowden I would say he was a very talented/smart guy. One who would not be so stupid to walk around with 4 laptops full of data when there are far more efficient means of storage.
LOL anyone naïve enough to think that Russia doesn't have them when Snowden is in Russia.
banco - LOL anyone naïve enough to think that Russia doesn't have them when Snowden is in Russia.
It isn't naivete', it is a matter of knowing technology, coupled with Snowden being an extremely smart guy. I said, EVEN if the Russians had copies I am almost certain there is no way they could crack the encryption.
Here I'll give you a what I would do (and Snowden I am pretty sure is smarter and more adept with encryption protocols/software than me)
1. Download True Crypt (http://www.truecrypt.org/)
2. Encrypt an external drive using it to create 2 partitions, one visible and one hidden
3. Place dummy data on visible partition
4. Place true data in hidden partiton
5. Place both Partitons within another visible partition containing dummy data
That is just off the top of my head, there are a shit ton more options and things that could be done such as:
Pre-boot authentication
Auto Wipe of the system if an incorrect password is used
Hiding encrypted partitions within files
Tidbits -banco - LOL anyone naïve enough to think that Russia doesn't have them when Snowden is in Russia.
It isn't naivete', it is a matter of knowing technology, coupled with Snowden being an extremely smart guy. I said, EVEN if the Russians had copies I am almost certain there is no way they could crack the encryption.
Here I'll give you a what I would do (and Snowden I am pretty sure is smarter and more adept with encryption protocols/software than me)
1. Download True Crypt (http://www.truecrypt.org/)
2. Encrypt an external drive using it to create 2 partitions, one visible and one hidden
3. Place dummy data on visible partition
4. Place true data in hidden partiton
5. Place both Partitons within another visible partition containing dummy data
That is just off the top of my head, there are a shit ton more options and things that could be done such as:
Pre-boot authentication
Auto Wipe of the system if an incorrect password is used
Hiding encrypted partitions within files
Just being encrypted would be enough. No need for the hidden partitions. 
banco - LOL anyone naïve enough to think that Russia doesn't have them when Snowden is in Russia.
"oh, you have access to something that would be highly valuable to us and need us to do you a huge favor? no problem, we ask for nothing in return"
nubs -Tidbits -banco - LOL anyone naïve enough to think that Russia doesn't have them when Snowden is in Russia.
It isn't naivete', it is a matter of knowing technology, coupled with Snowden being an extremely smart guy. I said, EVEN if the Russians had copies I am almost certain there is no way they could crack the encryption.
Here I'll give you a what I would do (and Snowden I am pretty sure is smarter and more adept with encryption protocols/software than me)
1. Download True Crypt (http://www.truecrypt.org/)
2. Encrypt an external drive using it to create 2 partitions, one visible and one hidden
3. Place dummy data on visible partition
4. Place true data in hidden partiton
5. Place both Partitons within another visible partition containing dummy data
That is just off the top of my head, there are a shit ton more options and things that could be done such as:
Pre-boot authentication
Auto Wipe of the system if an incorrect password is used
Hiding encrypted partitions within filesJust being encrypted would be enough. No need for the hidden partitions.
While possibly true, I am pretty paranoid and I think Snowden is even more so.